Help! 2 Strokes or 4

**Rupe** · 6th October 2009, 22:12

Originally Posted by Southern Biker

Good stuff lads, seems it really comes down to maintenance cost. I have ridden both although never owned a four. And the new fours are quite mean just the potential cost shits me. I am looking at a KTM300 EXC 2003 and a 2005 YZF 450. Arrrgh this is doing my head in. Guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and make a decision. I really just wanna hook up with a club or a crew and go on day/weekend/overnight rides so the thought of elec start and front lights has it's benefits eg the KTM. Maybe the question is whats the better bike for long trails river crossings overnight trips etc. Thanks heaps everyone for your comments.

quite different bikes there enduro vs mx, mx and enduro have quite different maintenace shedules regardless of stroke.

I'd probably focus on what you want out of a bike before wondering if you want 2t or 4t.

Pretty sure a 03 ktm exc won't have electric start. If you want to do overnight rides, I've riiden a couple of bikes with standard lights in the woods, and found them pretty useless. Also those yzf450's are mx weapons, fast, grunty, handle great, but not really ideal for technical trails.

Why do you want such big bore bikes anyway, they work against you in a lot of cases.

It also sounds like you don't want to spend much on maintenace so if you want to learn to do all the repair/maintenace yourself get something that doesn't scare you to take to pieces.

The running costs of 2t vs 4t can differ greatly from bike to bike, the main thing is to get one that has been maintained well, and continue that.

**Rupe** · 6th October 2009, 22:15

Originally Posted by hayd3n

2 strokes have little or no engine braking and youll have trouble downhills

lol, could always use the brakes! Pretty sure thats what the do on those things with peddles.

**kezzafish** · 7th October 2009, 00:48

Yeah i recon your after an enduro bike rather than an MXer so you should be looking at the WR450 instead of the YZ for and overnight type stuff. Yz will be faster tho and more fun on the trail rides, better suspension etc. and if your worried about maintenance get the newest bike that fits your needs (or the least used/best maintained one) look at and test ride as many as you can

**IIIRII** · 7th October 2009, 08:26

Theres other things to consider also.
Your riding style, ability, strength , stamina etc:
On the maintenance side, you still need to do chains and sprockets, wheels bearings, tires, oil changes, air filters etc: regardless of which bike you own.
So if you are specifically asking engine maintenance, and you want to rebuild it, then yes the two stroke will be cheaper and easier to do a top end rebuild (new piston /rings) but you might not need to do it at all on a 4 stroke ....
My 05 KTM excr 350 has done 190 hrs and never had a thing done to it except the valve clearances.

my 2c worth.
If you buy a low hr 4 stroke and look after it, i dont see why its that much of an issue.

**B0000M** · 7th October 2009, 13:42

Originally Posted by Rupe

lol, could always use the brakes! Pretty sure thats what the do on those things with peddles.

lol!

[10chars]

**telliman** · 7th October 2009, 14:31

Originally Posted by Rupe

lol, could always use the brakes! Pretty sure thats what the do on those things with peddles.

i find that trees also help in this particular situation!

**barty5** · 7th October 2009, 14:53

Originally Posted by Rupe

lol, could always use the brakes! Pretty sure thats what the do on those things with peddles.

brakes can be over rated any why bother slowing down down a hill everyone will pass you.

**cheese** · 8th October 2009, 12:20

Another debate on 4 v 2.... sigh....

both require as much work to be done on them, 4's have more bits in them, but if you are confident, to DIY they are pretty similar in price. If you take it to the shop to get a rebuild done, you're going to get ass fucked.

**B0000M** · 8th October 2009, 13:21

Originally Posted by cheese

Another debate on 4 v 2.... sigh....

both require as much work to be done on them,

i dont remember the last time someone had to add or remove shims from their 2 stroke valves, or replace a timing chain, or timing chain tensioner, or replace an oil filter, or replace valve stem seals, or buy $60+ spark plugs, or have to remove the tank to get to aforemetioned spark plug

but hey, get whatever you enjoy riding. theres not THAT much more to do on a 4 stroke that you'll actually have to do

**t595** · 8th October 2009, 13:29

Originally Posted by cheese

Another debate on 4 v 2.... sigh....

both require as much work to be done on them, 4's have more bits in them, but if you are confident, to DIY they are pretty similar in price. If you take it to the shop to get a rebuild done, you're going to get ass fucked.

????????? r u sure

**bogan** · 8th October 2009, 13:30

Dunno if this is comon to all 2t but went for a bash round some forestry area, 20min later the plug was fouled and completely fucked, my mates 4ts were still going strong. So i dont take my 2t on trail rides, partially for that reason, but mostly cos compared to the track trail rides are a bit boring.

**B0000M** · 8th October 2009, 14:02

Originally Posted by bogan

Dunno if this is comon to all 2t but went for a bash round some forestry area, 20min later the plug was fouled and completely fucked, my mates 4ts were still going strong. So i dont take my 2t on trail rides, partially for that reason, but mostly cos compared to the track trail rides are a bit boring.

nah, if you're fouling plugs your bike is jetted wrong.

a correctly jetted 2 stroke will be able to put around forever without fouling plugs.

- to put this into context, i replace my plug once a year, when i do a top end rebuild. i dont replace it because i need to, i just do it because the electrode is becoming very small / worn out

**Rupe** · 8th October 2009, 16:57

Originally Posted by B0000M

i dont remember the last time someone had to add or remove shims from their 2 stroke valves, or replace a timing chain, or timing chain tensioner, or replace an oil filter, or replace valve stem seals, or buy $60+ spark plugs, or have to remove the tank to get to aforemetioned spark plug

but hey, get whatever you enjoy riding. theres not THAT much more to do on a 4 stroke that you'll actually have to do

$60 plugs WTF, lol think I paid $6 for mine from bnt.