Who KILLED The 2 Stroke Dirt Bike?
#adv #dualsport #2stroke #supermoto
In today's video, we will talk about who was responsible killed off the 2-stroke dirtbike but, more importantly, who kept it alive and, because of that, how the 2-stroke dirtbike is making a comeback
Script - Born A Goon
Editing- Born A Goon
Narration- Born A Goon
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There are a lot of comments questioning my geographical knowledge at 10:42 when I said California is the largest state. On the screen at 10:47 appears the text " Largest by population," clarifying what I meant. I was surprised so many people did not see the text. It is on there for a good 5 seconds.
by land mass no,,, by population WELL,,,, Their all coming to ATX and screwing it up now,,,, go home people, Texas will be ok without your nonsense and we texans like our 2 strokes
Alot of us are just listening, didn't catch it... some... good job tho
I think you are correct? Ronnie Mac in earlier days.
I also saw you can't ride electric scooters there too
Bold of you to assume that people who complain about KZhead videos can read.
I wish everyone that has thrown a leg over a dirt bike could see this , join together and bring back the 2 - stroke ! I love the 2- stroke . Bring them back .
They will never bring them back. Remember the politicians in CA. are evil satanists....
Grew up riding KX”s would love to see Kawasaki Bring Them Back ..
@@pabloescobar7802 I’m a big fan of KX!! Rode mine today
my first kx125 was life-changing for me. Wish I still had it!
2 stoke was the only thing I knew
Love the simplicity of 2 strokes
as do I
Thankful that I live on the perimeter of Windrock and they don't care what you ride as long as you have purchased land use permit Literally one mile on asphalt(which is legal on off road motorcycle) and I'm right in the back door of 76000 acres of killer riding
hate the idiocy of lawyers
And sound
Its only simple for the simple minded.
I'm 57 yrs old and have been riding since I was 10 yrs old. First bike was a '71 Honda SL 70. Loved the bike because it was my first, but it wasn't until 1978 when my best buddy got a YZ80 and I was totally blown away at the sound and quickness when you got on the power band. I was hooked because it just sounded so badass. I'll take buzz over thump any day!
I am about the same age as you and my first bike was an SL 70 that my uncle gave me. And what a coincidence, my mate had a YZ80 and he thought he was king shit with this, but it was shit hot! So a little later I got hold of a Montessa Capra 250 which scared the he'll out of me but I got used to it. Now I was king shit because none of my mates had the guts to kick start this beast. The sound of that 2 stroke was wild. Much better than a thumper.
I owned a 1976 MX 125 & 2000 YZ 125 Yamahas & I never liked the sound of Honda 4 Stroke turds. 4 Stroke are for communist trolls 😅.
been there done that nothing yanks like a 2 stroke on the pipe. I love all bikes but 2 strokes are the best light fast nimble dirt or street. best street bike I ever rode and I rode many from 400 four honda super sport to zx10 and many in between most fun was friend rz 350 back yrs ago. Not the fastest but I could not stop grinning when on it, easy wheelies fast in turns and the sound was like listening to a Beethoven symphony
I'm 55yrs old and mine was a Honda Mini-Trail 50 & I currently own a Honda CR250R. I clearly remember our neighbors screaming around in the mid 1970's on they're 2 strokes. My dad said then "it sounds like a mad bee in a gourd" and it did and still does. Long live the 2 stroke dirt bike.
@@markwinchester3005 here is to bees in gourds long live the bees
i remember as a kid riding an early Suzuki RM125 (maybe 81') and we were all blown away by the power and speed of this beast. It was unstoppable. Those early days made me a true believer in 2-strokes. nice video!
Thanks for sharing
The Libs which is CARB dont want anyone to use OUR land. They would love to only be able to hike on our public land
The irony is Yamaha is one of the last Japanese manufacturers still making two strokes (YZ and YZ-X models), and is still evolving these models albeit very slowly by comparison to Euro 2T manufacturers (Beta, KTM, etc, etc). Now that KTM has gone with throttle body injection and the latest Euro emission standards are being met even by other Euro brands running carbs still its going to be an interesting future for 2Ts. Certainly the market demand for 2Ts has exploded in recent time despite all the 4T hype of the last 20-odd years.
Indeed, it's ironic that Yamaha is responsible for doing it, yet they also seem to redeem themselves by still making 2 strokes. Hope they will also follow KTM's mark in using fuel injection.
Yeah I just picked up a 2023 yz125x thing rips and it's a 6 speed thing is scary fast and I'm hoping of a crf250rx the 2 stroke is a bad bitch I was going to get the 250x I'm glad I went with the 125x for my 2 stroke next I'm going to try to get my hands on a rmz250 😜
@@mahiru20ten Let's hope not. That's the beauty of the Yamaha.. it's simplicity
@@samuelhoffman6804 you should use yamlube r full 100% synthetic two stroke oil in your pre-mix at 50 : 1 ..its eazy to do that is a pint of oil in a five gallon can of gasoline is 50 : 1 ...and you can tear down your engine after a month of sunday motos checking for wear and there wont be any ..as a matter of fact it will look its never been started . There wont be any carbon inside the motor at all,,the piston ring will look brand new with mill marks on it from the time it made ....it aint magic Synthetic oil has all of its molecules are made to the same size ....regular oil is not ...and a blend is even worse as the synthetic molecules will try and carry all the load the petroleum oil mix in will build up on stuff like the power valve until its clogged ...use the 100% synthetic and pay the extra bit for it..its cheaper than loosing horsepower. And i almost forgot. When you look inside for the first time and every time .make sure the edges of all the ports are. Slightly rounded off like the edge of a butter knife .if they ever wear down and become sharp they will cut into the piston and chew up the piston ring. That is why you see other guys buying pistons every other week ...and it probly has a nikasil coated cylinder so becareful rounding down the port not to chip the nikasil its real brittle stuff so dont use files just wet sand paper
Kawasaki still makes the 65, 85, 100, and 112
"This isn't our enemy, this is (Picture of politicians spending our money.)" Hit the head on the nail!!!
