Can't decide. 2T or 4T for general trail type riding.

[Tony.OK]

Seeing as I survived my maiden outing on the XR400 I'm looking at something a bit more modern and easier to start when I'm knackered.

2007 300 EXC (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=445418638)

or

2006 400 EXC (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=451860007)

Both are about the same price (6k ish), and looked well cared for. The 400 rates as great easy power similar but better in every way than the XR400, the 300 also rates highly and has the advantage of being able to be tuned (easily) when the need/skill level dictate.

Seems the 400 has good reliability and good longevity if serviced well. Over 200hrs for top end?
The 300 is good too, easy maintenance, from what I can gather around 100hrs for piston if cared for.

Love the thought of a light 2T but don't want to be overwhelmed by the power. Do they start without probs after falling off or laying down? Thats the bonus on the 400 (magic button).

Main trouble will be prob buying unseen as both are up nth.

Thoughts? Views, opinions welcome :yes:

ps....am pretty handy with spanners so not scared of doing work, just don't want to need to do it often haha.

[t595]

Both of them are to expensive for old bikes. You can get the newer shape 08 onwards for about the same price if you look around. Then the 300 will be electric start also
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dirt-bikes/auction-450859181.htm

[green machine]

Both of them are to expensive for old bikes. You can get the newer shape 08 onwards for about the same price if you look around. Then the 300 will be electric start also
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dirt-bikes/auction-450859181.htm
Have to agree,don't rush in,there are alot of good bike bargains out there,it's a buyers market.....as for the 4t or 2t decision,you should try and have a ride on both,opinions on here are as militant and they are varied,all the 4t riders(like me)will sing the praises of our bikes.....then the militant hard core 2t riders will wade in saying,2t's are where it's at, 4t's are crap,expensive,less fun,real men ride 2 strokes,if they raced them in the AMA and Supercross again they'd clean up,etc,etc.............hahaha,just kidding 2t riders:dodge:

[flyingcr250]

Have to agree,don't rush in,there are alot of good bike bargains out there,it's a buyers market.....as for the 4t or 2t decision,you should try and have a ride on both,opinions on here are as militant and they are varied,all the 4t riders(like me)will sing the praises of our bikes.....then the militant hard core 2t riders will wade in saying,2t's are where it's at, 4t's are crap,expensive,less fun,real men ride 2 strokes,if they raced them in the AMA and Supercross again they'd clean up,etc,etc.............hahaha,just kidding 2t riders:dodge:

Sounds about right, i just waiting for a certain someone to wade in and bang on about how he can pull wheelies in 10th gear while doing 300ks on his 500

[IIIRII]

The 300 2t will go everywhere the 400 4t will, without even getting it on the pipe ...
And its heaps lighter

[Tony.OK]

Both of them are to expensive for old bikes. You can get the newer shape 08 onwards for about the same price if you look around. Then the 300 will be electric start also
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dirt-bikes/auction-450859181.htm
Yep seen the newer ones for around the 7k mark, whats better, a really tidy 06 or a worn looking 09? My budget is just over 5k so those newer ones are a little out of reach. Haven't heard a good word at all re the electric start on the 300's either, seems to be the only serious flaw I can find.

The 300 2t will go everywhere the 400 4t will, without even getting it on the pipe ...
And its heaps lighter

Thanks, how does it go about it though? Happy to chug all day if the mood suits? Have only ridden an RM125 many years back so that is my only comparison with a 2t.

[Jinxycat]

Sweet, a 2t 4t thread :D

[barty5]

Sweet, a 2t 4t thread :D

im waiting for the good old you cant beat a 200exc line lol

[flyingcr250]

im waiting for the good old you cant beat a 200exc line lol

Or "the kdx200 was the best bike ever made"

[Pornstar]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dirt-bikes/auction-442765079.htm
Similar to what i got, and i ruv mine.

[Crabby]

Sounds about right, i just waiting for a certain someone to wade in and bang on about how he can pull wheelies in 10th gear while doing 300ks on his 500
bahahahahahahahahahaaa!

