Old 2 strokes vs. New two strokes

Ronnie Mac may have won the RBSR on a 98 had he not crashed. Stank Dog was on it though.

95% Rider.

Theyre better in every way. Whether you want to spend the money is up to you. Like rhino said, its mostly rider.

Can't wait to get my wife's purse opened for a new KTM

Acidreamer wrote:

Theyre better in every way. Whether you want to spend the money is up to you. Like rhino said, its mostly rider.

At the end of the day I'm gonna be putting money into something. I just wanna make sure I'm putting money into the bike that is best suited to my riding style.

Better? Yes? Will you be faster? No. If you're slow, you're slow. You will be slow on any bike.

Same thing in golf. Are the new clubs better than old clubs? Yes. Will they make you play better? No. If you can't hit the ball with old clubs you wont be able to his the ball with new clubs.

I went from an 07 RM250 to a 12 ktm250sx, the ktm was a better bike and the newer ones are better again. All that said I felt more comfortablein the RM, I never gelled with the ergo's of the ktm

If you're talking off-road, the KTM will be way, way better. Not because it is newer, or more advanced, but simply because a good off-road setup is more than just an 18" wheel and a Rekluse.

MX-style power delivery and gearing will still be a huge negative for fighting fatigue and navigating technical stuff on your bike.

chump6784 wrote:

I went from an 07 RM250 to a 12 ktm250sx, the ktm was a better bike and the newer ones are better again. All that said I felt more comfortablein the RM, I never gelled with the ergo's of the ktm

That's the sort of reply I was looking for. I love my RM it's an awesome bike but with 99% of off-road guys riding KTMs and almost exclusively ktm when it comes to two strokes, I'm thinking there may be reason for that beyond them just being newer with better brakes.

Dirty Points wrote:

If you're talking off-road, the KTM will be way, way better. Not because it is newer, or more advanced, but simply because a good off-road setup is more than just an 18" wheel and a Rekluse.

MX-style power delivery and gearing will still be a huge negative for fighting fatigue and navigating technical stuff on your bike.

My RM has an Eric Gorr 265cc kit with his mo' betta porting so it is very smooth already. I wish I knew someone with a KTM two stroke for me to compare it to.

Are you saying you are prepared to spend an ADDITIONAL $2,500 on the RM ?

Get what you like...none of these things are investments except an investment in fun.

I would say however that the $2500 you spend on the RM will probably never be seen again.

Whereas you would probably see a bit better return on the newer KTM. These have a very LARGE cult like following.

Sounds like you are an RM guy through and through.....go with what you LOVE.
With that kind of spend on the RM, you would have one of the sickest ass RM's out there and be different from all us Orange peels.

I just got my 06 CR250 running and riding good after messing with the engine for a while.

Then I went and did a bonehead move and rode a 17 KTM 250sx at the track. Sold the CR 2 weeks later.

There's no way I could have dumped enough money into that CR to sniff that bone stock KTM. Off the charts better in every category. I offered the guy to ride my CR, he said "I'm good" haha.

Now I'm patiently waiting for a good deal on a 17 to pop up on CL.

http://maico-bikeworld.de/en/motorcycles/neumotorraeder-2013.html

Have a look at the 2018 685cc crosser!

Acidreamer wrote:

Theyre better in every way. Whether you want to spend the money is up to you. Like rhino said, its mostly rider.

motardchris wrote:

At the end of the day I'm gonna be putting money into something. I just wanna make sure I'm putting money into the bike that is best suited to my riding style.

I think youd come out ahead by picking up a used ktm. The upgrades on the RM would likely cost more when you factor in matching the suspension and motor mods.

Deal Brothers Trailers wrote:

Are you saying you are prepared to spend an ADDITIONAL $2,500 on the RM ?

Get what you like...none of these things are investments except an investment in fun.

I would say however that the $2500 you spend on the RM will probably never be seen again.

Whereas you would probably see a bit better return on the newer KTM. These have a very LARGE cult like following.

Sounds like you are an RM guy through and through.....go with what you LOVE.
With that kind of spend on the RM, you would have one of the sickest ass RM's out there and be different from all us Orange peels.

I've never owned anything other than a Suzuki since I've been on big bikes. Had an 01' rm125 then a 12' rmz450 and now the RM 250. I've always liked the way suzukis handle however, I've ridden new KTM and husky 4 strokes and think they handle well. I hate the suspension but I would just KYB swap it.
My RM runs and handles great as is but it not an off-road bike. I worried that after doing the mods I still won't be quite satisfied with it off-road.

scottydogmx wrote:

Only 220 lbs? Shieeeeeet!

I'd highly recommend riding a new KTM / Husky before buying one. Was thinking of upgrading an 03 CR2, but after riding a 17 Husky 250 2T last summer I wasn't impressed. Granted my CR isn't stock & does have some upgrades in the engine / suspension dept..
IMHO they aren't that much better.

Not necessarily RM related but I rode a 2015 KTM 250f that was fairly stock besides suspension then a 2006 KDX back to back and the KTM was overall a better bike but the KDX was faster in a straight line. I don't think I would be faster on the KTM and yeah, I know, it's two stroke to a four stroke but the new KTM's in general seem hard to beat but you aren't going to get faster with a bike swap generally so I guess it's whatever makes you smile most.