Nothing worse than the government getting involved in anything. Especially Sleepy Joe and his band of commies.
Nothing worse than the government getting involved in anything. Especially Sleepy Joe and his band of commies.
Love the content! I recently have fallen into the motorcycle community and all I have ever driven is a 4 stroke. I can't wait to try out a 2-stoke!
Grew up on an IT175 and then joined the service. Life happened and didn't ride for about 30 years then within about the last year or so I'm getting back riding and I actually still have my old girl and am rebuilding it. What blew my mind was like the 2-strokes disappeared! I couldn't believe my eyes and ears for that matter. These four strokes to me just sound like a bunch of flatulence going around the track! It's very hard for me to used to. I'll always be a 2-stroke man. Also...F the politicians as well.
Thanks for watching
Also rode an IT175 first, love 2Ts
My first bike was a 76 DT175 steel tank, dual rear shocks, and the seat still lifted from the side, so you could fill the oil mix.
owned and rode my IT in 86 then bought a blaster same motor in them in 88. both never failed me and loved them.
True fucking story...I has atc 250r...what a machine
Great video. My kid wanted to get into motorcycles and I said Ok and figured I would get back into them (at 54). Started easy not thinking I would catch the bug again, boy was I wrong. He wanted to get into street riding, I said you have to learn in the dirt. I bought a KLX300 and a KLX230. Good for trail riding, did suspension and tires to extend trail capability, just not enough. Picked up two 2023 Beta 200RRs, the best part is I was able to plate them in NY, so connecting trails won't be illegal. Absolutely love the Betas, and really glad to be back on a 2 stroke. Best part is he lost interest in getting a street bike and loves the dirt riding, and totally loves the two stroke.
Thanks for watching and commenting
Get a set of supermoto wheels to ride on the street, it’s really fun just messing around doing wheelies and not that dangerous because you can’t go faster than 100 mph
Get a set of supermoto wheels to ride on the street, it’s really fun just messing around doing wheelies and not that dangerous because you can’t go faster than 100 mph
Yes you should ride the dirt before the street.
That's what always told everyone that wanted a motorcycle. First, learn in the dirt for 3 or 4 years.
Back in 2015 I bought a two stroke as my first bike,a 1994 Aprilia Red Rose Classic. Interestingly,it's not a dirt bike or a sports bike,but actually one of the few two stroke cruiser models made. I learned to ride on that bike,to use a clutch and shift gears,rode it around town,had a lot of fun,and unfortunately had my first (and so far only) crash. It was a great first bike,wish it and other two strokes were still being made.
Ooooooo. That last line gave me goosebumps. You couldn’t be more spot on
100%
I used to work at Pasadena Honda. They didn't make money selling bikes, they made money fixing bikes. Anything that could make it harder for the average rider to work on their own bike was music to the manufactures ears.
I used to hang out there as a kid drooling over the dirt bikes!
they did the same thing in the car business,i remember the training center saying,we will get rid of the backyard mechanics,they want their cars fixed,they come to us,at 115.00 per hour,CADILLAC first ones with that rate over the door,now they can't sell nothing,priced out of the market,destroying the design of the two stroke was nuts,now they don't repair cars or sell many,who wants a car with 28 sensors and 9 modules on it,and where do you get parts when its 5 years older,not pick n pull------suzuki 80 hillbilly was the best backwoods two stroke ever made,it'd even haul out a deer on its rear carrier,4 LOW SPEEDS,FLICK A LEVER AND 4 HIGH SPEEDS WE HAVE WENT BACKWARDS AND THE VIEW AIN'T PRETTY
@@strattunerodules have to be programmed to the vehicle. Even if you bought it at pick and pull you still need to pay someone to program it. Utter bullshit.
@@blakbanshee i'm trained to flash anything,utter truth
@@strattuner why I WOULD NEVER BUY A CADILLAC, my sister was quoted $500 labour to change her headlight bulbs from dealer and a garage so I get stuck doing it for 2 hours. I just changed a signal light in my VW took 5 seconds and no tools just fingers.
Got my son a dirt bike for Christmas. and I purposefully got him a 2stroke because they sound awesome
When I was 12 I had a YZ 80. Now, 37 years later I have a 250 SX. 2-stroke is what I grew up with and I still love everything about them! Sound, smell, thrill! ♥
It's awesome that you put in the ancient, ancient 1800Collect commercial.
