Wondering about the pros and cons of 2-stroke vs 4-stroke dirt bikes? You have come to the right place. Before assessing which dirt bike is best for you, you need to understand the way you are going to ride the bike.
The way you’ll be riding the dirt bike may differ in a lot of areas. You may be riding dirt bikes just as a recreation or as for competing in a sanctioned motocross or supercross racing. For some riders, dirt bikes are just a passion while for some it is a profession.
Understanding the engine and the combustion cycle
There are basically two types of dirt bikes – electric and gas. While electric dirt bikes operate through a rechargeable lithium Ion battery, gas-operated dirt bikes are powered by an engine.
The engine of your dirt bike is responsible for burning the fuel/gas and generating it into power. The process of burning fuel in the engine is also known as combustion. Furthermore, the engine of your dirt bike is also referred to as an internal combustion engine.
Every internal combustion engine of a dirt bike completes four stages during a fuel combustion cycle.
- First, the engine intakes the fuel from the gas tank. This is also known as the intake phase.
- Second, the engine compresses the gas and generates energy. This is also known as the compression phase.
- Third, the engine converts the energy into power. After all, you will need the power to turn on your dirt bike and take it for a ride. This phase is also known as a power conversion phase.
- And lastly, the engine exhausts the smoke generated from the combustion of gas through a carburetor. This is also known as the exhaustion phase.
Once you understand this basic concept, it is really easy to grasp the mechanism of a 2-stroke and a 4-stroke dirt bike.
2-stroke vs 4-stroke dirt bikes
A 2-stroke dirt bike engine simply means the internal combustion engine needs to take 2 strokes in order to complete a combustion cycle. Similarly, a 4-stroke dirt bike engine needs to take 4 strokes in order to complete the combustion cycle.
Since stroke means either a pulling or a pushing force, two strokes make a combination of an upward and downward motion thus completing one revolution. On the other hand, four strokes mean a combination of upward, downward, upward, and downward thus completing two revolutions.
Since 2-stroke dirt bike engines need to perform just a single revolution to generate the same amount of power, this explains why a 250cc 2-stroke dirt bike produces significantly more power than compared to a 4-stroke counterpart of a similar engine size.
Pros and cons of a 2-stroke dirt bike
Although a 2-stroke dirt bike never produces the torque of a 4-stroke dirt bike, they come close enough for casual riders. The biggest advantage of a 2-stroke dirt bike is the weight. It is really light which makes it super easy to handle this is a great option for beginners and teens. Moreover, a 2-stroke dirt bike requires significantly less maintenance, saving you a lot of time and money.
One thing that doesn’t get mentioned a lot as a con of a 2-stroke dirt bike is the frequent piston change requirement. A 2-stroke dirt bike requires a piston change every 20-25 ride hours. And if you are using it for racing, you may need to change it every race. I understand that pistons are really cheap and it is really easy to change one. But still, this is something that has to be done frequently and you need to keep this in mind.
Pros and cons of a 4-stroke dirt bike
The torque produced by a 4-stroke dirt bike can not be matched by any 2-stroke dirt bike on the market. This abundance of immediate torque once you twist the throttle can help your ability to execute certain riding techniques. Therefore, a 4-stroke dirt bike is a must for a competitive scenario.
This is the reason 450cc 4-stroke dirt bikes like Honda CRF450 or Kawasaki KX450 are some of the top choices for riders competing in sanctioned races.
On the other hand, 250cc 4-stroke bikes are also quite popular, especially for weekend warriors and beginner racers. They’re significantly lighter, super easy to handle, and less expensive.
All that power and torques come with their own consequences though. Since 4-stroke dirt bikes are so much more powerful than their 2-stroke counterparts, you need to take extra care of them. Ultimately leading to significantly more time and money for maintenance.
Did you know that a standard 250cc 4-stroke dirt bike engine produces roughly around 50 horsepower? For an engine about as same size as that of a lawnmower and a single relatively small piston, that’s a lot of tension. On the race course, revving the bike to 10,000 rpm generates a tremendous quantity of heat. This will cause the oil to break down more quickly, causing the engine to fail and eventually wear.
That’s why the top end of the engine should be rebuilt every 50 hours or so, according to most manufacturers. If you ride frequently, this adds up quickly. That’s the expense of around $400 every 50 ride hours.
2-stroke Vs 4-stroke: Which is better for trail riding?
When it comes to trail riding, 4-stroke dirt bikes are significantly better and more comfortable than a 2-stroke for covering long distances. They’ll also use a lot less fuel, which is crucial in terrain where there isn’t a gas station around every corner.
2-stroke dirt bikes designed for trail riding, on the other hand, have some distinct advantages. They’re a little lighter and handle tighter and more technical trails better. They also don’t overheat as quickly as a 4-stroke.
2-Stroke vs 4-stroke DIRt bikes: which is better for beginners?
A 4-stroke dirt bike is significantly better for beginners compared to a 2-stroke dirt bike. However, it mostly depends on how you plan to ride your dirt bike. 2-stroke dirt bikes are really light and, honestly, unmanageable at times. 4-stroke dirt bikes are heavier compared to 2-strokes, therefore, they won’t get away from you as easily as a 2-stroke dirt bike will. It makes the learning curve really smooth for 4-stroke dirt bikes.
If you want to ride dirt bikes just as an excursion and want to go for an economical route, go for a 2-stroke dirt bike. On the other hand, if you can splash some cash on maintenance every now and then but want a quality easy-to-ride dirt bike, I would highly recommend a 4-stroke counterpart.
Which is faster: 2-stroke VS 4-stroke dirt bikes?
Because of how 2-stroke engines are built for dirt bikes, you won’t even get half the power when you are at half-throttle. However, when you are approaching full throttle, you’ll get a power boost rising exponentially. This makes 2-stroke dirt bikes significantly faster at peak power.
This is the reason dirt bike racers prefer a 4-stroke dirt bike as you can control the power easily. If you are racing with a 2-stroke dirt bike, you’ll need to be on full throttle throughout the track and you can only afford to control the power output by slipping the clutch.
However, as the day gets long and tracks start to get really rough, this is when the 4-stroke dirt bike starts to show its magic. The 4-stroke dirt bike will be a lot faster and easier to ride late in the day because of its flexibility in rough and messy conditions.
Which one is right for you?
All in all, if you are a beginner and ride a dirt bike as a recreational activity and not for racing you can go for a newer 250cc 2-stroke dirt bike. On the other hand, a 250cc 4-stroke dirt bike is also a great option. It’s more powerful and easier to ride as a beginner.
If you have a choice between a 2-stroke and a 4-stroke dirt bike, I recommend the 4-stroke. There’s a reason the pros have all switched to four strokes.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of whether you go for a 2-stroke or a 4-stroke dirt bike, never compromise on the quality of engine oil. There are hundreds of cheap engine oils available in the market for your dirt bike and as beginners, you may want to save some money on oil.
The thin layer of oil protects your dirt bike engine against wear. It prevents the pistons from scuffing against the cylinder wall and the bearing from wearing out and falling.
But that’s such a wrong decision. Never cheap out on the engine oil. A quality engine oil is capable of withstanding intense heat(149°c and more).
