4 stroke vs 2 stroke, decision!

DerickYZ
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608
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Salamanca, NY, USA
I've NEVER owned a four stroke in my life, I've raced for 5+ years, C class MX rider and I'm planning on doing harescrambles here and there. I can pace with A riders in the woods very good, weird? Anyhow, I've owned a brand new YZ250 2 stroke before, a 2015. I loved the bike, it was everything I wanted. Sold it because of future plans, that now aren't happening anymore. I'm in the market for a brand new bike. I want another 2 stroke because I can do all the work myself. I've always been told I'd be faster on a 250F, because its WAY easier to ride them. I don't want a 450, no way in hell. The biggest thing that scares me about a 250f is blowing them up and being in the hole ALOT. I would buy a YZ250F if I had my pick because I've always rode Yamahas. Help?! Thanks Vital Forum guru's!
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adam8781
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671
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CA
7/4/2016 4:55pm
owned and loved both, if you cant afford to fix and rebuild a 4 stroke all the time get another 2 stroke.

yes they are way easier to ride. the yz250f is a great bike i must say. are you buying new 4 stroke or used? this plays a huge factor i must say
7/4/2016 5:14pm
I'd get a 2017 KTM/Husky 250/300. They're supposed to be incredible and my '12 250xc was a great bike.

You can run those things forever, and they are the easiest dirt bikes to work on ever made.

Honestly, they're easier than YZ's to fix in my opinion.
7/4/2016 5:35pm
I would stick with what you know...2 strokes for life!!!!!
7/4/2016 5:37pm
Just saw this on kickass 2 strokes:


The Shop

DerickYZ
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7/4/2016 7:50pm
DerickYZ wrote:
I've NEVER owned a four stroke in my life, I've raced for 5+ years, C class MX rider and I'm planning on doing harescrambles here and...
I've NEVER owned a four stroke in my life, I've raced for 5+ years, C class MX rider and I'm planning on doing harescrambles here and there. I can pace with A riders in the woods very good, weird? Anyhow, I've owned a brand new YZ250 2 stroke before, a 2015. I loved the bike, it was everything I wanted. Sold it because of future plans, that now aren't happening anymore. I'm in the market for a brand new bike. I want another 2 stroke because I can do all the work myself. I've always been told I'd be faster on a 250F, because its WAY easier to ride them. I don't want a 450, no way in hell. The biggest thing that scares me about a 250f is blowing them up and being in the hole ALOT. I would buy a YZ250F if I had my pick because I've always rode Yamahas. Help?! Thanks Vital Forum guru's!
I'd buy a brand new 4 stroke, no question about it. I had a 250 2 stroke, my YZ. Which had a GYTR flywheel weight and some other goodies but I never got to ride it with the weight to really see if I'd like it. I guess they help the 2 strokes KINDA ride like a 4 stroke
DerickYZ
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Salamanca, NY, USA
7/4/2016 7:52pm
See now I have a 03 CR125. I like it, but it's been nothing but a hassle to ride. I miss my YZ's and I'd buy another in a heartbeat. I did have a KTM 125sx, an 05....that thing was unreal. I could ride that bike atleast 2.5 seconds faster a lap than my other bikes, even my 250s. I'm a huge fan of 125s and that's why I own one now, they're just fun
adam8781
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CA
7/4/2016 9:47pm
DerickYZ wrote:
I'd buy a brand new 4 stroke, no question about it. I had a 250 2 stroke, my YZ. Which had a GYTR flywheel weight and...
I'd buy a brand new 4 stroke, no question about it. I had a 250 2 stroke, my YZ. Which had a GYTR flywheel weight and some other goodies but I never got to ride it with the weight to really see if I'd like it. I guess they help the 2 strokes KINDA ride like a 4 stroke
Im on a yz250,

gearing
gytr flywheel
head mods
pipe
timing mods

i love it, that being said i can go balls out on a 250f lap after lap making less mistakes using less energy. If you can afford a new yz250f, try it, you have already had a yz250. giver with the 250f. buying new pretty much guarantees it wont blow up, keep an hour meter dont slack on maintenance. they are 15x more reliable than they used tobe.


