New vs Old 2 Strokes - Fun Comparison

I think the key is just having the bike setup properly and not be clapped out.  Historically, I'd buy new 250 2-strokes and rebuild older 125 2-strokes.  I had just as much/more fun on the 125s but that is considering the fact that I refreshed them from the frame up and made sure they were in great shape, overall.

That said, working on new bike is always awesome compared to old bikes because you don't inherit any hidden headaches.

At the amateur level, the last generation CR250 and RM250 are still competitive, but power valve and gearbox parts availability is an issue.

The fun factor depends on the person and their preference!

Seems like they are stilling working some bugs put of the fuel injected Austrian smokers from reading other vital threads.  I'd hate to spend all that $$ to be a beta tester or have significant down time with issues.

You could split the difference between your two options and pick up a new or recent year lightly used YZ 2 stroke which is a proven platform with wide parts availability.

If  the YZ doesnt do it for you, I also see a lot of fairly clean previous generation Austrian 2 strokes for reasonable prices. Now that they are no longer the latest generation you may be able to find a low hour garage queen for a good deal.

Also, it depends on your definition of fun and how much you want to spend.  I like wrenching on bikes, and a resto project would be cool, but riding them is a lot more fun, so something reliable that leaves more cash left over for gas, tires, and track fees is my vote.

Buy a new YZ...it's basically old tech that obviously still works...and well. Parts are still available and you still get the same feeling as riding a older RM or CR. 

The ktm group efi is cool but isn't polished enough. I'd take some good kyb suspension over efi all day long. 

I have all three.  RM,CR and new gen Austrian fuel injected.   All awesome.   My new MC250 is the best stock 250 I’ve ever had but it certainly does not obsolete my 08 RM or my CR.   
 

Just my 2 cents -

If you’re hard on equipment don’t rebuild an old bike to ride every weekend, it’s too pricy to keep these old 2strokes going..  

Buy a new one and beat it up and find parts easy when you need them.   
 

On the flip side if you only ride once in a while and are easy on equipment I would probably buy the nicest low hour RM or CR you can find and enjoy it.    

2019-2022 250SX golden era for 250 two strokes imo. I own a new TBI 250SX, and a 2020 also that I’ll never sell. TBI is cool but expensive and time consuming to make it run like you want, give me jets and pv springs, sending ecu’s out and getting a generic remap ain’t it but forced to deal with it now. 

YZ’s and 2006-2008 RM’s also get the nod from me.  

If you get a chance you should buy both old and new, to me they are equally fun.

The correct answer is both of course…. Whenever I get into a riding funk or need to change things up… I pop one of my 90”s 2 strokes under my ass and get that feeling back…

I do not own but have ridden a few new Austrian bikes. I have a 96,. 02 CR250 and a 20 KX450. I'm 66 and still love moto. I obviously cut better lap times on the 450. Riding and racing was originally on 2 stroke so there is a place in my heart riding them. I enjoy my older 2strokes more than the newer Austrian bikes, in part because the suspension is not up to par for me on the new WP. Very picky about how my bikes feel on the track .Nothing better than passing guys on an old bike, being an old guy. Looking into possibly getting a YZ250 for the parts availability.

Get a new one, like my YZ250. It's a... uh... well, I guess it isn't so new. 2006. 

I have 1979 Yz 250 that I race in vintage events with and have a blast, but it really make me apprciate my modern 2 stroke.

I have a hopped up 2018 KTM 250SX and a 2023 KTM 300SX. 

I'm probably faster on the 300SX lap time wise and smoother. But if you are just talking fun, the older one is WAY more fun and feels faster. The newer 300SX TBI feels somewhere between a 2 stroke and modern 4 stroke. The old one feels like a 55 horsepower 125!

As a side note the 300SX feels heavier and less flickable based on the actual added weight along with the smoother motor, which takes away some of the fun factor. But still feels a lot lighter than a 4 stroke.

The last couple year RM250s are one of the most fun bikes ever made, they feel like a full on old SX bike!

The new KTM air forks actually work really good, most people who bad mouth them probably have never even used them or bothered to set them up.

2017 thru 2022 ktm125,150s are really good also.

Having a 2000s Japanese smoker is nice unless you wanna ride often. So hard to find parts and keep them running, at least that was what I found with RMs.....

Efi sounds like a pain, they'll be sorted soon.

Been riding my 01 CR 250 for several years now. Parts are becoming a real pain to find and, scrounging around eBay is BS. I’m also having issues sourcing parts for a 04 CR 125 my kid rides. 

Recently, I’ve been reading more and, more about  the Beta 300’s. Both the RR and, RX seem like decent bikes. I just don’t know enough about them to pull the trigger (yet). 

