2 stroke or 4 stroke. Dont hate me please.

Ranchorat
Profile picture for user Ranchorat
Posts
13
Joined
2/13/2020
Location
Fallbrook, CA US
Ranchorat
Edited Date/Time 4/10/2020 6:03pm
I've been riding for a decade. I'm 30 yrs old, waiver between 210-230lbs. In Good shape. I ride an ATK605 and ride trails and desert mostly. But I want to get into riding motocross. Not competition but just for fun.

I dont need a 450.. I know that.. but should I go 125cc 2smoke? 250cc 2smoke? 250 4t? I want to be able to fix the bike if I need. I am decent with mechanics but not swimming in $. I want to have fun but dont need a new bike. I've been seeing mid 90s to early 2000s 2strokes that are in my budget.

Ide love some input. (Picture of my ATK605 for attention)


2
|
Last Braaap
Profile picture for user Last Braaap
Posts
1552
Joined
4/19/2019
Location
Somewhere over the rainbow CZ
Fantasy
4382nd
Last Braaap 2/14/2020 12:04am
2/14/2020 12:04am
You need to say the budget you have, bro.

But if you are looking into the 2000-2005 bikes i would wager for 250 2-stroke. early 4-strokes were PIA. If you are looking into 90's bikes i would not look there at all if you don't have money for full proper restoration.

Long story short: If you are really fit dude with big cojones you should buy 250 2-stroke and have a blast.
6
Ranchorat
Profile picture for user Ranchorat
Posts
13
Joined
2/13/2020
Location
Fallbrook, CA US
Ranchorat 2/14/2020 12:15am
2/14/2020 12:15am
Last Braaap wrote:
You need to say the budget you have, bro. But if you are looking into the 2000-2005 bikes i would wager for 250 2-stroke. early 4-strokes...
You need to say the budget you have, bro.

But if you are looking into the 2000-2005 bikes i would wager for 250 2-stroke. early 4-strokes were PIA. If you are looking into 90's bikes i would not look there at all if you don't have money for full proper restoration.

Long story short: If you are really fit dude with big cojones you should buy 250 2-stroke and have a blast.
$2k tops
#434
Profile picture for user #434
Posts
1918
Joined
3/23/2017
Location
DE
#434 2/14/2020 12:55am
2/14/2020 12:55am
Yepp, for that budget a 250 2 stroke. Buy one, do a top end, check everything, buy ten air filters and have fun for the next 70 hours. If it hits to hard add a flywheel weight.
8

The Shop

See All »
duckdog77
Profile picture for user duckdog77
Posts
379
Joined
3/28/2019
Location
Laotto, IN US
duckdog77 2/14/2020 1:27am
2/14/2020 1:27am
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!
3
Denn700
Profile picture for user Denn700
Posts
1257
Joined
11/7/2006
Location
Shreveport, LA US
Denn700 2/14/2020 6:07am
2/14/2020 6:07am
If you weigh more than 210 pounds and have riding experience I would get a 450.
5
motomike894
Profile picture for user motomike894
Posts
1497
Joined
9/6/2009
Location
Waterloo, IN US
motomike894 2/14/2020 7:19am
2/14/2020 7:19am
For that budget a yz or rm two stroke, I would not even mess with buying any used four stroke that is older and that cheap unless you plan on going thru the entire bike and spending lot of money at some point.

2
mx_563
Profile picture for user mx_563
Posts
2064
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
CA US
mx_563 2/14/2020 7:24am
2/14/2020 7:24am
I ride a YZ250 now, and I've had plenty of 2-stroke 250s as well as a few 450 thumpers. I love the YZ250. Most versatile bike I've had.

BUT....if you are coming off a Rotax powered big bore 4-stroke, the 2-stroke is going to feel extremely foreign to you. I'm not sure you will enjoy it like seasoned 2-stroke riders do.
So in terms of your comfort and confidence transitioning to MX from trail riding, I'd have to say the 250 4T might be the better choice.

The problem is that most 250 thumpers in your budget are going to be thrashed and engine repairs can be expensive. But if you are patient and keep your ear to the ground, you can still find some gems out there.

If you do get the 2-stroke, invest in a flywheel weight. It'll make the transition from the 605 a little easier.

1
Ranchorat
Profile picture for user Ranchorat
Posts
13
Joined
2/13/2020
Location
Fallbrook, CA US
Ranchorat 2/14/2020 8:03am
2/14/2020 8:03am
Sounds like a pretty resounding point for a yz250 2smoke. I will keep you all updated on my pick.
side-pipe
Profile picture for user side-pipe
Posts
244
Joined
9/29/2019
Location
Midland, NC US
Fantasy
3308th
side-pipe 2/14/2020 8:12am
2/14/2020 8:12am
Just make sure you have that 2k in hand and are ready to jump if an 05 or newer pops up. Most people think and 05ish bike is worth the same as a say,,,,, a 2015ish bike.

