CHOOSING THE RIGHT BIKE ! 2-STROKE or 4-STROKE?

Understanding the difference between two-stroke and four-stroke engines can help you decide which motorcycle bike is best for you. So how do you choose between a two-stroke or a 4-stroke?

In this video, Adam Riemann uncovers the characteristics of each engine and how their performance traits affect your riding. Which motorcycle is lighter, or the easiest for beginners to learn on? What is the the more popular race bike? Learn how to make the right decision before buying your next bike - 2-stroke or 4-stroke!

And, we also reveal never before seen footage of Daniel Sanders ripping on our Honda CR250 during his recent visit to The Dirt Kitchen!

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#2stroke #4stroke #motorcycle

[ThumperBros]

Ive had many 4 strokes but the first time I rode a 2 stroke 250sx Ktm I was hooked.

The way the power is delivered, how light the bike is and lack of engine breaking…it’s perfection.

[antfal-n-everything]

90% Rider skill, 10% Bike performance, learn how to ride people's, remmember to have fun, another great review Adam

[briancrumpacker]

Riemann, that rock garden "plan B" landing from 2:34 was brilliant. I keep watching it over and over.

[tapecknows]

Love your perspective! I got a YZ250 as my first dirtbike and spent a whole year second guessing, even buying a YZ125 along the way. After a year and a half, I'm now feeling comfortable on the YZ250 and enjoying it much more!

[miketursky]

Road a TM 300 (counter balance) this weekend. So tractable on bottom and linear to the top end hit. Best two stroke power band I ever felt.

[ZeLogicnatork]

This is just my take:

2t - Vibrates, top end rebuilds, loves being throttled, has a lot of punch, less prone to stalling, really good at lugging, no engine braking (more momentum kept when off throttle), worse gas mileage, less gyro intertia, not great for longer days depending on how much endurance you have.

4t - I break down into DOCH (350) and SOCH (500)

350 - likes higher rpms, valve checks more of a pain for maintenance, less inertia (good for tight trails, more flickable), more clutch feathering required, doesn't lug as well as a 500 or 2t, best mpg.
500 - likes low end, lugs better than a 350, more linear power band, valve checks easier than 350, more inertia and engine braking (less maneuverable), "The lazy bike", can be in a higher or lower gear and it still works well, less clutch feathering, better mpg than 2t, worse than 350, obviously faster than the 500.

Much of this can be changed (to a point) with mods (gear ratio, rekluse, fuel maps, etc.) In 2023, at least with the euro bikes, the 2t and 4t weight differences are not extreme. (all are 200-238ish lbs)

Which one is best? I'ld say the smaller 4t are probably the best do all on dirt. 2t for enduro/hard enduro and larger 4t for hill climbs/more flowy single track.

[moreliquorinmycoffee]

I hate a 2 stroke sound, and got a 4 stroke for that reason. But I can't deny that the way the 2 stroke power band functions, and how light a 2 stroke is keeps me thinking about switching for my next bike, but I wouldn't. Simply because I love a 4 stroke sound, and the reliability is wonderful, especially a 4 stroke from a Japanese manufacturer. And besides that where I live we ride every weekend and even during the week if there's time, we don't have to load the bikes on a trailer to go somewhere, we just jump on and ride 10 minutes and we're in the bush and on the mountains.

[michaelahr]

Love it! I started riding at 40, grabbed a Husky FE 250 and best decision I ever made for riding 5 years ago. A few friends started on KTM 4stroke 350's, long story short I ride a GasGas EC300i now and all of them quit riding when the got hurt and struggled to develop their skills on the more powerful bikes. Honestly, I could still be riding that FE 250 now if getting a new bike wasn't an option. The FE 250 forces you to develop your clutch skills and ride a little more aggressive as you don't have the bottom end torque but the bikes are awesome with all the power you need without them wanting to kill you if you make mistakes.

[bertbroeder]

Greatest words ever said about it! Thank you!
Rode it like you stole it...

