Enduro bike help please

Spice52
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Spice52
Can anyone help?

After too long out the saddle I’m looking at getting a enduro bike for green landing, then hopefully some enduros.

I raced MX at exert club level, but that was a long time ago so I’m after bike that’s not going to kill me, but also a bike that will enable me to at least compete, if after time I feel I can and want to race.

So far I’m thinking 2012 to 2016

Honda crf250x
Yamaha wr250

Any thoughts on what is the better bike?

Pros and cons of both?

Many thanks 👍
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moto9
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moto9 10/30/2020 1:48pm
10/30/2020 1:48pm
My advice is to look at a 300, KTM or Husky.
Just cost of ownership of a 2 stroke vrs 4stroke is one solid reason, your not dealing with valves, cams, cam chains, dual oil compartments....etc...
Ease of maintenance on a 2stroke it a lot less.
With a ktm you can get parts and accessories just about anywhere and usually in stock.
Other reasons, are weight and they don't overheat as easily.
If you decide to go for a 300 try to stay 2017 or newer, when ktm moved the starter below the engine and if you can find an xcw you can avoid linkage too.
I have a 2015 300 xcw, that has mx tec carts and a revalved shock, both ends prpoerly sprung, a slavens mule kit and a fww.
I love the bike, it's a tractor, I can lug it up greasy steep hills in 3rd...it will pull 3rd just about anywhere.
Power, suspension, handling are all fantastic, but I spent time setting it up the way I like it.
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JoeWV
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JoeWV 10/30/2020 2:04pm
10/30/2020 2:04pm
I second the 300 2 stroke.
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Jeff_Brines
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Jeff_Brines 10/30/2020 2:13pm
10/30/2020 2:13pm
Thirding the 300 two stroke route. One other thing to consider is how playful they feel due to less rotating mass. I'd argue they are less fatiguing off road, especially the more technical it gets.

...and yeah, a top end needs to be done every 80-150 hours (depending on how you ride), and they take about an hour to do.

No adjusting or fiddling otherwise.

I'd aim for a 17+ KTM if you can afford it. Otherwise, I know a lot of people liked the closed cartridge forks on the 12 and 13s (maybe 14s?). The problem with the older ones is the e-start WILL break a lot. In my experience, any money saved on the 13-16s is made up in parts. 17+ FTW.
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neverwas
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neverwas 10/30/2020 2:21pm
10/30/2020 2:21pm
All the advice given above is excellent.
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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 10/30/2020 2:22pm
10/30/2020 2:22pm
A 2009+ CRF250X is SOOOOOO cheap and easy to keep. The few mods you'd want to do as you develope your speed and skills...well, those mods are also...very in-expensive (A stock '04-06 250R exhaust system wakes it up!).

The cylnder head on the X is much more "dependable" than the R's (especailly in the later years as you've noted).

The chassis is excellent and SO EASY to tune (Showa spring fork). Aftermarket parts are readily available and super affordable.

Get a good clean used bike. Put a good battery in it. Jet it proper (Lots and lots of info on that. Go check the 250X section over at ThumperTalk)...and go ride those trails!

I raced them in Baja and in the dezerts of California, Nevada and Oregon. When the 2017 CRF450RX and Honda had their media-day, I grabbed their (Honda's) 250X that they had on the truck to scout out the trails at Cahuilla Creek. I was reminded how good that bike truly is. I even did some laps on the MX track and had a blast!

Good luck!

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Spice52
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Spice52 10/30/2020 2:48pm
10/30/2020 2:48pm
Thank you all lots for your info, can’t wait to ride again—-and see if I can 😂.
Timo_2824
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Timo_2824 10/30/2020 2:49pm
10/30/2020 2:49pm
I have to disagree with the cost of ownership BS, I've owned 2 and 4 strokes and still have both. I run topends twice as long on the 4 stokes and I've never had to change a valve. I have had power valve failure on my 2 strokes, also had the piston ring pin fall out and spun a ring. All in I've blown up my 2 stokes 7 times in the last 25 years, I've never blown up a 4 stroke. Cam chains are cheap and pistons kits are actually pretty close.

Depending on the type of offroad you will be riding:
Super tight single track, 3rd gear and below, I say any flavor of 2 stroke.

More open 2 track, gncc type, to anything you get above 3rd gear a 4 stroke will be better.

If you ride a mix of the above I would say a 250cc 4 stroke is a good all round bike. If dunes or high altitude are in the mix a 450 is nice to have, but they can tire you out trying to go fast in super tight terrain. Fuel injection is very nice to have, but on my carb 4 strokes I could get away with not changing jets on weekend trips from 1000ft home to 12,000ft. A 2 stroke will need rejetted at 6000ft or so.