[Jay GTI]

I've decided I'm going to end this argument once and for all, I'm going to invent the 3 stroke...

[cheese]

I've decided I'm going to end this argument once and for all, I'm going to invent the 3 stroke...

Or put a rotor in it.

bap bap bap bap....

How big are you? a 300 is an animal. If you're a trail type person I think that you might be happier sticking to your 4 stroke.

[Tony.OK]

Or put a rotor in it.

bap bap bap bap....

How big are you? a 300 is an animal. If you're a trail type person I think that you might be happier sticking to your 4 stroke.

80ish kg, 5' 10".
Thats the sort of info I'm after, reading reviews they all say the 300 is linear and ridable, but reviews are normally done by very competent riders?

[takitimu]

80ish kg, 5' 10".
Thats the sort of info I'm after, reading reviews they all say the 300 is linear and ridable, but reviews are normally done by very competent riders?

They decline to mention how unreliable the 300 electric start is, if you do go that route be real careful about that component.

I'd go 400 if I was you, a nice bike & just perfect if you do any adventure rides.

[Pornstar]

Sweet, a 2t 4t thread :DNow thats golden

[Pornstar]

I've decided I'm going to end this argument once and for all, I'm going to invent the 3 stroke...Man youve just seen a market and jumpt for it. I wanna be in on the ground floor, thats were the big moneys gunna be made.

[Crisis management]

My 0.02c worth....

The 300 is a tractable bike at lower and mid range with a lot of power at the top, the E start has it's problems but they are easy to kick over, most guys I know kick start it and save the button for when you need it.
I ride a 200 EXC at present and have ridden a couple of 300's so I'm not an expert but given enough money I'd be buying the Husaberg 390as first choice with the 400EXC second, the 450 EXC third. A couple of years ago the 300 would have been top of my list but age and the desire for a peaceful & easy riding experience have pushed me to 4 strokes.

Possibly a better opinion might be got from KTMboy, he's made the same switch recently so a PM to him might get you an opinion.

The decision you need to address is what sort of riding do you want to do, if you're new to it I suggest you perservere with the XR until you have a better idea, jumping into a new bike after one trail ride seems a bit of an over reaction.


YMMV.

[Tony.OK]

jumping into a new bike after one trail ride seems a bit of an over reaction.


YMMV.

Seems that is what I do best hahaa.

Am thinking the 400 is the way to go for me..........lazy bike for a lazy rider. Can't see me doing anything other than trail rides, not interested in racing of any sort anymore. Its really better susp that I'm after and the starter button.
That and I do like shiney new(er) things :rolleyes:

[Pornstar]

Seems that is what I do best hahaa.

Am thinking the 400 is the way to go for me..........lazy bike for a lazy rider. Can't see me doing anything other than trail rides, not interested in racing of any sort anymore. Its really better susp that I'm after and the starter button.
That and I do like shiney new(er) things :rolleyes:
good choice, ive heard nuthin but good things about exc 400.

[F5 Dave]

So why limit yourself to Katoom? the Gasser 300 is mellow bike to ride, handles great & is light. Coming from a GG200 I found it as manageable but with easier to access power, whereas the 250 was more aggressive. Starts easy too (I'm 5'8").

I've only ridden an XR400 once & it felt like landing a block of flats. The 2Ts feel lighter just because they don't have all that weight above the centre of gravity, although I bid that the modern 4s are a lot better than they were.

[oldskool]

So why limit yourself to Katoom? the Gasser 300 is mellow bike to ride, handles great & is light. Coming from a GG200 I found it as manageable but with easier to access power, whereas the 250 was more aggressive. Starts easy too (I'm 5'8").

I've only ridden an XR400 once & it felt like landing a block of flats. The 2Ts feel lighter just because they don't have all that weight above the centre of gravity, although I bid that the modern 4s are a lot better than they were.

I'd second that! Oh just by the by, mines on trademe!

