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Might be true, but if we're talking about 450 4stroke and 250 2stroke, yes its cheaper, but you're redoing the motor more often in comparison the 4 stroke is more economical and you are not redoing motor every 40mth. I've always said that its all about what do you prefer, not about cost because it will eventually brake eaven
@@hauntycz5191 we have 5 450s all 2015-2022, we have 3 250 2strokes all 2000-2007. In my experience the 450s break way way more often even with great maintenance, and when they do it’s 5 times more expensive to rebuild/fix. Also way way more to go wrong with the 450s, more tech, fuel injection ect. With our 250s it’s just rings every 50hrs, piston every 100 and they are good to go. Just my experience with our bikes.
ITS SIMPLE... JAP = 2 Stroke - Ownable JAP = 4 Stroke 2000 - 2010 Try avoid...Use these bikes for parts for 2 strokes...i.e, most parts Kawasaki KXF fit KX 😊 EURO - 2nd Choice, if have dollars..buy! CHINA = AVOID / BIN IT! Correct... Suzuki's were made at KHI during that period, I worked for Kawa management, bit more into it but your videos are near as spot on 100% correct... great work. Listen to this guy people, his videos are spot on, no BS... he's brilliant! Am memo-ing all my contacts to come subscribe.. Well done..keep more vids coming.
Fun fact Yamaha didn’t make a 450 till 2003 …you’re mistaking the 426 from 2000-2002 which has none of the problems you speak of…it’s a 21 year old machine that keeps up with the new one just fine
I was gonna say this also and right from jump this dude showed what he doesn’t know the 5 valve Yamaha’s are legendary for durability and longevity compared to most modern four strokes. And according to him they are a failure point? Weird that the rest of the world didn’t experience this.
@@jonruger yep…to be fair the steel 5 valve heads did have some issues from the YZ400 from 98-2000…once Yamaha went to titanium valves with lighter springs the issues were solved..it’s a superior design but isn’t used anymore for production costs…the 426 has the strongest crank Yamaha ever made, the first 450s were weak and the 400s were weak as well due to attempts to save weight (also why the first 450s only had a 4 speed gearbox) …as for the manual compression release he’s correct that if you didn’t properly tune the bike (and didn’t know the proper technique) they could be difficult to start…my 426 has been modified so I don’t have those issues period…I’ve got bigger radiators, aftermarket exhaust, 13.5:1 piston, hot cams, modified FCR carb, upgraded ignition and a ported head…when I had it dyno’d she put 54.6 HP to the ground @ 9700 RPM…good luck getting those numbers out of a new fuel injected bike 😂…keep in mind that the bike in its stock form was just fine I just can’t help myself when it comes to dirt bikes, I’m always squeezing the most out of those engines …the 2001-02 426 by far had the most aggressive power seen by any 4 stroke that’s never been seen before or since (which I absolutely love)…he’s forgetting that those bikes were designed to race against 2 strokes and acted more like the open class big bores than todays smooth power 4 strokes (which I hate)…most modern 450s rev clear up to 13k and have a very long power curve …fact is people are spoiled now and are too chicken sh@t to ride something that terrifies the rider
426 is at the very most collectable for its chronological place in 4stroke history, and the fact that it doesnt disappoint those who are glutton for punishment. They are finicky to start even with technique and a hot start, they run hot, The clutch is weak and squealy, 1st and 2nd gear are entirely too tall for woods work, They are heavy, poorly suspended, crummy ergonimics especially around the radiator shrouds and they would burn the piss out of you if you get anywhere near the header pipe. Summer single track riding.....forget about it. Now if you want a dirt drag bike that is blue.....eh maybe you should pull the trigger on one
As a desert/woods rider...I use the 2003 wr 450f. With many...many...many mods to get her right...but she's right. Ridden year round in all sorts of terrain and weather. Three full rebuilds. 5 clutches,three rotors, 5 chains and sprocket sets later...still love it.
I ride a 2003 ktm 450 exc, that has gone 18+ years no rebuild and 4 months ago had its first ever valve adjustment. I ride river beds, hill climbs and trails. Best bike ever. And btw im 14 lmao. Bought the bike off of my neighbour 2 years ago. And before it was my neighbours it was my dads, and before that a friend of my dads. KTM's are beast. Oh and I oil change every 50-60 hours. :)
I learned to do full rebuilds on my 2001 Suzuki RM125 simply because I was too poor to pay somebody! Had a lot of fun on that bike back in the day but also learned how to rebuild them so not a total loss!
Mhm, plastic kit 450$ with no aftermarket option, basically no after market parts at all. Also the whole gearbox on my 125 completely exploded for no reason at all. too scared to ride it anymore tbh it’s been sitting around
I almost bought one the other day I'm glad I didn't the dealer suck! If they were so damn good they would have a dealer in Colorado where there's a lot of riding. I'll stick to KTM, Sherco and beta you can get parts for all of them.
It sucks Suzuki is and has gone downhill. I have a 2015 rmz450 and 2004 rm250 both are great bikes. My rm250 has a ton of money into it. And my 450 has been a rock, literally…heavy, and durable (engine wise).
I got an 05 crf250r and it runs like a top. I gotta say, what you should take away from this video is BIKE MAINTENANCE IS SUPER IMPORTANT! You take care of your bike, you’ll get a lot out of it. Rebuilt the crf 3 years ago and it still runs amazing because of good bike maintenance. Keep up on er y’all.
So I have an 01 Rm125 that I love to death it was the bike I learned how to ride moto on, now I got it as a barn find so it didn't have a whole lot of hours and it ran great for about a year but I finally blew it up so I went for a complete rebuild to try to eliminate the problems and boost the power while still having the great handling Suzuki is know for. Super exited to have it done so hopefully after all my work and money mine wont quallife for this list lol.
My 03 yz250f was definitely a wrench magnet in the 10 years i owned it, had to replace valves, and at on point had to replace the head due to the cam journals wearing out of round, carb was a mess also. Live and learn cause it was a great bike when it was running but repairs got spendy.
