2 vs 4 stroke question

this question probably has been asked a million times.

I haven't touched a bike since the beginning of 1992 , at that time i came off a 1991 honda cr125 wich was a bike i have gotten from a rider who rode it in the grand prix.i gotten into an traffic accident (on a moped) and really never recovered enough from it to start riding again. then 4 years later i moved to the US.

however lately i have been getting the itch to start riding again , i i may as well since i'm still young.

bikes have pretty evolved since 1992 and i really am genuine interested in knowing the difference in the 4 stroke compared to the 2 stroke from a riding point.i know the mechanical differences. but i'm hesitant in switching from a 2 stroke to a 4 stroke before knowing the difference.

so if any guys/girls that have a good expierence or bad from switching from a 2 stroke to a 4 stroke or vice versa i would like to hear from you.i'm in the market to buy a bike ..although it's going to be either a Honda or KTM ...but that's just personal preference...

Honda doesn't make any two strokes anymore,,,So half of the problem is solved

depends on how much money you have.4stroke engines require a lot more maintenance if riden hard.a new top end for a 4stroke will run you about a grand as a 2stroke about a hundred.

BrownDogWilson wrote:

Honda doesn't make any two strokes anymore,,,So half of the problem is solved

i don't need a new bike to go hard

plus i don't really care about the maintenance difference..i'm interested in the riding difference between the 2

Surely, the 4 stroke would be the best choice if you are going to participate in races and such things, but I whole-heartedly believe in the old Motox spirit, and supports 2-strokes to the max! I just turned 15, and I grew up at the local track with my dad, and there were no 4-strokes at all at this time, so when I first heard 4-strokes, I was really let down...

The 4 stroke is more environment-friendly though, but I have heard some rumours that they are working on creating a new type of 2-strokes. Whether this is true or not, I am very excited to hear more about it.

the riding differance between a 2stroke an 4stoke is that a 4stroke is esasier to ride.at least the ones i have riden and raced.personally ilove a power band being 37 an growing up on 2stokes.a 4stroke pretty much always has the power there.

There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding what bike is best for you. Your height, weight, personality, and what type of riding you will want to do are all key factors to making a good decision.

Getting advice from riders and dealers is a good place to start, but use it with caution. Do not let anyone push you into purchasing a bike you are not comfortable with. Most riders opt to start with a bike that is easy to ride. This allows you to concentrate on learning and gaining confidence. A word of caution, DO NOT get a bike that is too small for you. This will
force you to ride in an improper position, affecting the control and handling of the bike. All that is necessary, is to be able to touch with the balls of your feet. If a bike is a bit tall, remember as long as you can touch , you are ok. Also, bikes will settle in once the suspension breaks in and it is set up properly for you, which will lower the bike somewhat. There are also a few tricks you can do to lower it for you, but be careful if you choose to do this. It is very important to keep the same handlebar/footpaeg and seat relationships to keep you in the proper position. Once you master your bike and are ready for more power and suspension, go up in bike size. Be sure to have the suspension set up properly for you. This will make a big difference in control and your ability to touch.

Basic differences: You see a large hill....What do you do??? 4 Stroke- Start up the hill, stop half way up and have a picnic lunch, fire it back up and go over the top. 2 Stroke- Hit the hill with as much momentum as you can muster, and DO NOT stop for lunch !

2 Strokes: KX, CR, YZ, RM. More abrupt power. Comes on strong, but keeping the RPM's up is critical. Lightweight, ez to flick around and jump. Snappy throttle response which can be great fun, once you get the hang of it.

4 Strokes: CRF, XR, YZF, TTR, KLX, DRZ-Generally ez to ride. Good useable power. F Series bikes (CRF, YZF, DRZ) utilize MX technology-Good Suspension, lighter weight, but are generally taller. Just remember, the F models can sit pretty tall too. The XR, KLX, TTR-are great learner bikes, but expect to outgrow them quickly. The good news is their resale value is very good and they will sell quickly. These bikes are a bit more mellow, heavier and do not have the same suspension and handling of the other bikes. It's pretty much like jumping a tank.

125 is lighter and easier to jump, 250 has more power and is easier to ride, but for a beginner, it is almost always too much power. There are also alot of great entry level bikes you can get started with. Yamaha TTR and YZF, Honda's XR and CRF, Kawasaki's KLX, KDX or KX, Suzuki's DRZ.

Weight is a factor. Can you pick it up once you drop it? How much will the extra weight affect you? Also you cannot brake as quickly on the bigger bike because of the extra weight and power, and when you do get off, count on being pounded a bit more. However, because of the additional power, your ability to use power to get you out of a bad situation is increased, but if
you bail anyway, it will be spectacular., LOL

The choice is ultimately yours. I still prefer a 2 stroke, for the snappy power, good braking, weight and throw around ability, but if you ride trails, hills, like good ez power, and don't mind messing with a compression release, go for the 4 stroke. I must admit, although a real 2 stroke fan, there are some GREAT 4-strokes out now, that to be honest, have captured my
attention.

mxchickalltheway wrote:

There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding what bike is best for you. Your height, weight, personality, and what type of riding you will want to do are all key factors to making a good decision.

i want to run some club races around here , but i'm still more inclined to buying a 2-stroke... i guess call it old school. i just don't see myself being lazy on a 4 stroke... i drove a 500 honda once and i hated it because i couldn't throw it around like i wanted too.

maybe i should settle for a 125 this year to get the hang back and then switch to a 250... don't mind you i am 33 and at 5'8" at 155 lbs i should be able to throw a 125 around like i did in the early 90's. the local track doesn't have many long stretches in it , so i'm pretty confident i can keep up with the bigger bikes when i'm on a 125.

personality ? i'm not sure about that yet , i have to see what happens when i run one...it used to be balls to the wall...throttle open at the start and it wouldn't close till the finish line. but ever since i had a accident in 1992 i been kind of reluctant on it.

i'm getting older and i've been thinking about it for the past 2 years and i think i may be ready to try it again...but now on a easier and slower pace then i used to do before.

i ride a yz 250 and i love 2 strokes, i personally loves the powerband. 2-strokes are easier to whellie and manuever, so i would go with the 2-stroke.