Heading back to the dirt, what bike?

[crazyxr250rider]

its the old fuck one goat story again.

I think that the 04 and 05 KX and RMZ's had issues wiht over heating and some valve issues.

Personally any modern 4 stroke is going to require alot of maintenance so 2 strokes are gettign a bit more popular. The people that really win with the new 4s are teh bike shops cause they get to charge you $500 - $700 to fit a new piston and check your valves.

CRF's (05 onwards) and YZF's have a much better reliability record simple(although there has been cases of valve recesion in all of the modern 250F's)
Lol I can do all the work on my 4 stroke and i still hate what it costs in parts cant wait till the RM's finished!!! PS watch out for cowpoos he's a slipery bastard and hates hondas (Only fools hate a brand, because all brands produce the odd piece of crap!).

[tommorth]

how often do these modern fours strokes need rebuilding ?
a mate recenty did the piston and rings and adjusted 2 valves at 100 hours 07 yzf250 . But hear of the piston being done a 30 or full rebuilds at 60
Rekon a xr400 motor it a cr chassis would be a good toy

[crazyxr250rider]

30hrs sounds about right, however pistons can last longer in some bikes.
It depends on the use and maintence more than any thing....

[B0000M]

buy what you like, personally i prefer the 2 stroke, cheap and easy to maintain and fix, and im used to the 2 stroke power style,

[2_SL0]

Ok, no laughing, and before you all say it, yes I take ages to make up my mind.

I have ridden YZF250, WR250, KLX250, and owned a number of other bikes. I already own a sports bike which I plan on keeping. So I have the costs of running that as well. I have looked at the four stroke options but am starting to become suspicious of the amount people pay for maintaining them. I am a mechanic by trade so the labour is not an issue however the cost of the parts doesn't look to be cheap.
I still like the look of the KTM, but having trouble finding one, I have been told a 250 would be more suitable for me.
Here is the big question, I owned a 91 (not sure of the year) KX250, it was a very
harsh power band, a real kick from memory, not a great woods/trail bike. I was a bit young and inexperienced when I owned it. However what are the new KX 03 -07 like and I have read a little about adding a flywheel weight an gnarly pipe and a few other mods to make these bikes more woods orientated.
I know I'm taking ages but I don't want to buy the wrong bike.

[mattwood]

im pretty sure you can add a fly wheel weight to just about any bike these days, alot of enduro riders are doing it so it must tone them down, more torque etc.

[Reckless]

A fly wheel weight is the most underrated mod you can do to a 2 smoker. I heard even Damian King was uses one when he races the yz250.
In saying that though my Cr250 had one, along with the suspension mods, fat pipe and gearing changes its still an MX bike first. It will go well and be a lot better than the MX version but it is still a race bike made for jumping and sprint races. I reckon my Cr was the best it could be for what it was but getting on the Exc (even with the CR mods above) there was a lot of difference. I think as well because the 200exc is a 125 size frame with 200 horse power. I'm a big guy and they where recommending a 250 for me as well but the 200 is way enough. I still reckon a good rider on this bike would be hard to beat by anything else. So if you want a woods bike buy one.
IN saying all of the above a 2 smoker will always deliver its power like a 2 smoker they are not as linear as a 4 stroke. They can be closer but the development hasn't been put in yet. Although Ktm have come the closest so far with the exc range!

[marks]

its the old fuck one goat story again.

I aint heard this one - how does it go?

[Rupe]

I aint heard this one - how does it go?

Not sure, think cheese if from the south island or something!!


2 Slo, ment to say I saw a nice 250exc at tripple moto x last week. It's not on trade me but I think it was a 04 and just over $5k. Bit expensive but maybe you could get them to sharpen that price, or throw in some gear/service.


Also does anyone know how much it costs to run a 4stroke vs a 2stroke in parts and maintenance (not inc labour). As in a 06 kx250 vs a 06 kxf250, as most seem unclear what each other costs.

[crazyxr250rider]

YZ250F basic top end rebuild
Piston (oem) $155.00
Rings (oem) $130.00
Cam Chain (oem) $70.00
Head gasket (oem) $70.00
Base gasket (oem) $15-20.00 not quite shure about this one...
Which adds up to around $445-440.00
and that if your valves are ok and dont need re-shiming or replacement
If they do your lookin at around $240 for a set of aftermarket valves and $5.00 per valve for re shiming plus seat re cutting if necasary
so thats over $800

Now...RM250 basic top end
Pisto kit (Wiesco) $280.00
L.E bearing (oem) $40.00
Base Gasket (oem) $20.00
OMG its only $340 I have to get one......................wait a second!-I just did!!

However with 4 strokes there is the option there to treat it like a XR and do 150+ hrs and not touch the thing as the reduction in power is not as noticeable as on 2stroke mx bikes however you take the risk of it chewing itself to bits and turning the inside of the engine into something that would look more at home at an abstract art exhibition than in a high perfomance MX bike.

[D dub]

Get a 250 exc, they have good usable power are made for the bush and you can do 100 hours between piston changes no problem!! Oh yeh and they are quiet compared to mx bikes especially those obnoxiously loud four strokes!!!!!!!!!!

[crazyxr250rider]

Yeh.. Fuck modern four strokes bring back the XR's, TT's,KLX's and DR's of old Lol!

[2_SL0]

I had a DR 200 in the early days, the knobbly was basically a slick, (I was a poor broke apprentice). Decompression lever was broke, I cooked it at the bombing range up Woodhill. Bastard thing wouldn't start after that. Oh the fond memories.