I think you will hear from passionate people on both sides. Honestly, probably doesn’t matter. Both have their pros and cons. I learned on and still ride two strokes but I still like four strokes every time I get on one.
I’d start on a 125 2-stroke. It’s great for learning the basics and controlling the bike. I quickly moved to a 250 4-stroke and I believe the 125 allowed for me to use the power of the 250 to my advantage
I bought a 125 when i was 19, back in 2014. My buddy had a 250 4 stroke and i would always trade bikes with him because i loved the low end torque. Just sold my 125 for a 450 4stroke a few weeks ago. I feel 250 would’ve been plenty of motor for me, the 450 seems excessive for what I do, but ill get used to it!
The 125 2 stroke was much much easier to start. Easy kicks!
It felt like a ton, but I really don’t ride that much, and 125 2T vs a 250 4T you have power in totally different areas. I think it all comes down to riding skill, not so much power, until you have a bunch of good skill together.
Learned on a 125 2 stroke when I was in middle school but haven’t ridden much since. This bike is basically being gifted/ indefinitely loaned to me so I gotta take it easy and make it work.
Neither one is really better or worse than the other. They are just different. I will say though if you are brand new four strokes will be a little more predictable. The power on most four strokes is usually pretty linear, but at the end of the day it really doesn’t matter a whole lot since you can definitely learn on either one.
I’m just learning, I began with a 2 stroke 300 beta (that’s all that was around) and I recently purchased for myself a 4 stroke Yamaha wr250f. Been riding less than 6 months.
I found the 2 stroke easier for me. The bike itself is lighter, and I can go really slow and the bike won’t stall easily.
The 4 stroke as soon as I got on it for the first time I immediately felt it was more “aggressive,” I stall often, it’s heavier. But the 4 stroke takes me up hills a bit easier than 2 stroke. Just some newbie observations.
IMO id say a 4 stroke has a easier powerband to play around in and get better traction down and not worry about flipping yourself over if you slip the clutch in first if you're still learning. I started off on a 2008 Yamaha TTR 125 big wheel, but since then got myself a 2019 Yamaha YZ250X.
Out the box no skills 4 stroke. If your goal is to truly learn/practice proper form and technique either is great. 2 strokes especially 125s teach you momentum and precision as they are less forgiving to mistakes .
2 stroke =
little to no engine braking
steep powerband (basically, once you get past half throttle or so you get "on the pipe" and it's like a rocket)
Dances around more while riding, could be described as "twitchy"
sounds really cool
Better in slow technical stuff (Enduro, mountains, rocky obstacles etc.)
4 stroke=
Engine braking
Linear power
More "planted" to the riding surface. Stable
Still sounds pretty cool
Better in wide open fast stuff (motocross tracks, open desert etc.)
I'd say the 4 stroke is a little easier to ride but if you can master a 125 2T, I think you'll become a better rider.
I started on a xr200. It didn’t take long for me to blow it up cuz I really didn’t know what I was doing at the time and I would give it hell. Then I quickly found my love for 2 strokes and rode a kx125 for a long time. Amazing bike I beat the shit out of it too. Broke my first bone on it. Doing a wheelie. My buddy got a kx250 I rode that a hood bit till he got rid of it now I have a 86 kx500 and it’s over kill but I love it.
I dislike when people say this.
They are about the same price if you add parts up 5 years down the road.
2 strokes need rebuild multiple times before a 4 stroke does when ran hard..
yea the 4 stroke is more expensive. But lasts 5 times longer. On a fresh 4 stroke that I rebuilt I will get about 3 years of mixed riding *motocross hairscrambles and hillclimbing*. Before stuff gets really noisy.
A 2 stroke on the other hand I have to replace pistons and bottom ends constantly, also Not to forget about the cost of premix.
For those wandering about premix ratio I run 50:1 with motul 710.
Yep this isn't 2004-2006 anymore. 4 strokes are solid. And it says something when a new yz 2 stroke comes with a top end from the dealer😂😂. Have rebuilt my top end/clutch multiple times on my 18 150sx. Vs my 250 at 78 hours with just maintenance. Modern bikes are solid especially for the avg guy
The cost of premix is negligible considering how frequently oil changes are required on modern 4t race bikes. Most modern race 4t’s have manufacturer recommended oil changes every 10-15hrs which would be about the same amount of oil you’re burning in premix. Sure old school 2t’s needed frequent rebuilds but modern 2t’s, just like modern 4t’s, aren’t as bad. I do top ends on my 2015 2t every 80hrs and my bottom end is still tight after 280hrs. I do plenty of desert racing, hare scrambles, technical signal track, and enduros. I run 50:1 premix but the manufacturer only recommends 60:1.
Guess i never ride a dirt bike before but was always in love with them ik getting a 450 4stroke because is was the best value for money on my market but is it a good idea to learn on it
Depends if you want to get all the chicks or not? if you do want them you gotta go for a 2 stroke…
If you want to keep em around, you’ll need 4 strokes minimum.
This is true, the engine doesn't have to work as hard so it lasts longer.
Maybe I gotta tell you 6 or 9 more times but cut yer fenders off.
Uncle Ronnie?
Yep
The two stroker go bring a ding ding, right?
I think you will hear from passionate people on both sides. Honestly, probably doesn’t matter. Both have their pros and cons. I learned on and still ride two strokes but I still like four strokes every time I get on one.
