Ive had many 4 strokes but the first time I rode a 2 stroke 250sx Ktm I was hooked. The way the power is delivered, how light the bike is and lack of engine breaking…it’s perfection.
I think this oversimplifies things. Yes, the expert who won 1st at my last race would still beat me if we switched bikes. But both of us would be slower. Plus, some learning riders don't realize that a bike is making the learning process harder. Incorrect suspension will make you more tired and at greater risk of crashing, power delivery they're not ready for can cause accidents. Don't blame your bike, but do understand it and know how it's complementing your progress, and make sure it isn't hindering it.
@@CommieHunter7 I couldn’t agree more. I’ve ridden the 2022 TE300 vs the 2022 Fx350 and yes both are amazing bikes but after riding it was clear one bike suited my preference and ride style, terrain. Would I like both bikes, absolutely and could I make a case for both bike? Always, I love dirt bikes!
This is why I own them all... 2T, 4T & Electric! They’re all sick! Massively prefer the 4T in the hard slick stuff, but if there is traction or sand... 2T love! 🥰 Electric removes the hassle of all of it. Ride anywhere, no biotchy people, no oil and air filter changes. So fun to hear the tire spinning/grabbing without the engine noise. Wild experience and such a smoooth ride!
Love your perspective! I got a YZ250 as my first dirtbike and spent a whole year second guessing, even buying a YZ125 along the way. After a year and a half, I'm now feeling comfortable on the YZ250 and enjoying it much more!
Like most modern 2 strokes, actually. The Sherco 300 SE is the same, unbelievable torque off idle, pulls in a near straight line all the way to the top. Hard to argue with them and I've been 4t all my life 🙂
I hate a 2 stroke sound, and got a 4 stroke for that reason. But I can't deny that the way the 2 stroke power band functions, and how light a 2 stroke is keeps me thinking about switching for my next bike, but I wouldn't. Simply because I love a 4 stroke sound, and the reliability is wonderful, especially a 4 stroke from a Japanese manufacturer. And besides that where I live we ride every weekend and even during the week if there's time, we don't have to load the bikes on a trailer to go somewhere, we just jump on and ride 10 minutes and we're in the bush and on the mountains.
Love it! I started riding at 40, grabbed a Husky FE 250 and best decision I ever made for riding 5 years ago. A few friends started on KTM 4stroke 350's, long story short I ride a GasGas EC300i now and all of them quit riding when the got hurt and struggled to develop their skills on the more powerful bikes. Honestly, I could still be riding that FE 250 now if getting a new bike wasn't an option. The FE 250 forces you to develop your clutch skills and ride a little more aggressive as you don't have the bottom end torque but the bikes are awesome with all the power you need without them wanting to kill you if you make mistakes.
This is just my take: 2t - Vibrates, top end rebuilds, loves being throttled, has a lot of punch, less prone to stalling, really good at lugging, no engine braking (more momentum kept when off throttle), worse gas mileage, less gyro intertia, not great for longer days depending on how much endurance you have. 4t - I break down into DOCH (350) and SOCH (500) 350 - likes higher rpms, valve checks more of a pain for maintenance, less inertia (good for tight trails, more flickable), more clutch feathering required, doesn't lug as well as a 500 or 2t, best mpg. 500 - likes low end, lugs better than a 350, more linear power band, valve checks easier than 350, more inertia and engine braking (less maneuverable), "The lazy bike", can be in a higher or lower gear and it still works well, less clutch feathering, better mpg than 2t, worse than 350, obviously faster than the 500. Much of this can be changed (to a point) with mods (gear ratio, rekluse, fuel maps, etc.) In 2023, at least with the euro bikes, the 2t and 4t weight differences are not extreme. (all are 200-238ish lbs) Which one is best? I'ld say the smaller 4t are probably the best do all on dirt. 2t for enduro/hard enduro and larger 4t for hill climbs/more flowy single track.
2022 FX350 is a great mixture of fast,nimble and traction especially for Enduro single track. I came close to buying the 300 2 stroke but for me the 4 stroke is more planted and easier to ride in hard single track.
I feel the same way. I took my WR250R and YZ250 to some trails. I was so happy and carefree on the 4 stroke. Rip the throttle and just cruise around. The 2 stroke had my brain so focused on keeping the damn front wheel down and not crashing. The power is wild. I also had to really work the clutch where the 4 stroke I could just kinda leave it in gear and go.
Wonderful to hear a no bs explanation. I blew up an xr in 1988 ish. Swore I'd never own a 4st dirt bike again, until a 15 year break off dirt and a good mate offered his 350 excf for a great price. Great bike does everything I need. In fact it is capable of much more than a 53yr old hack can squeeze out of it.
Great video on picking bikes. I've coached a few friends through this decision and I always go back to what a good friend told me once. He told me to always get the bike I would have the most fun on. I was tired of mixing gas and cleaning up spooge at the time and I wanted to get a four stroke. My first 2 bikes we're an 85 CR125 and next was a CR250. Absolutely fell in love with the 250 2T at the time. Years later with no bike in my garage, I went and test rode a dual sport Suzuki that I had envisioned as being my next bike. When I arrived at the owners house that Suzuki was parked next to a YZ250, McGrath era yammie. I rode both bikes and I couldn't decide what to do. I was tired of 2 strokes but man the Yamaha made me smile. Bought the Yamaha and not the Suzuki and kept it a long time till I ended up buying a modern day fuel injected 4 stroke Yamaha. It looks pretty sweet sitting next to the new to me 03 CR250 which I ride most of the time cause its just more fun to ride! My friend was wise I must say.
This is hands down the most accurate description of the difference between 2T and 4T. Compared to all the super technical videos out there with specs, lap times, etc, this shits all over them. Because it's not technical! It is like marriage counselling lol! Not science. Ride some bikes and buy the one that puts the biggest fricken smile on your face! My story... Got into dirt bikes as an adult on an XR250. Motor shat itself so I got a WR250R. This was when I was still trying to figure out what was important to me in a bike. Got over the WR and decided to spend some bucks on a 2020 enduro bike. Narrowed it down to a Husky. Went to a ride day (pre plandemic) and rode all but the 250f and 450f (they weren't on my radar). Coming into the day, I had my HEAD set on a TE250i but when I rode the FE501 I fell in love with it. It just felt like it fit me like a glove. I was yahooing under my helmet like I'd rediscovered motorbikes. Guess what.... I ended up buying the fricking TE250i still! I let my head decide and not my heart. I thought the 250 would be better to learn on, better for the type of riding I was doing, a bit different to all the 4 strokes out there blah blah blah. All was irrelevant because after 18 months of not gelling with the 250 I'm trading it in for a 501 and I can't fricken wait. Choose with your heart and don't listen to what anyone says but Adam! 😜
First 90sec of the video was of more value than 2 months of watching 2t vs 4t BS. Great stuff and thanks for putting in the time to put it out there for everyone!
That's why I love two stroke bikes, Beast mode is where my heart rate shoots sky high. I love the hard pull of two stroke bikes. Twist the throttle and hang on.
