Possibly the most fun you can buy in a Yamaha dealership next year: the WR250X. image: thanks yamaha

It's no secret that Supermoto is a popular trend in motorcycling these days. The sport has flourished over the past few years, and no company has had more success in this hybrid form of motocross-roadracing than Yamaha. Graves Yamaha rider Mark Burkhart is currently tearing up the dirt (and asphalt) in the US Supermoto series.

So, what better way to commemorate Yamaha's 'moto success than with an over-the counter model that we mortals can buy? And, in typical Yamaha fashion, the tuning-forks bunch has once again zigged while the other manufacturers have zagged.

Behold, the 2008 WR250X-a Supermoto bike for the rest of us. With a more down-to-earth (literally) seat height and a more manageable (250cc) four-stroke engine, the WR250X should appeal to a wide range of riders with all kinds of skill levels.

A direct descendant of Yamaha's YZ and WR off-road machines, the WR250X is a dual-purpose bike with a difference. You see, it's not exactly an enduro, a supermoto, or a sportbike--it's all of the above. The WR250X is for riders who stay mostly to paved surfaces, and occasionally venture off down a fire road or unpaved access trail.

The WR250X marks the first use of fuel injection on a 250cc Yamaha on-/off-road bike, but the firsts don't just stop there. The engine is a fresh-sheet design with liquid cooling, titanium intake valves, a forged piston, and a plated cylinder for outstanding durability. An ECU-controlled EXUP exhaust valve, along with an electronic intake control valve, broadens the powerband. A direct-ignition coil sits right on top of the spark plug--another first for a Yamaha on-/off-road model. There's a six-speed gearbox; special, light-action clutch; and electric start leaves the kickstarter off to keep things lightweight and simple.

Suspension-wise, the WR250X has got the Supermoto goods in spades, with 17-inch wheels running radial street rubber in 110mm front and 140mm rear widths. A fully adjustable 46mm inverted fork provides 10.6 inches of wheel travel; a linkage-mounted rear shock provides 10.4 inches of travel with adjusters for compression damping, rebound damping, and spring preload; and wave brake rotors handle the braking duties at the front and rear.

A super-duper, Yama-nifty enduro-style instrument panel provides speed, clock, tripmeter, and self-diagnostic functions. In addition, a measurement mode includes a stopwatch, distance-compensating tripmeter, and more.

Look for the all-new WR250X coming to a Yamaha dealer near you by the first of the New Year.