The counter rotation can from one of the super bikes not sure who started it Aprilo or Ducati but that gp track far from dirt track . Also you mentioned the 97 rm125 … I happened to find a free motor of corse it was in parts but it apears to all be there with the exception carb & pipe . I guess before I go any further my grandson wants to run it on his CRG Shifter Kart just doing laps or maybe convert to dirt track wing outlaw kart , regardless I didn’t plan on dumping a bunch of money and if it blows up right away ill be out under 300 at this point or tell me what you think put it on eBay and look for something else. Also if anyone can tell me what year the engine numbers F114-129xx best I can see is 97 98 ? Clutch arm on top of case water pump internal not sure on the seal likely as you described it Interesting stuff my last new bike was a 79 TT 500 knock off Aberg replica ‘this was long before 4 stokes got any respect , but that tells I’m not eligible for over the hill class but maybe they have out to pasture class where we can set up our hover rounds or step thru Honda ( can’t swing my leg over with the prosthetic hip ) lol 😂 sad but true ! Take care of your bones so you can keep riding !
Great video. I had gotten out of bikes for a couple of years and what brought me back was riding my buddies 04 rmz 250. I was a 125 guy and I was amazed of how light and nimble the modern 4stroke was. Now saying his bike was basically brand new and I was a Honda guy so of course I went for the 05 crf250. The auto decompression is awesome when the manufacturer puts it on the cam correctly. Talking to you KTM. For a couple years I thought my 530excr was just a stubborn bear to get started. Then I found out ktm messed up. Relaxed the cam and I don’t have to pound a Red Bull in order to start it. Lol.
you hit the nail on the head with the KTM 250f but the years were 05-06 i had a 2005.5 model and yeah...lost the timing chain tensionor in the air...bike locked up "in air i thought i killed it and landing would start it back up" but the cam chain got caught up on the crank sprocket and it stayed locked up till I took it apart. bent 1 intake ti-valve $130 for just that single valve...currently rebuilding it again...it locked up on my back in 2010 lol
Thanks for doing this. Most people wouldn't in fear to lose subs or possible sponsors. It makes me glad I subbed and I own one of the bikes on the list.
2012 yz450 was one of the best balanced bikes I ever owned. When guys rode it they couldn't believe how well it turned and how good it felt because they believed all garbage that the media was spewing about how it couldn't turn and it was unbalanced and Stewart couldn't ride it so it must bad. You lost all credibility when talking about Yamaha's when you said the 01-05 yz 450. 98-99 yz 400f ,2000-2002 yz426 ,03-05 yz450f 4 speed .
Actually own an 04 RMZ 250. It did have a lot of problems stock constantly overheating within 30 seconds of idling and problems with the valves or valve seats not being hard enough. Great low-end power almost like a mini 450. Was not really much of a revver even though I had a high red line. I recently had it completely rebuilt top and bottom end 270 Big bore kit stage 2 Hot cams boysen super cooler oversized radiators complete exhaust it is now my favorite bike I've ever owned.i love my KAWAZUKI or SUZUSAKI whatever you want to call it 😂
Like the rmz's and starting to look at some low hr used bikes. Always like the 450, but something about the 250 keeps drawing me to it. I'm only 140lbs and only ride as a hobby. Have you ridden the 450 and u like prefer the 250?
@@eminiscalperpro9729 trust me get a 250, you can have way wayyyyy more fun on a 250 and actually ride the bike, not have the bike ride you, at 140lbs, you got no business on a 450 unless your an A class or top B rider. even then you will have more fun being able to rip on the bike and utilize the power and not have the bike constantly wanting to throttle jockey outta your hands.
@@romper4444 i think a 250 would be more fun overall, being able to ride it to its full potential, especially with the suspension set up correctly. Nice having the extra torque of a 450 and most of my past riding was mainly on Cr500's. But, nowadays I think I prefer a 250f with a few engine mods. 450 and 500 2 strokes are great but can get you in trouble very fast.
4 stroke dirtbikes suck a big one. I'll keep my CR125 and rebuild it when it loses a little compression. The 4 strokes are under so much stress to make the power, they are pushed to 10/10ths from the factory. I need reliability, 2 strokes forever. Also I notice that he only had 1 2-stroke to complain about.
First and only bike I’ve owned was a 05 RMZ 450 because the only local dealer at the time sold Suzuki’s . Tried using it on trails, flamed out, ran hot. Tried it in the desert, 4 speed trans is no good. Sold it years later. Poor research on my part I suppose.
06 crf450r had a problem if you didn’t clean the oil strainer or replace it during a rebuild you’d clog your oil jet in the cases and they would violently grenade the cases… I got my 06 like that and it seized the piston, snapped the rod under the piston and blew through the front and back of the cases and blew the piston into several pieces… I found the rings and half of the rod in the transmission… I also had the problem of stripped valve cover threads in the cylinder head. Badass bike with more balls than you’d expect but when they blew up it was like a grenade went off in the engine… But the worst bike I’ve ever owned BY FAR was the 1984 YZ125. No power in any range unless you swapped out the cylinder and crankshaft to the 83 model. They were gutless. My 84 RM80 would beat that thing like Mike Tyson against a middle schooler. But my by far favorite bike would be my 05 yz250f(290 big bore). Amazing transmission and VERY reliable.
The problem is the stop of the manufacture of two strokes and company's being new at making powerful 4 strokes before then 4 strokes were extremely low horsepower compared to two strokes there was no motorcross bikes before that weren't two strokes the big 4 were not allowed to import carbureted two strokes because of emissions and were basically forced to swap all of their efforts to try and make faster 4 strokes and it took a while to figure it out
Seriously... These don't have the valve problems of the newer bikes. Tech from the World Superbike machines for real. The 5 valve head is extremely tough. That's why these make insane dual sport engines! Guys track these bikes and I've seen them pass KTM RC 390s on the straights wide open. ⚡⚡
9 years later my 2013 yz250f has the same crank, piston, valves, everything and hasn't skipped a beat once all I have to do is adjust valves every 25 hours until they start to wear out. Which they haven't done at all yet🤣
I like this kind of stuff. had my kx450 -06 for 9 years I only just change oil and airfilter, brakes and back wheel with everything, fork oil and some minor seals. this thing just kick of at third every time eaven after 2years of storage. I got badly hurt, but now I am back on it and ripping in the woods again :) the crank and piston was new (upgraded) then i got it. And I gues it has 80-120 hours at this time, and I aint babying it, tho I change oil and filter eaven if I just went out for 30 minutes.
