Hey everyone. I'm 6 feet tall 165 pounds and I have 8 yrs of dirt bike riding experience. Im coming off a 1998 kdx 220. I'm ready to upgrade! After asking around on TT I have narrowed my options down to a YZ 250. I just don't know if I should go with the 2 stroke or 4 stroke. I will be riding mainly fast trails and some track riding, no racing.

Thanks for any input!

Get the smoker. It's faster, more fun, nimble, snappy and easier maintaince. I'm 6ft 1 and 155lbs and just traded my 450 for a RM250. Best decision I made, I can rip the trails, throw the bike around better and ride just as fast on the track. It's also ease at mind that if something does happen to my bike it won't be any where near the price of a 450.

x2 on the smoker. Get an 06 or newer has the latest major updates. If you can't afford that, go 99 and newer , it has the latest engine.

Ok. Great input! What about the kx 250 2 stroke? In seeing a lot of them near my area.

I personally don't like 2-strokes, so I'm going to say the 4-stroke. You don't have to worry about mixing the fuel with motor oil like you do with a 2-stroke. You also have more top end in a 4 stroke. Plus, a 4 stroke doesn't make that annoying bee in a tin can kind of noise. Also, 2 strokes stink. Literally. Answer mine? http://www.thumperta...oke-250-for-me/

Edited by Spartan040, 19 July 2012 - 07:24 AM.

Personally, I love the sound of my 2stroke and peoples faces seem to light up when I fly by on a pinger and they get a whif of my Maxima oil. Yeah the 4stroke may have a little more top end but when on trails or mainly track do you get in high gears. Also, mixing oil is as hard as pouring oil in a mixing cup then in your gas, not hard. If your not straight up racing or only track riding I think a smoker is a much better choice, especially if tons of maintaince are out of your budget. Also, look this up on google, Motorcross Action Mag did a competition on the yz250 and the yz250f, a lot of good info in there.

The KX250 is a very nice bike, a lot of people love them for trails. Just make sure the bike has been treated right and on the Kawi forum they can help you out with a lot of information on specific bike.

Edited by Cfox17, 19 July 2012 - 10:14 AM.

Sounds good! Thanks

If you need anymore help or advice just ask. Good luck

I'm leaning more towards the kx, more abundant in my area. What years should I look for?

I'd look for a 05-07, all those years are good.

Really appreciate all the help! Those may be a little out of my price range. Any earlier years that are good?

If your riding the trail why would you want a MX bike?? So many good off road bikes 2 or 4T ready for the woods/trail. Heavier flywheel weight, softer suspension, handguards and other items are there. Gas Gas and KTM makes great trail/woods bikes box stock.

I totally agree with you, GasGas and KTM both make awesome trail bikes. But theyre just out of my price range.

What is your price and where in PA are you?

I'd like to stay around 2000. Im near the md-pa line.

you can pick up 2 strokes for that.  try to find one that's blown up and fix it - it's a smoker so that will be easy.

I recommend 04+ RM250's for everything (trails, track, getting girls).

250f's are painfully slow btw

How are the ergos on the rm 250 for my height, 6'?

RM250 w/flywheel weight are great woods bikes. A fast rider is fast on any bike. Under mx controlled conditions, 250 4t are just as fast as 250 2t/450 4t and lap times show this. GNCC  racing has tooo many variables to single out a type of motor that is fastest or slowest. Key thing is to put power to the ground. 250 4t seem slow because your tire is not spinning losing traction.

A big guy like you should think about a KTM 300. There a great bike !!!!

Unless you are restricted by racing a class, I really can't see any advantage of 250fs over smokers.  Less power, more weight, higher cost to buy, higher cost to repair, more maintenance, etc.  MXA has done some nice articles comparing 250 smokers and thumpers head-to-head.  Lap times are similar, but all the factors above, plus the fun factor, favor the smoker.