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Spice52
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Spice52 10/30/2020 2:54pm
10/30/2020 2:54pm
Timo_2824 wrote:
I have to disagree with the cost of ownership BS, I've owned 2 and 4 strokes and still have both. I run topends twice as long...
I have to disagree with the cost of ownership BS, I've owned 2 and 4 strokes and still have both. I run topends twice as long on the 4 stokes and I've never had to change a valve. I have had power valve failure on my 2 strokes, also had the piston ring pin fall out and spun a ring. All in I've blown up my 2 stokes 7 times in the last 25 years, I've never blown up a 4 stroke. Cam chains are cheap and pistons kits are actually pretty close.

Depending on the type of offroad you will be riding:
Super tight single track, 3rd gear and below, I say any flavor of 2 stroke.

More open 2 track, gncc type, to anything you get above 3rd gear a 4 stroke will be better.

If you ride a mix of the above I would say a 250cc 4 stroke is a good all round bike. If dunes or high altitude are in the mix a 450 is nice to have, but they can tire you out trying to go fast in super tight terrain. Fuel injection is very nice to have, but on my carb 4 strokes I could get away with not changing jets on weekend trips from 1000ft home to 12,000ft. A 2 stroke will need rejetted at 6000ft or so.

Great thanks for the info, really helpful.

I was leaning towards a 4 stroke as I used to race 2 stroke 250’s and always fancied a trying a 4/

My son races karts at a very high level so I’m upto speed on 2/ stroke running etc so will look at all options.

Can’t wait—- I’m in the U.K. so we just need some good weather 🤓🤓

metal_miracle 10/30/2020 3:12pm
10/30/2020 3:12pm
I would not get a fourstroke for enduro . they run very hot in mud.

i would recommend a 300 twostroke easier to ride at lower rpm
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LungButter
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LungButter 10/30/2020 3:14pm
10/30/2020 3:14pm
2013+ KTM 350 xc/xcf/xcw/exc/whatever flavor fits you best

Feel free to thank me later. Tongue
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ZOBITO
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ZOBITO 10/30/2020 3:20pm
10/30/2020 3:20pm
250/350 4 stroke is by far the most versatile and the easiest to go fast with for the average guy.
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Teejay
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Teejay 10/30/2020 3:24pm
10/30/2020 3:24pm Edited Date/Time 10/30/2020 3:27pm
TeamGreen wrote:
A 2009+ CRF250X is SOOOOOO cheap and easy to keep. The few mods you'd want to do as you develope your speed and skills...well, those mods...
A 2009+ CRF250X is SOOOOOO cheap and easy to keep. The few mods you'd want to do as you develope your speed and skills...well, those mods are also...very in-expensive (A stock '04-06 250R exhaust system wakes it up!).

The cylnder head on the X is much more "dependable" than the R's (especailly in the later years as you've noted).

The chassis is excellent and SO EASY to tune (Showa spring fork). Aftermarket parts are readily available and super affordable.

Get a good clean used bike. Put a good battery in it. Jet it proper (Lots and lots of info on that. Go check the 250X section over at ThumperTalk)...and go ride those trails!

I raced them in Baja and in the dezerts of California, Nevada and Oregon. When the 2017 CRF450RX and Honda had their media-day, I grabbed their (Honda's) 250X that they had on the truck to scout out the trails at Cahuilla Creek. I was reminded how good that bike truly is. I even did some laps on the MX track and had a blast!

Good luck!

I can agree with this, I race a 2016 crf 250 in hare scarambles/enduro and also Mx tracks. So easy to ride, also have a 2007 crf 250 which as far as I know is basically the same as the X model. Can be made to work for any kind of riding with not much messing about, big 2 strokes have their place but if you want something that will make your return easy to manage a 250f in my opinion would be spot on. Enough power when you need it but not enough to get you into trouble. Have fun with whatever you decide!

By the way I’m in the Uk, plenty of sand tracks to ride even when the weather is bad.
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Press516
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Press516 10/30/2020 6:44pm
10/30/2020 6:44pm
Rieju MR300...It will be here soon, give it a look. You won't be disappointed.
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Hcallz5
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Hcallz5 10/30/2020 7:06pm
10/30/2020 7:06pm
Another vote for 14+ KTM 350 xcf. Broader power makes them more fun than a 300 unless you're riding absolute gnarly stuff. You also may look for a yz250fx, people love those bikes so they are kinda hard to find it seems like.
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