Stay away from suzukis, and early 2000s 4 strokes. Got it. ha I had an 06 crf, and that thing was a beast. My two friends had Yamahas, and they were always in the shop.
love my 2004 wr450 20000km and ran strong fmf slip-on grey wire cut Starting in 2005 is when you had to buy the yz throttle stop Bike got stolen By the way 48mm forks I currently have xr650r and honestly dont know which bike i like more
What the bike manufacturers need to do is just look at what Honda does and build it similar. There’s no excuse for an engineer to build sloppy bikes theses days. We know the Honda has always been the most dependable and after 08’ KTM has done very well. The Yamaha YZ250 is also something to model after because it’s solid and dependable. As far as 4 strikes go they will never be as dependable as a 2 stroke. They have far more parts and issues with them. This is how the bike manufacturers make billions is on parts. The 2 stroke can literally run forever with moderate maintenance.
Suzuki must have been focused on the gsxr in the early 2000's because the dirt bikes sucked but the gsxr superbikes were amazing especially for their time I mean BMW's newest 1k superbike was literally modeled after the gsxr1000 engine it even sounds similar haha
There's no such thing as a bad bike it's about making it a great bike a machine is mechanical it can work look at Harley Davidson on paper it was impossible but it looked good I think I can make it work O😮
Best 4t I've ever had was a Chinese 125cc pit bike I got new out the crate from a computer repair shop my first clutch bike I had it 8 years went everywhere on I use it as a mountain bike beater I use to do regular oil change ran sweet was bullet proof electric and kick start kick worked but never neede it due to electric start I had it 8 years and out on it daily only changed the tyres and the original rev cable snapped the day before I sold it last i heard the 12th owner had it that was 6 years ago still on original piston been upgraded suspension and plastic wise wish I could buy another one of the same brand
- also bought a 2005 Honda 600RR street bike but quickly learned that street bikes weren’t for me. So I’m looking to get back into dirt bikes because I’ve already loved just everything about them and I feel it would keep me fit and just an awesome sport,hobby , even a better career for those who are to blessed to be able to make one out of it. I also have a 8yr & 6yr old boys I’d love to get in the sport with. I just can’t afford bikes for all and would feel so guilty if I got one for me first . So I thank you for the video on the GPX140 because I think I’ll get that for my 2boys to share .
Just a couple caveats 1. The manual decompression lever is not a problem. The auto decompression can easily be swapped on with a factory 03-05 yz450f cam or an aftermarket hot cams. 02 was still a 426 but with ti valves(they got ti valves in 01) I believe all yz450f(2003-2005) had the 4 speed gear box. I don't have any experience with the yz250fs but the early (98-99) yz/wr400s had the throttle plates crack. That was the only Yamaha carb issues I was aware of.
This is actually kinda hilarious but my 06 RMZ 450 is having that exact problem you described where it will start easy but doesn’t like the idle backfires and pops do u have any tips on locating the problem
Worst bike I ever had was an 01 CR125, I seized the crankshaft twice, rebuilt the top end an additional 2 times and all of this was in 6 months, bike was truly a lemon. I know he ranked the 02-04 YZFs as 10th, but I had an 03 and an 04 YZ250F, raced them all the time, I broke some clutch plates in the 03, had the oil reservoir drain bolt come out and seized the crank, but the 04 was the best bike I ever had. 200+ hours with only a valve adjustment and I was racing the intermediate class a lot on it. I had buddies on the early Hondas and KX/RMZ250s that would thrash motors left and right, but the YZF worked great for me.
01 was a great year for Honda 2 strokes. Think you are either illergic to 2 strokes, or you got it from a dude that ran the piss out of it and didn't take care of it
@@patrickmeyer9905 I bought it brand new from a Honda dealership, I really think there was a manufacturing flaw in the cases that didn't let the crankshaft align properly in the cases, I sold that bike and made the buyer aware of the issues I'd had with it, but I had a 2001 CR250 that worked great and I even bought a 2002 CR250 that I still have to this day and it's been great bike. Nothing against Hondas whatsoever, but by 2003 the YZ250F had such a power advantage over the 125s I started racing Yamahas.
@@patrickmeyer9905 I know for a fact I took great care of the bike, I cleaned the air filter every ride, kept the gearbox oil changed regularly and always had it jetted right for the temperature and elevation. I think I rode the Novice class back then so I don't think I was running it too hard like a pro would.
@@patrickmeyer9905 that's what I thought, I liked the power, handling suspension and everything when it was running, but the motor would just blow up way too often.
I own an 05 Crf250r with aftermarket head and valves, incredible bike but you should’ve mentioned how decent their carburetors were for the year! Can’t wait to see what happens to the 05 behind you
I ride a 2005 crf230f right now. Been looking into the 250R lately tho, do you think it’s worth it to try to sell the 230 and put some extra money out of pocket into the 250R?
@@chriscuddy633 absolutely! Just find one that runs and take care of it, if it’s hard to start I guarantee it’s the valves every time, check the clearances every 10 hours and you should be fine
@@chriscuddy633 had my 04 Crf250r for about a year never had a problem only thing is clutch is kinda slipping cause it’s never been upgraded and I ride it hard
I have a 2004 KTM 450 EXC. I'm just gonna say this, they are extremely reliable and near bulletproof BUT working on them is such a pain in the ass. I've taken my entire bike apart multiple times and it is by far the hardest 4 stroke I've ever worked on. They also have an extremely low oil supply so you have to change the oil frequently. The RFS engine is such a great engine but it is very complicated and very tedious. There are some things on this bike that just make NO sense at all. I can't recommend getting one if your not mechanically inclined or don't know how to work on them. Besides that it is a torque monster and a power house and definitely a lot of fun. There's plenty of good things about these engines too but don't expect it to all be good.
i agree i have an 09 450 xcf tore it down for visual inspection when i bought it looked perfect so i updated the oil pump and installed a je piston and a dirt tricks tensioner
The RFS motors taught me how to work on 4strokes . The hardest bikes to rebuild , but when built right they are great - Breaking the Timing chain ( Rivet removal and push in) just to remove top end is a pain .