Thanks for the plug Dave! :niceone:

[Crabby]

I have always ridden 2 stroke, from 80's though an assortment of 125's a couple of kdx's and several 2 stroke 250's, with an rm465 powered rmx250 thrown in the mix I thought id never make the switch to a 4 stroke mx bike, But I recently did. After riding a mates 09 crf250 I went and bought an 07 kxf250 and love it, Tractable power everywhere and I shit you not, I can kick start it with my hand! as they have auto decomp. Perfect trail bike IMO. Light, agile, but still enough power to do everything and tractor up some real steep shit. Makes the A loop at thundercross childs play. Sure it don't have an electric leg, but comething like a crf250x or wr250 does and might be seriously worth a look at.

Only on the beach when riding with other 4t 250's do I sometimes miss my 2 fiddy 2 stroker or wish I had got a 450... at the end of the day though I get way less tired riding the 250 as it doesn't tear your arms off quite the same way as more powerful bikes... that said, it would probably smoke the old xr400... :drool:

[SMOKEU]

You know you secretly want a 2 smoker. They're epic fun.

[Stylo]

You know you secretly want a 2 smoker. They're epic fun.

+1 Mate :cool:

[SMOKEU]

Since it's a dirt bike it's probably not going to get ridden anywhere near as much as an average road bike so the extra cost of oil and the occasional piston and rings isn't going to break the bank. If you can afford a "late" model KTM then you can afford to put in a new piston and rings every 60-80 hours.

Unless you're going to be riding the bike every second day in which case the running costs may add up quite a bit, treat yourself to a 2 stroke.

[browny]

whether you go 2t or 4 is a personal preference, im big bore 4 but ive got mates like the mix at kber who swear 2t. my only advice, coming from being burnt my self, is dont rush in. there are heaps of good deals around, and try before you buy. i can thank the arsholes at energy honda in new plymouth who sold me a lemon, (that looked sweet in a picture), for my burns. valuable lesson tho. paid 7k for lemon and after endless breakdowns and repair bills found the same version of said lemon for 4.5k. have still got it and have had a great run out of it. but i rode it before parting with cash

[LankyBastard]

I have just been in the same situation as the OP, but luckily I was able to attend the KTM demo day, as I was 50/50 re 2t or 4t. Rode the entire range, (and had a blast doing so) and ended up buying the 250 xc-f 4t. Loved the light weight and handling of the 2t's but the on/off power delivery was really weird for me, as I had only ever had experience with 4t road bikes. So I went for the 250 xc-f as it was nearly as light as the 2t's but had a far easier to manage throttle (but it will still rip your arms off if you want). You really do need to try both, honestly it's the only way!!!

Anyone else doing the Clevedon trail ride this Sunday??

[kiwifruit]

4 strokes seem to be the way, for those without much offroad experience but what about the maintenance costs? How much is a rebuild? How long between?

[Reckless]

I have always ridden 2 stroke, from 80's though an assortment of 125's a couple of kdx's and several 2 stroke 250's, with an rm465 powered rmx250 thrown in the mix I thought id never make the switch to a 4 stroke mx bike, But I recently did. After riding a mates 09 crf250 I went and bought an 07 kxf250 and love it, Tractable power everywhere and I shit you not, I can kick start it with my hand! as they have auto decomp. Perfect trail bike IMO. Light, agile, but still enough power to do everything and tractor up some real steep shit. Makes the A loop at thundercross childs play. Sure it don't have an electric leg, but comething like a crf250x or wr250 does and might be seriously worth a look at.

Only on the beach when riding with other 4t 250's do I sometimes miss my 2 fiddy 2 stroker or wish I had got a 450... at the end of the day though I get way less tired riding the 250 as it doesn't tear your arms off quite the same way as more powerful bikes... that said, it would probably smoke the old xr400... :drool:

Felt exactly the same way when I went from cr250 to a 200 exc both 2smokers :)


Since it's a dirt bike it's probably not going to get ridden anywhere near as much as an average road bike so the extra cost of oil and the occasional piston and rings isn't going to break the bank. If you can afford a "late" model KTM then you can afford to put in a new piston and rings every 60-80 hours.

Unless you're going to be riding the bike every second day in which case the running costs may add up quite a bit, treat yourself to a 2 stroke.