my solution, own them all lol
pete24
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Marlborough, MA, USA
7/5/2016 6:19am
buy a yx250x two stroke its a great track bike, better than the yz, and if any body tells you that you need a ktm/husky, because of all the developemnt, they have done as opposed to the current yz yzx, ask them how good a deal they got,AFTER, they deal with the two cinder blocks attached to the front end, that wp calls forks
WVUpetro2013
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Hurricane, WV, USA
7/5/2016 6:47am
If you liked your yz, then get another one. I would buy what you know you like vs taking a risk of a bike you may not gel with. In my experience in the woods, there is no significant difference in someone's speed if they are on a 250f or 250 2t. I'm currently running a 15' 250sx with a flywheel weight, pipe, and revalve suspension and could not be happier. Just my 2 cents though.
Lasse
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DK
7/5/2016 11:34am
2 stroke for the funfactor and ease of maintenance.
r.sal923
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7/5/2016 12:34pm
I am a 4 stroke track guy. But have a husky 300 for the woods. The yz250f is a great bike for the track, I don't like 4 strokes in woods because of over heating and boiling over. If I had to do one bike it would be a yz250 or a sx 250. my 2 cents
kylant
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South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
7/7/2016 6:59am
2

4 stroke maintenance is stupid.
I have a ’16 ktm 450 that i just sold. ’17 Husky tx 300 with my name on it
victor16
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Gainesville, FL, USA
7/7/2016 10:36am
DerickYZ wrote:
I've NEVER owned a four stroke in my life, I've raced for 5+ years, C class MX rider and I'm planning on doing harescrambles here and...
I've NEVER owned a four stroke in my life, I've raced for 5+ years, C class MX rider and I'm planning on doing harescrambles here and there. I can pace with A riders in the woods very good, weird? Anyhow, I've owned a brand new YZ250 2 stroke before, a 2015. I loved the bike, it was everything I wanted. Sold it because of future plans, that now aren't happening anymore. I'm in the market for a brand new bike. I want another 2 stroke because I can do all the work myself. I've always been told I'd be faster on a 250F, because its WAY easier to ride them. I don't want a 450, no way in hell. The biggest thing that scares me about a 250f is blowing them up and being in the hole ALOT. I would buy a YZ250F if I had my pick because I've always rode Yamahas. Help?! Thanks Vital Forum guru's!
Hahaha... funny!
basalt
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Woodland, CA, USA
7/7/2016 11:50am
ktm ride day.
mb
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Columbia, SC, USA
7/7/2016 5:11pm
Ride a 4 stroke before you buy one, you will have 50% of the fun you had on the 2 stroke.

2 stroke all the way.
DerickYZ
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Salamanca, NY, USA
7/8/2016 6:39am
mb wrote:
Ride a 4 stroke before you buy one, you will have 50% of the fun you had on the 2 stroke.

2 stroke all the way.
That's exactly what I'm afraid of. I'll lose the fun in riding if I were to ride a 4 stroke plus the cost if it blows up...I think I'll just stick to my trusty 2 smoker Laughing Cool
7/8/2016 8:55pm
I'm probably the same skill level as you and i had an 02 yz250f that I rode the shit out of for two years in the woods and on the mx track...never let me down once. It was still on the original top end when I sold it to buy an 04 crf250r. Unfortunately that bikes valves went out only after a few months and I was pretty disappointed. I haven't owned a bike since 07 cause financial reasons but if I were to buy a new bike right now I would be yz250x.
colintrax
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Taylorsville, GA, USA
7/8/2016 9:05pm
DerickYZ wrote:
I've NEVER owned a four stroke in my life, I've raced for 5+ years, C class MX rider and I'm planning on doing harescrambles here and...
I've NEVER owned a four stroke in my life, I've raced for 5+ years, C class MX rider and I'm planning on doing harescrambles here and there. I can pace with A riders in the woods very good, weird? Anyhow, I've owned a brand new YZ250 2 stroke before, a 2015. I loved the bike, it was everything I wanted. Sold it because of future plans, that now aren't happening anymore. I'm in the market for a brand new bike. I want another 2 stroke because I can do all the work myself. I've always been told I'd be faster on a 250F, because its WAY easier to ride them. I don't want a 450, no way in hell. The biggest thing that scares me about a 250f is blowing them up and being in the hole ALOT. I would buy a YZ250F if I had my pick because I've always rode Yamahas. Help?! Thanks Vital Forum guru's!
Have you rode a KTM? Particularly the new air forks?
7/9/2016 6:45am
mb wrote:
Ride a 4 stroke before you buy one, you will have 50% of the fun you had on the 2 stroke.

