im looking to get back on the dirt but cant decide if i want to go 2 stroke or 4. ive never owned a 2 stroke so i thought itd be cool.

my main concern is maintenance. whichever requires less is the route im gonna go.

I've only owned a 2 stroke 250. I've had it for 2 years and all i've done is changed sparkplugs, clean airfilter and changed trans oil. When the top end goes out i've heard of it being 150 bucks for a top end rebuild kit.

2 strokes require maintenance more often but they are cheap to fix. 4 strokes require little maintenance but when they do break it's pretty spendy. I personally prefer 4 stroke but it kinda depends on what you want to do with your bike. I've raced tracks and hillclimb comps and done a ton of trail riding. 4 strokes tend to have down low power and torque with a broad power range. 2 strokes are are light and nimble and make plenty of power but it will come on all at once normally near the top of the revvs. I think 4 strokes are more versatile but 2 strokes make great freestyle and trials bikes. They can be good for trail riding too but I only prefer them for that if it's pretty open trails with sweeping corners. PM me if you want more info...

im leaning towards 2 stroke just because ive had 4 stroke before and i wanna ride/own somethin different than before

It's your choice 2 strokes are great bikes too. Just expect to rebuild the motor more often and you'll have to mix gas (I hated mixing gas)... What type of terrain do you plan on riding?

I keep hearing about rebuilding teh top end on 2 strokes often. I've had mine 2 years and so far no rebuild. The guy i bought it from gave me the rebuild kit but it hasn't needed it yet. its a 96 RM250 with a motor out of a 2000 RM250. All i've done to it is change spark plug, change trans oil and clean filter. I mainly ride desert trails and this weekend i'm throwing a paddle on it and taking a stab at sand.

Well that's pretty good outta a 2 stroke. If you stay up on regular maintenance it will help. The biggest thing is to not rev the shit out of them but that can be hard considering that seems to be where the power starts to kick in. Easier to keep outta the revs on the big bikes.
You going to glamis?
If anyone is interested and close enough to me I could probably make you a pretty killer deal on my dirtbike. 03 KTM SX 525. Bored to 540 on the hardparts race cylinder (could be bored to a 580) with 5th and 6th gears added. Power Now. Exhaust. Excel Rear Rim. Just re-sealed the forks. And suspension tuned by trail tech. I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting. I would probably be looking for about 3k cause I've got about that into the upgrades alone.

What type of terrain do you plan on riding?

see heres my biggest problem and the main think thats keeping me from getting a dirtbike; i dont really have a good place to ride lol. a few of my friends ride and i could probably occasionally go with them but if it were left up to me id have trouble finding a good place lol

i had a two stroke and a 4, both are super fun. I used the 4 stroke for more put zing around and the 2 for racing. Like they say about rebuilding the top end it has to be done ever two years. Go 4 and get a newer 250. plenty of power and still super fun, plus you don't have to mix gas, WAY less maintenance and easier to ride.

^ Agreed. The new 4's make plenty of power and tons of torque. Plus the power is pretty well spread out so it's usable.

see heres my biggest problem and the main think thats keeping me from getting a dirtbike; i dont really have a good place to ride lol. a few of my friends ride and i could probably occasionally go with them but if it were left up to me id have trouble finding a good place lol

This is the reason I'm looking to sell my bike. I moved about a 1.5 years ago and haven't been able to hardly ride since cuz I'm too busy and don't know of any good places to ride. So all my bike ever does is sit around collecting dust. I fire it up every once in awhile and have done things like re-seal the forks and paint the frame but none of that helps me find a place to ride. Lol. I feel sorry for the poor gal. I love her and would miss her dearly but I'd rather see her go to a good home then be a garage guardian.

I keep hearing about rebuilding teh top end on 2 strokes often. I've had mine 2 years and so far no rebuild. The guy i bought it from gave me the rebuild kit but it hasn't needed it yet. its a 96 RM250 with a motor out of a 2000 RM250. All i've done to it is change spark plug, change trans oil and clean filter. I mainly ride desert trails and this weekend i'm throwing a paddle on it and taking a stab at sand.