I was torn between 2t and 4t as well. I'm 60%desert and 40% woods of my woods riding 15% is technical. So I ended up with a yz450fx and a GG ex300. YZ does everything well and accels in the desert and the 300 2t is awesome in the woods no flame out in the knar.
Good message...I have owned several motorcycles in my life but even if they weren't the best of the best, I loved them and found a way to ride them and get the adrenaline release I was looking for. Now moving to dirt bikes, I just went big and bought a 501. It can be a bit of a handful in tight stuff, but it just makes me a better rider to learn how to adapt to a less than perfect machine and make it work My riding buddy is going to swap machines with me on our next outing so I can try a 300 2 stroke
I am lucky enough to own a 2007 CR 250 and also a 2010 CRF450X. I grew up riding both 2 strokes and 4 strokes and both have there place for different riding conditions. I always love the raw power of the CR just so much fun . It is always fun to watch a younger rider who has never ridden a 2 stroke before take the CR for a lap , they usually over shoot the first corner as there is no engine braking but they just can’t believe how much fun it is to ride after only being on 4 stroke MX .
Best bike buying advice video I've come across and I was looking for my 1st dirt bike for the last 5 years...Picked up a 2006 KTM 200xcw and its way too much bike for me, but I love it because it keeps me humble and hungry to learn how to tame it. Coming from street bikes and 25 years on a mountain bike, there's a lot that translates and I love the idea that I'll never outgrow the 200xcw. Keep the inspiring videos coming! Cheers from Northern California 👊
Just picked up on this video Adam in 2024, very good info. I used to have a CR500R road legal , it went everywhere back in the early 90s in the Uk , but then I was a lot younger. I found with the proper gearing it was brilliant on the road and then you could go off road also. But again it was a dirt bike and you felt it after a day of riding. Best bike I've ever owned was a KDX 200 , it did 90 mph and was as light as a mountain bike, it was such a blast through trails and off road, shame they dont make it anymore. Just sold my T7, lovely bike but too much now I'm older and now looking to go back to a 2 stroke.
After years of riding from 85cc to 530cc Enduro bikes, mx bikes, 2 strokes 4 strokes, I have a simple advice to give just be confident with whatever bike you have but at the same time respect it even if it is a 85cc 2 stroke! My first bike was a ktm sx 250 2 stoke, I could barely touch the ground with my feet it was definitely the wrong bike for me but I went slow and respected the bike and after 6-7 months I was totally in tune with it. Also it's a good idea to test drive as many bikes as you can.
great video Adam, for the average rider, people should just buy what ever is the most fun. Doesn't matter if its a 300 2 stroke a 200 4 stroke! if your having fun on the trails your winning. Because that's what its all about
This is a great vid; Ride whatever makes YOU smile most. The bikes I ride most are an old 950S and a postie. Why? No other reason than they both plaster a shit-eating grin on my face from ear to ear.
Ive ridden both and i love 2 strokes, started off on them and am not a great rider but overall i think the 4 stroke power delivery suits my riding ability better. On my Husaberg FS570 I was riding so much better than ive ever ridden on any 2 stroke ive had and ive had some very fast 250's over the years.
Funny i had not ridden a dirt bike since i was 18, now 44 i was totally confused and torn what to do. Ended up going with my gut as i was raised on 2 smokers. Grabbed a 2021 Beta 250RR 2 stroke and so happy i did as i get all the fun and hard-core hit of the 2 smoker but it is fully street legal!! Best of both worlds if you ask me ! Love the vids man.
I think you may be cutting the modern 2-stroke a bit short on the riding ease, especially for trail riding/enduro. Modern 300's are torquey, highly luggable, smooth, light weight. Very easy to ride. My Beta 300 is a pussy cat, but can attack if desired.
The adverage weekend warrior will be faster more consistent and use less energy on a 4st. If you want to go fast, are not fit and want to keep up with the group or a beginner a 4st is the go 100%. Even Jarvis and the guys will be on 4strokes for the more open races . Only exemption is really nasty extreme slow tech stuff on the 2st which not many people actually ride , let’s be honest . But i want to have max fun and have a bike I can fix everything on myself . So I will keep buy 2 strokes until they ban them !
Two strokes actually have more bottom end torque. You can’t compare a 300’s bottom end torque to a 4-stroke because the 4-stroke will be stalled at the 300’s bottom end RPM
@@willschofield1210 Depends on terrain. Where I ride, New England woods (tight, technical single track), a modern is 2st is much better. Easier to ride (particularly the Betas), lighter, more agile, and MUCH more stall proof than a modern efi 4st. I was a 4st guy for many years - until I tried a 2st a few years ago. I still always have a 4st in the stable, which i use for dual sporting rides. But a 2st for woods hands down.
Well said I think fro. My experience as a 47 year old rider for trail riding technical and rugged steep terrain cannot beat the 300 two-stroke so tractable power just chugs up anything if u stay on the bike and cheaper maintenance and does big hours on a set of piston and rings
I tried a 4t and the engine braking was wild to me. I could get used to the linear power though, 2t is not too fun on the road for more than about 15 minutes for me.
Great answer - ride what makes you happy! Learning on a two stroke definitely makes you a better rider. Four strokes feel like cheating afterwards. Mrs wanted to come to the MX track but no quads allowed so picked up a tidy low hours one owner 150SX. Not the easiest choice coming from a 525XC RFS motor ATV but she’s a capable rider and wicked on a horse. 8oz flywheel weight and some tweaks to the jetting and she’s getting to grips with it. Been playing on it myself setting it up, man it’s great fun!😁 I love two strokes and I’ve got a 300EXC I ride in the desert which I’ve set up like an XC. SXS CDI for the desert, EXC CDI for the rocky rides. Cone forks and Trax shock for +/- 4 clicks from trails to MX to desert. Lectron 38HV carb for crisp fuelling. There’s easier ways to get round the desert but the hit of the big bore smoker is worth the extra effort. There’s no feeling like a big bore smoker on the pipe. Or any smoker on the pipe, that little 150 is electric… trying to convert the mrs from four stroke to two stroke… listen to her, when she’s singing to you like that, you know you’re in the zone!🥰
This was the best answer to this question I have ever heard. I think it's time for me to get a 2-stroke. The 4-strokes kind of have me a bit bored. I need some excitement.
You said it all at the first. If your out there to just ride safe and see the view or you want to ride your enduro to the place where you want to ride, 4strokes. If you are want to actually want to ride hard, climb some serious hills and aren't afraid of getting hurt, 2 strokes.
"It's like marriage counseling'' Too true! And in either case the problem seems to be too much talking and pondering and not enough riding. Another problem seen too often especially with riders just getting into dirt or getting back to it is expecting one bike to be useful on the highways till the trails or track and then expecting the same bike to also be useful in the rough stuff. And bigger doesn't make it any better either. As a complete noob I find my little 2Stroke homemade trail bike contraption perfect for me on the trails, while mostly useless everywhere else. The 250 4S lack the hit for a weekend junkie and anything bigger is often too much to handle. Great video and wise words as always! Thank you for making some of us feel somewhat sane.