Nice video, the 2 stoke engine has always held a special place in my heart. I love the sound, the smell, the incredible snappy throttle response. When growing up as a teen in the 80’s everyone dreamed of owning a Yamaha YZ, Kawasaki KZ or a beautiful red Honda CR. Although I’ve never owned a straight dirt bike, I did own a Suzuki LT250R Quad. This quad was 250cc water cooled 2 stroke with 6 speed manual clutch with thumb throttle. This 2 stoke quad was sooo much fun! I swear I could probably go from 0-55 in about 4 seconds. I had so much fun on the dunes in Silver Lake in Michigan many years ago on this quad. I miss 2 stoke motorcycles quads, etc. Long live the 2 Stoke engine!! We adore you ❤️
Great article. Love Michigan riding areas lived there 07-17 . Now in Ohio w/hardly no riding areas.
A couple of years after the 4stroke came, almost all smaller tracks started to shut down because of the increased noise. At least here in Sweden, Europe.
I know some complained about 2 stroke noise but my 4 stroke is so loud I have to wear ear plugs
Happened all over the United States as well.
I've seen the same in the states.
@@arglock36 Four strokes are louder than two strokes.
Same thing happened in Belgium. That's why I'm selling my Cr250 1993.
Delight of a video Goon keep em comin! History like this is fascinating. I live in north Idaho, and just got into dirt biking this past year, (30yo) godamn have I been missing out my whole life... The bliss being in the woods on single track smelling the Motul in the mountain air is a feeling that's hard to describe to people. Unless you're out there you don't understand! I picked up a 2012 ktm 300 and holy shit, what a machine, but compared to my buddies 2023 gasgas, she's a brute. 90% of riders I come across out on the trails either have newer ktms, huskies, or gasgas. It's an absolute domination up here and it's fantastic. Peace brotha ✌️
Nice. I live in CdA and purchased a '23 KTM 250 XC-W last summer. Love this bike and can't wait for riding season again. Do you ride Canfield?
Great vid bro. I learned on 2 smokes cuz that’s all we had back in early 90’s. Now I’m actually looking to get back into it and I’m most definitely looking to buy a 2 smoke. Mixxin gas and haulin ass is all I know.
I grew up riding 2 strokes in the 70s. Some of us could tell oil brand by the exhaust smell. I was a 40:1 synth Klotz man in my Suzuki. Agree with your conclusion. Those angry bees at the end brought a big grin of delight. Thanks from Colorado.
Thanks for sharing!
You might be pleasantly surprised to know they have a Klotz candle now that smells pretty close
@@thetechlibrarian now that's funny, thanks for the smile
I miss that angry bee noise soo much! Four strokes in mx is so boring.
And they are so easy to wheelie.....
I was die hard 2stroke guy in my younger years. After having a 400f and many 450s. Still like both. But It's hard to beat a good 4stroke. Charge oil regularly and they just keep going.
This is an awesome video that shows how a conglomeration can glom on to one another and congeal under different guises and in the end, no one is better off than they were before the self righteous decided to get involved in something that was not harming anyone in the first place. Well, no physical harm, but harm to several egos and wallets. I always knew there was more to this than the CARB and other political organizations. Thanks for bringing everything together.
Thanks for watching and commenting It is much appreciated
Brilliant and informative, thank you.
They did the same thing to the venerable 2-stroke outboard. Toward the end engines like the OptiMax with fuel and oil injection were hardly making any more smoke or using any more fuel than a 4 stroke, but yet we ended up with car engines in the boats and a whole host of new problems. You can get 4 stroke outboards now, and they are pretty amazing, but if you ever have to rebuild it, whew, it's a whole new level of complex.
Not only that, I just had to get new 2.6 HP outboards for my catamaran. I can tell you that they weigh twice as much
I do miss the old merc towers and jonnyrude v engines they always sounded amazing at the lake but folks now seem to disregard the 2 strokes saying their 4s are just as fast but I'll tell ya what my merc 70 triple will outrun most of the boats with 90 4strokes pretty easily and get on plain faster but I think that has alot to do with weight too my old starcraft is a light hull and the motor is pretty light too at least compared to modern glass boats and the injected 4 strokes on them
@@zZWolfyZz I think at equal horsepower a 2 stroke is faster out of the hole. They have a fatter power curve. The weight is also a huge issue on plane because a heavier engine means a heavier hull to float it and it all has to "fly" on the water. But at 5 mpg the argument for the 30% efficiency increase of the 4 strokes is a strong one, minus the loses from the weight. Of course the fuel injected two strokes more or less eliminated the fuel pass through so they were in some ways ideal for marine applications. All gone now though.
If only we could have 2 strokes that doesn't need topping 2 stroke oils, making it basically equal to a 4 stroke.
@@zZWolfyZz you will never get the same power in the same amount of cc as in a 2 stroke, your right about the additional weight too. The only disadvantage I see for boats is for the same amount of hp the 2 stroke seems more thirsty
Thank you for your California take on two stroke dirt bikes. I live in Buffalo and they always worked great here because it's cool they can make tons of power and not overheat. Two stroke engines benefit from cool air induction, especially if it's under more pressure as the bike accelerates.
Believe me, CA sucks as far as politics goes. I lived there. Everything is beautiful, except the libtard government.
How do you ride in 4 feet of snow? Or do you only ride a few weeks a year? 🤣
@@barrydworak The big snow you hear about melts several days later and doesn't happen often. It's usually mild here. If you like to ride dirt bikes in the mud there's no better place than upstate NY.