I own a 2017 yz450f currently. But my 2013 yz450 I had before I rode really well on that bike. I really enjoyed it and thought it handled really well 🤷🏽♂️. There’s alot of bikes that people talk bad about and I have ridden most of them and have noticed some of the things they were talking about. But I never really had any of the issues that most people talk about with the 10-13’s. Could just be my riding style. I actually bought the new 2023 yz450f and sold it last year and went back to the 2017. I like the wider feel the older yz’s had. I would say don’t steer away from the 2010-2013 yz450f. They are bullet proof bikes. With the best suspension any other bike had back then. And the motor was a ripper. If you’re not a pro then I would think you’d really enjoy it. Atleast I did haha. Good video though!
Hi, do you have any experience or thoughts about: 2010-2012 Husaberg FE 390 Enduro, 2009-2012 Husaberg FE 570 Enduro, Suzuki RMX450Z AJP PR5 AJP's SPR line 2018-2022 AJP PR7 Thanks.
Bought a new 01 Yamaha YZ 250 F and hated it because of the hard starting problem. Put it in storage and bought a 03 YZ250F and loved it. Recently got the 01 out of storage and installed the decompression cam. Starts easy now, and runs perfect. Think I'll take a chance and let my grandson ride it.🙄
Dang, what are the odds I own all 1 of 6 of them, 2 of 2, 3 of 1 & 4 of 1 of these? No wonder I'm the worst rider in my area! I'm faster on my Big Wheel...makes sense now! lolol jk! Great vid as usual!
2013 kx 250f's have been notorious for creating impromptu 'inspection windows' through the crank cases over the years; however, I have a hunch that's because people are installing crappy top end kits
Yeah it is really don't like running well on zero or no oil.... And throwing those camchains through lthe bottom of the case is pretty much totals on us out your motorcycle completely making it totally worthless.... Of the whole textbook for part numbers and things you'll need to buy besides camchain
I knew someone who has a 2015 kx450 and his son changed the oil and put the oil filter in backwards like you say and ruined the motor it only had 10 hrs on the new bike. 🤦🏻♂️
I had a 2001 Suzuki RM250 and it didn't have 6 gear I think I had 5 years and it wouldn't it was slower than my KX 100 1989 Shortly later the RM blew up anyways and stuck a little bit of money in it and cause look at it like a lost cause Shortly later the RM blew up anyways and stuck a little bit of money in it and cause look at it like a lost cause!
![[TH] FS vs BME - VCT Ascension Pacific - Lower Bracket Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wnygqsR2Fig/mqdefault.jpg)
What I got out of this is stick with 2 stroke, easier to fix and about 1/4th the cost in parts.
yep
Might be true, but if we're talking about 450 4stroke and 250 2stroke, yes its cheaper, but you're redoing the motor more often in comparison the 4 stroke is more economical and you are not redoing motor every 40mth. I've always said that its all about what do you prefer, not about cost because it will eventually brake eaven
@@hauntycz5191 we have 5 450s all 2015-2022, we have 3 250 2strokes all 2000-2007. In my experience the 450s break way way more often even with great maintenance, and when they do it’s 5 times more expensive to rebuild/fix. Also way way more to go wrong with the 450s, more tech, fuel injection ect. With our 250s it’s just rings every 50hrs, piston every 100 and they are good to go. Just my experience with our bikes.
yup !!!!
@@GixxerKris YZ125 & kx250 best 2 strokes ever.
ITS SIMPLE...
JAP = 2 Stroke - Ownable
JAP = 4 Stroke 2000 - 2010
Try avoid...Use these bikes for parts for 2 strokes...i.e, most parts Kawasaki KXF fit KX 😊
EURO - 2nd Choice, if have dollars..buy!
CHINA = AVOID / BIN IT!
Correct... Suzuki's were made at KHI during that period, I worked for Kawa management, bit more into it but your videos are near as spot on 100% correct... great work.
Listen to this guy people, his videos are spot on, no BS... he's brilliant!
Am memo-ing all my contacts to come subscribe.. Well done..keep more vids coming.
What about a 99 kx250 mine says made by Suzuki is it a good bike ?
I had an 06kx 450 and at idle the head pipe would glow red hot wasn’t sure why? It has a new owner now but I did like the bike
That's a sign of it running really lean not enough fuel or just letting it idle way too long it can happen too
2009 - 2018 RMZ/RMX 450's are super reliable. It's no wonder they didn't want to change anything.
my 03 rm 125 has a stock motor, i think suzuki has really improved their 125 2 strokes from 03 and up. great overall bike, very reliable.
Fun fact Yamaha didn’t make a 450 till 2003 …you’re mistaking the 426 from 2000-2002 which has none of the problems you speak of…it’s a 21 year old machine that keeps up with the new one just fine
I was gonna say this also and right from jump this dude showed what he doesn’t know the 5 valve Yamaha’s are legendary for durability and longevity compared to most modern four strokes. And according to him they are a failure point? Weird that the rest of the world didn’t experience this.