2 stroke all the way.
What exactly is "more fun"
Most people can ride a 4t faster
4t has smoother power delivery
4t will allow you to recover from mistakes easier.
I get the 2t is different. but what exactly makes it more "fun"
Most people gauge their fun by how fast they can go around
the track, being able to dice with and pass others. If you're
doing that more on the 4t, how are you having less fun?
In the dark here
both are fun just different
MxKing809
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Big Sand Whoops, MI, USA
Fantasy
7/9/2016 7:41am
I went the 2T route..... I'll leave this picture here. Both the Hondas are for sale.



colintrax
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7/9/2016 9:00am
ToolMaker wrote:
What exactly is "more fun" Most people can ride a 4t faster 4t has smoother power delivery 4t will allow you to recover from mistakes easier...
What exactly is "more fun"
Most people can ride a 4t faster
4t has smoother power delivery
4t will allow you to recover from mistakes easier.
I get the 2t is different. but what exactly makes it more "fun"
Most people gauge their fun by how fast they can go around
the track, being able to dice with and pass others. If you're
doing that more on the 4t, how are you having less fun?
In the dark here
both are fun just different
A 4 stroke feels just as fun as a 2 stroke when you first get on it. But then you jump back on a 2 stroke and remember how much fun the lighter weight, less gryoscropic forces, harder hitting engine is. Personally I feel faster on a 2 stroke, just more comfortable in the corners. It's hill climbs where I miss the thumper. The exciting tire spinning on the 2 stroke just gets exhausting when a thumper walks you up the steep hill.
7/9/2016 9:06am
ToolMaker wrote:
What exactly is "more fun" Most people can ride a 4t faster 4t has smoother power delivery 4t will allow you to recover from mistakes easier...
What exactly is "more fun"
Most people can ride a 4t faster
4t has smoother power delivery
4t will allow you to recover from mistakes easier.
I get the 2t is different. but what exactly makes it more "fun"
Most people gauge their fun by how fast they can go around
the track, being able to dice with and pass others. If you're
doing that more on the 4t, how are you having less fun?
In the dark here
both are fun just different
colintrax wrote:
A 4 stroke feels just as fun as a 2 stroke when you first get on it. But then you jump back on a 2 stroke...
A 4 stroke feels just as fun as a 2 stroke when you first get on it. But then you jump back on a 2 stroke and remember how much fun the lighter weight, less gryoscropic forces, harder hitting engine is. Personally I feel faster on a 2 stroke, just more comfortable in the corners. It's hill climbs where I miss the thumper. The exciting tire spinning on the 2 stroke just gets exhausting when a thumper walks you up the steep hill.
But do you just "feel" faster or are you faster. I personally never got good enough
that I could ride the 2t anywhere near what I could ride the 4t. So for me, I could
do so many more things on the 4t it was a no brainer.
Eddie_E
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Framingham, MA, USA
7/26/2016 7:28am
ToolMaker wrote:
But do you just "feel" faster or are you faster. I personally never got good enough that I could ride the 2t anywhere near what I...
But do you just "feel" faster or are you faster. I personally never got good enough
that I could ride the 2t anywhere near what I could ride the 4t. So for me, I could
do so many more things on the 4t it was a no brainer.
East coast woods riding is nearly the opposite of California riding. It's mostly wet rocks and roots in the fall and spring. tight singletrack is the norm and cooling is important because there are trails where you end up in 2nd gear for a mile before shifting to 3rd. We regularly see a 200 XCW leave the 450's for dead. I own both 2 stroke and 4 strokes and If I went back to woods only, I would be looking for a clean 14' 250 XCW and I'm a Yamaha guy.

My 09' YZ250F was very fast and easy to ride in the woods though. I never overheated it riding fast, but my buddy who bought it to ride with his kids has overheated.
EEE299
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USA
7/26/2016 8:08am
It takes a while to get use to a different bike as well. I've been only on 2-strokes for years now and I can't ride a 4t for sh*t these days. I'm sure I would pick it up but it would take some time.