From my experience two strokes need rebuilds more often when running lean ( Less Oil ). I used to race 2 strokes and i'd rebuild mine every year and a half not that i needed too just i did it to be safe.

^^ thats what i've heard too so I put 1 of those small containers of mix to every 4.25 gallons of gas. I used to do 1 container to every 4 gallons but my spark plugs would only last maybe 1 or 2 days of riding. now with the 4.25 mix they last me a lot longer and my top end so far hasn't suffered. Not sure how true this is but my 2 stroke friends had told me that when at full throttle in 5th gear to not leave the gas just wide open for too long. So what i do when i'm in 5th gear at close to top speed is i keep playing with the throttle. full throttle open for like 5 seconds then off then back on. Honestly i'm not even sure if its true or not just what i've kept hearing :dunno and well i guess its worked since i'm still on the same top end :dunno

2 smoker FTW

I keep hearing about rebuilding teh top end on 2 strokes often. I've had mine 2 years and so far no rebuild. The guy i bought it from gave me the rebuild kit but it hasn't needed it yet. its a 96 RM250 with a motor out of a 2000 RM250. All i've done to it is change spark plug, change trans oil and clean filter. I mainly ride desert trails and this weekend i'm throwing a paddle on it and taking a stab at sand.

From my experience two strokes need rebuilds more often when running lean ( Less Oil ). I used to race 2 strokes and i'd rebuild mine every year and a half not that i needed too just i did it to be safe.

yeah you don't wait until the top end seizes :lol

Every 40-60 hours you just do a fresh top end.

^^ :spit I have one in the garage I'll get to it one of these days. I'm pretty sure i'm well over 60 hrs :lmao since i've owned it and who knows when the last owner rebuilt it :spit

Get a stroker and feel what a real Power Band is....and besides, one day they'll all be gone and dont you want to be able to know what the hype was all about ?
I have a rmx250 for the dirt and love it to death.
Si

Get a stroker and feel what a real Power Band is....and besides, one day they'll all be gone and dont you want to be able to know what the hype was all about ?
I have a rmx250 for the dirt and love it to death.
Si

im gonna ride my buddies ktm 250 2 and see what i think

good choice, ktm's are sick but very pricy, my buddy has a 2 stroke ktm 200 and its pretty insane. pulls power wheelies in 4th gear no problem

Ktm is the way I would go. If you get a chance to try a 300exc go for it.Great bottom end ,mid, and top. Just rember to keep the air filter clean and run a good quality premix.

I grew up racing 2 strokes & really like them. They are easy & fun to toss around. For play riding on dirt roads & fire lanes I love my XR650R. The bottom end of a 4 stroke is awesome for offroad work.

Ya the KTM 300exc and xc are both really fun bikes. My step dad has one and he loves it. He still occasionally misses the real low grunt power of the 525sx though. But he does a lot of hillclimbs. If your looking 2 stroke that 300 is the way I would go.

I've always had 4 stroke but rode 2 stroke plenty of times. I prefer 4 stroke just cause it's less to worry about although sometimes that power band can be loads of fun. I just bought a CRF450R last night and it's pretty sick. Newly built engine, new trans, full yoshi pipes. That thing can rip power wheelies in every gear. Had a YZ450F that could to that too. I usually ride trails at Hatfield-McCoy but I think I'm gonna start racing next year.

Ktm is the way I would go. If you get a chance to try a 300exc go for it.Great bottom end ,mid, and top. Just rember to keep the air filter clean and run a good quality premix.

X2 on that one. I love my 300. Its a horse and had great quality service out of it. Go with a 2 Smoker

1) buy a used 2-stroke
2) beat the piss out of it
3) when its out of piss, buy a top end rebuild kit for $150, a manual, and rebuild it yourself.
4) repeat 1-3. A 4-stroke costs almost ten times as much to maintain. I'm talking $250 and up for a piston.

yeah you don't wait until the top end seizes :lol


Yup...and they run the best right before they blow up.

I prefer the outright sillyness of a 2 stroke but also love the grunt of a 4 banger.

That's why we keep a play bike in both forms. :biggrin

Yeah, 4 stroke can be pricey to fix. My brother just blew up his 08' KX250F this weekend.

4 stroke all the way.