[How does the 2t’s stack up against say an EXC450 for woods riding? [/size][/font]
[I have a plated 04 450EXC that I love to ride but I keep hearing about how great the 200-300cc 2 strokes are in the woods.[/size][/font]
Ive seen a few older (98-2002) 300cc going from $1000-2000 and I recently found a 98 300 supposedly fresh motor top to bottom, not sure if it’s the MXC or EXC but it is plated in NY for $1500. And I’m wondering how big the difference is between the 300 2T and a 450EXC for woods riding. Is 1998 to old, are some years better than others? [Thanx for any input.

My buddy has a 98 300 exc that I've ridden a few times. It feels somewhat dated compared to my 06 200,but the fact that my bike is set up for me,him for him should be considered too. The motor is great with a lot of linear power. One thing that would make me want to go newer than 98 is his bike doesn't have a hydro clutch. The newer the better when it comes to KTMs is what I generally hear. Don't look past the 200 though. You have big and powerful covered. If you are gonna keep the 450,the 200 might be an awesome alternative to have. Plenty of power in a bike that slices through the woods like a 125.

I have a 450 EXC and just picked up a 250 XCW a couple of months back. I'm loving the 2t! The 2t feels way lighter than the 450 . . . the actual difference isn't all that much, but the way it feels is huge. The 2t is much easier to turn in the tight stuff, just feels more planted and sticks in places where the 450 would fight me or want to wash out. Just feels like you can toss the 2t around a lot easier than the 450. The power delivery is totally different which makes the 2t just more fun to ride. The best way I can describe it is the 250 feels like a Porsche and the 450 feels like a Cadilac. The 450 is smooth, cushy, easy, and makes me feel lazy, whereas the 250 is tighter, snappier, and makes me ride more agressively. For tight woods riding, I would think the 2t would be the way to go, but out in more wide open stuff with higher speeds, the 450 is the way to go. The 250 really lacks top end speed. With stock gearing (13/50) I would estimate the top speed to be around 60mph . . . the 450 with stock gearing (which is a joke at 15/45) will do twice that . . . even with the 13/48 gearing I run, it'll get up to 80mph likes it's nothing and still has more to offer. My advice . . . GET ONE, but be prepared to see your 4T sit and collect dust. I got a red sticker 2t so at least I know my 4t will get used a few months out of the year! Also the maintainece cost and work on the 2t is way less.

I've done a few high speed runs on my 200xcw on a pretty flat,smooth section of logging road,and top speed,as read by my Vapor was right around 70 mph +/- a couple mph. I might get one or two more out of her if I was willing to hold it open longer,but I don't think I have a big enough main to do that for long without consequences.

Read this article

http://ktmtalk.com/i...howtopic=442575

WOW thanx for all the replies!
I will defiantly be keeping the 450 I have a set of dirt 21-19 and for the street, 19-17 and its too damn fun to part with. But I’m also looking around for a 200-300cc 2t for trail riding. I just happened to come across this 98 300 and wanted see what people thought. It is older than I was looking for but it’s a street titled 2t which for me is a nice option. I hate loading the bikes up just to drive 5 mi down the road to the trails.

mvertoch, on 26 January 2012 - 01:55 PM, said:

I will have to wait till I get home. Its block here at work. But TY

it will take a couple rides, but if you are used to a 450 for woods ( and NY woods are probably really tight), you will be BLOWN away at how a 200,250, or 300 will more easily handle things and how light they are.


Joe

test ride if you can...
My old 04 200 exc that I bought last spring handles way better in the woods compared to anything I rode before (250 to open class 2 strokes) & it keeps getting better as I fine tune the suspension. It is a little long winded when things open up but that could have been the worn rings.
I cant wait to try it out with new tires, refurbished suspension & top end rebuild.

I would like to try the latest 300 two stroke & 450-500 XCWF in the woods to compare to the 200, both are said to be fabulous.

I have both 450 and a 250 smoker.

This one is not bad in the tight stuff, heavy in the slow corners and I short shift it otherwise it's just too much
torque for the task. Superior traction for hill climbing though and you can get on and off the throttle easily
without shifting or clutching much, a nice feature. I believe the Weight is a plus for hill climbing traction. I am not
a fan of engine braking though.