Another thing for hare scrambles, you will probably be doing WYNOA I'm guessing? Last time I checked they still followed the usual 250A-C so you would race the same class regardless. You would be down on power with a 250f. It wouldn't make a difference in the woods really but when you get to the grass track you'll notice.
Sipes #412
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Tacoma, WA, USA
7/26/2016 10:05am
Just sold my 15 yz450f and going back to a 2 stroke I miss them. Probably going to get a 13 ktm 250sx.
PRM31
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Northern, VA, USA
Fantasy
7/26/2016 10:38am
I've had both. The 250F is easy to ride. Almost like I would imagine how an electric motor would feel. However, they feel very heavy and have a lot of engine inertia that you'll really notice if you let off over a jump, or wherever. I really don't which I would go faster on, but I'm guessing I'd be faster on a 125 2t after a few laps. I could enjoy a 250F for the most part, but I sold mine and am now building an RM125. Find somebody you know with a 250F and take a lap or three.
7/26/2016 2:30pm
I have to agree with the fun factor..
I raced a heavily modified 05 kx 250 for 5 yrs straight and I just couldn't get enough of it..it was awesome riding that thing...awesome.
So I sold it and bought a 14 crf450R which I put a significant amount of engine and suspension work into...and although its an awesome machine...the fun factor isn't there for me.. I used to look forward to racing...couldn't wait to get to the track... now I barely ride..I've barely ridden it in almost three yrs now.. I've raced it like five times and been to four or five different tracks for practice days and I just can't seem to get motivated to ride hardly any more..
But let's not kid ourselves...the 450 is a better race bike... but not much better...but certainly not a better do it all bike.. two strokes are flat excellent at pretty much everything...
Bearuno
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AU
7/26/2016 6:37pm Edited Date/Time 7/26/2016 6:40pm
DerickYZ wrote:
I've NEVER owned a four stroke in my life, I've raced for 5+ years, C class MX rider and I'm planning on doing harescrambles here and...
I've NEVER owned a four stroke in my life, I've raced for 5+ years, C class MX rider and I'm planning on doing harescrambles here and there. I can pace with A riders in the woods very good, weird? Anyhow, I've owned a brand new YZ250 2 stroke before, a 2015. I loved the bike, it was everything I wanted. Sold it because of future plans, that now aren't happening anymore. I'm in the market for a brand new bike. I want another 2 stroke because I can do all the work myself. I've always been told I'd be faster on a 250F, because its WAY easier to ride them. I don't want a 450, no way in hell. The biggest thing that scares me about a 250f is blowing them up and being in the hole ALOT. I would buy a YZ250F if I had my pick because I've always rode Yamahas. Help?! Thanks Vital Forum guru's!
Nothing weird about being an average rider on an MX track, and at a higher level in the bush - and nothing weird about it being the other way around. Just what you are better at, or the risk / reward factors being weighed up within your scone.

250Fs easy to ride? - absolutely - for the beginners / perpetually lower level riders (that's not a slagging of people) out there. So yes, they are Way easier to ride, slowly to semi fast, for some.

I always put forward that once you are going seriously quick, the 250Fs are no easier to ride, when comparing capacity to capacity. especially when a 250F is modified to the hilt - look at the 'dog on lino' antics of the 250 / MX2 class riders closely.They are utterly pinned at stratospheric revs, not using the 'gentle' nature of an F when being puttered around.

You loved your YZ250. You keep up with A riders in the bush - were you having difficulties doing that due to the bike? If not, well, what's the problem?

You've had a YZ - if you are buying new (well, there will be used ones out there now), it sounds like the YZ250X would be perfect. Some tests have said the WR gearbox makes it better as an MXer than the MX gearbox. And, there are a lot of tuning options (like flywheels) that can make the 2t even easier to ride.

The KTMs / KTHuskies have had, for near onto a couple of decades now, enormous tuning options with just the PV Springs and their pre-load. I'm stunned by the amount of owners of them that don't even know of those opportunities. Seriously, to own a bike and Not know about such easy tuning options amounts to idiocy.

I've nothing against 'F's - I own / owned far more 4ts than I do 2ts , I just despise the prevalent 'handicap class rules' that has bought them to dominance. The rules need to be changed, at all racing levels, in all branches of Motorcycle Racing .

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