[kevinfletchersa]

First 90sec of the video was of more value than 2 months of watching 2t vs 4t BS. Great stuff and thanks for putting in the time to put it out there for everyone!

[JohnHowerton]

This is why I own them all... 2T, 4T & Electric! They’re all sick! Massively prefer the 4T in the hard slick stuff, but if there is traction or sand... 2T love! 🥰

Electric removes the hassle of all of it. Ride anywhere, no biotchy people, no oil and air filter changes. So fun to hear the tire spinning/grabbing without the engine noise. Wild experience and such a smoooth ride!

[sethparker]

Best bike buying advice video I've come across and I was looking for my 1st dirt bike for the last 5 years...Picked up a 2006 KTM 200xcw and its way too much bike for me, but I love it because it keeps me humble and hungry to learn how to tame it. Coming from street bikes and 25 years on a mountain bike, there's a lot that translates and I love the idea that I'll never outgrow the 200xcw. Keep the inspiring videos coming! Cheers from Northern California 👊

[jamc]

Wonderful to hear a no bs explanation. I blew up an xr in 1988 ish. Swore I'd never own a 4st dirt bike again, until a 15 year break off dirt and a good mate offered his 350 excf for a great price. Great bike does everything I need. In fact it is capable of much more than a 53yr old hack can squeeze out of it.

[johnfrend]

This is a great vid; Ride whatever makes YOU smile most. The bikes I ride most are an old 950S and a postie. Why? No other reason than they both plaster a shit-eating grin on my face from ear to ear.

[dirtfreek]

Great video on picking bikes. I've coached a few friends through this decision and I always go back to what a good friend told me once. He told me to always get the bike I would have the most fun on. I was tired of mixing gas and cleaning up spooge at the time and I wanted to get a four stroke. My first 2 bikes we're an 85 CR125 and next was a CR250. Absolutely fell in love with the 250 2T at the time. Years later with no bike in my garage, I went and test rode a dual sport Suzuki that I had envisioned as being my next bike. When I arrived at the owners house that Suzuki was parked next to a YZ250, McGrath era yammie. I rode both bikes and I couldn't decide what to do. I was tired of 2 strokes but man the Yamaha made me smile. Bought the Yamaha and not the Suzuki and kept it a long time till I ended up buying a modern day fuel injected 4 stroke Yamaha. It looks pretty sweet sitting next to the new to me 03 CR250 which I ride most of the time cause its just more fun to ride! My friend was wise I must say.

[WADZUP]

2022 FX350 is a great mixture of fast, nimble and traction especially for Enduro single track. I came close to buying the 300 2 stroke but for me the 4 stroke is more planted and easier to ride in hard single track.

[thunderbox]

great video Adam,
for the average rider, people should just buy what ever is the most fun. Doesn't matter if its a 300 2 stroke a 200 4 stroke! if your having fun on the trails your winning. Because that's what its all about

[eriknash]

Good message...I have owned several motorcycles in my life but even if they weren't the best of the best, I loved them and found a way to ride them and get the adrenaline release I was looking for. Now moving to dirt bikes, I just went big and bought a 501. It can be a bit of a handful in tight stuff, but it just makes me a better rider to learn how to adapt to a less than perfect machine and make it work

My riding buddy is going to swap machines with me on our next outing so I can try a 300 2 stroke

[fromthebottomup]

That's why I love two stroke bikes, Beast mode is where my heart rate shoots sky high. I love the hard pull of two stroke bikes. Twist the throttle and hang on.

[steves]

Just picked up on this video Adam in 2024, very good info. I used to have a CR500R road legal, it went everywhere back in the early 90s in the Uk, but then I was a lot younger. I found with the proper gearing it was brilliant on the road and then you could go off road also. But again it was a dirt bike and you felt it after a day of riding. Best bike I've ever owned was a KDX 200, it did 90 mph and was as light as a mountain bike, it was such a blast through trails and off road, shame they dont make it anymore. Just sold my T7, lovely bike but too much now I'm older and now looking to go back to a 2 stroke.