125 2t vs 250 2t vs 250 4t

[RM125king]

im looking to get back in to moto x. now i cant decide which bike i want to go for. i had an 2006 yz250 2 stroke and i liked it alot but the power you had to watch otherwise it would throw you off. i had a 125 2 stroke at the same time and i loved that because i could just thrash and not worry bout it throwing you off but at 90kgs it was a bit slow. now i havent much to do with 4 strokes so i got no idea what they go like. but everyone keeps telling me to get a 250 4 stroke. now im not keen on this idea because it has the same power as the 125 but quite a bit heavier and i like to really work my bikes and thrash the fuck out of them. can some one give me your experience about these 250 four strokes and how they compare?

[GR81]

talk to ArcherWC, he has had both.

[scott411]

ok,
125's are still really light and really fun, also really cheap, (8500 full retail) getting hard to find 2nd hand so are keeping thier value as well,

250's are still powerfull, probebly the cheapist to run of them all, can catch you out if you are not fit, still the choice of freestylers and hackers the world around

250F's are the easist of them all to ride 90% of all poeple will be faster around the mx or enduro track on a 250F (Juha Salamen won teh ISDE overall on one) than anything else, they just hook up and haul ass and do not wear you out, unfortunalty they are the most expensive bike to run, they rev to 13000 rpm, they are hard on pistons and rings, and valves, and being 4 stroke they are harder to work on than simple two strokes,

[chris]

ok,
125's are still really light and really fun, also really cheap, (8500 full retail) getting hard to find 2nd hand so are keeping thier value as well,

250's are still powerfull, probebly the cheapist to run of them all, can catch you out if you are not fit, still the choice of freestylers and hackers the world around

250F's are the easist of them all to ride 90% of all poeple will be faster around the mx or enduro track on a 250F (Juha Salamen won teh ISDE overall on one) than anything else, they just hook up and haul ass and do not wear you out, unfortunalty they are the most expensive bike to run, they rev to 13000 rpm, they are hard on pistons and rings, and valves, and being 4 stroke they are harder to work on than simple two strokes,

What he said. Spent last Friday at Riverhead on the KTM 250SX and RM-Z 250. The modern quarter litre four stroke MX bike has so much mumbo you won't feel short changed.

[cheese]

I'm having the same debate now. I'm going to upgrade in april, but I love my 250 2 stroke, but I really don't ride it to its limits, I like the idea of a 250 4 stroke, but cause I recondition a 2 stroke myself the expense is going to sky rocket.

Thinks to think about with a 4

oil - have to do it every 5-10 hours + filter ($25)
Piston - every 50 hours (maybe 100 for a nana like me)
Valves - check clearence every 5 - 10 hours

2 stroke

Put oil in gas and ride it...... alot easier........

I'm going to test some bikes before I make a decision though.

[cheese]

Oh and stay the hell away from anything green or yellow in the 4 strokes from 03 and 04. They had alot of problems....

[xxblackbirdxx]

Ive owned and thrashed all bikes in question including a KX450.
IMO after having gone around and owned them all for awhile ,
4 Strokes are fun, expensive to maintain and will make you look like a much better rider than you really are.
So if your idea of having fun is to impress people get on a 250 4T and you wont complain about much till its time to service and maintain them. Dont be under the impression that 125 2T and the 250 4T are bikes with similar power, cause i think they are most surely not. Current 250 4T are surprisingly keeping up with the 450(surely they cant trade punch for punch but your lap times will surprise you).....
All said and done i have just got my self a 250 2T yesterday and am looking forward to Kimmy MX Track (@ huntly) this saturday.
You need to know where you are as a rider and what kind of riding you enjoy most, buy a bike that suits your style and make sure to set it up correctly for yourself.
If you have been off dirt bikes for a while and are looking to get back on one , 2504T is the go.
Or if you are just a power hungry person like me then a 250 2T will keep you correcting slides(step outs) and put terror on your face everytime you wring that throttle.

__ they say you can go longer on a 4T with out being tooo tired, I say I dont need to do ten laps to have fun, All i need is five good hard drama filled laps to have fun.___

Take your time and know what you want

[dammad1]

It just depends what you want from your riding experience.
If quick lap times are what you are after go for the 4T.
But if you just like to ride for the share excitment then you can not beat the two stroke!!!

I have ridden many of the late model 4's but I could never give up my 2 stroke! It just makes you feel alive!

[Paulus]

It just depends what you want from your riding experience.
If quick lap times are what you are after go for the 4T.
But if you just like to ride for the share excitment then you can not beat the two stroke!!!

I have ridden many of the late model 4's but I could never give up my 2 stroke! It just makes you feel alive!

Couldn't agree more. I spent some time on a YZ250F a while back and it was boring to ride. Probably very fast and definitely easy to ride but not much fun. My CR250 (2 stroke) was so much more exciting. Also tiring and unforgiving but unless you're racing for the win then it's all about having fun. The 2 stroke is more fun.

[Danger]

Couldn't agree more. I spent some time on a YZ250F a while back and it was boring to ride. Probably very fast and definitely easy to ride but not much fun. My CR250 (2 stroke) was so much more exciting. Also tiring and unforgiving but unless you're racing for the win then it's all about having fun. The 2 stroke is more fun.

You both summed up my thoughts. 250 four strokes are so boring to ride for me. I believe the four stroke revolution has made for alot more overall less skilled riders as well. Not saying I'm a gun or anything, but I'm sure I'm a better rider for owning and riding two strokes. They demand more of the rider. There is a rider and a place for the fours, but they are not for me.