@@jonruger yep…to be fair the steel 5 valve heads did have some issues from the YZ400 from 98-2000…once Yamaha went to titanium valves with lighter springs the issues were solved..it’s a superior design but isn’t used anymore for production costs…the 426 has the strongest crank Yamaha ever made, the first 450s were weak and the 400s were weak as well due to attempts to save weight (also why the first 450s only had a 4 speed gearbox) …as for the manual compression release he’s correct that if you didn’t properly tune the bike (and didn’t know the proper technique) they could be difficult to start…my 426 has been modified so I don’t have those issues period…I’ve got bigger radiators, aftermarket exhaust, 13.5:1 piston, hot cams, modified FCR carb, upgraded ignition and a ported head…when I had it dyno’d she put 54.6 HP to the ground @ 9700 RPM…good luck getting those numbers out of a new fuel injected bike 😂…keep in mind that the bike in its stock form was just fine I just can’t help myself when it comes to dirt bikes, I’m always squeezing the most out of those engines …the 2001-02 426 by far had the most aggressive power seen by any 4 stroke that’s never been seen before or since (which I absolutely love)…he’s forgetting that those bikes were designed to race against 2 strokes and acted more like the open class big bores than todays smooth power 4 strokes (which I hate)…most modern 450s rev clear up to 13k and have a very long power curve …fact is people are spoiled now and are too chicken sh@t to ride something that terrifies the rider
@@localenterprisebroadcastin5971 I think the 2022 yz450f makes 56 base hp. Not sure if that's intirely true but that's what Google said lmao
426 is at the very most collectable for its chronological place in 4stroke history, and the fact that it doesnt disappoint those who are glutton for punishment.
They are finicky to start even with technique and a hot start, they run hot, The clutch is weak and squealy, 1st and 2nd gear are entirely too tall for woods work, They are heavy, poorly suspended, crummy ergonimics especially around the radiator shrouds and they would burn the piss out of you if you get anywhere near the header pipe. Summer single track riding.....forget about it.
Now if you want a dirt drag bike that is blue.....eh maybe you should pull the trigger on one
Yes, he has mistaken 425 to 450, but it was crappy motor anyways. Especially with manual decompression valve. 450cc after 2003 is ok.
As a desert/woods rider...I use the 2003 wr 450f. With many...many...many mods to get her right...but she's right.
Ridden year round in all sorts of terrain and weather.
Three full rebuilds.
5 clutches,three rotors,
5 chains and sprocket sets later...still love it.
I ride a 2003 ktm 450 exc, that has gone 18+ years no rebuild and 4 months ago had its first ever valve adjustment. I ride river beds, hill climbs and trails. Best bike ever. And btw im 14 lmao. Bought the bike off of my neighbour 2 years ago. And before it was my neighbours it was my dads, and before that a friend of my dads. KTM's are beast. Oh and I oil change every 50-60 hours. :)
Jeez
I got 14 years out of a 1998 rm 250 with a stock piston on benoil and 32 to 1 mix
Rugged.
I learned to do full rebuilds on my 2001 Suzuki RM125 simply because I was too poor to pay somebody! Had a lot of fun on that bike back in the day but also learned how to rebuild them so not a total loss!
The KX 65 is the exact same bike as the RM65
Kx250f was made is 04-05 in this generation. The rmz250 was 04-06
TM i've owned them, i love them but one word during ownership.... expensive.
Mhm, plastic kit 450$ with no aftermarket option, basically no after market parts at all. Also the whole gearbox on my 125 completely exploded for no reason at all. too scared to ride it anymore tbh it’s been sitting around
I almost bought one the other day I'm glad I didn't the dealer suck! If they were so damn good they would have a dealer in Colorado where there's a lot of riding. I'll stick to KTM, Sherco and beta you can get parts for all of them.
@@barryhallsack8852 see im from the uk and our importer is a super nice guy, sadly i cant speak for anywhere else.
Tw200. 30 years old. Never any maintenance outside filter oil tires and chain.
It sucks Suzuki is and has gone downhill. I have a 2015 rmz450 and 2004 rm250 both are great bikes. My rm250 has a ton of money into it. And my 450 has been a rock, literally…heavy, and durable (engine wise).
They didn’t make a kxf250 2003 or rmz
He probably meant 2004
They were produced in 03 as the “brand new 04” just like you see brand new 2023 model bikes in 2022
I got an 05 crf250r and it runs like a top. I gotta say, what you should take away from this video is BIKE MAINTENANCE IS SUPER IMPORTANT! You take care of your bike, you’ll get a lot out of it. Rebuilt the crf 3 years ago and it still runs amazing because of good bike maintenance. Keep up on er y’all.
Did you go with stainless valves?
Wrong about the 01-02 rm125 not having much power. Clutch issues yes, but these bikes were just as fast as the yz125.
So I have an 01 Rm125 that I love to death it was the bike I learned how to ride moto on, now I got it as a barn find so it didn't have a whole lot of hours and it ran great for about a year but I finally blew it up so I went for a complete rebuild to try to eliminate the problems and boost the power while still having the great handling Suzuki is know for. Super exited to have it done so hopefully after all my work and money mine wont quallife for this list lol.
My 03 yz250f was definitely a wrench magnet in the 10 years i owned it, had to replace valves, and at on point had to replace the head due to the cam journals wearing out of round, carb was a mess also. Live and learn cause it was a great bike when it was running but repairs got spendy.
The counter rotation can from one of the super bikes not sure who started it Aprilo or Ducati but that gp track far from dirt track . Also you mentioned the 97 rm125 … I happened to find a free motor of corse it was in parts but it apears to all be there with the exception carb & pipe .
I guess before I go any further my grandson wants to run it on his CRG Shifter Kart just doing laps or maybe convert to dirt track wing outlaw kart , regardless I didn’t plan on dumping a bunch of money and if it blows up right away ill be out under 300 at this point or tell me what you think put it on eBay and look for something else. Also if anyone can tell me what year the engine numbers F114-129xx best I can see is 97 98 ? Clutch arm on top of case water pump internal not sure on the seal likely as you described it
Interesting stuff my last new bike was a 79 TT 500 knock off Aberg replica ‘this was long before 4 stokes got any respect , but that tells I’m not eligible for over the hill class but maybe they have out to pasture class where we can set up our hover rounds or step thru Honda ( can’t swing my leg over with the prosthetic hip ) lol 😂 sad but true !
Take care of your bones so you can keep riding !
Great video. I had gotten out of bikes for a couple of years and what brought me back was riding my buddies 04 rmz 250. I was a 125 guy and I was amazed of how light and nimble the modern 4stroke was. Now saying his bike was basically brand new and I was a Honda guy so of course I went for the 05 crf250.
