2 or 4stroke Bike

**IronicCapers** · 21st April 2006, 21:00

Looking for a sport orientated bike but im getting a bike for fuel efficiency anyone know a good list of 250 models that are either all but what i really want to know is what is more fuel efficient 2 or 4stroke bikes?

**Gremlin** · 21st April 2006, 21:07

when you factor in the oil for 2 stroke as well, 4 stroke are definitely cheaper.

If you want a proper bike, not a scooter, and want fuel economy, you want a FXR150, unbelievable fuel economy, apparently 30km/l plus easily.

edit: sport and fuel economy don't really go hand in hand in my mind. Still, running my 7, its economy is probably similar to really good petrol cars, and I sure don't ride it like the cars...

**Aiolos** · 21st April 2006, 21:07

...4 strokes are, but thats hardly the point. Valves are for sissies.

**MidnightMike** · 21st April 2006, 21:09

Originally Posted by Aiolos

...4 strokes are, but thats hardly the point. Valves are for sissies.

Hahaha. you got one of those pink rg's???

I say go 4 stroke for cheapness and efficiency and 2 strokes for fun

**Pathos** · 21st April 2006, 21:44

Originally Posted by Gremlin

If you want a proper bike, not a scooter, and want fuel economy, you want a FXR150, unbelievable fuel economy, apparently 30km/l plus easily.

.

cost me ~$18 of mobil synergy 5000 to get from wellington to taupo (12L ?)... wringing the neck out of it most of the way. I think I could have made it with a single tank + reserve :/

**Sketchy_Racer** · 21st April 2006, 21:49

I dunno about the oil factors.....

My KR used 700ml of two-S oil in 1000kms of riding.

$15 gas gets me 250kms. so around $60 for gas and $15 for a 1 litre oil.

1000kms = $75

Now, my CBR 250 did 1000 kms and it cost $30 to every 300kms.

And oil needs to be changed every 10000kms with oil been $50

So $100 for a 1000kms petrol and $5 of oil costs.

$105 for a 1000kms on a 250 four stroke.

$75 for a 1000kms on a 150 two stroke.

Piston on the KR need to be done every 20000kms.

At a cost of ~150 - 200 ??

With the extra money saved on the two stroke, which is $600 over 20000kms, I can get a new piston kit for $200 and still have saved $400 by running the 150cc instead of the 250cc.

Never worry about doing the pistons on a 250 4 cylinder, 'cause if it needs pistons its already fucked.

Same amount of riding, only a $400 difference after 20000kms.

Another factor to think about is the ease of the job.

Doing a piston change on a two stroke is a piece of piss and any joe blog can jsut about do one, heck even Ivan can do one and hes the dumbest red neck you'll ever see.

But Four strokes are harder and normally require a shop to do them, take much longer and cost more for parts.

A Two stroke is cheaper in the long run any day of the week. But there are so many variables that it is impossible to judge them like that.

-RG

**UrbanMyth** · 21st April 2006, 22:05

4 strokes are cheaper to run.
Few examples of cheap bikes to run:
fxr150
gn125-250
sr250
zzr or gsx 250
well then again any bike that is under 250 and 4 stroke can be cheap if you dont thrash it.Just get something that is cheap to begin with

**sefer** · 22nd April 2006, 14:22

Yeah I'd have to agree with RG100's figures on the Kr running costs. I get about 1500Km to the litre with 2 stroke oil (no not gas

), and around 260Km to a tank normal running(without hitting reserve, thou would be close), and a tank is around 9-10litres (11 total).
Compare that with about the same Ks from the zxr per tank (and that's with reserve and pushing

), but with a larger tank (15 or so litres.. don't remember).

**inlinefour** · 22nd April 2006, 15:16

Want economy get a street magic. As for the sports bikes, something to be said for both 2 & 4 strokes, thats why I wanted at least one of each. They both suck fuel almost just as bad as each other if your giving the bike total death. Although I think the RG500 was worse than the newish CBR I have. Ah feck it, a high preformance 2 smoker is just plain NASTY!!!! Must be why I like them so much...

**Jamezo** · 22nd April 2006, 17:06

2 stroke 150s can be very economical, right up there with fixxers, but it all depends how you ride them.

I got less than 200K out of my last tank, and I use a litre of oil about every 25-30 litres (oil usage is proportional to the revs apparently...). But then I ride it like I stole it, pretty much constantly. The figures quoted above for them are very realistic.

Long story short, 2 strokes still offer the best bang for your buck in anybodys language. If you can find a decent RG or KRR, go for it. The 250 2 strokes are amazing machines, but they guzzle like a 600. Take a look at them later once you've caught the two-stroke bug, but probably not to begin with.

**sefer** · 22nd April 2006, 18:39

Well normal riding (ie. commuting, or on at the speed limit) around 260 at reserve, but I'd have to admit riding on those closed roads at close to top speed most of the time it does drop to around 210-220 at reserve.

**vtec** · 22nd April 2006, 19:40

Well, I've owned an ex-racing RGV 250, and currently own (and race) a CBR250RR (Stock standard).

Long story short. The CBR is a much better bike in terms of reliability and gas mileage, and ease of use, while still being a complete blast to ride. The RGV was definitely faster but the one I had was a bit tired, and I had to spend a fair bit on it to keep it going. Still I bought it for $2000, and sold it for $2000 about 18 months later.

Maintenance and reliability:
The CBR however, all I've needed to spend on it in 20,000km's was a new clutch cable some new tyres, carb tune, and forks, and four oil changes. I probably only did 5000 k's on the RGV, and spent $1000 getting a rebuild done professionally, cause I was too inexperienced at the time to do it myself.

Gas Mileage:
CBR 250RR: 20km/l (half as much as the RGV usage)
RGV 250: 10km/l (the same as my 2.2litre Honda Prelude)
Also allow for burning some nice expensive motul aswell.

Fun Factor:
I loved riding both bikes, but the worries that the RGV gave me took a bit of the fun away, and put me off thrashing it. The CBR however will take all the thrashing you can throw at it for 10's of thousands of K's. Also I've bought a crashed one for a grand so that I've got a spare engine just in case, as I'm racing it and taking it to rev cut quite often (on Puke anyway).

OK that was my fair comparo of equal size 2stroke/4stroke bikes. Now for my opinion on what to buy if you are just getting started, and looking at fuel efficiency.

Me being a four stroke fan, and you looking at ultimate fuel efficiency while still having a fun ride. First place would have to be the Suzuki FXR150, as the people say you should get 30k/l easily and if you baby it, more I would say.

Second place would be the CBR250RR, cause you should still get around 20k/l. and it is great fun to ride and thrash. 0-100km/hr in 5 seconds flat if you get good. And corner's pretty damn good too, once you are used to the soft front shocks anyway. Plenty of go to get you in trouble.

Edit: Oh yeah, and the CBR cost me $5000, in good condition with a mere 10,000km on it. This was 2 years ago though.