@@barrydworak these days I ride a CRF 230L I don't care about going fast any more I just want to putt around and stay in one piece. I'm getting old.
Great video. Well written and produced.
I remember having to drag start my CR500 because after the rebuild the compression was so high. Never maxed out the bike on the trails. Had power band feel in every gear. And definitely wheelie in any gear.
I had a Maico 490, only ever maxed it out once on Enduro gearing. (Bike had been modified for a professional racer to compete in the 1980 Le Touquet Beach Race in France) Took it home and fitted larger rear sprocket plus a smaller front, doubt it would do 90mph afterwards? Over revving in top gear worked out around 130mph, way too fast for a firebreak in the woods!
I rode my buddies cr500..... I saw god in every gear.
That cr500 was a monster. Holy CRAP!!!
I had 1 to would have killed myself if I didn't get rid of it traded for a cbr 900 and well almost killed myself on that also now I have a 1998 kx250 and I hope I don't kill myself again damit
You did t have a compression release lever The RM 500 had one if not you couldn’t kick it over
I really miss all 2 strokes! Even though the cops in my area use to bust only the poor 2 stroke riders, they could pick us out because the sound of the exhaust. Dirt bikes in my area dyed out when no one could afford either fix there new bike or get parts for the old ones. :( Just like cars and trucks to day!
great video🔥🔥
I am still in my teen years and I love to hear older people’s experiences growing up around dirt bikes because I have grown up loving bikes but never being allowed to get one. Now I am building my own dirt bike in my school shop class out of an old engine and bicycle frame. I wish it was a 2-stroke but it is still better than pedaling. Thanks everyone for telling your stories, I enjoy reading them.
Aye you just gotta start somewhere. Just like he mentioned in the video the sport itself has become expensive. My first bike was Yamaha 225 ttr. My brother in law bought it. It sat around for years then he gave it to me told me it would never run etc. the electric start cable was disconnected. Hooked that up 500$ later after some other stuff and before you knew it I was taring up dirt lol. You don’t have to shoot for the newest either. I’ve come across alot of used bikes that had decent owners that were going cheap. My same bike that I pretty much paid 500$ for is now worth 2k. What’s funny is my brother in law bought it brand spanking new in 2002 for 1800$ and now it’s worth 200$ more as it sits in the shed at the lake😂😂
Great vid! When my brother and I were teenagers, back in 1981, our mother bought us Yamaha MX 80s; basically they were Yamaha’s detuned 2 stroke play dirt bike. My friend across the street got a Honda XR 100 and the spoiled kid next door get got his parents to buy him a Suzuki RM80. That thing was CRAZY fast! Ahhh the memories.
There always a spoiled kid next door. Why is that? 😁
@@barrydworak LOL
Sounds like 4 spoiled kids to me. I delivered papers, mowed lawns, shoveled snow and bought a new 77 RM100B for $998 plus tax when I was 15 yo.
I rode a old yamaha 175 two stroke. My friends in the neighbor hood had all brands covered. In the 80cc two stroke class, kx 80 would run circles around the other three. Cr80 was kind of gutless but it was atleast reliable. Rm80 was fast, but always broke the friend with the yamaha 80 it was quiet, i assumed it was a yz, maybe his was mx 80. It was the slowest, but it was more reliable than the suzuki
Great video! Had no idea it was Yamaha that pushed this agenda in the USA.. I raced dirt bikes in the 70’s and early 80’s.. Switched over to road racing in the mid 80’s..Entered the Motorsport industry also at that time in So Cal.. Started racing a TZ 250 in 1993; Regional and selected AMA events.. Apx 210 pounds (dry), and 90 (or so) hp.. As I came to know the bike and learned how to tune it, the biggest revelation I found was tuning both cylinders separately.. I was tuning 2-125 cc engines to run in harmony together.. There was the old saying “give it what it wants”. Read the burn on the piston (you could read the plug too, the piston provided much more detailed burn information for the power jets).. Each cylinder had a different base gasket thickness, (for exact dome capacity), different timing marks, main jets, nozzles, power jets.. Only thing I never changed was the pilot jet.. A nozzle change was easier and more accurate.. Then you had everything else to set-up.. Suspension front and rear, ride heights, external gearing, internal transmission gear ratios, wheel widths, tire pressure.. The combinations were endless… Nothing in my motorcycle racing career was more rewarding, or more elusive, than always hunting for the “set-up”… When it was “right” it was a most phenomenal experience..And you would know.. The demon had been summoned..The bike was just an extension of my body and I could do no wrong.. It was a fantastic time to be alive! 😊
EXCELLENT Video !!....EVERYONE should watch this - from dirt-bikers to Armed Citizens to EVERY American !!!.....WELL DONE !!!
I had a 1979 Yamaha MX175 - best motorcycle I ever owned- street or trail - it used YamaLube (oil) that the bike mixed with the gas as you were riding! I put a 52 tooth sprocket ⚙️ on the back to replace the stock 49 tooth sprocket for more low end torque and to climb hills. Those were the good old days! Four stroke is fine for the street (I had a 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650) but 2 stroke for the dirt - period.
