What’s the most reliable longest lasting mx bike available

Chris99Flannery 8/4/2022 12:47am
8/4/2022 12:47am Edited Date/Time 8/5/2022 3:52pm
That’s not a 450?

Ktm350
Yz250 2 stk
????

Crank wise, gearbox wise etc.
1
4
|
mx313
Profile picture for user mx313
Posts
942
Joined
10/5/2021
Location
AU
mx313 8/4/2022 2:00am
8/4/2022 2:00am
It all depends on your speed an riding style.
My guess would be a newish yz250f. Unless your like national a speed. Pros can break the gears pretty easily.
An Def not a 2 stroke even tho a lot of ppl go on about them. Your way more likely to have to separate a 2 stroke case then a 4 stroke. It's just if u need to it's cheaper on the 2 stroke.
3
23
Motofinne
Profile picture for user Motofinne
Posts
10326
Joined
1/4/2014
Location
FI
Motofinne 8/4/2022 2:09am
8/4/2022 2:09am
Austrian 350 would be the clear winner.
7
14
NorCalRedRyder 8/4/2022 2:21am
8/4/2022 2:21am Edited Date/Time 8/4/2022 2:36am
Late 90s to early 2000s 2 strokes. Honorable mention to the old school KDX 200 to 220s. My family had a 1996 XR 200 that never got maintained as far as I know and still runs like a champ, it's actually my favorite bike of all time.
16
1

The Shop

See All »
cwel11
Profile picture for user cwel11
Posts
1116
Joined
12/4/2019
Location
Orangeville, PA US
cwel11 8/4/2022 2:24am
8/4/2022 2:24am
NorCalRedRyder wrote:
Late 90s to early 2000s 2 strokes. Honorable mention to the old school KDX 200 to 220s. My family had a 1996 XR 200 that never...
Late 90s to early 2000s 2 strokes. Honorable mention to the old school KDX 200 to 220s. My family had a 1996 XR 200 that never got maintained as far as I know and still runs like a champ, it's actually my favorite bike of all time.
OP did say “MX” bike
1
4
davis224
Profile picture for user davis224
Posts
5506
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Cornland, IL US
davis224 8/4/2022 2:30am
8/4/2022 2:30am
Any 5 valve YZ250f
23
4
NorCalRedRyder 8/4/2022 2:35am
8/4/2022 2:35am
NorCalRedRyder wrote:
Late 90s to early 2000s 2 strokes. Honorable mention to the old school KDX 200 to 220s. My family had a 1996 XR 200 that never...
Late 90s to early 2000s 2 strokes. Honorable mention to the old school KDX 200 to 220s. My family had a 1996 XR 200 that never got maintained as far as I know and still runs like a champ, it's actually my favorite bike of all time.
cwel11 wrote:
OP did say “MX” bike
Hence the first line of my post....
6
1
wiedeman
Profile picture for user wiedeman
Posts
99
Joined
6/19/2021
Location
Osceola, WI US
wiedeman 8/4/2022 4:16am
8/4/2022 4:16am
New yz250fs are really good. Oem pistons are also only like $55.
2
5
Jake_CR250R
Profile picture for user Jake_CR250R
Posts
306
Joined
1/30/2012
Location
Ozark, MO US
Jake_CR250R 8/4/2022 4:38am
8/4/2022 4:38am
I’d say it revolves around 2 factors with new bikes. How good your preventative maintenance is, and your riding type. I’ve seen a few 300+ hour stock top end KTM 300s that were woods racing bikes.
7
1
lumpy790
Profile picture for user lumpy790
Posts
8165
Joined
9/18/2007
Location
York, SC US
lumpy790 8/4/2022 4:56am
8/4/2022 4:56am
There is no magic MC they will all break at some point.
GoggleFiend904 8/4/2022 4:59am
8/4/2022 4:59am
moto12356999 wrote:
Ktm 250 sx
I vote 250sx carbureted. As long as your jetting is dialed, you use good fuel, and clean your air filter. I got 280 hours out of the oem crank, and at multiple points in those 280 hours, I’m sure my jetting was questionable lol
6
1
geeZ177
Profile picture for user geeZ177
Posts
122
Joined
7/3/2019
Location
Western NY area, NY US
geeZ177 8/4/2022 5:53am
8/4/2022 5:53am
My vote is 250 2 stroke whether it be a YZ or a SX. Unless you are riding 80+ hours a year/season, you should be able to make the whole year on a top end and several years on the bottom end. After talking with guys at the track and reading reviews on here it seems like the 350 ktm would be a good choice for a long lasting 4 stroke that isn't a 450. After that I'd say YZF 250. But if you want a 4 stroke to last to me it seems Iike a 450 is where it's at, as they just don't get worked hard.
4
1
Gungadin
Profile picture for user Gungadin
Posts
235
Joined
7/8/2022
Location
Sarasota, FL US
Gungadin 8/4/2022 5:58am
8/4/2022 5:58am
1974 MX250 or MX360 Yamaha.
2
4
Darrin Willis 8/4/2022 6:07am
8/4/2022 6:07am
My only real break down in the last 20 years was a 2015 yz250f. 50 hrs . Rod broke. Right through the case. 3000$ canadian.Not uncommon for that year.
3
1
snape99
Profile picture for user snape99
Posts
192
Joined
4/25/2014
Location
AU
snape99 8/4/2022 6:15am
8/4/2022 6:15am
Chris99Flannery wrote:
That’s not a 450?