The auto decompression is awesome when the manufacturer puts it on the cam correctly. Talking to you KTM. For a couple years I thought my 530excr was just a stubborn bear to get started. Then I found out ktm messed up. Relaxed the cam and I don’t have to pound a Red Bull in order to start it. Lol.
you hit the nail on the head with the KTM 250f but the years were 05-06 i had a 2005.5 model and yeah...lost the timing chain tensionor in the air...bike locked up "in air i thought i killed it and landing would start it back up" but the cam chain got caught up on the crank sprocket and it stayed locked up till I took it apart. bent 1 intake ti-valve $130 for just that single valve...currently rebuilding it again...it locked up on my back in 2010 lol
Thanks for doing this. Most people wouldn't in fear to lose subs or possible sponsors. It makes me glad I subbed and I own one of the bikes on the list.
2012 yz450 was one of the best balanced bikes I ever owned. When guys rode it they couldn't believe how well it turned and how good it felt because they believed all garbage that the media was spewing about how it couldn't turn and it was unbalanced and Stewart couldn't ride it so it must bad. You lost all credibility when talking about Yamaha's when you said the 01-05 yz 450. 98-99 yz 400f ,2000-2002 yz426 ,03-05 yz450f 4 speed .
Actually own an 04 RMZ 250. It did have a lot of problems stock constantly overheating within 30 seconds of idling and problems with the valves or valve seats not being hard enough. Great low-end power almost like a mini 450. Was not really much of a revver even though I had a high red line. I recently had it completely rebuilt top and bottom end 270 Big bore kit stage 2 Hot cams boysen super cooler oversized radiators complete exhaust it is now my favorite bike I've ever owned.i love my KAWAZUKI or SUZUSAKI whatever you want to call it 😂
Yo that is a legendary proportions 🤘🏄
Like the rmz's and starting to look at some low hr used bikes. Always like the 450, but something about the 250 keeps drawing me to it. I'm only 140lbs and only ride as a hobby. Have you ridden the 450 and u like prefer the 250?
@@eminiscalperpro9729 trust me get a 250, you can have way wayyyyy more fun on a 250 and actually ride the bike, not have the bike ride you, at 140lbs, you got no business on a 450 unless your an A class or top B rider. even then you will have more fun being able to rip on the bike and utilize the power and not have the bike constantly wanting to throttle jockey outta your hands.
@@romper4444 i think a 250 would be more fun overall, being able to ride it to its full potential, especially with the suspension set up correctly. Nice having the extra torque of a 450 and most of my past riding was mainly on Cr500's. But, nowadays I think I prefer a 250f with a few engine mods. 450 and 500 2 strokes are great but can get you in trouble very fast.
Kawazuki is the way
CRF450x has the same problem with being able to put the oil filter in backwards.
4 stroke dirtbikes suck a big one. I'll keep my CR125 and rebuild it when it loses a little compression. The 4 strokes are under so much stress to make the power, they are pushed to 10/10ths from the factory. I need reliability, 2 strokes forever. Also I notice that he only had 1 2-stroke to complain about.
My 05 Wr450f was all chocked up. I opened the air box did the gray wire mode and the throttle stop also lectron carb it runs great!!
The 1998-'99 YZ/WR 400s were crude, heavy, and they didn't like to be hot started.
I sold my soul to heroin. I really miss riding my 250 KTM MXC.
Like i say to everyone , if you are not a pro , buy a 2 stroke . This is the story . Thank you
basically, anyone can work on a 2 stroke and almost anyone can afford to work on it
First and only bike I’ve owned was a 05 RMZ 450 because the only local dealer at the time sold Suzuki’s . Tried using it on trails, flamed out, ran hot. Tried it in the desert, 4 speed trans is no good. Sold it years later. Poor research on my part I suppose.
Basically any used 4 stroke don't buy lol
I been rebuilding and flipping bikes for over 10 years and never seen or heard of an 03 rmz250
2006 kx250f transmissions were WEAK as well. 07 turned it around
O4 Crf250r was a great bike for me except the valves I agree was it’s week part
Yz400f 1998 was such an amazing bike and you pick them up so cheap cause nobody knows how to start the things with the decomp
What about that Cannondale on the cover, who didn't want a cassette style transmission or EFI in 2002?
Kayo 250? 2 stroke!
The Cannondales are actually pretty sick if you update the motor
Rare as hens teeth and worth $ now
@@deborahchesser7375 I have a 440 bike and the quad. (Speed I think)Both updated by ATK and both blew up within three weeks of being rebuilt.
sick is the dumbest word ever
@@sqd37l what your thoughts on gnarly, lit, fire or cool. We really need your opinion on the matter 😂
@@lukeroush905 the world is doomed
06 crf450r had a problem if you didn’t clean the oil strainer or replace it during a rebuild you’d clog your oil jet in the cases and they would violently grenade the cases… I got my 06 like that and it seized the piston, snapped the rod under the piston and blew through the front and back of the cases and blew the piston into several pieces… I found the rings and half of the rod in the transmission… I also had the problem of stripped valve cover threads in the cylinder head. Badass bike with more balls than you’d expect but when they blew up it was like a grenade went off in the engine… But the worst bike I’ve ever owned BY FAR was the 1984 YZ125. No power in any range unless you swapped out the cylinder and crankshaft to the 83 model. They were gutless. My 84 RM80 would beat that thing like Mike Tyson against a middle schooler. But my by far favorite bike would be my 05 yz250f(290 big bore). Amazing transmission and VERY reliable.
1997 rm 125 is not a bad motor at all I've had 7 of them
The problem is the stop of the manufacture of two strokes and company's being new at making powerful 4 strokes before then 4 strokes were extremely low horsepower compared to two strokes there was no motorcross bikes before that weren't two strokes the big 4 were not allowed to import carbureted two strokes because of emissions and were basically forced to swap all of their efforts to try and make faster 4 strokes and it took a while to figure it out
This is why I only owned smokers!!!
