3 Reasons Why You Should Ride A 2-Stroke Over A 4-Stroke Dirt Bike

by Charlie Cooper

The feeling of raw power at the twist of a throttle getting your adrenalin pumping. The smell and color of the blue 2-stroke exhaust coming from the iconic big twisting exhaust pipe. The high pitch pops as you rev up the bike. The sensation of kicking the shifter into first gear and letting out the clutch puts you in control. Moving at high speeds banging through the gears as you downshift and break into turns and accelerate out of them leaving the torn-up dirt behind you. Nothing gives you the same feeling of hopping on a powerful 2-stroke dirt bike.

If you were thinking about getting into dirt bikes, I’m sure that you have herd you can either get a 2-stroke bike or a 4-stroke bike. Your first though is probably “what does that mean” or “what is the difference.” Well without getting too mechanical and in depth the 4-stroke engine (which is what is in your car) takes four strokes of the piston to complete one combustion cycle. So, on every forth stroke of the piston, the engine hits its power stroke. For a 2-stroke engine (which is what you would find in a chainsaw) takes only 2 strokes of the piston to complete one combustion cycle, thus hitting its power stroke every other stroke of the piston. Both are great machines but based on my experience of riding the 2-stroke is the better choice for the everyday rider.

Pro: More power!

2-stroke dirt bikes are known for their incredible power and efficiency. A 2-stroke engine hits its power stroke every 2 strokes of the piston where as a 4-stroke engine hits its power stroke every 4 strokes of the piston. Therefore the 2-stroke creates twice as much power twice as fast. This is important to racers because they want as much power as possible as soon as possible. Unlike 4-strokes, 2-strokes have a powerband that they hit in the second half of the RPM range. This is where the real power and torque comes from. That’s why if you have ever seen a 2-stroke dirt bike rider you will find they often run their bikes at a higher RPM to stay in that power band. Also, you may have noticed that 2-strokes have much larger exhaust pipes. This odd shape and extra space in the exhaust pipe allows pressure to bounce back into the engine to create more horsepower.

Pro 2: Lighter

The 2-stroke has a simpler design with less materials making the engine significantly lighter and smaller while still putting out the same about of power as a 4 stroke with an engine twice the size. Famous MX racers like Ronnie Mac and former MX racer Travis Pastrana both favor the 2-stroke over the 4-stroke bike because of its light weight and ability to though it around. Every ounce of weight savings that a racer can have they will take, down to the about of fuel that they choose to put in the tank. So, you can imagine how important the light feeling of the 2-stroke is to them. Depending on the make of the bikes a 2-stroke bike can be around 15 to 20 pounds lighter which may not seem like a lot but to an experienced rider that is a significant weight difference. Even if you're not racing you will eventually get stuck or need to pick up your bike at some point and that’s where the 15-20 pounds difference really helps.

Pro: Way More Fun!

I have owned and experienced both bikes and I can tell you I have way more fun on my 2-stroke. Whenever I ride with my buddies who have 4-strokes they always want to ride my bike or borrow my other one to get some of that 2-stroke fun! The two best competitors of the lightest fastest 2-stroke racing dirt bike are the Yamaha YZ250 and the Honda CR250R. Both manufacturers have been creating these bikes for a very long time, developing and changing every little problem that they fine with it making them the lightest and fastest 250cc 2-strokes on the market. And for those enduro riders the KTM 300 EXC TPI and the Husqvarna TE 300i are both great options. They have exceptional low-end torque for the slow speed that Enduro rides are often moving at. They are built like tanks on the outside for every fall you take, and on the inside they have very strong clutches. This is important because Enduro often requires riding the clutch to get over obstacles which can burn it out if you don't have a strong clutch. The way you can move 2-strokes around gives you a free-flowing feeling of riding a mountain bike with the power and speed of the dirt bike. The 4-stroke has a heavier more grounded feeling I describe as like driving a yacht. The playful springy feeling of the light 2-stroke makes the bike feel alive and responsive with every shift, break, turn, and acceleration. I personally always feel safer on a 2-stroke because I know I can move the bike and make quick maneuvers in dangerous situations because of its light weight and ability to change directions and stop faster than the 4-stroke. We all know that if you feel safe during any activity it is easier to have a good time not worrying about hurting yourself.