2 Stroke VS 4 stroke Dirt Bikes
There are many differences between 2 stroke and 4 stroke dirt bikes. There are also many laws regarding both of these motorcycles. The Air Resources Board establishes regulations to limit the use of off-highway vehicles that don’t meet emission standards applicable for California OHV riding areas. Any OHV of the year 2002 and older is registered as a green sticker, even if previously a red sticker. Any OHV 2003 and newer or, has a 3 or a C in the 8th position of the VIN number then it is registered as a green sticker. I haven’t been able to find an answer to why these have been divided in two. But, I do know that green stickers are allowed to be in any park at any time of the year, as red stickers are only allowed in some areas year round and not allowed to some during certain parts of the year. I’m guessing it has to do with the pollution of the exhaust because it is a law made by the California Air Resource Board.
Neither 2 stroke nor 4 stroke dirt bikes are better. It mainly depends on what type of rider you are and what type of riding you do. 4 strokes are built to ride trails because of their tractor-like motors and all around power. On the trails it is important to have low end power and that is something that 2 strokes lack. 4 strokes have just recently been used for racing, 2 strokes were prime race bikes and still are but now so many people race 4 strokes so they have now separated the classes so there is no advantage. 4 stroke motors aren’t as easy to work on or maintain. They ask for less work but when they need it it’s not necessarily an easy job. It takes more knowledge to work on a 4 stroke engine.
2 stroke dirt bikes are a lot different to ride than 4 strokes. 2 strokes have power bans which kick in at high RPM’s so if you are a trail rider this can affect you harshly because you will struggle a lot more and burn up your clutch a lot quicker. In order to keep the bike running you’ll have to rev the RPM’s and feather the clutch, if your on a slope or stuck halfway up a hill. I’ve come to learn this from first hand experience having ridden 2 strokes all my life. I started off with a Yamaha PW50, then a Kawasaki KD80X, then a Honda CR 80R, now I ride a CR 125R. All of these bikes have 2 stroke motors and that’s how I know for a fact the way of riding these bikes is different from a 4 stroke.
4 stroke dirt bikes have more tractor-like motors because of their snappy torque and all around power where 2 strokes make power in the top end. 4 strokes are prime for trail riding and have a lot more to offer for trail riders. I’ve ridden plenty of 4 strokes to see the differences between these motors. I have also ridden 2stroke and 4stroke quads. My CR125R is just as fast as a CRF250R at stock speculations. My bike is also just as fast as an LTR450R which is a 4stroke quad. Difference is the weight and the distribution of power. On quads the power is going to 2 wheels and pushing around a lot more weight. As the 2 wheelers give power to 1 wheel and pushes a lot less weight.
Overall there is no better choice. Like I mentioned before it all depends on what type of riding you like and what type of rider you are. You might be like me and love 2 strokes and ride on the trails or you can love 4 strokes and race. There really isn’t a wrong bike to like just ride and be free.