I did a hot cams auto decomp cam and a 08 450 carb swap on my yz426f. Now it’s one of the best bikes I’ve ridden.
Exactly! Same here. Mine has crazy power now.
Seriously... These don't have the valve problems of the newer bikes. Tech from the World Superbike machines for real. The 5 valve head is extremely tough. That's why these make insane dual sport engines! Guys track these bikes and I've seen them pass KTM RC 390s on the straights wide open. ⚡⚡
Great advice on this list of bikes!! Love your vids keep up the good work!
I've had an 01 and 03 RM125 and loved them. Screamed 75 hours.
Buddy's had like 100 hours on it.
9 years later my 2013 yz250f has the same crank, piston, valves, everything and hasn't skipped a beat once all I have to do is adjust valves every 25 hours until they start to wear out. Which they haven't done at all yet🤣
And has literally probably 400+ hours on jt
Very informative thanks Clint
I like this kind of stuff. had my kx450 -06 for 9 years I only just change oil and airfilter, brakes and back wheel with everything, fork oil and some minor seals. this thing just kick of at third every time eaven after 2years of storage. I got badly hurt, but now I am back on it and ripping in the woods again :) the crank and piston was new (upgraded) then i got it. And I gues it has 80-120 hours at this time, and I aint babying it, tho I change oil and filter eaven if I just went out for 30 minutes.
Stay away from suzukis, and early 2000s 4 strokes. Got it. ha I had an 06 crf, and that thing was a beast. My two friends had Yamahas, and they were always in the shop.
love my 2004 wr450 20000km and ran strong fmf slip-on grey wire cut Starting in 2005 is when you had to buy the yz throttle stop Bike got stolen By the way 48mm forks I currently have xr650r and honestly dont know which bike i like more
I have heard that the biggest issue with the Cannondale can be solved with a Mitsubishi crank sensor.
What the bike manufacturers need to do is just look at what Honda does and build it similar. There’s no excuse for an engineer to build sloppy bikes theses days. We know the Honda has always been the most dependable and after 08’ KTM has done very well. The Yamaha YZ250 is also something to model after because it’s solid and dependable. As far as 4 strikes go they will never be as dependable as a 2 stroke. They have far more parts and issues with them. This is how the bike manufacturers make billions is on parts. The 2 stroke can literally run forever with moderate maintenance.
Suzuki must have been focused on the gsxr in the early 2000's because the dirt bikes sucked but the gsxr superbikes were amazing especially for their time I mean BMW's newest 1k superbike was literally modeled after the gsxr1000 engine it even sounds similar haha
Would you stay away from 2001 rm80 since the rm125 had bad power valves ??
There's no such thing as a bad bike it's about making it a great bike a machine is mechanical it can work look at Harley Davidson on paper it was impossible but it looked good I think I can make it work O😮
Best 4t I've ever had was a Chinese 125cc pit bike I got new out the crate from a computer repair shop my first clutch bike I had it 8 years went everywhere on I use it as a mountain bike beater I use to do regular oil change ran sweet was bullet proof electric and kick start kick worked but never neede it due to electric start I had it 8 years and out on it daily only changed the tyres and the original rev cable snapped the day before I sold it last i heard the 12th owner had it that was 6 years ago still on original piston been upgraded suspension and plastic wise wish I could buy another one of the same brand
- also bought a 2005 Honda 600RR street bike but quickly learned that street bikes weren’t for me. So I’m looking to get back into dirt bikes because I’ve already loved just everything about them and I feel it would keep me fit and just an awesome sport,hobby , even a better career for those who are to blessed to be able to make one out of it. I also have a 8yr & 6yr old boys I’d love to get in the sport with. I just can’t afford bikes for all and would feel so guilty if I got one for me first . So I thank you for the video on the GPX140 because I think I’ll get that for my 2boys to share .
What do you think about a 05 ktm 450sx? I thinking of buying one of those. Any advices would be good
I can sum up this entire video, don’t buy an early 4 stroke race bike from anyone.
the first year of the yz450 was 2003 and it was 4 speed until 2006 when they went alloy frame and 5 speed.
they where yz426 in 2000-2002.
To be fair Clint id say all bikes need the oil filter oriented correctly to work properly.
i wish i had your channel 6 years ago when i was basically a kid woulda saved me lots of money lmao
Nobody's is buying old 4 strokes , they aren't worth anything.
Im staying on a 2 stroke, the simplicity of it is king.
Just a couple caveats 1. The manual decompression lever is not a problem. The auto decompression can easily be swapped on with a factory 03-05 yz450f cam or an aftermarket hot cams. 02 was still a 426 but with ti valves(they got ti valves in 01) I believe all yz450f(2003-2005) had the 4 speed gear box. I don't have any experience with the yz250fs but the early (98-99) yz/wr400s had the throttle plates crack. That was the only Yamaha carb issues I was aware of.
" any bike is a good bike if you have strong enough mechanical skills" and other quotes I've heard over the years that gave me heartburn lol.
time stamps my dude with bike model and year aint nobody got time for this lol
If you put the oil filter in backwards 😧😧😧
Can’t wait to see u rebuild that 05 behind u
Same. I have a 05 that needs valves right now so I want to see what he does before I order parts.
2003-2005 honda crf450f doesn’t exist.. it’s a 2002-2004 and 2005-2008 R version
I have an 01 wr 426 I bought about 2 months ago and so far I love it I love the decompression lever because not everyone can start it
I sure am glad I can still go out and buy a Yamaha 2 stroke.
Thompson Maria Taylor Jennifer Johnson Larry
I'm shocked the 97 CR250R wasn't on the list
Cannondale quads were animals and race tuned an race ready from the factory
This is actually kinda hilarious but my 06 RMZ 450 is having that exact problem you described where it will start easy but doesn’t like the idle backfires and pops do u have any tips on locating the problem
Uhhh jetting obviously
You can say with a high level of UNcertainty?