Great topic Adam, all i know After owning 15-20 dirt bikes moto and enduro I’ve ended favouring 125cc/150cc for motocross and 250/300cc for the bush all 2 stroke mate brrrraaaaapppppp ✊
I find a lot depends on what you ride if you ride slow technical hard enduro type stuff a two stroke doesn't overheat like the four stroke. the four strokes are good in the faster stuff because they tend to track straighter than a two stroke over the chop.
Great video Adam Ive always been a far of Honda, I bought Grants old KLX 250 and then I rode his CR500 and I fell in love with it, went out and sold the KLX a few weeks later
When I first started riding dirtbikes (@Yalwal), as an adult with BMX & MTB skills, I found the old TTR-250 a fantastic 1st bike, it made obstacles (big logs, rock step ups, etc) extremely manageable. I Got a YZ-125 after that, what a single track weapon, and I did all the work on it myself. With places to ride the YZ in short supply, I got a WR-250, and I thought I was "fast" on it... A visit from Hollis to our bush track (@Lorne) *showed reality to me* . I can't get out as much as I used to, so the bike that's still in the shed is the YZ-125, for the smiles per hour it gets.
Goes to show theory is lot closer to reality than my old tafe book stated: "Theoretically the two stroke engine should develop twice as much power as a four stroke cycle engine of the same displacement, but in reality this is not achieved due to reduced cylinder breathing efficiently" - Sean Bennet Heavy Duty Truck Engine 4th edition
2021 Husky 300 TX i... after 15 years of 4-stroke and 15 years of 2 stroke and MX/arenacross.... Love the smokers. But absolutely, ride what your comfortable with.
I've riden both 2t and 4t but my riding style is best suited with a 2t. Slower, tighter trails are where I ride 99% of the time and they are just awesome in the woods. They lug around effortlessly and open up when I want it to when the trail opens up!
I bought a 2001 CR250 & barely rode it. I really wanted a 125 but the 250 was such a good deal that i bought it 3 years ago & only rode it once. I crank it every now & then but haven't ridden it.
good insight... need some marriage counseling........ looking for my first dirt bike.... recommendations? though about a 350 xcfw, but they dont make one for 23.... 300xc/w? coming from tracking street bikes, not looking to race... but feeling the dirt..long rides, and open woods or desert.. dont know enough to prefer pds or not... thoughts? never road dirt... a few quads maybe...
I came here looking for this exact answer to by my first motorcross bike, you answered it perfectl....Watching the CR lap made me think I was driving the millennium falcon! 😂😂😂😂
2 years ago i started on a drz125 then went to a sxf450 cause it was cheap and in perfect condition as a family member didn’t ride it very often at all, after about a year i decided to get a sx250 aswell and love both bikes equally for different reasons, overall if possible try both then you get the best of both worlds
In my opinion it comes down to 3 things. 1. Your type of riding: - Fast Riding... 4t -Technical Riding... 2t 2. Skill level A highly skilled 4t rider would beat all reasonably skilled 2t guys in technical riding and Vice versa. The bike is only 10-20% what you can do on a bike. The rest is up to you. 3. Preference: what you feel good on is what you will ride better on. If you enjoy the peaky power and minimal engine breaking of a 2t. You will likely be more comfortable to push yourself to a higher level skill on it. And vice versa. But what you like for your skill and type of riding. At the end of the day neither is outright better for things unless you are a pro Like Graham Jarvis or Steve Holcombe
That was actually a very valuable vid for me to watch right now. I haven’t been on the bike for a few years and I never spent much time on a 2 stroke, but I really want to give a 300 2 smoker ago. So I’m going to by one. Thanks for that.
haha "It's like marriage counseling." Brilliant video, thank you SO much for covering the topic. Watched every second of it and will forward it on. Well said!! 💪
I think I will always lean towards 2strokes. I have owned both In various shapes and forms. I Just cannot gel with the 4strokes. They always feel heavier even if they lighter on paper, they flame out randomly and they run alot hotter.
I bought a 2T and loved it, but realized I wanted something street legal to ride to the offroad site. finally settled on a KTM adventure bike and a 500 exc.
Brings an old meme to my head. Paid 10k for a brand new 4 stroke only get passed by a 10 year old smoker and even fluttered on it's way while over taking. 😄 I love two strokes and everything about them! :D
But... but. You still haven't told me what bike to buy!! :) Good point about the dealer actually. I went to the local Honda dealer, and asked what bike he had. It was a BMW. Anyway, I bought the Honda regardless, because it's what I wanted. Thanks Adam, I love the videos.
This is spot on. I want to support boutique Italian companies. Hence, I ride Italian Husqvarna, Beta and hopefully a TM soon. Who do I want to have my money and what are they giving me in return?
I tried a 250xc then a 250xcf and a yz250f. I dont knkw why but i just gel with the 4t more. Im new to riding though. The 2t was way more intimidating and felt like a beast. The 4t felt more manageable and playfull. Not sure what to get still.
Adam, good video and always respect your thoughts. The chat about 2 strokes being aggressive and all top end is probably a little dated and related to bikes from 5 or 10 years ago. The modern 300 two strokes from brands like Sherco and others with electronic power valves and even the TPI bikes with the old mechanical power valve systems are all incredibly torquey and smooth to ride. Every bike has a place and suits a different rider for sure, but having owned both the 300 SEF and the 300 SE Shercos and ridden the 450/500 models too, the 300 2T is a very smooth bike to ride. All the best 👌
@@tcmx712 A little bit of both really. They arent all top end like an MX bike, but they have a very linear delivery from down low and still strong up top. Also proving to be a long lived engine. Sherco got all their team bikes to the end of the Dakar without mechanical issues on the original engines. Definitely worth a look.
@@tcmx712 Certainly one to add to the shopping list. Good dealer support in Australia and now build up in the US as well. There's other great bikes out there, certainly, but I reckon Sherco is where its at
@@Danger_mouse yeah I'm up in Broome so dealer support for any brand is non-existent. We have a Kawasaki shop here but they have to order everything in anyway haha. If I was moving back to the south west I was looking at the 300sef but now I'm staying up here maybe the 450sef might be the go
Truer words could not have been spoken. If you don’t ride & own what your heart desires it is a miserable experience. I come from a road riding background & used to own an FZ6, loved every minute with it. For noble reasons I let it go a number of years ago & kept my wife’s bike as our only bike we would both ride, which was a 650 VStrom. Good bike but I hated it & riding for a long time sucked and became merely transport to me, didn’t want to go on weekend rides at all. Fast forward to the last couple of months & I have switched to off-road! Three brands were on my radar and 2 capacity types, either a 300 2T or 450 4T. No matter how good KTM & Husky’s are and I really really like them, they couldn’t win my heart and steal me away from a Yamaha. Sorry for the long story, but don’t put yourselves through what I did a number of years ago. Buy & own what you want. It’s truly a miserable existence when a bike turns in to merely transport. Bikes are more than that.
I learned on 2 strokes, you are 1000% correct. 4 strokes are like riding a Cadillac. so easy. I hear people crying about a snappy 4 stroke and I laugh...
I found that I am only thinking about what the next bike could be only when I am not riding my current bike. All of this goes away as soon as I hop on it.
Can´t be more agree with u. 40 years ago someone told me "best money invested.....gas and wheels", 2 or 4 strokes?¿ what difference does it make....just enjoy.