6
sumdood
Profile picture for user sumdood
Posts
5577
Joined
3/11/2013
Location
San Clemente, CA US
Fantasy
1267th
sumdood 2/14/2020 8:22am
2/14/2020 8:22am
side-pipe wrote:
Just make sure you have that 2k in hand and are ready to jump if an 05 or newer pops up. Most people think and 05ish...
Just make sure you have that 2k in hand and are ready to jump if an 05 or newer pops up. Most people think and 05ish bike is worth the same as a say,,,,, a 2015ish bike.

I'd go 04 or earlier or 06 or later. 05 was the first year aluminum frame but had non sss forks. The steel frames worked better with the old style forks. (IMO) 06 and up have the sss forks.
4
Ranchorat
Profile picture for user Ranchorat
Posts
13
Joined
2/13/2020
Location
Fallbrook, CA US
Ranchorat 2/14/2020 8:23am
2/14/2020 8:23am
Sounds like a pretty resounding point for a yz250 2smoke. I will keep you all updated on my pick.
1
Ranchorat
Profile picture for user Ranchorat
Posts
13
Joined
2/13/2020
Location
Fallbrook, CA US
Ranchorat 2/14/2020 8:25am
2/14/2020 8:25am
mx_563 wrote:
I ride a YZ250 now, and I've had plenty of 2-stroke 250s as well as a few 450 thumpers. I love the YZ250. Most versatile bike...
I ride a YZ250 now, and I've had plenty of 2-stroke 250s as well as a few 450 thumpers. I love the YZ250. Most versatile bike I've had.

BUT....if you are coming off a Rotax powered big bore 4-stroke, the 2-stroke is going to feel extremely foreign to you. I'm not sure you will enjoy it like seasoned 2-stroke riders do.
So in terms of your comfort and confidence transitioning to MX from trail riding, I'd have to say the 250 4T might be the better choice.

The problem is that most 250 thumpers in your budget are going to be thrashed and engine repairs can be expensive. But if you are patient and keep your ear to the ground, you can still find some gems out there.

If you do get the 2-stroke, invest in a flywheel weight. It'll make the transition from the 605 a little easier.

I hear you. Excuse my ignorance, but what will the flywheel weight do for me?

Pit Row

See All »
mattyhamz2
Profile picture for user mattyhamz2
Posts
10886
Joined
7/6/2015
Location
So Cal, CA US
Fantasy
846th
mattyhamz2 2/14/2020 8:32am
2/14/2020 8:32am
side-pipe wrote:
Just make sure you have that 2k in hand and are ready to jump if an 05 or newer pops up. Most people think and 05ish...
Just make sure you have that 2k in hand and are ready to jump if an 05 or newer pops up. Most people think and 05ish bike is worth the same as a say,,,,, a 2015ish bike.

sumdood wrote:
I'd go 04 or earlier or 06 or later. 05 was the first year aluminum frame but had non sss forks. The steel frames worked better...
I'd go 04 or earlier or 06 or later. 05 was the first year aluminum frame but had non sss forks. The steel frames worked better with the old style forks. (IMO) 06 and up have the sss forks.
Those forks were still really good though. I took the set of 05 forks I had on my 98 and threw them on the 05 I bought from you because they were already setup for me by N2Dirt and they were just as good as the 06+ forks.

OP, even if you find an 05 and don't like the forks, I do see 06+ forks pop up for sale around the $300 mark.
1
mattyhamz2
Profile picture for user mattyhamz2
Posts
10886
Joined
7/6/2015
Location
So Cal, CA US
Fantasy
846th
mattyhamz2 2/14/2020 8:35am
2/14/2020 8:35am
mx_563 wrote:
I ride a YZ250 now, and I've had plenty of 2-stroke 250s as well as a few 450 thumpers. I love the YZ250. Most versatile bike...
I ride a YZ250 now, and I've had plenty of 2-stroke 250s as well as a few 450 thumpers. I love the YZ250. Most versatile bike I've had.

BUT....if you are coming off a Rotax powered big bore 4-stroke, the 2-stroke is going to feel extremely foreign to you. I'm not sure you will enjoy it like seasoned 2-stroke riders do.
So in terms of your comfort and confidence transitioning to MX from trail riding, I'd have to say the 250 4T might be the better choice.

The problem is that most 250 thumpers in your budget are going to be thrashed and engine repairs can be expensive. But if you are patient and keep your ear to the ground, you can still find some gems out there.

If you do get the 2-stroke, invest in a flywheel weight. It'll make the transition from the 605 a little easier.