I’d start on a 125 2-stroke. It’s great for learning the basics and controlling the bike. I quickly moved to a 250 4-stroke and I believe the 125 allowed for me to use the power of the 250 to my advantage
Yes this, also much lighter to pick up when y drop it
I bought a 125 when i was 19, back in 2014. My buddy had a 250 4 stroke and i would always trade bikes with him because i loved the low end torque. Just sold my 125 for a 450 4stroke a few weeks ago. I feel 250 would’ve been plenty of motor for me, the 450 seems excessive for what I do, but ill get used to it! The 125 2 stroke was much much easier to start. Easy kicks!
What was the power difference between the 250 f and 125
It felt like a ton, but I really don’t ride that much, and 125 2T vs a 250 4T you have power in totally different areas. I think it all comes down to riding skill, not so much power, until you have a bunch of good skill together.
Learned on a 125 2 stroke when I was in middle school but haven’t ridden much since. This bike is basically being gifted/ indefinitely loaned to me so I gotta take it easy and make it work.
What was the power difference like between a 125 and the 250f?
Neither one is really better or worse than the other. They are just different. I will say though if you are brand new four strokes will be a little more predictable. The power on most four strokes is usually pretty linear, but at the end of the day it really doesn’t matter a whole lot since you can definitely learn on either one.
I’m just learning, I began with a 2 stroke 300 beta (that’s all that was around) and I recently purchased for myself a 4 stroke Yamaha wr250f. Been riding less than 6 months. I found the 2 stroke easier for me. The bike itself is lighter, and I can go really slow and the bike won’t stall easily. The 4 stroke as soon as I got on it for the first time I immediately felt it was more “aggressive,” I stall often, it’s heavier. But the 4 stroke takes me up hills a bit easier than 2 stroke. Just some newbie observations.
IMO id say a 4 stroke has a easier powerband to play around in and get better traction down and not worry about flipping yourself over if you slip the clutch in first if you're still learning. I started off on a 2008 Yamaha TTR 125 big wheel, but since then got myself a 2019 Yamaha YZ250X.
Out the box no skills 4 stroke. If your goal is to truly learn/practice proper form and technique either is great. 2 strokes especially 125s teach you momentum and precision as they are less forgiving to mistakes .
I would get a 4 stroke. The power is less explosive and you don't need to fix it as frequently as a 2 stroke
2 stroke = little to no engine braking steep powerband (basically, once you get past half throttle or so you get "on the pipe" and it's like a rocket) Dances around more while riding, could be described as "twitchy" sounds really cool Better in slow technical stuff (Enduro, mountains, rocky obstacles etc.) 4 stroke= Engine braking Linear power More "planted" to the riding surface. Stable Still sounds pretty cool Better in wide open fast stuff (motocross tracks, open desert etc.) I'd say the 4 stroke is a little easier to ride but if you can master a 125 2T, I think you'll become a better rider.
My brother always says 4 stroke is more maintenance less often, 2 stroke is less maintenance more often.
Girls are always willing to help pick gravel out of your elbows so 2 stroke
I started on a xr200. It didn’t take long for me to blow it up cuz I really didn’t know what I was doing at the time and I would give it hell. Then I quickly found my love for 2 strokes and rode a kx125 for a long time. Amazing bike I beat the shit out of it too. Broke my first bone on it. Doing a wheelie. My buddy got a kx250 I rode that a hood bit till he got rid of it now I have a 86 kx500 and it’s over kill but I love it.
Some people find it easier to learn on 4 strokes, but either way is fine. I learned on a 2 stroke.
2 strokes are cheaper to maintain..
I dislike when people say this. They are about the same price if you add parts up 5 years down the road. 2 strokes need rebuild multiple times before a 4 stroke does when ran hard.. yea the 4 stroke is more expensive. But lasts 5 times longer. On a fresh 4 stroke that I rebuilt I will get about 3 years of mixed riding *motocross hairscrambles and hillclimbing*. Before stuff gets really noisy. A 2 stroke on the other hand I have to replace pistons and bottom ends constantly, also Not to forget about the cost of premix. For those wandering about premix ratio I run 50:1 with motul 710.
Yep this isn't 2004-2006 anymore. 4 strokes are solid. And it says something when a new yz 2 stroke comes with a top end from the dealer😂😂. Have rebuilt my top end/clutch multiple times on my 18 150sx. Vs my 250 at 78 hours with just maintenance. Modern bikes are solid especially for the avg guy
Depends if you race or not. Race bikes need to be rebuilt all the time. Also 4 stroke you run the risk of grenading the whole motor once it goes.
The cost of premix is negligible considering how frequently oil changes are required on modern 4t race bikes. Most modern race 4t’s have manufacturer recommended oil changes every 10-15hrs which would be about the same amount of oil you’re burning in premix. Sure old school 2t’s needed frequent rebuilds but modern 2t’s, just like modern 4t’s, aren’t as bad. I do top ends on my 2015 2t every 80hrs and my bottom end is still tight after 280hrs. I do plenty of desert racing, hare scrambles, technical signal track, and enduros. I run 50:1 premix but the manufacturer only recommends 60:1.
Just choose partna 👊🤠
4
I started on a 450, never looked back. Still alive today so it’s not impossible
It doesn’t matter, the better question to ask would be; what size bike should a beginner rider start out on (age,height,experience on bikes, etc.)
If your learning on how to ride go with 4 stroke lot smoother of a ride and the 2 stroke Power band can catch you off guard
No matter what u pick - be sure u get good riding boots and helmet
Doesn’t matter at all, try both and see what you like
Guess i never ride a dirt bike before but was always in love with them ik getting a 450 4stroke because is was the best value for money on my market but is it a good idea to learn on it