I ride a 86 250R 4TRX and loved it in the dunes, just got my first dirt bike and went with a 22 KTM 250sxf and glad I didn’t listen to people to go 450 😂
2 years ago, i was at enduro school as novice, the have almost all KTMs, for the start i choose KTM 300 EXC, i was very fun and hard, so they suspended me to KTM 250 EXC-F, than i ran much faster a it was much easier that 2 stroke, but it was also less fun. If i want to buy, i will buy 300 EXC., i will be last everywhere, because dont have skill for that bike, but i will be happy :)
The best advice I’ve been given and it was from a former Australian MX champion, he said, the only people that can ride an open class bike (I.e., like a 450 for example) to that bikes designed limits gets that bike for free.. Unless your name is Billy Bolt or Todd Waters than a 450 isn’t the bike for you..
The only thing I do not like about my 2stroke is lack of engine braking while going down steep single track, I had several 2 strokes and I have never rode a modern 4 stroke I will admit, back when I started they performed like a dog, my current is a xcw 300, but I had several 500’s and they where flat out dangerous and very difficult to master, they left me drained fighting for control. The 300 hits the sweet spot for me with some added mods like a heavy flywheel and custom tuned suspension calving, and it has a power valve which helps tune the power band, the ergo makes it flickable through tight technical, and the snap of the power on demand hurls me over obstacles with ease, plus maintenance is cheap and easy, $150 for a top end refresh in a hour, how much does a modern 4s rebuild cost? Yeah you can keep you 4s I’m sticking with my smelly little beast
Just got 22 yz 125cc a few weeks buddy, and I think Yamaha are so close to making the perfect 125 that needs nothing . My only complaint is it’s a 5 speed which isn’t a big deal unless you take it in the bush . The suspension feels that good it feels like I’ll never need to adjust it, it’s just works well everywhere …. You’re right Adam needs to check this reimagined yz out . It’s one of the most iconic models ever made and Yamaha finally fixed its weaknesses Eg brakes and more power and better ergo .
The only brand new bike I have buy for my son all my bike's I spend more time fixing them then rideing them lol but it don't matter what I ride I ride it well 🏁☝️
A rider needs exposure to both in order make the decision for them self. Get good enough at riding so that people can trust you on their machine, then ride as many of other people’s machines as ya can before committing to buying something for yourself. Due to emissions laws, it’s hard to find the “best” beginner bikes which were the 175cc-200cc air cooled 2 stroke enduros (IT, early model DT, CT, RT, TS, PE, KE). Then graduating into a 200cc-350cc something with adequate suspension and brakes like the late 80’s to early 90’s XT, DT, TW, XR, XL, CRM, KLX, KDX, and DR. Also depends greatly on starting age as a late teen to grown up will simply overwhelm the chassis of a classic youth beginner bike like the PW50, GT80, KX100 big wheel etc.
If you a beggener and you want to do enduro a four stroke is a lovely easy bike to ride but if you get better and start real technical riding a four stroke flames out at low revs like on the rocks and you fall hard a 2 stroke can run at mutch lower revs without flaming out but are harder to climb hills because they very aggresive they both lovely bikes but each rider has to make a choice what he or she is more comfortable on
Worth the price paid of hearing you educate the 2wheel newbs, to see and hear Chuckie ring thru the CR on a heater, he is the definition of pinned, are so fortunate to see him on your farm track going for it. Thx
Hi! I raced in motocross and enduro btw the ages 13-18. My last bike was a 250 2t Enduro which I loved riding. It was feeling like a part of body. Now, I’m not riding since 2013, but will come back next season to ride for fun. I was thinking about getting a 2t, and your video was a confirmation for me! However, there’s still a question. 125 or 250 after this long break. I will ride in easy mx tracks in Ontario. (When I was riding, 125s usually felt harder to ride in tracks due to the lack of power and traction , especially in sections where jumps are closer to the corners. Although now, 250s’ power scares me as I had a long break, I know that 125 will feel the same after the 4th-5th ride:) ) What would you get if you were in my position? Thanks!
If you like engine braking buy a 4 stroke. If you don't, buy a 2 stroke. Plus I ride 2 stroke modulating power with clutch. Constantly. Clutch is key on 2 stroke. 4 stroke needs uoshifting to relieve that compression that's going to make the suspension feel loaded up and unstable. Figure out what process suits your style and desired riding requirements
It’s only as fast as you want it to go…. Until you hit a rut on a 08 rm250 on a 40ft table top crank the throttle and do a superman unintentionally, clear the jump and when the back wheel touched down let go slide off the seat and face plant the ground…. 🤣 That was 2013… just brought a rmz 450 for light enduro as I ain’t going near no jumps ever again ! Just leisure riding
Ive had many 4 strokes but the first time I rode a 2 stroke 250sx Ktm I was hooked.
The way the power is delivered, how light the bike is and lack of engine breaking…it’s perfection.
90% Rider skill, 10% Bike performance, learn how to ride people's, remmember to have fun, another great review Adam
I think this oversimplifies things. Yes, the expert who won 1st at my last race would still beat me if we switched bikes. But both of us would be slower.
Plus, some learning riders don't realize that a bike is making the learning process harder. Incorrect suspension will make you more tired and at greater risk of crashing, power delivery they're not ready for can cause accidents.
Don't blame your bike, but do understand it and know how it's complementing your progress, and make sure it isn't hindering it.
@@CommieHunter7 I couldn’t agree more. I’ve ridden the 2022 TE300 vs the 2022 Fx350 and yes both are amazing bikes but after riding it was clear one bike suited my preference and ride style, terrain. Would I like both bikes, absolutely and could I make a case for both bike? Always, I love dirt bikes!
People's what?
This is why I own them all... 2T, 4T & Electric! They’re all sick! Massively prefer the 4T in the hard slick stuff, but if there is traction or sand... 2T love! 🥰
Electric removes the hassle of all of it. Ride anywhere, no biotchy people, no oil and air filter changes. So fun to hear the tire spinning/grabbing without the engine noise. Wild experience and such a smoooth ride!
Love your perspective! I got a YZ250 as my first dirtbike and spent a whole year second guessing, even buying a YZ125 along the way. After a year and a half, I'm now feeling comfortable on the YZ250 and enjoying it much more!
Road a TM 300 (counter balance) this weekend. So tractable on bottom and linear to the top end hit. Best two stroke power band I ever felt.
Like most modern 2 strokes, actually.
The Sherco 300 SE is the same, unbelievable torque off idle, pulls in a near straight line all the way to the top.
Hard to argue with them and I've been 4t all my life 🙂
300s shit all over 4strokes.
@@maxrpm2215
Depends what you are doing, both good at different things 👍
@@maxrpm2215 I'd take a 450/500f over a 300t for anything other than 1st/2nd gear single trail any day
@@tcmx712 different strokes for different folks.
I hate a 2 stroke sound, and got a 4 stroke for that reason. But I can't deny that the way the 2 stroke power band functions, and how light a 2 stroke is keeps me thinking about switching for my next bike, but I wouldn't. Simply because I love a 4 stroke sound, and the reliability is wonderful, especially a 4 stroke from a Japanese manufacturer. And besides that where I live we ride every weekend and even during the week if there's time, we don't have to load the bikes on a trailer to go somewhere, we just jump on and ride 10 minutes and we're in the bush and on the mountains.