Ranchorat wrote:
I hear you. Excuse my ignorance, but what will the flywheel weight do for me?
Basically makes the power more 4 stroke like. Most guys love them. I've never ridden with them before, but I enjoy the power of a 250 smoker just the way it is.
mxrose3
Profile picture for user mxrose3
Posts
2171
Joined
8/17/2006
Location
Delmar, DE US
Fantasy
1116th
mxrose3 2/14/2020 9:07am
2/14/2020 9:07am
Ranchorat wrote:
I hear you. Excuse my ignorance, but what will the flywheel weight do for me?
Have you ever ridden a modern 2 stroke 250 motocross bike? Most younger people who have ridden 4 strokes there entire life don't like the 'abruptness' of a 2 stroke powerband.
I don't have a problem with it, but I've ridden 2 strokes all my life.
2
Brap!
Profile picture for user Brap!
Posts
83
Joined
9/16/2008
Location
Campbellsville, KY US
Brap! 2/14/2020 9:19am
2/14/2020 9:19am
YZ250’s are the best. Versatile, easy to work on, unlimited parts availability. They’re just a good bike.

Good luck finding a used one in the 2k range. They tend to hold value, with most sellers looking for around 3k for even 05’s and 06’s with hundreds of hours. Certainly not as bad as used KTM’s, but still ridiculous.
Sheriff245 2/14/2020 9:25am
2/14/2020 9:25am
Ranchorat wrote:
I hear you. Excuse my ignorance, but what will the flywheel weight do for me?
It will made inertia to the crank. What that does is it makes the engine rev slower but makes it feel more torquey and tractable. It also makes it harder to stall.

In other words, it makes the bike easier to ride, especially for a rider coming from the 4 stroke world.
dadofagun
Profile picture for user dadofagun
Posts
1722
Joined
3/28/2015
Location
Satan's Hollow, OK US
Fantasy
1926th
dadofagun 2/14/2020 9:28am
2/14/2020 9:28am
Ranchorat wrote:
Sounds like a pretty resounding point for a yz250 2smoke. I will keep you all updated on my pick.
They are fantastic bikes.
1
Matt Fisher
Profile picture for user Matt Fisher
Posts
3948
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Visalia, CA US
Fantasy
1177th
Matt Fisher 2/14/2020 9:36am
2/14/2020 9:36am
Don't pass up a good CR or RM 250.
The RM's have the hardest hitting power of the three, but their ability to carve a corner is excellent.
The 02+ CR250's have arguably the best chassis and have a milder feeling powerband with lots of top-end pull when you rev them. Not as snappy as the YZ or RM, but coming from a big thumper that might not be a bad thing.
3
loftyair
Profile picture for user loftyair
Posts
2769
Joined
7/3/2009
Location
riverside, CA US
loftyair 2/14/2020 9:41am
2/14/2020 9:41am
sumdood wrote:
I'd go 04 or earlier or 06 or later. 05 was the first year aluminum frame but had non sss forks. The steel frames worked better...
I'd go 04 or earlier or 06 or later. 05 was the first year aluminum frame but had non sss forks. The steel frames worked better with the old style forks. (IMO) 06 and up have the sss forks.
This
1
Hman144
Profile picture for user Hman144
Posts
2101
Joined
12/4/2007
Location
York, PA US
Fantasy
713th
Hman144 2/14/2020 4:08pm
2/14/2020 4:08pm
Gonna throw in my vote for an early 2000's KTM 300. Very tractable power, doesn't hit like a 250, but plenty of sing. Adding a flywheel weight not needed. Most used ones are going to be ex-vet bikes, so they may not be as thrashed as a 250 mxer.

Won't be as sharp of a carver as a YZ or RM, but coming off that ATK you'll think it's a surgical scalpel.
6
Ranchorat
Profile picture for user Ranchorat
Posts
13
Joined
2/13/2020
Location
Fallbrook, CA US
Ranchorat 2/14/2020 4:34pm
2/14/2020 4:34pm
Hman144 wrote:
Gonna throw in my vote for an early 2000's KTM 300. Very tractable power, doesn't hit like a 250, but plenty of sing. Adding a flywheel...
Gonna throw in my vote for an early 2000's KTM 300. Very tractable power, doesn't hit like a 250, but plenty of sing. Adding a flywheel weight not needed. Most used ones are going to be ex-vet bikes, so they may not be as thrashed as a 250 mxer.

Won't be as sharp of a carver as a YZ or RM, but coming off that ATK you'll think it's a surgical scalpel.
I've seen a few of these around my parts! How are they maintenance wise? Same as most other 2 strokes?

Post a reply to: 2 stroke or 4 stroke. Dont hate me please.