RCB33

On my third rebuild of horribly crappy CR125 units from 05-07. To get them into full-on fighting shape is $5K+ including purchase of the OG clapper.

I have no idea as to what Zook OEM parts cost, but the Honda parts cost are rising... Must be some Magno-Moss act stuff or the Fukushima whack stuff.

Like yer old bike? Pour the piss outta your wallet into it, have something special and love it until the day you die.

RCB33 wrote:

Not necessarily RM related but I rode a 2015 KTM 250f that was fairly stock besides suspension then a 2006 KDX back to back and the KTM was overall a better bike but the KDX was faster in a straight line. I don't think I would be faster on the KTM and yeah, I know, it's two stroke to a four stroke but the new KTM's in general seem hard to beat but you aren't going to get faster with a bike swap generally so I guess it's whatever makes you smile most.


RCB33

You are either the worst test rider in the history of test riders. Or you do not know what a KDX is.

RCB33 wrote:

Not necessarily RM related but I rode a 2015 KTM 250f that was fairly stock besides suspension then a 2006 KDX back to back and the KTM was overall a better bike but the KDX was faster in a straight line. I don't think I would be faster on the KTM and yeah, I know, it's two stroke to a four stroke but the new KTM's in general seem hard to beat but you aren't going to get faster with a bike swap generally so I guess it's whatever makes you smile most.


RCB33

BobPA wrote:

You are either the worst test rider in the history of test riders. Or you do not know what a KDX is.

C'mon, Bob... Give him a "Brake".

BobPA wrote:

You are either the worst test rider in the history of test riders. Or you do not know what a KDX is.

Cause when I think about what can beat a 45hp 250sxf its definitely the KDX with the kickstand.

Dirt Bike Magazine quotation... Gotta pile on.

"In its official lifespan from 1983 to 2006, the KDX was an evolutionary alligator, remaining mostly unchanged as eras passed and other bikes became extinct."

Feel badly, but...

The new KTM/Husky (2017+) is better than the older versions and any Japanese offering, unless budget is a consideration.

I sold my 06 kx250 and picked up a 2016 te300. i had my kx set up for off road. The older 2 stroke sucks compared to the new one that was built for off road. No matter how much you put into a mx bike , it is hard to beat a specific off road machine. That goes the other way as well, I rode the husky on a mx track for 3 laps, packed up and went home, the kx Still worked way better on mx track even when it was set up for woods riding.

r.sal923 wrote:

I sold my 06 kx250 and picked up a 2016 te300. i had my kx set up for off road. The older 2 stroke sucks compared to the new one that was built for off road. No matter how much you put into a mx bike , it is hard to beat a specific off road machine. That goes the other way as well, I rode the husky on a mx track for 3 laps, packed up and went home, the kx Still worked way better on mx track even when it was set up for woods riding.

This is something to consider because I still will be riding this bike on mx tracks from time to time. I think with good suspension it should be do able considering I'm not racing or really focused on going fast on moto tracks anymore.

r.sal923 wrote:

I sold my 06 kx250 and picked up a 2016 te300. i had my kx set up for off road. The older 2 stroke sucks compared to the new one that was built for off road. No matter how much you put into a mx bike , it is hard to beat a specific off road machine. That goes the other way as well, I rode the husky on a mx track for 3 laps, packed up and went home, the kx Still worked way better on mx track even when it was set up for woods riding.

motardchris wrote:

This is something to consider because I still will be riding this bike on mx tracks from time to time. I think with good suspension it should be do able considering I'm not racing or really focused on going fast on moto tracks anymore.

TX 300
TX 250
300 XC
250 XC

You’re welcome

erik_94COBRA wrote:

The new KTM/Husky (2017+) is better than the older versions and any Japanese offering, unless budget is a consideration.

I don't know my dad's 05 yz250 has got to be the most comfortable bike I ever ridden and it flat out rips but then again there's not one thing stock on that bike but still has to be the best 2 stroke chassis ever

chump6784 wrote:

I went from an 07 RM250 to a 12 ktm250sx, the ktm was a better bike and the newer ones are better again. All that said I felt more comfortablein the RM, I never gelled with the ergo's of the ktm

motardchris wrote:

That's the sort of reply I was looking for. I love my RM it's an awesome bike but with 99% of off-road guys riding KTMs and almost exclusively ktm when it comes to two strokes, I'm thinking there may be reason for that beyond them just being newer with better brakes.

The ktm was better in every way, more power, better brakes, better chassis, suspension was about equal. The newer generation ktm's are improved on the model I had and are supposed to feel more like a japanese bike.

One drawback I found with the KTM though, the things rust. Parts like axle nuts, bolts on the engine, things that don't rust on a japanese bike rust on a ktm. I found it easier to keep rust off the bare metal pipe on the RM125 that was sitting right next to my ktm. Now I have 2 ktm 50's in the garage and its the same story, the bare metal pipes on my yz250 and yz125 are easier to keep rust off than the 50's.

However you may start to find getting parts for your RM will become or has become difficult. Anything oem will be drying up.

I would also look at the YZ250x. I now ride a YZ250 and prefer it as a total package to the RM or KTM and I find the build quality higher on the Yamaha. Sure the KTM comes with brembo's, E start, hydro clutch but I feel the Yamaha is built better, just feels more solid to work on