Love it! I started riding at 40, grabbed a Husky FE 250 and best decision I ever made for riding 5 years ago. A few friends started on KTM 4stroke 350's, long story short I ride a GasGas EC300i now and all of them quit riding when the got hurt and struggled to develop their skills on the more powerful bikes. Honestly, I could still be riding that FE 250 now if getting a new bike wasn't an option. The FE 250 forces you to develop your clutch skills and ride a little more aggressive as you don't have the bottom end torque but the bikes are awesome with all the power you need without them wanting to kill you if you make mistakes.
This is just my take:
2t - Vibrates, top end rebuilds, loves being throttled, has a lot of punch, less prone to stalling, really good at lugging, no engine braking (more momentum kept when off throttle), worse gas mileage, less gyro intertia, not great for longer days depending on how much endurance you have.
4t - I break down into DOCH (350) and SOCH (500)
350 - likes higher rpms, valve checks more of a pain for maintenance, less inertia (good for tight trails, more flickable), more clutch feathering required, doesn't lug as well as a 500 or 2t, best mpg.
500 - likes low end, lugs better than a 350, more linear power band, valve checks easier than 350, more inertia and engine braking (less maneuverable), "The lazy bike", can be in a higher or lower gear and it still works well, less clutch feathering, better mpg than 2t, worse than 350, obviously faster than the 500.
Much of this can be changed (to a point) with mods (gear ratio, rekluse, fuel maps, etc.) In 2023, at least with the euro bikes, the 2t and 4t weight differences are not extreme. (all are 200-238ish lbs)
Which one is best? I'ld say the smaller 4t are probably the best do all on dirt. 2t for enduro/hard enduro and larger 4t for hill climbs/more flowy single track.
That was, Spot On, in my opinion... Thanx for sharing!
2022 FX350 is a great mixture of fast,nimble and traction especially for Enduro single track. I came close to buying the 300 2 stroke but for me the 4 stroke is more planted and easier to ride in hard single track.
I feel the same way. I took my WR250R and YZ250 to some trails. I was so happy and carefree on the 4 stroke. Rip the throttle and just cruise around. The 2 stroke had my brain so focused on keeping the damn front wheel down and not crashing. The power is wild. I also had to really work the clutch where the 4 stroke I could just kinda leave it in gear and go.
Wonderful to hear a no bs explanation. I blew up an xr in 1988 ish. Swore I'd never own a 4st dirt bike again, until a 15 year break off dirt and a good mate offered his 350 excf for a great price. Great bike does everything I need. In fact it is capable of much more than a 53yr old hack can squeeze out of it.
Great video on picking bikes. I've coached a few friends through this decision and I always go back to what a good friend told me once. He told me to always get the bike I would have the most fun on. I was tired of mixing gas and cleaning up spooge at the time and I wanted to get a four stroke. My first 2 bikes we're an 85 CR125 and next was a CR250. Absolutely fell in love with the 250 2T at the time. Years later with no bike in my garage, I went and test rode a dual sport Suzuki that I had envisioned as being my next bike. When I arrived at the owners house that Suzuki was parked next to a YZ250, McGrath era yammie. I rode both bikes and I couldn't decide what to do. I was tired of 2 strokes but man the Yamaha made me smile. Bought the Yamaha and not the Suzuki and kept it a long time till I ended up buying a modern day fuel injected 4 stroke Yamaha. It looks pretty sweet sitting next to the new to me 03 CR250 which I ride most of the time cause its just more fun to ride! My friend was wise I must say.
This is hands down the most accurate description of the difference between 2T and 4T. Compared to all the super technical videos out there with specs, lap times, etc, this shits all over them. Because it's not technical! It is like marriage counselling lol! Not science. Ride some bikes and buy the one that puts the biggest fricken smile on your face!
My story... Got into dirt bikes as an adult on an XR250. Motor shat itself so I got a WR250R. This was when I was still trying to figure out what was important to me in a bike. Got over the WR and decided to spend some bucks on a 2020 enduro bike. Narrowed it down to a Husky. Went to a ride day (pre plandemic) and rode all but the 250f and 450f (they weren't on my radar). Coming into the day, I had my HEAD set on a TE250i but when I rode the FE501 I fell in love with it. It just felt like it fit me like a glove. I was yahooing under my helmet like I'd rediscovered motorbikes. Guess what.... I ended up buying the fricking TE250i still! I let my head decide and not my heart. I thought the 250 would be better to learn on, better for the type of riding I was doing, a bit different to all the 4 strokes out there blah blah blah. All was irrelevant because after 18 months of not gelling with the 250 I'm trading it in for a 501 and I can't fricken wait. Choose with your heart and don't listen to what anyone says but Adam! 😜
First 90sec of the video was of more value than 2 months of watching 2t vs 4t BS. Great stuff and thanks for putting in the time to put it out there for everyone!
That's why I love two stroke bikes, Beast mode is where my heart rate shoots sky high. I love the hard pull of two stroke bikes. Twist the throttle and hang on.
I was torn between 2t and 4t as well. I'm 60%desert and 40% woods of my woods riding 15% is technical. So I ended up with a yz450fx and a GG ex300. YZ does everything well and accels in the desert and the 300 2t is awesome in the woods no flame out in the knar.
Good message...I have owned several motorcycles in my life but even if they weren't the best of the best, I loved them and found a way to ride them and get the adrenaline release I was looking for. Now moving to dirt bikes, I just went big and bought a 501. It can be a bit of a handful in tight stuff, but it just makes me a better rider to learn how to adapt to a less than perfect machine and make it work
My riding buddy is going to swap machines with me on our next outing so I can try a 300 2 stroke
I am lucky enough to own a 2007 CR 250 and also a 2010 CRF450X. I grew up riding both 2 strokes and 4 strokes and both have there place for different riding conditions. I always love the raw power of the CR just so much fun . It is always fun to watch a younger rider who has never ridden a 2 stroke before take the CR for a lap , they usually over shoot the first corner as there is no engine braking but they just can’t believe how much fun it is to ride after only being on 4 stroke MX .
Riemann, that rock garden "plan B" landing from 2:34 was brilliant. I keep watching it over and over.
Always try and have a plan B 😲
@@MotologyFilms 'Ambulance' seems to crop up as 'plan B' time to time.
Best bike buying advice video I've come across and I was looking for my 1st dirt bike for the last 5 years...Picked up a 2006 KTM 200xcw and its way too much bike for me, but I love it because it keeps me humble and hungry to learn how to tame it. Coming from street bikes and 25 years on a mountain bike, there's a lot that translates and I love the idea that I'll never outgrow the 200xcw. Keep the inspiring videos coming! Cheers from Northern California 👊
Yes, Northern Ca! Nevada City here👍
Just picked up on this video Adam in 2024, very good info. I used to have a CR500R road legal , it went everywhere back in the early 90s in the Uk , but then I was a lot younger. I found with the proper gearing it was brilliant on the road and then you could go off road also. But again it was a dirt bike and you felt it after a day of riding. Best bike I've ever owned was a KDX 200 , it did 90 mph and was as light as a mountain bike, it was such a blast through trails and off road, shame they dont make it anymore. Just sold my T7, lovely bike but too much now I'm older and now looking to go back to a 2 stroke.