I prefer this bike however, mostly because it is much lighter and easier to lift out of a rut or over a greasy root.
Hopping over logs is easier for me as well.

I'm a HUGE fan of the 200/250/300. I'll never ride a 4stroke again. However, the oldest bike I'd buy is a 2005 cuz that was the first year of (in my opinion) KTM's first good chassis. I have a 2010, one friend has a 2005, and another has a 2003. The 2010 and 2005 feel pretty similar. The 2003 feels clumsier.

Lelandjt, on 29 January 2012 - 12:24 AM, said:

I have the same view I'm a huge 2smoke fan (after my crf250 cost me thousands $$$$) now I have 3 smokers... lol my friend has a '12 250sx and it's very similar to my 06. Only noticeable change was linkage.

I own/ride a 06 200xc and a 08 450 exc-r, I did 136 miles today on my 450 riding in sand, on jeep trails and pine single track

the 450 is a lot more work in the single track, and the 200 is downright scary when pinned in 6th and it runs out of legs quite a bit sooner than the 450

I can do either riding with either machine, I HAVE to have a plated bike, so I will always have a 450ish thumper for those jeep width fast trail rides, and I'll always have a pinger for the tight woods harescramble type riding, my main trail machine is a 2011 gasgas sixdays 250, my 200xc is on backup/wife duty

I’m really contemplating this 98 300 for $1500. I’m in no hurry to buy so Im still looking. But being plated in NYS is a huge plus for me. Most of the others Ive found are not plated because in reality they are dirt bikes. But I need a street legal one to get back and forth to the trails.

Its suppose to have a new top(piston & rings) and bottom ( crank seals and bearings). Fat boy springs set up for my 200lbs a$$ and some other spare parts. Also that’s pretty close to being my price range. Basically its going to be a woods/trails play bike with a kick.

Whacha all think?

I have a 450 woods bike (kawi klx450r) and i just picked up a ktm25xc-w. love the weight difference! and its just plain fun to ride!

crazy_dave, on 01 February 2012 - 03:45 AM, said:

That seems expensive for a 14 year old dirt bike! There is a 2008 250xc for sale on KTMTALK for $3000 or best. I wouldnt do it....

crazy_dave, on 01 February 2012 - 03:45 AM, said:

Have you ridden it yet? I personally would hold out for newer at that price,especially if it's going to be a second bike. No need to rush in if you already have a bike you can ride when you get the itch.

crazy_dave, on 01 February 2012 - 03:45 AM, said:

Save up and get an 05 or newer. You can find 05's for not much more money, but 05 marked big changes in frame and handling plus the newer bikes from 04-07 became quite a bit lighter with the new cylinder from 04. A bke to consider that has not been mentioned is the 250SXF. The earlier models had a great off road engine with better hp than the new ones by far (about 3hp more), light handling with no real 4 stroke heaviness, a great top end howl and a very light overall package (the kickstart SXF models). Adding a big bore kit even makes these bikes even more fun for offroad. I still have an 06 312 SXF, which to this day is still one of my favorite all around off road bkes

ktmwade, on 03 February 2012 - 07:09 AM, said:

+1 , I just recently sold my pristine plated 2002 300MXC for $1500 here in VA. And I mean pristine, less than 15 minutes on new top end, less than an hour on revalved forks/shock. I had it on both TT and KTMTalk for over a month and had it on Craigslist locally for 2+ months. I was blown away that it sat for so long but the first person that actually looked at it couldnt hold a poker face to save their life! Not bragging about my bike, just trying to say that a better deal is out there. Be patient and wait it out at least a month.

Also the entire reason I sold my 02 was because it was quickly becoming harder to find parts for. Not saying it impossible, just hard. I needed a new CDI but it was discontinued by KTM. I had 2 options, find a used one(harder than it sounds since they are all being bought up due to the OEM discontinue) or buy a newer model CDI and purchase a newer wiring harness as well. This was the straw that broke the camels back. I found a used CDI on Ebay and promptly put my bike on the market with the sole purpose of saving for a newer machine.

It may seem like a bargain now but when consider the $ you will put into the 98's suspenders just to make it feel like a stock 05's.....also the headache involved when you are searching for replacement parts . I understand the budget thing 100%, I just think you can find newer