With the TSP ERM, you can adjust anything on the new TBI bikes. A handful of brass is nice, but this really opens up a new world 

If you want the convenience, reliability and modern features - get a new one 

If you want something unique to take pride in, enjoy from time to time (including the work), and love it for what it is - get an old one lol 

IMO old 2t’s make really cool second-bikes, but I wouldn’t prefer one to be my ‘daily driver’. I loved my 05 kx125, but I was glad I had the option of my modern bike 

I see you’re a 250 guy. I would only go with the cr250.  1 cr will out last 4 rm,s. The big GH 2-st race that was a stock bore cr250 Surrat,s bike the rest where 300,s.  The cr250 is a fast bike modded.  The cr250 has a worxs feel to it the cr125 also.  I know a co that made the complete pv setup for cr,s.  Long process to release the parts. Rumor that another co is making main shafts & cases.  Not lookin for attention for having a unique bike . But I hear it every time at the track what yr is that , those cr125,s always looked good, etc. that’s kinda neat & ya think about it . It’s a orety cool feeling riding an old 20 yr old bike fast.   I think the 04 cr125 or know it has the best chassis & it feels soo good your comfortable rt away.  I didn’t ride for 12+ yrs bikes stolen . I never walked the track & jumped everything the 1st lap. I usually do 4-5 lap heaters & haven’t been passed in 2 yrs. I see young riders trying to run me down , I just step it up a notch or 2. New 125,s & 250f so old bikes r competitive. I wouldn’t be killing myself doing 1099 yo race if otherwise. Only 1 ride with a fc revalve the rest with a 4 hr bike totally stock suspension. The oil is from when the bike was new. I bought it  from Mn. Where it’s far below zero . That has to be bad on suspension oil. The forks bottomed hard a couple times , I just locked in to get real smooth.  

My '24 300SX feels like it's a magnet drawn to earth. I dig carbs and KYB, but this bike came cheap and with WMR maps, Enzo shock and a Coppersmith Ohlins spring fork leg. Handles great, sticks in a flat turn and crisp linear power everywhere...lots of confidence. Easier on my arms than my mod'd 200SX. Oh yes, running '17 YZ front end w/'06 cast triples for a bit. 

I'd say good choice would be the Beta 300RX w/KYB...come on now. No Choice! 

Think a good way to go are the 2019-2022 KTM and Husquarna  GasGas 250/300 or a Yamaha YZ 250 , bulletproof Bikes 
 

I will keep the 2021 TC 300 for another 1-2 years and than maybe a Brand change after 25 years on KTM , as i dont want a TBI 300 

Think about a Beta RX 300 , never ride one but that is an interesting bike with the KYB Suspension 

As a second one i ride the KTM SX 360 every 2-3 weeks ,love that Bike think one of the best Two Stroke Engines ever made , but parts are hard to find 

Both as others have said. I have a new gen YZ125 and also a 1996 YZ250 I use for evo class racing. I also love taking the 96 to specific tracks on practice days.  I do stay away from deep sand tracks on the older bike just for longevity sake, however Yamaha does have more parts available for the older bikes than many other brands. The 99 and up 250 engine, nearly everything is available and if you were to look for a 250, a 99 or ‘00 YZ would be a great option. 

They're all good !  Just bought a new Beta 300RX. Buds have KTM 300SXs and those are some really sweet rides as well. Late model YZ250s are rockets. LOVE LOVE LOVE my KTM380SX for Bomber class. For vintage and post vintage my 370 Buls are really good on a vintage style track

This all day long. 

Raced TM300's for a while and had great fun, everything is available

I am guessing the last of the RM250's are still decent, i race an 89 RM250 here in Evo events, but with half a dozen 6 moto weekends, you gotta have 2 if you are serious. 

Never underestimate how much $$ you can but into a $1200 beater to get it race ready IF you can find the parts. 

But its more fun racing it now on the right tracks , than it was back in 89. 

Hey Pro. When you say the CR will last longer, do you mean the engine in general? Or is there a specific part? I’m always curious about vintage bikes. 

If it’s not your only bike the old smokers are cool and competitive but they require work and parts are to find. 
 

If you want something you can just get on and ride a new smoker is hard to beat. I went from a really nice 03 Honda 250 to a 21 Ktm 250. The Ktm isn’t drastically better but it does do everything a little better and ergoes are better for me on the Ktm also at 6ft. 

Not exactly what you're asking, but my built '75 TY175 (heavily modded trials bike) I prefer over my '18 Sherco 250..

Only complaint on the old bike is the trans isn't quiet as smooth shifting, but the fun factor is way higher and the ride ability for someone at my skill level is about the same. 

I've seen a guy with KTM's going back like yours. Very cool, but he runs STIC meter blocks on all of them. He's considering swapping in the new more powerful Super X carb, even though he is well above stock power. I use a slow turn G2 cam to control my 200SX Super X mayhem.

Did you ride the RX300 and the SX300 back to back for comparison ? Would be interesting

Is the KYB on the Beta the same SSS Suspension like on the Yamaha?

I regularly ride my 2003 Rm 250, is it like a new bike?  Definitely not.  But at the level I ride at I’m not drastically different on the old Rm than on my modern bike.  In fact, ergos wise, I actually feel more comfortable on the late 90s / early 2000s bikes as that was the era I was riding and racing every weekend.  They generally feel softer and less aggressive to me. 
 

Mine is set up exactly how I like it, but bolts still rattle loose, and some parts have 20 years of use on them so I wouldn’t want to only own an older bike.  I always take my modern bike as well incase something breaks and cuts the day short.  
 

Can’t beat them for fun factor though, and most older guys love to come and have a chat about older times.  Even better when someone around your speed on the track is on an older bike that you can actually pretend the modern world doesn’t exist! 

Haven't ridden the Beta yet but will update soon as I do.  I've been told that the KYB are same...i know looking at spring numbers they're the exact same. I can't guarantee they are the same but have read and been told that.  The 300SX is rocket, swear it seems faster than my GasGas 450 

as you can see in background I've got both but when you're 50 plus with shit knees an electric start fuel injected 300cc 2stroke is hard to beat.