The last dirt bike I rode was a 1998 YZ 250 smoker, never ridden a modern four stroke, never will. Some things will never change.
no doubt Had a 2000 yz 125 I dont think that bike had any flaws
I just started riding again in my 50s. I restored a 1995 CR250. I love it and I do not need or want a four stroke.
Sweeeeet👍
Right on !
I have never ridden a 4 stroke MX'r I quit racing in '87 (last bike was a '86 CR250 Honda) I also raced CR125's with mugen kits ('84 & '85) I quit due to injuries. It is highly unlikely that I will ever own a dirt bike in the future, But if I did It would most definitely 100% be a 2 STROKE. I hate the sound of the 4 strokes, & Forgetabout Electric dirt bikes!
As a jr goonologist, that was a perfect video. It cleared up one thing and that is my distaste for Yamaha even after having a T7. The other thing is it once again showed how much Cali just plain sucks. I was born and raised down there and moved to WA. I have a 450RL and a Beta Extrainer and love both. Good job Professor Goon. Rock on
California sux. 2-strokes rule! Brrrappp!
Yamaha the worst..have a 98 xt 225..they stopped making parts..even aftermarket shit..shady af really cause they flooded the market with the fucking things
My memory says cali put out the mandate no more new 2 strokes after a certain year. Yamaha not wanting to be caught with their pants down started developement. All the ama had to do was pack up and leave cali and reschedule races not in that state, but they bowed down to the smug a$$hats that live there. Mark my words how Cali is fazing out diesel trucks and cars. Give it a few years and they're gonna eventually make the no new combustion engine dirtbikes for sale after a certain year , then all the manufactures are gonna run electric developement bikes in the 4 stroke class like yamaha did with a 4 stroke in the 2 stroke class
I will never forget the smell inside the Astrodome during Supercross when I was a kid. Fell in love with the sound and smell then and it never left me.
You mentioned 2 strokes in the same sentence as the old Houstn Astrodome You are a legend
nice video , love the art of war mix in !
This is an incredibly well made video. Thanks a bunch.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Well done video! I grew up watching the change. The ama killed 2strokes and miss the smell and sound at mx and sx events. Your video is 100% accurate. Just bought a 450rl. Your videos on the 450rl have been educational and look forward to more!
Thank you
Great Video!! I still have my RZ500 V4 Two Stroke Street Bike! I wish they would start making 2 stroke street bikes!!
Thanks for the great video btw. Very solid piece of work. I’m wondering if anything has changed since this video has been released?
Not much
@@BornAGoon When I asked if there had been changes I didn’t realize the video was current
A Genius of a Video!!!Long Live the TWO STROKE!!
Thank you
I can even now feel the noisy sheer power of leaving a corner in a sand race on several two stroke moto crossers that all lifted the front wheel while cranked over. A three sixty Montesa,Bultaco,250 KX Kawasaki would leave most four strokes for dead My last race was in Wallesy .or Southport in 1963.At the time was embarking on a business venture in Spain that sadly failed after a years glorious living but never road off road again.
I had an almost new (but worked) Suzuki PE250, loved hitting the power band! Very quick, used to leave my friends behind who had Yamaha TT500s. The big 4 strokes never had a chance. I would love another one or even better a Yamaha IT465 or YZ490.
Brilliant 👏 👏 👏 I loved my RM 250 back in the early seventys for all the reasons you described. Good job. Excellent times, Let the good times roll🏁
Interesting discussion on 2 strokes. My friend here in Christchurch NZ Mike Sinclair was Kenny Roberts top mechanic at the end of the 2 stroke era, having a conversation with Mike how I had begun to really like 2 strokes he told me that at the end of 2 stroke era in grand prix racing they were on the verge of some clever developement with 2 strokes. The team were remaking better engine top ends for their racers than what Yamaha was making. Yamaha did not like this, Yamahas comment to Mike master Sinclair what you not telling us ???. I still have our K6, 125 RM Suzuki, my son did 4 years of competition, we ran blended fuel 16 litres of 100+ avgas high octain plus 4 litres of 95 unleaded to help slightly bring down the high octain slightly plus 631mls of castrol synthetic 2 stroke oil, a fantastic brew grey pipe clean plug clean in the combustion chamber, on full song no smoke seen comming form bike, our 125 class competed against 250 4 strokes, we would often beat the 4 strokes. There is a great book written by Kerry Swanson on Mike Sinclair well worth reading.
thanks for sharing that story
2 stroke street bikes were awesome in the early 80's. Rz 350, rz500, 500 gama, 250 gama 400 nsr, 250nsr (Canada).
Im always shocked at how quickly 4 strokes replaced 2 strokes. One year (2005 I think) there was one 4 stroke at the starting line of the Seattle SuperCross (piloted by Jimmy Button, I think). The next year it was one 2 stroke when the gate dropped. Completely replaced in 1 year. . .and no one even talks about the utter decimation of the 125 class and the style of riding required to go fast on one.....
Yep. 05-06 was the change for the big bikes
Captured the heart of the matter very well! I miss riding. I'm in my 60's, have had injuries making it a bad idea, but I would be sorely tempted.... Loved my 2 stroke, torquier than most at the expense of being quick, great hill climber (ran with 250's there!) and pretty good for enduro style which was my main interest. Have run XR500, CR250, and test road an IT400, all were impressive in one way or another. But two stroke was my favorite for sure.
