All

Agree on a 2K budget I’d opt for a 250 2 stroke. If you take money out of the equation I have found I prefer a 2 stroke for woods/off road riding, and a 4 stroke for MX. So in a perfect world I’d have both and one set up for each!

The engine is great. 98

I'd go with an intermediate/hard set-up. By the time we get through this isolation thing, we could be into warmer weather. The int/hard tire will work in the A.m. and the p.m. when tracks start drying out. Carlino Joes recommendation is good.

How in the hell did you get it FREE? Somebody with Covid lick all over it? You guys on the Bernie plan out in CA? Looks like a great bike you got for FREE! Congrats!!!

First bike I have seen on here for free.

The Dunlop MX33 is a good all around tire for So Cal.

I don't get the comments about being miserable on a stroke ^ Yes, they are harder to ride with more shifting, less torque etc... but they can be more fun. Like @2F4A said maybe a 150/ 144 just gives you that little more power and more forgiving if you're in the wrong gear

With your budget I would stay away from any 4 stroke. My best advice would be to save up a bit more to buy a decent maintained KTM / Husky 350 4 stroke. The bike you are coming from being a 4 stroke the 350 is going to give you more confidence then any 2 stroke. It is easy to ride and is amazing fun. You are a big guy is assume so I would make sure the bike you will get has the proper springs in it for your weight. If you still want to go for the 2...

Not in Southern California in the area he’s in. There’s tons of yz250’s out here for that price

100% I had a new kxf250, used my brothers 10 year old cr125 and loved it so much I sold the kxf and bought myself a 125. so much fun, I don't think I'd ever get another 4stroke again. I'm a intermediate rider and for my speed etc... I'm more than happy on a 125

Fact that you have a low budget plan on having to spend another 3 to 5 hundred, chain, tires, bearings etc. Also any other worn parts, so i would say yz250 all day, pretty sure no other bike has part availability luke the yz, search ebay and you will see.

They don't get wrung out as hard, typically don't need as high of a rebuild frequency. I had one that was vet mx'd, cross-country raced and trail ridden for 10 years on one top end. Seriously. Still was tight and had great compression. Outside of crash damage freakin' thing was absolutely bullet proof.

Later model yz250 at least 03 plus i believe the same applies for the ktm 250/300. Some engine changes that make getting parts easier nowadays like cranks n such. I know for certain that the yz250 is pretty much the same thing 03 through 2020 engine wise.