[scott411]

You both summed up my thoughts. 250 four strokes are so boring to ride for me. I believe the four stroke revolution has made for alot more overall less skilled riders as well. Not saying I'm a gun or anything, but I'm sure I'm a better rider for owning and riding two strokes. They demand more of the rider. There is a rider and a place for the fours, but they are not for me.


interesting, some people in teh states claim four strokes are so easy to ride that they are making people better than they are and making the crashes better,

i mean a 250F is so easy to get speed out of a corner trickiy jumps are easier to do, before you had to have a fair bit of skill to get a 125 on the pipe to clear big jumps, now with the four stroke torque you can do them easier and people are getting into trouble on these bigger jumps

[cheese]

this is really interesting, I rode my mates CRF250X a while back and I found it like a screaming high compression 2 stroke. It was strange and I didn't really like it to tell the truth. But so many people are on them now and love them, so I guess they are good bikes, but it takes a while to adjust.

I think I'll get me a 250 2/

[cheese]

I think another thing to think with regards to 4/ is the starting when hot. I hear that its a bastard.

[ArcherWC]

I think another thing to think with regards to 4/ is the starting when hot. I hear that its a bastard.
Was in the "old" days, tis no longer a problem

[cheese]

But my bike would be an old bastard.......

[charles23]

4T is the way of the future, if you want a 2T get a VMX

[barty5]

ive had all sort two cr250 the last was tweaked all over oldie but a goodie a 92 with exhuast done ported yz 2003 front end ohlins rear and a large list of other bits was a real screamer and fun to ride. Traded it on the yz426f (now in bits but very easy to work on stripped down in 1 hour ) but the bite it has over the 250 wouldnt trade with the right tyres never found anything cant get through or over there allways something it pull out the bag to supprise me with the handling as for the starting ive got the 450 auto cam in it and it allways starts hot one or two kicks if really hot pull hot start and bang your off. till the big end gose but ill get over that soon

[dammad1]

Its funny how people now say that starting the four strokes is no longer a problem, but its amazing how many guys you see out on these rides struggling to start them.

[charles23]

I had way more problems trying to start my KDX than I do now with my Husky, it's a breeze, electric!!!!!!!! hot and cold no problem

[Buddy L]

I had way more problems trying to start my KDX than I do now with my Husky, it's a breeze, electric!!!!!!!! hot and cold no problem


What a lasy guy,
i can start my bike with my hand. hahahaha when its warm.

[FlangMasterJ]

Get a KTM 250SXF. Most reliable modern 4 stroke engine around. Least valve issues of them all. Heard of people checking valves at 100 hours and still being within spec. No problems when starting when hot (that's if you have the jetting sorted).

I weigh 94kg's and I find there is plenty of bottom end grunt to pull me out of corners and a screaming top end that just keeps pulling.

[scott411]

I had way more problems trying to start my KDX than I do now with my Husky, it's a breeze, electric!!!!!!!! hot and cold no problem

real men don't need buttons!!!!!

four strokes can be hard to start, but its in the technique, i can start KXF's and RMZ250's by hand hot or cold, biggest thing people do wrong is to kick them really hard, this does not work, you need to push them though with nice long kicks, and don't twist the throttle,

i have seen guys with electirc start bikes last off the line in dead start races, most holeshots are still got with kickstart bikes as if you can get them to fire they are quicker than an electric start,

comes down to the rider in the end of the day,

[charles23]

real men don't need buttons!!!!!

four strokes can be hard to start, but its in the technique, i can start KXF's and RMZ250's by hand hot or cold, biggest thing people do wrong is to kick them really hard, this does not work, you need to push them though with nice long kicks, and don't twist the throttle,

i have seen guys with electirc start bikes last off the line in dead start races, most holeshots are still got with kickstart bikes as if you can get them to fire they are quicker than an electric start,

comes down to the rider in the end of the day,

the reality is you don't see any "real men" at the front of their cars with a hand crank trying to start them.............so why not move forward and go electric? save the macho stuff for when you are riding. embrace the technology don't get caught in the dark ages.

[xwhatsit]

the reality is you don't see any "real men" at the front of their cars with a hand crank trying to start them.............so why not move forward and go electric? save the macho stuff for when you are riding. embrace the technology don't get caught in the dark ages.

It's lighter? Less complicated? More reliable?

Sorry, I'm not an MXer or anything, but technology for technology's sake can be silly.

[scott411]

It's lighter? Less complicated? More reliable?

Sorry, I'm not an MXer or anything, but technology for technology's sake can be silly.

thank you, i don;t see F1, or indycars with starter motors either, simple and easy and light is quite often better, although i have had times where i would have liked a button, i have also seen a few guys looking for jumper leads in the mornings, i am quite happy to kick for now

[charles23]

It's lighter? Less complicated? More reliable?

Sorry, I'm not an MXer or anything, but technology for technology's sake can be silly.

hey it's just easier.

[charles23]

thank you, i don;t see F1, or indycars with starter motors either, simple and easy and light is quite often better, although i have had times where i would have liked a button, i have also seen a few guys looking for jumper leads in the mornings, i am quite happy to kick for now


F1, indycars and any other top end racing are a different kettle of fish...........where milliseconds count and millions$ are at stake, but hey if your happy kicking so be it.

[scott411]

ill happily kick, knowing that i don't have to carry and extra 10-15kg;s around for the race,