Getting back in.. competitive on a 250?

8/17/2017 1:36pm Edited Date/Time 8/18/2017 10:32am
Alright so I'm 25 and am going to be getting a bike and working my way back towards racing.. Little backround: I rode and raced from age 7 to about 17 and had to quit due to school/work/travel. I've only ever rode two strokes 65, 85, 125 and would say I was at front of 125 beginner class/ midpack in supermini & advanced 85 classes when I had to quit. I'm in good shape (6'1, 170) and have had occasional opportunities to ride- no tracks though.

Will I be able to be competitive on a 250 two stroke?
Are guys racing them in 250f classes at the amateur level (I'm in Texas)?

From my memory it seemed like, for the most part, guys at amateur level can't really make enough use of the 4 stroke power/ delviery/etc. to be faster than a slightly more or equally talented rider on a two stroke. It's not really a money issue either, less maintenance would be nice though. I enjoy riding the smokers, but am not willing to give up too much speed to be sentimental. Let me know what y'all think.
|
MX Guy
Posts
2174
Joined
7/18/2016
Location
Murrieta, CA US
Fantasy
773rd
8/17/2017 1:39pm
I have a 250 two stroke and 250 four stroke, my advice to you is I hope you are in shape if you get a 250 two stroke, things have gnarly power and are way more strenuous to handle than a four stroke of the same displacement. At least that's how I feel. For just getting back into it I'd recommend a 250f.
chump6784
Posts
1687
Joined
5/9/2011
Location
AU
8/17/2017 1:47pm Edited Date/Time 8/17/2017 1:50pm
Very similar situation to me. I was fairly quick on a 125, took 10 years off and came back on a 250 2 stroke.
I must admit though, i was only competitive until the first corner, then lack of fitness and 10 years of declining skill caught up. It took me a while to regain the skills
Both bikes have their pro's and cons. The 250 will have more power out of the corners and off the line and be better in loamy soil. The 250f will be more consistent lap to lap.
250f's have come a long way over the years. When i first got back into racing there was a clear power advantage to the 250, now the gap has closed a lot. The biggest advantage the 2 stroke has is off the line, getting a good start is half the battle and i find it easier to hold a position rather than work my way through the pack

I don't think you can go wrong either way, at 33 i race for fun and the 250 2 stroke gives me that but i have been tempted of late to at least test a 4 stroke
731chopper
Posts
4077
Joined
1/2/2015
Location
DFW, TX US
Fantasy
390th
8/17/2017 2:28pm
I've been riding my 03 kx250 lately and it has me grinning ear to ear. Not only is it fun to ride, it sounds bitchin in 3rd gear with the throttle cracked wide open! I'm smaller than you at 5'8" 145 lbs but I think you'll find the power to be more than enough. Also with this Kawi and I think most modern 250s, the power is more electric than say a 125. So while you better be holding on and ready for the ride at 3/4+ throttle, it is easy to ride for experienced riders because you can lug it more like a 4 stroke if you get tired/lazy on the track.

All of that being said, the modern 4 strokes are more competetive without a doubt so if lap times and local race results is what you're chasing then buy a thumper. If you're looking for some fun though I'd suggest a two stroke. You can easily be competetive on a 250 two stroke, too, but it'll take a little more skill and effort.

What part of Texas are you from?
JohnMatrix
Posts
331
Joined
1/31/2017
Location
Irvine, CA US
8/17/2017 3:04pm
I would think C to B class the bike is only going to be as competitive as the rider. It comes down to what type of power delivery you're looking for. The 2017+ KTM and Husky 250's are super smooth for a 2T. Far different from probably any two stroke you've ridden. It will get on the pipe faster than a 250f and you're talking an extra 8-12hp when it does. Any modern 250f is going to be smoother most likely and a bit easier to ride consistently. A KTM or Husky 350 doesn't quite have the snap off the bottom as a 250 2T, but rips when you rev it. To me, that is the perfect go-between if deciding 250f to 250 2T. More tractable power but that extra punch over a 250f. If you're looking to race in a 250 class, I guess that is not an option. Otherwise, it's a super fun bike and competitive with anything at C to B class if ridden to its potential.

Short answer, at an amateur level you can be competitive on any of those bikes.

The Shop

kkawboy14
Posts
11494
Joined
6/5/2015
Location
TX US
8/17/2017 3:07pm
Alright so I'm 25 and am going to be getting a bike and working my way back towards racing.. Little backround: I rode and raced from...
Alright so I'm 25 and am going to be getting a bike and working my way back towards racing.. Little backround: I rode and raced from age 7 to about 17 and had to quit due to school/work/travel. I've only ever rode two strokes 65, 85, 125 and would say I was at front of 125 beginner class/ midpack in supermini & advanced 85 classes when I had to quit. I'm in good shape (6'1, 170) and have had occasional opportunities to ride- no tracks though.

Will I be able to be competitive on a 250 two stroke?
Are guys racing them in 250f classes at the amateur level (I'm in Texas)?