After years of riding from 85cc to 530cc Enduro bikes, mx bikes, 2 strokes 4 strokes, I have a simple advice to give just be confident with whatever bike you have but at the same time respect it even if it is a 85cc 2 stroke! My first bike was a ktm sx 250 2 stoke, I could barely touch the ground with my feet it was definitely the wrong bike for me but I went slow and respected the bike and after 6-7 months I was totally in tune with it.
Also it's a good idea to test drive as many bikes as you can.
great video Adam,
for the average rider, people should just buy what ever is the most fun. Doesn't matter if its a 300 2 stroke a 200 4 stroke! if your having fun on the trails your winning. Because that's what its all about
This is a great vid; Ride whatever makes YOU smile most. The bikes I ride most are an old 950S and a postie. Why? No other reason than they both plaster a shit-eating grin on my face from ear to ear.
Greatest words ever said about it! Thank you!
Rode it like you stole it...
Ive ridden both and i love 2 strokes, started off on them and am not a great rider but overall i think the 4 stroke power delivery suits my riding ability better. On my Husaberg FS570 I was riding so much better than ive ever ridden on any 2 stroke ive had and ive had some very fast 250's over the years.
Funny i had not ridden a dirt bike since i was 18, now 44 i was totally confused and torn what to do. Ended up going with my gut as i was raised on 2 smokers. Grabbed a 2021 Beta 250RR 2 stroke and so happy i did as i get all the fun and hard-core hit of the 2 smoker but it is fully street legal!! Best of both worlds if you ask me ! Love the vids man.
I think you may be cutting the modern 2-stroke a bit short on the riding ease, especially for trail riding/enduro. Modern 300's are torquey, highly luggable, smooth, light weight. Very easy to ride. My Beta 300 is a pussy cat, but can attack if desired.
Agree, my 300 xtrainer is amazing, so light & easy to ride
The adverage weekend warrior will be faster more consistent and use less energy on a 4st. If you want to go fast, are not fit and want to keep up with the group or a beginner a 4st is the go 100%. Even Jarvis and the guys will be on 4strokes for the more open races . Only exemption is really nasty extreme slow tech stuff on the 2st which not many people actually ride , let’s be honest . But i want to have max fun and have a bike I can fix everything on myself . So I will keep buy 2 strokes until they ban them !
Two strokes actually have more bottom end torque. You can’t compare a 300’s bottom end torque to a 4-stroke because the 4-stroke will be stalled at the 300’s bottom end RPM
@@willschofield1210 Depends on terrain. Where I ride, New England woods (tight, technical single track), a modern is 2st is much better. Easier to ride (particularly the Betas), lighter, more agile, and MUCH more stall proof than a modern efi 4st. I was a 4st guy for many years - until I tried a 2st a few years ago. I still always have a 4st in the stable, which i use for dual sporting rides. But a 2st for woods hands down.
Well said I think fro. My experience as a 47 year old rider for trail riding technical and rugged steep terrain cannot beat the 300 two-stroke so tractable power just chugs up anything if u stay on the bike and cheaper maintenance and does big hours on a set of piston and rings
I tried a 4t and the engine braking was wild to me. I could get used to the linear power though, 2t is not too fun on the road for more than about 15 minutes for me.
Great answer - ride what makes you happy! Learning on a two stroke definitely makes you a better rider. Four strokes feel like cheating afterwards. Mrs wanted to come to the MX track but no quads allowed so picked up a tidy low hours one owner 150SX. Not the easiest choice coming from a 525XC RFS motor ATV but she’s a capable rider and wicked on a horse. 8oz flywheel weight and some tweaks to the jetting and she’s getting to grips with it. Been playing on it myself setting it up, man it’s great fun!😁
I love two strokes and I’ve got a 300EXC I ride in the desert which I’ve set up like an XC. SXS CDI for the desert, EXC CDI for the rocky rides. Cone forks and Trax shock for +/- 4 clicks from trails to MX to desert. Lectron 38HV carb for crisp fuelling. There’s easier ways to get round the desert but the hit of the big bore smoker is worth the extra effort. There’s no feeling like a big bore smoker on the pipe.
Or any smoker on the pipe, that little 150 is electric… trying to convert the mrs from four stroke to two stroke… listen to her, when she’s singing to you like that, you know you’re in the zone!🥰
This was the best answer to this question I have ever heard. I think it's time for me to get a 2-stroke. The 4-strokes kind of have me a bit bored. I need some excitement.
You said it all at the first. If your out there to just ride safe and see the view or you want to ride your enduro to the place where you want to ride, 4strokes. If you are want to actually want to ride hard, climb some serious hills and aren't afraid of getting hurt, 2 strokes.
"It's like marriage counseling''
Too true! And in either case the problem seems to be too much talking and pondering and not enough riding.
Another problem seen too often especially with riders just getting into dirt or getting back to it is expecting one bike to be useful on the highways till the trails or track and then expecting the same bike to also be useful in the rough stuff.
And bigger doesn't make it any better either. As a complete noob I find my little 2Stroke homemade trail bike contraption perfect for me on the trails, while mostly useless everywhere else. The 250 4S lack the hit for a weekend junkie and anything bigger is often too much to handle.
Great video and wise words as always! Thank you for making some of us feel somewhat sane.
I have a restored to like new 1995 CR250. I love it. It does everything I need.
I have tried diffrent bikes over time 2 and 4-stroke, then i got a 2018 ktm 500 exc and I have the most fun ever👍
Great topic Adam, all i know After owning 15-20 dirt bikes moto and enduro I’ve ended favouring 125cc/150cc for motocross and 250/300cc for the bush all 2 stroke mate brrrraaaaapppppp ✊
Can’t beat that hit, just picked up a 150SX for the mrs. Been having some fun on it myself, man it rips!😄👌
WOW, first few seconds into that lap footage and my jaw just dropped, he was giving that CR the beans. Incredible run
I find a lot depends on what you ride if you ride slow technical hard enduro type stuff a two stroke doesn't overheat like the four stroke.
the four strokes are good in the faster stuff because they tend to track straighter than a two stroke over the chop.
Great video Adam
Ive always been a far of Honda, I bought Grants old KLX 250 and then I rode his CR500 and I fell in love with it, went out and sold the KLX a few weeks later
When I first started riding dirtbikes (@Yalwal), as an adult with BMX & MTB skills, I found the old TTR-250 a fantastic 1st bike, it made obstacles (big logs, rock step ups, etc) extremely manageable.
I Got a YZ-125 after that, what a single track weapon, and I did all the work on it myself.
With places to ride the YZ in short supply, I got a WR-250, and I thought I was "fast" on it... A visit from Hollis to our bush track (@Lorne) *showed reality to me* .
I can't get out as much as I used to, so the bike that's still in the shed is the YZ-125, for the smiles per hour it gets.
