PETITE TÉNÉRÉ

If I’m to be honest, I haven’t been in a huge rush to ride this bike. The WR250R has been a fine trailbike for the last decade and that’s the only form I’ve known it in. I’ve ridden it a heap and I’ve always admired the way it goes about its business in a commendable, consistent and accessible way. It’s neither a bolter nor a carver, but by the same token it’s not just an urban latte hunter. The WR250R has always been what its cousin the WR250F has in recent years strived to break away from; a very honest trailbike. And that is the only way I’ve seen it.

So to see it in Ténéré guise is a little confronting and I’ve not wanted to ride it simply because I didn’t want this transformation to diminish my respect for a bike I’ve known for so long. Although, I have to admit that on a scale it’s probably not quite as dramatic a shift as being Bruce Jenner’s best mate for a decade.

Also, the name Ténéré seems to have been bequeathed as though becoming a Ténéré is as easy as joining Oprah’s Book Club. I’m calling it a Ténéré because that’s what’s on the sticker,