From my memory it seemed like, for the most part, guys at amateur level can't really make enough use of the 4 stroke power/ delviery/etc. to be faster than a slightly more or equally talented rider on a two stroke. It's not really a money issue either, less maintenance would be nice though. I enjoy riding the smokers, but am not willing to give up too much speed to be sentimental. Let me know what y'all think.
No you won't be competitive! Everyone who races in every class is surprisingly fast.
How long will it take you to catch up? Who knows it's double the bike you used to race.
swtwtwtw
Posts
1287
Joined
4/16/2008
Location
Apple Valley, CA US
8/17/2017 3:11pm
I have both 250s in the husky trim. The f has 5hp less than 2 stroke. On the standard track, the f is better, on tracks with hills the 2 stroke. I like the do-dads on the f and end up riding it more.
twizzler
Posts
1008
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
CA US
8/17/2017 3:16pm
I saw a female on a KTM 250 2-stroke this past Sunday at Cahuilla Creek ride faster and longer than most dudes on 4-stroke 250's and 450's. It's not the bike my friend.
jeffro503
Posts
27442
Joined
7/22/2007
Location
St Helens, OR US
8/17/2017 3:33pm
I can only speak of switching from a 450 to a 250 2 stroke. From that change , I could ride quite a bit longer and more aggressive on my 250 2 stroke , compared to the 450. A lot of guys have the opposite thing happen , and end up being able to ride the 450 for longer durations. I think I'm in the minority group here , but with that being said....it totally boils down to what " you " prefer , and what you feel comfortable riding.

" I think " I could get even longer moto's in on a 250F , but I don't have much ride time at all on one. I would love to spend a day on one and see how she works.
8/17/2017 6:07pm
Thanks for all replies. I'm in Dfw area. And I don't expect to be competitive anytime soon. Just asking because I obviously haven't been on any of the newer year model bikes. Leaning towards the F or 350, thinking it's more rider than bike I'll probably be more comfortable on a 4 stroke.
Rockinar
Posts
1064
Joined
9/16/2016
Location
Katy, TX US
8/17/2017 6:52pm
In 2013, a 16 year old kid named Jerry Robin showed up to Loretta Lynn's on a 30 year old CR250, pulled a massive holeshot in Moto 1 and went 1-5-1 for the overall in 2 Stroke and he got 11th in 250 I think.


It's not the bike. Its the rider.

That said, I will say the 250F is less tiring to ride. But that does not mean you will be faster.

https://youtu.be/b3pOQW_7VMQ








TJMX947
Posts
746
Joined
3/6/2017
Location
Indian Trail, NC US
8/18/2017 5:35am
Rockinar wrote:
In 2013, a 16 year old kid named Jerry Robin showed up to Loretta Lynn's on a 30 year old CR250, pulled a massive holeshot in...
In 2013, a 16 year old kid named Jerry Robin showed up to Loretta Lynn's on a 30 year old CR250, pulled a massive holeshot in Moto 1 and went 1-5-1 for the overall in 2 Stroke and he got 11th in 250 I think.


It's not the bike. Its the rider.

That said, I will say the 250F is less tiring to ride. But that does not mean you will be faster.

https://youtu.be/b3pOQW_7VMQ








Not to take any steam from Jerry Robin but he raced a 2007 CR250 in the two stroke class. He raced the 1985 CR250 in 250B.

IMHO it really depends on how much you ride. If you're really going to be hitting the tracks week in and week out you'll be fine on a 250 two stroke. It will give you ample time to stay comfortable on the bike. When I was in college I could ride once every three weeks and I was still pretty fast. I tried a 250 two stroke a few years ago after taking almost a year off and it was a difficult transition for me except in deep sand (where that two stroke power totally rips).

To me nothing is more frustrating than showing up to ride when you get the opportunity and feeling uncomfortable on the bike and feeling like you can't go out and ride the track to its potential. I didn't and still don't have the time to put in on a two stroke to get to that level of comfort. I ride a KTM 350 and its a pretty decent blend of both worlds. Way faster than a 250F up top but more mellow off the bottom than a 250 two stroke.
r.sal923
Posts
564
Joined
1/25/2014
Location
CA
8/18/2017 7:44am
Me at 210lbs. The 250 two stroke and 250f suck. It is so much work to get over some jumps, inside ruts are a pain. Although I can ride a a lot of laps on a 250f and 250 two stroke. The 450 I can do 6 laps and I am done, but it seams to make it Easier to get around track.
BSFL
Posts
53
Joined
12/4/2008
Location
Dallas, TX US
8/18/2017 10:32am
250 two stroke here and it's all I will ride. More work to ride than a 4 stroke but I enjoy it much more. I've got the 300 big bore on my KTM 250sx with a 9oz flywheel weight. It has unreal torque and plenty of power to be competitive with just about anything out there.
kkawboy14
Posts
11494
Joined
6/5/2015
Location
TX US
8/18/2017 5:53pm
Everybody is fast in every class!

Post a reply to: Getting back in.. competitive on a 250?

The Latest