Goes to show theory is lot closer to reality than my old tafe book stated:
"Theoretically the two stroke engine should develop twice as much power as a four stroke cycle engine of the same displacement, but in reality this is not achieved due to reduced cylinder breathing efficiently" - Sean Bennet Heavy Duty Truck Engine 4th edition
I guess that’s why four stroke motocross engines had to be 400cc to compete with 250cc two strokes.
2021 Husky 300 TX i... after 15 years of 4-stroke and 15 years of 2 stroke and MX/arenacross.... Love the smokers. But absolutely, ride what your comfortable with.
Added wrong... lol, been riding 40+ years...
Best advice ever, you nailed it when you said what do you want to own? My problem was when I was younger I wanted a CR500R so that’s what I got lol
I hope people watch too the end...cr250 lap....soooo cool
I've riden both 2t and 4t but my riding style is best suited with a 2t. Slower, tighter trails are where I ride 99% of the time and they are just awesome in the woods. They lug around effortlessly and open up when I want it to when the trail opens up!
I bought a 2001 CR250 & barely rode it. I really wanted a 125 but the 250 was such a good deal that i bought it 3 years ago & only rode it once. I crank it every now & then but haven't ridden it.
good insight... need some marriage counseling........ looking for my first dirt bike.... recommendations? though about a 350 xcfw, but they dont make one for 23.... 300xc/w? coming from tracking street bikes, not looking to race... but feeling the dirt..long rides, and open woods or desert.. dont know enough to prefer pds or not... thoughts? never road dirt... a few quads maybe...
I came here looking for this exact answer to by my first motorcross bike, you answered it perfectl....Watching the CR lap made me think I was driving the millennium falcon! 😂😂😂😂
2 years ago i started on a drz125 then went to a sxf450 cause it was cheap and in perfect condition as a family member didn’t ride it very often at all, after about a year i decided to get a sx250 aswell and love both bikes equally for different reasons, overall if possible try both then you get the best of both worlds
In my opinion it comes down to 3 things.
1. Your type of riding:
- Fast Riding... 4t
-Technical Riding... 2t
2. Skill level
A highly skilled 4t rider would beat all reasonably skilled 2t guys in technical riding and Vice versa. The bike is only 10-20% what you can do on a bike. The rest is up to you.
3. Preference: what you feel good on is what you will ride better on. If you enjoy the peaky power and minimal engine breaking of a 2t. You will likely be more comfortable to push yourself to a higher level skill on it. And vice versa.
But what you like for your skill and type of riding. At the end of the day neither is outright better for things unless you are a pro Like Graham Jarvis or Steve Holcombe
That was actually a very valuable vid for me to watch right now. I haven’t been on the bike for a few years and I never spent much time on a 2 stroke, but I really want to give a 300 2 smoker ago. So I’m going to by one. Thanks for that.
haha "It's like marriage counseling." Brilliant video, thank you SO much for covering the topic. Watched every second of it and will forward it on. Well said!! 💪
Personaly I've always enjoyed 3-strokes the most. They are the most balanced, just in between 2 and 4 strokes.
''enjoy the experience...'' so true, bravo
I think I will always lean towards 2strokes. I have owned both In various shapes and forms. I Just cannot gel with the 4strokes. They always feel heavier even if they lighter on paper, they flame out randomly and they run alot hotter.
Thank you for your mentality my brother!
Thank you for being!
Stay safe and have fun!
MY BIKE GETS MY JUICES FLOWING, LOVE RIDING IT ,LOOKING AT IT .MAINTAINING IT . 2016 KTM 500EXC SIX DAYS .
Love your content and channel! Purchasing my 4 stroke Honda CRF250RX in the next few weeks! Can't wait!
I bought a 2T and loved it, but realized I wanted something street legal to ride to the offroad site. finally settled on a KTM adventure bike and a 500 exc.
I'm mostly sorted with both, a 450fx and 125x so both ends of the spectrum. Now just hanker after a 250x which will tip the balance to 2 strokes 😝
Brings an old meme to my head. Paid 10k for a brand new 4 stroke only get passed by a 10 year old smoker and even fluttered on it's way while over taking. 😄 I love two strokes and everything about them! :D
But... but. You still haven't told me what bike to buy!! :) Good point about the dealer actually. I went to the local Honda dealer, and asked what bike he had. It was a BMW. Anyway, I bought the Honda regardless, because it's what I wanted. Thanks Adam, I love the videos.
4 stroke for ease of use.
2 stroke for the 'enthusiast' who loves tinkering.
Funny, I would have said exactly the same things, but the other way around. 2 stroke, super easy to use, 4 stroke, endless tinkering.
Thanks AR, modern marketing campaigns are the winner creating indecision and empty bank accounts. Pick a colour and a noise and go ride
This is spot on. I want to support boutique Italian companies. Hence, I ride Italian Husqvarna, Beta and hopefully a TM soon. Who do I want to have my money and what are they giving me in return?
I tried a 250xc then a 250xcf and a yz250f. I dont knkw why but i just gel with the 4t more. Im new to riding though. The 2t was way more intimidating and felt like a beast. The 4t felt more manageable and playfull. Not sure what to get still.
it s a tractor, if you have momentum it has good traction and goes. but it is not as nimble (in hard enduro scenarios it matters)
Adam, good video and always respect your thoughts.
The chat about 2 strokes being aggressive and all top end is probably a little dated and related to bikes from 5 or 10 years ago.
The modern 300 two strokes from brands like Sherco and others with electronic power valves and even the TPI bikes with the old mechanical power valve systems are all incredibly torquey and smooth to ride.
Every bike has a place and suits a different rider for sure, but having owned both the 300 SEF and the 300 SE Shercos and ridden the 450/500 models too, the 300 2T is a very smooth bike to ride.
All the best 👌
Whats your thoughts on the sherco 450 can't find any info at all on them, do they rev out like a mx bike or a more of a bottom end chugger
@@tcmx712
A little bit of both really.
They arent all top end like an MX bike, but they have a very linear delivery from down low and still strong up top.
Also proving to be a long lived engine.
Sherco got all their team bikes to the end of the Dakar without mechanical issues on the original engines.
Definitely worth a look.
@@Danger_mouse thanks for the info mate, I've been using a crf450r for the more open style riding but at 250hrs she's due for an upgrade haha
@@tcmx712
Certainly one to add to the shopping list.
Good dealer support in Australia and now build up in the US as well.
There's other great bikes out there, certainly, but I reckon Sherco is where its at
@@Danger_mouse yeah I'm up in Broome so dealer support for any brand is non-existent. We have a Kawasaki shop here but they have to order everything in anyway haha. If I was moving back to the south west I was looking at the 300sef but now I'm staying up here maybe the 450sef might be the go
Truer words could not have been spoken. If you don’t ride & own what your heart desires it is a miserable experience. I come from a road riding background & used to own an FZ6, loved every minute with it. For noble reasons I let it go a number of years ago & kept my wife’s bike as our only bike we would both ride, which was a 650 VStrom. Good bike but I hated it & riding for a long time sucked and became merely transport to me, didn’t want to go on weekend rides at all.