Around 1980 ish,I bought a new 250 Yamaha crosser for the sole purpose of sand racing in the UK un like previous makes this water cooled model came with a choice of front and rear sprockets and main jets and a spare piston. Sand racing can involve very long flat out stretches needing a richer main jet and higher gearing .Probably the most refined ready to race bike at that time,
Yamaha never forced Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Honda to stop making two strokes. They should have just put the old two stroke engines in updated 4 stroke 250f chassis
I've heard people have been fitting 2 stroke engines into the modern 4 stroke bikes. The 4 stroke engines often fail catastrophically. The 2 strokes go on forever and just need a simple rebuild.
@@chrishart8548 4 stroke engines, if maintained properly, will last far, far longer than a 2 stroke motor. It is a fact because of the design differences.
@@easternyellowjacket276 well the piston rings will last longer. But on these bikes they will both be rebuilt equally as often.
Great video! Thanks.
Your politics are spot on. Great chronicle! I didn't know any of this story, but certainly could have guessed some of it-the CARB part. Another fine example of why power should be wrested from government at every opportunity simply because of human nature. "Like fire, government is a dangerous servant and a fearful master".
best video ever made, congratulations from Italy
I am a 70 year old street rider who grew up with the Kaw 500 and 750 2-stroke triples, and the Yamaha RD series. I SO, so wish somebody could come up with a modern updated 2-stroke road bike. I am fortunate enough financially to buy pretty much any bike I want. If Kawasaki or Suzi or Yammy would build a 2-stroke street bike....especially a triple....I'd buy it in a heartbeat !!
BRC is working on a conversion for the newer Yamaha R6, its called the BRCR600.
If your in the U.S. they will NEVER make it happen due to "Emissions" Requirements!!! Very Sad since they are so much more inexpensive to build!!!
I got a RG500 sitting in my garage that needs some love
2 strokes are amazing ,I own Aprilia sx125,and old enduro ctx 90 tuned,I owned kx125 and I can tell you i enjoyed more on 2 stroke bikes than on any 4 strokes.
My first adult dirtbike was a 1993 KDX 250 and I lived that bike. 2 stroke is still my favorite
That sound brings a year to my eye. Heartwarming
A tear not a year
I love the old McGrath ads thrown in. It's amazing how big the sport was back in those days AND how big time Jeremy was. He was big enough to have mainstream corporate sponsors like 1-800-collect, Anheuser Busch, etc...
In my younger years I grew up in swampy area with big hills spread around as well as abandoned taconite mines, big piles of overburden and deep pits. The weight of 2 stroke in unstable ground and very wet soils as well as deep peet bogs gives the light bikes a massive adventure. I know it's apples to oranges but riding the trails the 4x4 ride it's obvious how important weight to power is. The 4 bys destroy the sensitive wet lands and leave massive pits of mud and chewed up peet where as respectful 2 strokes can pic your way across everything but open water and cat tails. Out in the pits the the light bikes are able to accelerate in very short distance to shoot up very steep hills of softball size rocks mixed with smaller rocks and sand, by buddy wasn't able to keep up on his much newer 450f while I was on a 99 yz this was back in 09. Hands down the 2stroke out performed the 450f. I'll be a 2 stroke guy till I tip over!
Hey man love the content! I'm a Powersports Tech, and just a heads up Kawi still making 2 strokes. Get a little fluffy every time the crates come in.
Like the KX 112
@@BornAGoon ugh yeah, but still a 2 stroke
Really interesting video. Great stuff.
Really great video! I had a '75 Yamaha 175 Enduro 2-stroke for a few years in my early 20s. It was under-powered but I had fun with it. That bike is long gone now. I didn't realize 4-strokes conquered America. Sad. Someone I knew had a 400cc 4-stroke. It was too heavy for me to throw around a trail. I think if I kept up with the sport I would have traded the 175 for a 250 2-stroke.
I really miss my blue and white 1975 Yamaha DT 175! I rode it all year in Wisconsin in the early 80’s
Remember when James Stewart raced a 250f at the last 2 nationals after riding a 125 all season? He was asked why he switched for the last 2 races and his response said it all "I already clinched the championship so I was told by kawi either race the 4stroke or don't race" like WTF man
This was very well written and so much information. I wanted one back in 1966.,but couldn’t get one.
Nice video! Very concise and well worded point!
Glad you liked it!
So many memories. There were 3 or 4 guys in my neighborhood who had bikes from dealerships. One guy got in a bad wreck and broke his arm. A week later he had his left arm in a cast and a brand-new bike, riding one handed wheelies the whole 1/4 mile up the street then back. We lived on the corner of the entrance to our street. So our corner was where all the girlies would stand when he was around. It used to be that everybody went out to Mohave to ride bikes and the other myriad of toys.
Great video, I just hope we can get some rejuvenation of two strokes in the sport bike market. I would really like my sport bikes to be lighter and pack a ton of power.
I remember back in the day we raced a Yamaha 250 and aprilia 125 2-stroke road racers they were so light
On point. Especially the last 10 seconds.