4 strokes seem to be the way, for those without much offroad experience but what about the maintenance costs? How much is a rebuild? How long between?

MY 200 gets a new ring or piston every 100 hours depending on the measure up.
Usually drop a piston in just because its apart and I want to no its good till the next time.
20 hrs by the book for gearbox oil, Gets it every 15 or so??
100 hrs is a lot of riding (ova a year or more) thats about $400 @ KTm retail if you do the work yourself
There is a good hard rider on here got 400 hours out of a 200exc piston and ring :)
For me I like a fixed price $400 every year or two, the 2k titanium valve job stories scare me but I no fuck all about 4 strokes.

IMHO
As smokers vs 4's go
If you want all wang and clutching it get a 125
if you want a light bike, bit of wang, balanced with good tractability that can lug from down low get the 200exc.
If you want really good torque and not so much rev get the 300
(both the 200 and the 300 have adjustable power valves you can make them go pretty much how you want,
most people ignore or don't realise this feature of the exc)

If you want tractability all through that a 2 stroke simply can't honestly match get a 250 4 stroke.

Some of us like the challenge of a smoker even if we cant make the odd sand hill as easily as the 4 stroke boys can

you choose!! each to their own :)

Ride them all but big CC numbers on the side plates don't necessarily make you any faster :)

Then there is the new 150exc dunno haven't riden one but give one a go? Heard its pretty light and fast through the trees :)

[kiwifruit]

Thanks for all that :-) Budget is about 3k... seems to be a few around that price, no 300s tho!

[Reckless]

Thanks for all that :-)

Cheers just my 2c

Some here would ride nothing but a 450 :)
But usually you don't get what riding style and what bike fits it??? till you've been out there for a year or two when your skill level rises and your attraction to woods, x country, trail rides, sand, MX or FMX takes control :)
Great sport tho :)

OH and if any one is looking at a 200 (only because my knowledge is with that model) not because everyone should have one??
The 03 series has quite a bit of punch (although we tamed this pretty well by turning back the power valve). ?? to 07 is another revision but they softened and Broadened the power delivery on the 08 revision series engine and chassis! Strangely in 09 they went to a 22 deg rake front end to make them less nervous in the front. Luckily my 08 had 6 days forged triple clamps on it @ 20 or 22deg. KTM do a major model revision about every 3 years?? I don't really no what happened after that but after spending 1k getting mine set up for my weight etc mine will do until direct injection comes :) After 3 years on it its still more bike than my skill can handle :)

As I say each to their own :) good luck all CYA out there, we can share sweaty drink time in the trees one rest period :)

[kiwifruit]

Yeah, i know a 250 will be more than enough for me. I haven't ridden offroad since i was 14, 15. A 1980 XR200! What a bike.

Keen to develop my riding with a bit of trail work. Be good for the road racing skills i recon. Most of the good guys on the (sealed) track are good on dirt bikes too.

Here are a couple on my watch list:
01 YZ http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=452312460

07 YZF http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=452312460

07 EXC http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=452486585

03 YZF http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dirt-bikes/auction-451916986.htm

[Reckless]

oh last thing

The 125 & 200 shares the 125 chassis! the 250 and 300 share the bigger chassis in Ktm

And the fly wheel weight is the most under estimated 2smoker mod there is!
Although the exc's don't need them the 250 smokers and 125's love the mod for trial riding

Cya

hope this helps :)

[Buddy L]

For the money and age, you could get a much newer 250 four stroke then that YZF
My RMZ250 is 2008, and i would only expect to get $4000 if im luckly when it comes time to sell it.

[SMOKEU]

Buy a CR500. I heard those things are pretty animal.

[kiwifruit]

Buy a CR500. I heard those things are pretty animal.

u r

[Stylo]

Buy a CR500. I heard those things are pretty animal.

No animal, just short-shift and keep your vision looking straight ahead ...hang on and make sure you have a piss before you go for a ride .

[SMOKEU]

No animal, just short-shift and keep your vision looking straight ahead ...hang on and make sure you have a piss before you go for a ride .

And a shit by the sounds of it.