Fast forward to the last couple of months & I have switched to off-road! Three brands were on my radar and 2 capacity types, either a 300 2T or 450 4T. No matter how good KTM & Husky’s are and I really really like them, they couldn’t win my heart and steal me away from a Yamaha.
Sorry for the long story, but don’t put yourselves through what I did a number of years ago. Buy & own what you want. It’s truly a miserable existence when a bike turns in to merely transport. Bikes are more than that.
I learned on 2 strokes, you are 1000% correct. 4 strokes are like riding a Cadillac. so easy. I hear people crying about a snappy 4 stroke and I laugh...
Riemann, best advise for someone coming into dirt bikes, XR 250, best fun with your pants on. Enjoying your content, keep up the great work.
I found that I am only thinking about what the next bike could be only when I am not riding my current bike. All of this goes away as soon as I hop on it.
The answer is always an XR250 🤷♂️💪
Oh your so on the money mate
Most new bikes I’ve brought I’ve never ridden, but I just wanted them 👍👍🏆🏆
Can´t be more agree with u.
40 years ago someone told me "best money invested.....gas and wheels", 2 or 4 strokes?¿ what difference does it make....just enjoy.
I ride a 86 250R 4TRX and loved it in the dunes, just got my first dirt bike and went with a 22 KTM 250sxf and glad I didn’t listen to people to go 450 😂
The modern 2 strokes as frigging brilliant. As long as they are allowed i can't see any pont in anything other than 2 stroke in my garage :)
Jesus christ... Sanders is an absolute beast!!
2 years ago, i was at enduro school as novice, the have almost all KTMs, for the start i choose KTM 300 EXC, i was very fun and hard, so they suspended me to KTM 250 EXC-F, than i ran much faster a it was much easier that 2 stroke, but it was also less fun. If i want to buy, i will buy 300 EXC., i will be last everywhere, because dont have skill for that bike, but i will be happy :)
The best advice I’ve been given and it was from a former Australian MX champion, he said, the only people that can ride an open class bike (I.e., like a 450 for example) to that bikes designed limits gets that bike for free..
Unless your name is Billy Bolt or Todd Waters than a 450 isn’t the bike for you..
The only thing I do not like about my 2stroke is lack of engine braking while going down steep single track, I had several 2 strokes and I have never rode a modern 4 stroke I will admit, back when I started they performed like a dog, my current is a xcw 300, but I had several 500’s and they where flat out dangerous and very difficult to master, they left me drained fighting for control. The 300 hits the sweet spot for me with some added mods like a heavy flywheel and custom tuned suspension calving, and it has a power valve which helps tune the power band, the ergo makes it flickable through tight technical, and the snap of the power on demand hurls me over obstacles with ease, plus maintenance is cheap and easy, $150 for a top end refresh in a hour, how much does a modern 4s rebuild cost? Yeah you can keep you 4s I’m sticking with my smelly little beast
Hoping to see a review on here for the updated 2022 yz125 🤞
Just got 22 yz 125cc a few weeks buddy, and I think Yamaha are so close to making the perfect 125 that needs nothing . My only complaint is it’s a 5 speed which isn’t a big deal unless you take it in the bush . The suspension feels that good it feels like I’ll never need to adjust it, it’s just works well everywhere …. You’re right Adam needs to check this reimagined yz out . It’s one of the most iconic models ever made and Yamaha finally fixed its weaknesses Eg brakes and more power and better ergo .
who thumbs this down honestly what the fudge!!
great video as always thumbs up from me !!
The only brand new bike I have buy for my son all my bike's I spend more time fixing them then rideing them lol but it don't matter what I ride I ride it well 🏁☝️
Best commentary ever on the subject. 👍👏
I made the mistake of selling my 1999 cr250 and tried a hole heap of 2 & 4 stroke bike but nothing beats the feeling of a Honda cr250 I just love it
A rider needs exposure to both in order make the decision for them self. Get good enough at riding so that people can trust you on their machine, then ride as many of other people’s machines as ya can before committing to buying something for yourself. Due to emissions laws, it’s hard to find the “best” beginner bikes which were the 175cc-200cc air cooled 2 stroke enduros (IT, early model DT, CT, RT, TS, PE, KE). Then graduating into a 200cc-350cc something with adequate suspension and brakes like the late 80’s to early 90’s XT, DT, TW, XR, XL, CRM, KLX, KDX, and DR. Also depends greatly on starting age as a late teen to grown up will simply overwhelm the chassis of a classic youth beginner bike like the PW50, GT80, KX100 big wheel etc.
Another great video... Maaaaan, Chucky was hauling a**! 🤣 Hearing his throttle control is actually helpful. Once again AR1, thanks!
Dirt bike is a passion,follow the passion when go by a new bike! And ride ride ride ✊🏼😉
the beauty of being an average rider (me) in the dirt is... I dont mind what I'm riding cus its always heaps of fun
Thank you so much for this ;) Now it’s time for me to go and learn enduro with a Husq 250 FE !! Merci from France.
If you a beggener and you want to do enduro a four stroke is a lovely easy bike to ride but if you get better and start real technical riding a four stroke flames out at low revs like on the rocks and you fall hard a 2 stroke can run at mutch lower revs without flaming out but are harder to climb hills because they very aggresive they both lovely bikes but each rider has to make a choice what he or she is more comfortable on
Worth the price paid of hearing you educate the 2wheel newbs, to see and hear Chuckie ring thru the CR on a heater, he is the definition of pinned, are so fortunate to see him on your farm track going for it. Thx
Hi! I raced in motocross and enduro btw the ages 13-18. My last bike was a 250 2t Enduro which I loved riding. It was feeling like a part of body.
Now, I’m not riding since 2013, but will come back next season to ride for fun. I was thinking about getting a 2t, and your video was a confirmation for me! However, there’s still a question. 125 or 250 after this long break. I will ride in easy mx tracks in Ontario.
(When I was riding, 125s usually felt harder to ride in tracks due to the lack of power and traction , especially in sections where jumps are closer to the corners. Although now, 250s’ power scares me as I had a long break, I know that 125 will feel the same after the 4th-5th ride:) )
What would you get if you were in my position?
Thanks!
The simple answer is: buy both!
If you like engine braking buy a 4 stroke. If you don't, buy a 2 stroke. Plus I ride 2 stroke modulating power with clutch. Constantly. Clutch is key on 2 stroke. 4 stroke needs uoshifting to relieve that compression that's going to make the suspension feel loaded up and unstable. Figure out what process suits your style and desired riding requirements
Another thing to remember is, if you really dont like it, youre not stuck with it for life. you can always sell it and go find the one you like.
Never liked 4 Stroke singles, so for me it's 4 strokes twins or 4 cyl on the road, 2 stroke off road, way more fun !!
It’s only as fast as you want it to go….
Until you hit a rut on a 08 rm250 on a 40ft table top crank the throttle and do a superman unintentionally, clear the jump and when the back wheel touched down let go slide off the seat and face plant the ground…. 🤣
That was 2013… just brought a rmz 450 for light enduro as I ain’t going near no jumps ever again ! Just leisure riding
I went with a 2 stroke because they sound cool.
Love this video, I still rip the piss out of my dr 400 tank !!! I’m no racer but I still ride fast