4 stroke knowledge help

ChrissyDMX
Hi, i currently own a YZ125 and come end of the season i would of done a year riding it as my first bike, as a weekend rider riding more or less every weekend. I do all of the vital maintenance on my 2 stroke, and im fully aware a 4 stroke needs equally as much in terms of oil, oil filter and air filter change etc.

The things im curious about are prices of major maintenance, such as piston, bottom end rebuilds, shims, valves etc. Im thinking about just sticking out with a 2 stroke simply for the cost of those things put me off. Thanks fellas, and ladies.
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Paw Paw 271
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Paw Paw 271 6/21/2018 2:31pm
6/21/2018 2:31pm
If not abused a 4 stroke will require much less major maintenance. When it does it does cost more for the parts.
If you stay off the rev limiter you will have a good running, long lasting 4 stroke. If you bounce it off the rev limiter regularly, it just will not last. Remember that these 4 stroke engines are built for high RPM's and high horsepower at almost any cost and thus the life is just a lot shorter than that of a street bike 4 stroke engine.

Paw Paw
murph783
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murph783 6/21/2018 3:05pm
6/21/2018 3:05pm
Going with what paw paw said, even if you do rev the thing pretty good, they can still have a pretty good life expectancy so long as you keep up with the maintenance. I hammer on my bikes pretty hard, but I change my oil, oil filter, and air filter religiously, check my valves fairly often, replace a piston, rings, and cam chain every 30 hours, and crank every 60 or so, I’ve gone quite a long time without a catastrophic failure. It’s not cheap, but I’d rather spend a few hundred bucks a season on that than grenade a motor. I do my own work though, so if you have to factor in labor, that jacks the price up significantly.
ChrissyDMX 6/21/2018 3:06pm
6/21/2018 3:06pm
Paw Paw 271 wrote:
If not abused a 4 stroke will require much less major maintenance. When it does it does cost more for the parts. If you stay off...
If not abused a 4 stroke will require much less major maintenance. When it does it does cost more for the parts.
If you stay off the rev limiter you will have a good running, long lasting 4 stroke. If you bounce it off the rev limiter regularly, it just will not last. Remember that these 4 stroke engines are built for high RPM's and high horsepower at almost any cost and thus the life is just a lot shorter than that of a street bike 4 stroke engine.

Paw Paw
not sure ill be bouncing it off the rev limiter as i cant really do that with my 125, but i feel like the 125 cant throw me up a jump as the power isnt there immediately, im like 14 stone so its not like im light and it struggles for jumps straight after sharp corners. Would you recommend a 4 banger for motocross over a 2 stroke?
ChrissyDMX 6/21/2018 3:08pm
6/21/2018 3:08pm
murph783 wrote:
Going with what paw paw said, even if you do rev the thing pretty good, they can still have a pretty good life expectancy so long...
Going with what paw paw said, even if you do rev the thing pretty good, they can still have a pretty good life expectancy so long as you keep up with the maintenance. I hammer on my bikes pretty hard, but I change my oil, oil filter, and air filter religiously, check my valves fairly often, replace a piston, rings, and cam chain every 30 hours, and crank every 60 or so, I’ve gone quite a long time without a catastrophic failure. It’s not cheap, but I’d rather spend a few hundred bucks a season on that than grenade a motor. I do my own work though, so if you have to factor in labor, that jacks the price up significantly.
Yeah taking a 4 stroke motor apart is not quite the same as a 2 stroke, a lot more to it! most likely be done a shop i would imagine.