Ktm350
Yz250 2 stk
????

Crank wise, gearbox wise etc.
Bruh. You love those Austrian 350s
Suprise this is even a question 😊😎
3
walent215
Profile picture for user walent215
Posts
2288
Joined
12/6/2014
Location
Ridgecrest, CA US
walent215 8/4/2022 6:16am
8/4/2022 6:16am
Darrin Willis wrote:
My only real break down in the last 20 years was a 2015 yz250f. 50 hrs . Rod broke. Right through the case. 3000$ canadian.Not uncommon...
My only real break down in the last 20 years was a 2015 yz250f. 50 hrs . Rod broke. Right through the case. 3000$ canadian.Not uncommon for that year.
Ouch
Sorry to hear that
Did you own it since new
If so what oil and service intervals did you run?

Pit Row

See All »
Mr. Afterbar
Profile picture for user Mr. Afterbar
Posts
2064
Joined
5/13/2019
Location
Green Bay, WI US
Mr. Afterbar 8/4/2022 6:21am
8/4/2022 6:21am
wiedeman wrote:
New yz250fs are really good. Oem pistons are also only like $55.
They have cam chain issues from what I have heard from numerous sources.
2
sebastianer 8/4/2022 7:01am
8/4/2022 7:01am
Austrian 350 easy. Monk here had on vital put over 700 hours of pretty hard use without even open the valve cover on the bike. I have also seen some yz125 with crazy hours of woods riding.
2
1
Saul Rosenburg 8/4/2022 7:17am
8/4/2022 7:17am
Had great luck from both of these.

1974 Husky 450 Desert Master
Rokon 340
3
Moto520
Profile picture for user Moto520
Posts
3002
Joined
2/4/2013
Location
Schaumburg, IL US
Moto520 8/4/2022 7:26am
8/4/2022 7:26am Edited Date/Time 8/4/2022 7:28am
YZ 250 is easy to keep running forever. They do have minor issues with the gearbox. It could take 100-200 hours to get to the problem but it's there. Then....i would go to the YZ250F.
Yamaha's really are put together amazingly well.
6
1
TeamGreen
Profile picture for user TeamGreen
Posts
25479
Joined
11/25/2008
Location
Thru-out, CA US
TeamGreen 8/4/2022 7:30am
8/4/2022 7:30am
I’ve had a Husky 350 since late 2014 that has been as reliable as a diesel truck
4
1
LungButter
Profile picture for user LungButter
Posts
3857
Joined
1/9/2016
Location
Yellow Pine, ID US
LungButter 8/4/2022 7:36am
8/4/2022 7:36am
TeamGreen wrote:
I’ve had a Husky 350 since late 2014 that has been as reliable as a diesel truck
Are we talking a pre or post DEF truck?
9
Books
Profile picture for user Books
Posts
62
Joined
5/12/2022
Location
Hartshorne, OK US
Books 8/4/2022 7:42am
8/4/2022 7:42am
Motofinne wrote:
Austrian 350 would be the clear winner.
Not all.. I’ve owned a few and mine last and current one, the 22 model only lasted 6hours, destroyed engine because off a failed peek sprocket in the oilpump Sick
prozach
Profile picture for user prozach
Posts
804
Joined
7/1/2008
Location
Eureka, CA US
prozach 8/4/2022 7:48am
8/4/2022 7:48am
It's kinda a crop shoot. Sometimes shit goes wrong in a big way right away, sometimes not for a long time. 🤷‍♀️ Maintenance and riding style can influence longevity, but the sometimes it still just breaks.

From my experience 125 are a ticking time bomb for mx. 450s are pretty bulletproof, 250 two strokes or 300s next. 250f for faster riders on MX are a lot of work generally also.
1
prozach
Profile picture for user prozach
Posts
804
Joined
7/1/2008
Location
Eureka, CA US
prozach 8/4/2022 7:51am
8/4/2022 7:51am Edited Date/Time 8/4/2022 7:53am
It's kinda a crap shoot. Sometimes shit goes wrong in a big way right away, sometimes not for a long time. 🤷‍♀️ Maintenance and riding style can influence longevity, but l sometimes it still just breaks.

From my experience 125 are a ticking time bomb for mx. 450s are pretty bulletproof, 250 two strokes or 300s next. 250f for faster riders on MX are a lot of work generally also.
2

Post a reply to: What’s the most reliable longest lasting mx bike available