Best 06 2-Stroke | Honda vs Suzuki

Both bikes are great, BUT many parts for both bikes are no longer available new, power valves, gearbox, shifter forks, cdi, etc...

What you want out of a bike should determine your choice, both will put a big grim on your face!

I've already made my choice...

I’ve owned both. I’d take the RM 250 all day. But…. The parts for the RM are getting harder to get and the prices are ridiculous for the hard to find parts. 
tranny gears are unavailable, amongst other engine parts. 

Thread title is confusing. 
 

YZ 250 is without a doubt the best ‘06 2 stroke. 😉

The YZ250 is the best '06 2 stroke for parts!

Step into the 21st century and forget those antiques dude

The 2024 YZ250 is still the best 2006 two stroke.  


 

The YZ250 is a great bike, but the 2024 is not the same bike as the 2006!

The basics of the bike are not much different over all those years, but I was just having some fun. 
 

The 02-07 CR 250 motor is bullet proof. With some good porting and right squish it runs really good.

If you choose the CR, be sure the airbox issue is/has been addressed or you'll have a ticking time-bomb on your hands. 

I been watching a 2005 RM250 for sale near me….listed at 5k… its not moving…when it gets around 3k, I might take it….

That Honda motor has a light switch powerband. Not easy to ride. 

From that era, the RM250  is one of the best 250s you could get. It's pretty much a YZ clone with the Suzuki chassis. As much as Yamaha insisted the aluminum frame was identical to it's steel predecessor, its not.

and I much preferred the previous version owning both.  Loved the 01.

As others have said though, parts are the issue.... hard having one of these as your main bike now.

Would be cool to the results of they redid a shout out from that a lot again.

Back then it seemed like the trend was favouring snappy, aggressive motors.The cr seems like it would suit todays riding styles better. It’s so easy to ride smooth and not lose traction everywhere. At the end of moto you can still push the cr hard, you’re not worn out from holding onto it.

Ummmm Kawasaki? The bike was made for bubba to compete against 450’s!!

I love my 07 kx250!! 

That’s just the foam sealant from boot to box. Order a new foam gasket & smear silicone on both side . And you’re good. The cr250 is the best feeling bike next to the 125. A stock bore cr250 won s moto at gl 2-st race last yr against 300,s.  The 250 bark & mean sounding pull through the mid is the best on the cr250.  Suzuki did hold nothing back on there engine , it’s great.  And it feels good too but there made like crap and single up. A cr with 2,000 hrs still feels great. 

I have a modded 04 cr and the power really suits a fast rider (not me). I don’t think many 250s can beat it from mid to top. The overrev is insane, even with a shorty

Why are you particularly pinpointing a 2006 model of either? 

Why not 2005, or 2007??

Not perfect and probably a little bias but one of the YouTube folks did a 'shootout' of last gen Jap two strokes not long ago.

Same tyres and a suspension setup done to all of them.

May have been Greg Hitchko?

Linkhttps://youtu.be/tcKFbB-gXM4?si=7TUZc7GACLngAN9Y

If you go for the RM - best to get an 07/08 model. The 06 is an awkward year with the motor rotated slightly less in the frame and the silencer mount is different to the 07 08.. considering most of the aftermarket pipes are made for the 07 08 model - this leads to sealing issues / frustration and cracks.

I had to give the edge to the RM on this one. The Honda is more powerful by a hair, but I think the RM was better carburetored (sp?). Both would benefit from a slight flywheel weight. Tough choice 😎

Oh wow I never heard about this! Is the 2005 same as 2007?

Good info 👍

Im pretty sure 04-05 are the same. 06 is 1 off. 07-08 is the same. (with regards to engine angle / muffler mounting)

I have to agree with blockhead17...........the '05 - '07 KX250 was the best 2 stroke of that era. I own 3. I have one with well over 500 hours. (Rebuilt many times and proper maintenance)  Best of both worlds, with a steel frame, but a perimeter frame. Mega power, and most importantly, Kawi green

06 RM250 test: https://motocrossactionmag.com/on-the-record-complete-test-of-the-2006-…

06 CR250 test: https://motocrossactionmag.com/2006-honda-cr250-test/

06 KX250 test: https://motocrossactionmag.com/mxas-2006-kawasaki-kx250-test/

06 YZ250 test: https://motocrossactionmag.com/on-the-record-complete-test-of-the-2006-…

06 250SX test: https://motocrossactionmag.com/mxas-2006-ktm-250sx-test/

2006 Shootout: https://dirtbikemagazine.com/the-last-full-2-stroke-shootout-the-wrap/

I have some slightly different information on the RM.

05 was one type, then fir 06 the motor was tilted a few degrees- this remained the same 06, 07, 08. 
 

with regards muffler mounts- there was no difference because of model years, but because of Euro/US models. 
 

the Euro models had 2x muffler mounts. The US models had 1x muffler mount.

Any CR can be made to work, It seems the best years for the CR250 are prior to ‘05. 
 

I was surprised in the MXA test of the 250SX. They really had nothing bad to say about, other than it was from a smaller company. Put a newer front fender on it and you’re good to go 👍