Would you recommend a trail master 250
Worst bike I ever had was an 01 CR125, I seized the crankshaft twice, rebuilt the top end an additional 2 times and all of this was in 6 months, bike was truly a lemon. I know he ranked the 02-04 YZFs as 10th, but I had an 03 and an 04 YZ250F, raced them all the time, I broke some clutch plates in the 03, had the oil reservoir drain bolt come out and seized the crank, but the 04 was the best bike I ever had. 200+ hours with only a valve adjustment and I was racing the intermediate class a lot on it. I had buddies on the early Hondas and KX/RMZ250s that would thrash motors left and right, but the YZF worked great for me.
01 was a great year for Honda 2 strokes. Think you are either illergic to 2 strokes, or you got it from a dude that ran the piss out of it and didn't take care of it
@@patrickmeyer9905 I bought it brand new from a Honda dealership, I really think there was a manufacturing flaw in the cases that didn't let the crankshaft align properly in the cases, I sold that bike and made the buyer aware of the issues I'd had with it, but I had a 2001 CR250 that worked great and I even bought a 2002 CR250 that I still have to this day and it's been great bike. Nothing against Hondas whatsoever, but by 2003 the YZ250F had such a power advantage over the 125s I started racing Yamahas.
@@patrickmeyer9905 I know for a fact I took great care of the bike, I cleaned the air filter every ride, kept the gearbox oil changed regularly and always had it jetted right for the temperature and elevation. I think I rode the Novice class back then so I don't think I was running it too hard like a pro would.
@@TheTanner218 Bad apple? I've heard from friends that the 01 125s and especially the 250s were really good bikes
@@patrickmeyer9905 that's what I thought, I liked the power, handling suspension and everything when it was running, but the motor would just blow up way too often.
I own an 05 Crf250r with aftermarket head and valves, incredible bike but you should’ve mentioned how decent their carburetors were for the year! Can’t wait to see what happens to the 05 behind you
I ride a 2005 crf230f right now. Been looking into the 250R lately tho, do you think it’s worth it to try to sell the 230 and put some extra money out of pocket into the 250R?
@@chriscuddy633 absolutely! Just find one that runs and take care of it, if it’s hard to start I guarantee it’s the valves every time, check the clearances every 10 hours and you should be fine
@@chriscuddy633 had my 04 Crf250r for about a year never had a problem only thing is clutch is kinda slipping cause it’s never been upgraded and I ride it hard
I always hear that aftermarket heads were required.
good thing i have a 2008 WR450F
I have a 2004 KTM 450 EXC. I'm just gonna say this, they are extremely reliable and near bulletproof BUT working on them is such a pain in the ass. I've taken my entire bike apart multiple times and it is by far the hardest 4 stroke I've ever worked on. They also have an extremely low oil supply so you have to change the oil frequently. The RFS engine is such a great engine but it is very complicated and very tedious. There are some things on this bike that just make NO sense at all. I can't recommend getting one if your not mechanically inclined or don't know how to work on them. Besides that it is a torque monster and a power house and definitely a lot of fun. There's plenty of good things about these engines too but don't expect it to all be good.
i agree i have an 09 450 xcf tore it down for visual inspection when i bought it looked perfect so i updated the oil pump and installed a je piston and a dirt tricks tensioner
The RFS motors taught me how to work on 4strokes . The hardest bikes to rebuild , but when built right they are great - Breaking the Timing chain ( Rivet removal and push in) just to remove top end is a pain .
So if you don’t ride four strokes or 125s …
00-02 Honda CR125r. *No* power.
Kx450f what is a good year
how is 2007 wr250f and 2020 crf250f ?
Great information thanks for sharing!
I own a 2017 yz450f currently. But my 2013 yz450 I had before I rode really well on that bike. I really enjoyed it and thought it handled really well 🤷🏽♂️. There’s alot of bikes that people talk bad about and I have ridden most of them and have noticed some of the things they were talking about. But I never really had any of the issues that most people talk about with the 10-13’s. Could just be my riding style. I actually bought the new 2023 yz450f and sold it last year and went back to the 2017. I like the wider feel the older yz’s had.
I would say don’t steer away from the 2010-2013 yz450f. They are bullet proof bikes. With the best suspension any other bike had back then. And the motor was a ripper. If you’re not a pro then I would think you’d really enjoy it. Atleast I did haha. Good video though!
Hi, do you have any experience or thoughts about:
2010-2012 Husaberg FE 390 Enduro,
2009-2012 Husaberg FE 570 Enduro,
Suzuki RMX450Z
AJP PR5
AJP's SPR line
2018-2022 AJP PR7
Thanks.
Bought a new 01 Yamaha YZ 250 F and hated it because of the hard starting problem. Put it in storage and bought a 03 YZ250F and loved it. Recently got the 01 out of storage and installed the decompression cam. Starts easy now, and runs perfect. Think I'll take a chance and let my grandson ride it.🙄
Dang, what are the odds I own all 1 of 6 of them, 2 of 2, 3 of 1 & 4 of 1 of these? No wonder I'm the worst rider in my area! I'm faster on my Big Wheel...makes sense now! lolol jk! Great vid as usual!
2013 kx 250f's have been notorious for creating impromptu 'inspection windows' through the crank cases over the years; however, I have a hunch that's because people are installing crappy top end kits
So basically get a 2 stroke 😂
Yeah it is really don't like running well on zero or no oil.... And throwing those camchains through lthe bottom of the case is pretty much totals on us out your motorcycle completely making it totally worthless.... Of the whole textbook for part numbers and things you'll need to buy besides camchain
YAMAHA!!! RULES!!!
I knew someone who has a 2015 kx450 and his son changed the oil and put the oil filter in backwards like you say and ruined the motor it only had 10 hrs on the new bike. 🤦🏻♂️
I had a 2001 Suzuki RM250 and it didn't have 6 gear I think I had 5 years and it wouldn't it was slower than my KX 100 1989 Shortly later the RM blew up anyways and stuck a little bit of money in it and cause look at it like a lost cause Shortly later the RM blew up anyways and stuck a little bit of money in it and cause look at it like a lost cause!
Best bikes ere Yamaha DTR or KDX , I had 4 DTR s , and a KMX 200 an YZ250 , I like the DTR better, 2 strokes are the best