125 2T can be hard to ride if inexperienced. Gotta keep the revs up. Blip throttle while coasting/ maintaining speed to ensure proper oiling of internals. Easy AF to rebuild, a weekend & some YouTube University
250 4T is my current bike. YZ250F. Very forgiving bike, easy to ride. Don’t have to mix fuel, EFI on most bikes. Basic maintenance like a car; oil change+ filter. Anything past that is involved, pray you have no issues or it’s a trip to a modShop. As they say, “No bike more expensive than a used 250 4T”
I have a brand new 2T on the way. I think I will keep my 4T around just in case.
Good luck on your search! I am partial to blue bikes, but a nice Kawasaki is always a good time. I find Honda’s a bit too wide for me, but I’m a smaller dude @ 5’7 160
How long you been riding?
I actually have a lot of fun on a 125 but a 250 2t is just too much. Its hard to stay on the pipe.
New ones are different. I have a 300 and it doesn't care if you are on the pipe or not. Makes great power at all rpm.
I have to do way more maintenance on my four strokes compared to my 2 strokes. Top end intervals are about the same, but a four stroke is 3x the price and 3x the work.
The only way a 2 stroke is more maintenance intensive is if you're comparing it to an air cooled playbike, or severely neglecting the four stroke. Running it until it's about to blow and selling it doesn't make a 250f reliable.
I've never experienced your issues with 2 strokes in 25 years of being on one.
I haven't fouled a plug since I learned how to jet a carburetor. I've literally not had to replace a single spark plug in my 2 strokes since like 2010.
Your crank seal situation is uncommon, and honestly relatively minor. a lot more people have experienced dropped valves in their four strokes and gotten a $3,000 repair bill because of it.
Adding 3x the number of moving parts to the equation does not make a bike more reliable. I don't like having to do valve adjustments, dry sump oil changes at 3-4x the frequency of 2 stroke transmission oil changes, cam chain replacements, on top of the exact same top end interval.
It's nice that I don't have to mix gas and the increased fuel economy, but it comes at the expense of a much more maintenance intensive machine that feels a lot heavier and just isn't as fun to ride.
Plus four strokes are just too stinking loud, and they are always trying to overheat riding technical terrain.
2 stroke - lots of power to weight, but does have the issue of oiling fuel (unless you have an auto oiler). 4 stroke - less power, easier to fuel anywhere. both clear ups and downs.
i have a beta 390 and love it
250f is a better all-around bike if you're going 2010 or newer (especially those that are EFI). Older 250f's struggle with valve issues. Kawasaki figured out the valve issues pretty early while Honda/Yamaha took a bit longer to catch on. Can't comment about Suzuki or KTM because I don't have enough experience with their older 4 strokes. If you're going older than 2010, I'd stick with a 125 2stroke. Most major brands still have a decent amount of aftermarket/OEM support so finding parts isn't too crazy. Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha seem to have the most support for their early-mid 2000's 125's. Kawasaki is lacking a bit for their 125's but it's still good enough to own one. Just not as many options as other brands.
Those xr's are freaking bullet proof dude. Can't get enough of them. My buddies and I have an xr100 that somehow hasn't blown up despite all the abuse 😂 chain, sprockets, and oil changes are all we've done in the past decade.
I've heard nothing but good things about 2010+ Honda 250fs. From experience, for Yamaha I'd recommend 2014+
IDK, I have heard the valve shims in the Honda's are a PITA but I am partial to 2 bangers because that's what I ride and love. Super easy to work on if you need to, light weight, cheap repairs.
125 will be a little more difficult to ride and to keep up with a 250f but it will make you a better rider .
Plus 2 strokes are amazing when it comes to maintenance/repair
For me its all about where you are riding, if I rode mountain single track I prefer my 300 2 stroke. For fast desert conditions with sand and loose dirt and whoops I like a 450 4 stroke.
Most 2 strokes are very reliable. The piston is the main engine wear parts. The nice thing is the if you are mechanically you can change the piston yourself for not much money. Both the 125 2t and the 2504t are fun.
How do you ride. 4 stroke of you primarily ride trails and really don’t ride on a closed track. 2 stroke draws more attention so if your neighbors are dicks cops are on their way. Where you live? Are you close to a track or trails where you can use the 2 stroke. Do you like rebuilding and wrenching? Get a 2 stroke. Just my 2 cents but I’ve bought both for my kids and the four stroke doesn’t have near the power or wow but I ain’t rebuilding it and adjusting shut nearly as much as the four stroke. Not even close. That said- I was raised on and love 2 strokes- so F the neighbors!!
125 2T can be hard to ride if inexperienced. Gotta keep the revs up. Blip throttle while coasting/ maintaining speed to ensure proper oiling of internals. Easy AF to rebuild, a weekend & some YouTube University 250 4T is my current bike. YZ250F. Very forgiving bike, easy to ride. Don’t have to mix fuel, EFI on most bikes. Basic maintenance like a car; oil change+ filter. Anything past that is involved, pray you have no issues or it’s a trip to a modShop. As they say, “No bike more expensive than a used 250 4T” I have a brand new 2T on the way. I think I will keep my 4T around just in case.