You left out the ktm fourstroke mx bike of the era. I agree about most of this story and have been telling people for years. I'm a 2 stroke guy
My first dirt bike cost $650 for a Honda CR80R used. It got me hooked. I couldn't afford much back then. But I became obsessed. Later on graduated to a CR125 then a KX500 then a CR250. All of those bikes combined didn't cost what a new bike today does. If course they were used but still... It got me involved and interested. Kids now aren't so interested...
sweet line up of CRs there
Grew up on on an old 250 dual shock space frame KTM in the 80's. That audio at the end. Like a swarm of angry hornets. Gotta love the 2 stroke sound
Great video!! I’m getting ready to turn the big 6-O soon and don’t ride much anymore, because of the loss of my favorite open trail riding grounds here in SE Virginia. Oh, what fond memories! But, what I still have in my possession is my 2017 YZ-125…’til death do us part, LMFAO!☝️🤣🤘🇺🇸
Thanks for watching
Very informative! And the very same politics are being used against string trimmers & weed wackers!
California tries to dictate for all of the other states since they are a port of entry. I live in the southeast and there are no motor restrictions.
Loved my 1973 Yamaha 125 enduro . I later bought a Kawasaki KH400 ( 3 cylinder 2 stroke), what a fun bike .
Love the last line. It applies to a lot of things aside from dirt bikes as well.
Great video! I would love to see BRPs E-Tec 2 stroke technology on a modern bike. Can-Am maybe? Lol! I doubt it but that would be cool!
That would be cool!
I've been saying this is the reason there's no excuse to innovate the 2 strokes. Snowmobiles and jet skis do it already.
@@2smokejoke what’s old will be new again and I honestly think it’s coming 👍🏻 I see a 2 stroke future. They are cheaper to produce and believe it or not, when done correctly they actually run cleaner than a 4 stroke
After a 15 year break from riding, I traded a few rifles(1 of them very high end) for a 2013 KTM 250sx. Haven’t had much chance to ride it yet cause it was November but looking forward to spring. This bike won’t see much air time but it will get my 53 year old ass outside more. Been working out more too cause I want to be ready to ride it this spring. Not too sure about the hydraulic clutch thingy though.
Hydraulic clutch will be the least of your concerns once out riding... 😂😂.. they are smooth and reliable.. the ground gets harder as we get older I've found out i don't bounce like i used too..😂😂
@@rebekahfrench5747 Truth!
Lived through all of this. Sad thing to see areas like Clear Creek get closed & the continued progression of closures & more & more resttrictions.
thanks for watching and taking the time to comment
Always rode a 2-stroke. First one was a Hodaka 100 in the late 60s. My favorite was my 1987 KX 500 Very fast and always held a good idle. I gave it to my nephew in almost perfect running condition. ( new piston and barrel). I just got to old at 64 years old.
Combat Wombat
i hope they come back, i missed out on the street legal dual sport 2t's of the 90's where i am.
I had a 1988 kmx200 in 1997 paid £1k it was an absolute blast. Felt like be 6' off the ground on a 100mph bicycle. I think I was only 9st at the time aswel. Had a bit of an eating disorder at the time. Can't stop eating now.
@@chrishart8548 yeah those bikes were fast for what meager ccs they had, a lot are still running here but mostly used as trail bikes now, dt 50-170's, tsr125, few crs, kmx125. very rich classic bike scene here too called vinduro, 80's 2t's, i think i learned to ride on an L2 or an rs100.
The costs to race a late model 4 stroke are quite a bit higher. Current 4 strokes (especially the 250F's) have a pretty short lifespan and the rebuilds are $$$$. IMO they're now 80 hour bikes if MX raced at a moderate level, much less at the pro level. 40 hours for the first top end/valve service, then sell it after another 40. By 40 hours on a piston the bike is way down on power, which is why Yamaha's spec on the 250F is 12.5 hours on a top end. By 80 hours with a fast rider the second piston, cylinder, and whole valvetrain are well past due for replacement. Just sell the bike at that point and grab a freshie. I like both 2 and 4 strokes, but there's no denying the 4 stroke revolution made racing less available for the average working man/woman.
I remember my friends getting crf250's in the early 2000s. They were absolutely terrible, constantly breaking down, maintenance regime's that we're akin to top fuel dragsters. Was enough to keep me loving 2t. The hilarious part was they claimed their 4t was more reliable and needed less maintenance. I was running a 96 rmx on the original piston at the time and was always in front of them.
Even the cases get tossed by a pro mechanic on a hard run 250 4 stroke, the crank doesnt last under a pro, nothing does....they just keep building engines and swapping them out. 25K builds a killer engine.... They only run fast WFO....the engines kill them selves.................a kid trying to race one hard ends up with scrap.
If you would change out the cam chain and the valve springs twice per year you would probably never have no more problems
@@bradsanders6954450 4ts turn 14,000 rpm to make max horsepower ...the valve springs are wore out the first year but usually the cam chain breaks and goes through the bottom of the cases not without jamming the valves into the piston driving the valves sideways into the valve seats destroying the entire engine . On a two stroke Have you ever seen rod nettle bearings tapered down to a point of both ends of each nettle bearing at the crank pin .that is due to the runout of the crank even if it is within spec can be out as much as 0.05" .make the crank read zero at both ends at the same time while turning it in v blocks ...rod bearings will last twice as long and free up some horse power
I have the new 2023 ktm 250sx and its awesome has its few flaws being a new fuel injected 2 stroke but its rides more similar to a 4 stroke with that same 2 stroke power, sound, and weight
This video is on point!