The Shop

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ktm-5
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ktm-5 6/21/2018 3:14pm
6/21/2018 3:14pm
If you can mechanically handle working on a 2 stroke you can do a 4 stroke. It takes me about twice as long but I'm very meticulous and there is more to it. I was always a 2 stroke guy but these new 4 strokes are bada$$ and I love the power delivery. I would suggest riding a 250f and even a 350f and see what you like best. Also try a 250 2 stroke, it's the only way to really decide.
murph783
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murph783 6/21/2018 3:34pm
6/21/2018 3:34pm
ktm-5 wrote:
If you can mechanically handle working on a 2 stroke you can do a 4 stroke. It takes me about twice as long but I'm very...
If you can mechanically handle working on a 2 stroke you can do a 4 stroke. It takes me about twice as long but I'm very meticulous and there is more to it. I was always a 2 stroke guy but these new 4 strokes are bada$$ and I love the power delivery. I would suggest riding a 250f and even a 350f and see what you like best. Also try a 250 2 stroke, it's the only way to really decide.
I’d agree with that. It’s all just nuts and bolts, nothing too crazy. A service manual and some patience goes a good long way.
ChrissyDMX 6/22/2018 5:32am
6/22/2018 5:32am
ktm-5 wrote:
If you can mechanically handle working on a 2 stroke you can do a 4 stroke. It takes me about twice as long but I'm very...
If you can mechanically handle working on a 2 stroke you can do a 4 stroke. It takes me about twice as long but I'm very meticulous and there is more to it. I was always a 2 stroke guy but these new 4 strokes are bada$$ and I love the power delivery. I would suggest riding a 250f and even a 350f and see what you like best. Also try a 250 2 stroke, it's the only way to really decide.
Only thing putting me off a 250 2 stroke is the little error for mistake in terms of throttle control, and I don't want to move to a ktm as I'm in love with the cornering on my yz and my friends ktm seems to lack that tight rear wheel turning. Perhaps a big bore kit, too many options hahah!!!
kb228
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kb228 6/22/2018 5:46am
6/22/2018 5:46am
When you average the cost over time its cheaper with 4 strokes. They dont require that much maintenance. Keep the fluids and filters fresh and youre good. When its time for a top end, mostly youre doing a piston and cam chain and thats not much more than a 2 stroke. Additional cost is basically the $50 cam chain. Valves and all that last a long time and dont need redone every time you do a top end. They arent horror machines like most 2 stroke fanatics make them seem to be. Thats for sure.
ChrissyDMX 6/22/2018 6:45am
6/22/2018 6:45am
kb228 wrote:
When you average the cost over time its cheaper with 4 strokes. They dont require that much maintenance. Keep the fluids and filters fresh and youre...
When you average the cost over time its cheaper with 4 strokes. They dont require that much maintenance. Keep the fluids and filters fresh and youre good. When its time for a top end, mostly youre doing a piston and cam chain and thats not much more than a 2 stroke. Additional cost is basically the $50 cam chain. Valves and all that last a long time and dont need redone every time you do a top end. They arent horror machines like most 2 stroke fanatics make them seem to be. Thats for sure.
Fair enough fella, I think I'll run a year out on my 2 banger, and swap it up come winter. I have 2014 yz125 with few extras, what 4 stroke would you point me in the direction of? I've heard some people slate hondas for engine issues. Yzf 2016 250 looks pretty good, seems to be a lot of them about too. Any preferences?
kb228
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kb228 6/22/2018 6:48am
6/22/2018 6:48am
kb228 wrote:
When you average the cost over time its cheaper with 4 strokes. They dont require that much maintenance. Keep the fluids and filters fresh and youre...
When you average the cost over time its cheaper with 4 strokes. They dont require that much maintenance. Keep the fluids and filters fresh and youre good. When its time for a top end, mostly youre doing a piston and cam chain and thats not much more than a 2 stroke. Additional cost is basically the $50 cam chain. Valves and all that last a long time and dont need redone every time you do a top end. They arent horror machines like most 2 stroke fanatics make them seem to be. Thats for sure.
ChrissyDMX wrote:
Fair enough fella, I think I'll run a year out on my 2 banger, and swap it up come winter. I have 2014 yz125 with few...
Fair enough fella, I think I'll run a year out on my 2 banger, and swap it up come winter. I have 2014 yz125 with few extras, what 4 stroke would you point me in the direction of? I've heard some people slate hondas for engine issues. Yzf 2016 250 looks pretty good, seems to be a lot of them about too. Any preferences?
Im a kawi guy. Cost, reliability, and bike stability are all appealing to me. Pick a color honestly.
mwssquad827
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mwssquad827 6/24/2018 10:24pm
6/24/2018 10:24pm Edited Date/Time 6/24/2018 10:25pm
Keep the 125 and learn to rip it. It takes skill to ride a 125 fast and yes it will get you over most jumps... learn to rev the 125... my old 125 got me over all the jumps that it needed too and I’m 200lbs ( sorry I’m to lazy to google and convert to stonesBlink ) 2 stroke are cheaper to rebuild as well, if your smarter than a monkey and I assume you are you can rebuild the 125 motor from top to bottom in a weekendSmileSmile
526
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526 6/27/2018 4:52am
6/27/2018 4:52am
Start with something Good don't buy somebody else's poorly maintained bike.

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