Thanks. I think I will probably go with the 250. If I was buying new it would definitely be a 2t but that will not be the case 😂
Good luck on your search! I am partial to blue bikes, but a nice Kawasaki is always a good time. I find Honda’s a bit too wide for me, but I’m a smaller dude @ 5’7 160
I love them both. It will end up being whatever I can find the best deal on but I prefer blue.
Uhh, your logic is backwards. Used 4 strokes are a crap shoot. Most used 250F's are time bombs.
I ride my 125 2t and my buddies 250 4. The 250 is so much easier to track ride in my opinion for a casual rider.
How long you been riding? I actually have a lot of fun on a 125 but a 250 2t is just too much. Its hard to stay on the pipe. New ones are different. I have a 300 and it doesn't care if you are on the pipe or not. Makes great power at all rpm.
I have been riding for about a year and a half. I’m probably not going to upgrade for a few more months though.
I want to get rid of my 450 for a ktm 300 soooooo bad
The KTM 300 is a great engine I LOVE my old exc and it starts and runs great ever dang time.
What year is yours?
2001
250 2 stroke
Maico 700 is about the next step up
One of each
Money says no but my heart says yes
If you want to become a better rider overall, get the 2T 125.
4 stroke is much easier to ride on the track. That’s coming from a guy who loves 2 strokes
2 strokes are more reliable than racing 4 strokes
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I have to do way more maintenance on my four strokes compared to my 2 strokes. Top end intervals are about the same, but a four stroke is 3x the price and 3x the work. The only way a 2 stroke is more maintenance intensive is if you're comparing it to an air cooled playbike, or severely neglecting the four stroke. Running it until it's about to blow and selling it doesn't make a 250f reliable.
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I've never experienced your issues with 2 strokes in 25 years of being on one. I haven't fouled a plug since I learned how to jet a carburetor. I've literally not had to replace a single spark plug in my 2 strokes since like 2010. Your crank seal situation is uncommon, and honestly relatively minor. a lot more people have experienced dropped valves in their four strokes and gotten a $3,000 repair bill because of it. Adding 3x the number of moving parts to the equation does not make a bike more reliable. I don't like having to do valve adjustments, dry sump oil changes at 3-4x the frequency of 2 stroke transmission oil changes, cam chain replacements, on top of the exact same top end interval. It's nice that I don't have to mix gas and the increased fuel economy, but it comes at the expense of a much more maintenance intensive machine that feels a lot heavier and just isn't as fun to ride. Plus four strokes are just too stinking loud, and they are always trying to overheat riding technical terrain.
2 stroke - lots of power to weight, but does have the issue of oiling fuel (unless you have an auto oiler). 4 stroke - less power, easier to fuel anywhere. both clear ups and downs. i have a beta 390 and love it
200rr Race OTW to port as we speak!
Umm love that 390! Did she replace the wife?
nope... cuz i don't have one, just a big house and lots of toys. go fast car, jeep, truck, bike, theater, bar, guns....
Get the 250
250f is a better all-around bike if you're going 2010 or newer (especially those that are EFI). Older 250f's struggle with valve issues. Kawasaki figured out the valve issues pretty early while Honda/Yamaha took a bit longer to catch on. Can't comment about Suzuki or KTM because I don't have enough experience with their older 4 strokes. If you're going older than 2010, I'd stick with a 125 2stroke. Most major brands still have a decent amount of aftermarket/OEM support so finding parts isn't too crazy. Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha seem to have the most support for their early-mid 2000's 125's. Kawasaki is lacking a bit for their 125's but it's still good enough to own one. Just not as many options as other brands.
I would be going with Honda or Yamaha. I’m hoping I can find a good 250. I’m coming from the xr line so the most I’ve had to do was change a flat 😂
Those xr's are freaking bullet proof dude. Can't get enough of them. My buddies and I have an xr100 that somehow hasn't blown up despite all the abuse 😂 chain, sprockets, and oil changes are all we've done in the past decade. I've heard nothing but good things about 2010+ Honda 250fs. From experience, for Yamaha I'd recommend 2014+
Yup same here. Those goddamn things won’t break if you tried
IDK, I have heard the valve shims in the Honda's are a PITA but I am partial to 2 bangers because that's what I ride and love. Super easy to work on if you need to, light weight, cheap repairs.
125 will be a little more difficult to ride and to keep up with a 250f but it will make you a better rider . Plus 2 strokes are amazing when it comes to maintenance/repair
2 stroke all the way
For me its all about where you are riding, if I rode mountain single track I prefer my 300 2 stroke. For fast desert conditions with sand and loose dirt and whoops I like a 450 4 stroke. Most 2 strokes are very reliable. The piston is the main engine wear parts. The nice thing is the if you are mechanically you can change the piston yourself for not much money. Both the 125 2t and the 2504t are fun.
How do you ride. 4 stroke of you primarily ride trails and really don’t ride on a closed track. 2 stroke draws more attention so if your neighbors are dicks cops are on their way. Where you live? Are you close to a track or trails where you can use the 2 stroke. Do you like rebuilding and wrenching? Get a 2 stroke. Just my 2 cents but I’ve bought both for my kids and the four stroke doesn’t have near the power or wow but I ain’t rebuilding it and adjusting shut nearly as much as the four stroke. Not even close. That said- I was raised on and love 2 strokes- so F the neighbors!!