Best machine ever is a cr250 aluminum frame bike with a built cr500 motor shoe horned in 💯🤟🇺🇲⚡
Agreed!!
Interesting enough the little 2 stroke through its high revving engine can produce a lot of horse power. With internal combustion engines horsepower and rpm are directly related. 40 years ago the 4 stroke scooter wasn't much compared to the little light weight 2 stroke. It was about this time that Suzuki had the RM and PE models. I had an opportunity to ride a PE and was that a joy especially coming from a 4 stroker. Recently, I was looking at the KTM 150 XC-W and wondering what this little 214 pound monster could do with a good competent rider. Good Video, Goon-Man.
Good video, really?...I dunno I suppose if you've been hiding under a rock for the past thirty to forty years. I do get it but the title of the video kinda determines it's audience. Anyways the climate is changing and in terms of mass production/consumption something needed to change and still does. I actually think in regards to motocross racing the future can and will possibly be electric dirtbikes, just give them another decade of development.
@@ouch74 LMAO
Modern 4 strokes rev out much higher than contemporary 4 strokes. A KTM motocross 250 4 T can see 13,0000 rpm.
@@ouch74 manufacturing of batteries is prolly worst than what the 2t's emit.
The KTM 150 is an amazing little bike. I just came off of one and switched to a 350 4-stroke. They're both compelling in their own ways.
I never really got into dirt racing with bikes, but I can understand the fury in your voice. It would seem like there'd be enough room for a 2 and 4 stroke series, being separate from each other.
awesome video very informative im keeping my rm 250 for life
EPA and CARB was about 50% of it, the other 50% was the 200cc advantage 4 strokes got. A 450 and a 250 2t make pretty much the same power but the 4 strokes are easier to ride, make more traction, and are smoother giving them the edge over a 250. This little edge is enough to make a difference around a track so every manufacturer and racer went 4 stroke.
Also keep in mind 4 strokes can now spin about 5,000 rpm faster than 2 strokes. (Comared to the mid 70's when 4 strokes used to spin slower).
@@onlyhereforthefish9924 yep my yz250 revs to about 7k and a 450 is like 12k
In my case with the nose snub to two strokes from the industry.... I went from a longtime Honda CR owner to a longtime KTM owner... The KTM 300s Ive owned have been the best bikes I've owned... 👍👍 KTM
I have been looking at getting a trail bike as a seasoned rider. I was looking at the ktm 250xcf or the ktm125 2t. What do recommend?
@@shanerobertson1464 The 250 would be the easier to ride on trails.
it was the terminator 2 chase scene with john on his bike that made me fall in love with the sound of the 2 stroke. rode a honda 125 and it was amazing fun.
Me two, the bike itself was a 4 stroke it also had over 100 gears 😅
Great vid well constructed and informative - I rode a 360 Husqvarna in UK AMCA 76-79 super fast but like a bucking bronco Wilden Lane Kiddy my Nemesis - won race 1 leading race 2 70 yards to go and a skipped out rear wheel - crash of the meet near the finish line - busted wrist - end of competitive era but still have the memories - green laning on dt400 600Tenere xt500 Drz400 great times - but regulations and restrictions make it difficult to access lots of fantastic riding places they just don't want bikes here too
Thank you Robert
I love the smell of castor beans in the morning.
me too
I am going to have that smell this morning on my restored 1995 CR250.
Funny thing is, not just 2 stroke dirt bikes sound like this... I raced go-karts, and once you said "If you've ever heard this sound" *plays a mp3 audio of 2 stroke engines rumbling* I instantly thought "GO KARTS!!!!"
yea those too since most have 2 stroke dirtbike engines in them
Awesome vid.
The last 2-stroke I had and raced local motocross was a 1979 Husky 250 CR... sold it in the late 80's (I'm an old dirt rider). Ever since then I've ridden 4-stroke enduro bikes off road for fun. About 5 years ago I found someone selling a 1979 Husky 250 CR in running condition... I test rode it and almost lost control due to how much more incredible power than my 250 4-stroke Yamaha TTR 250 that I was used too. Being 70+ the 4-strokes are good for an old guy like me, BUT any serious able bodied dirt rider needs a 2-stroke to truly appreciate what 2-stroke riding provides to power and speed demons like I was when younger.
30+years riding and I'm still turning heads peoples just can't get past that 2stroke sound
This was very well researched and presented. I appreciate that you saw the light at an early stage and were able to hold onto the superior design of the much simpler and powerful two stroke engine. I totally agree with you about how the two stroke fell into disfavor, but I do have a different take on why: Why? For the same reason the Indy turbine car was choked down to where it could never compete and why no Wankel engine designs are utilized: Big Oily wants the world to use four stroke piston engines (because they waste a full stroke, have more friction and consume more fuel).
Thank you for watching and sharing another perspective
On your last statement with big oil, I’d argue they’d appreciate a 2 stroke more. They use more petroleum products to run, (gasoline plus the mixing oil) They are less fuel efficient than 4 strokes. (They don’t “waste a stroke” so they’re consuming petroleum products on every up stroke). And they still have the same transmission service intervals. A 2-stroke straight up uses more oil products. And I absolutely love my YZ250
@@rostifardian Ding, ding, ding, exactly sir, well put.