The latest in our monster enduro vlog series from www.crosstraini... - would a two stroke or four stroke enduro bike suit you better? We did a light-hearted look at the old four stroke vs two stroke debate, but the question gets asked so much I figured it was time for a slightly more serious vid.
First up, I'm all for four stroke and two stroke riders taking the piss out of each other and having a laugh. But it's ridiculous how many clowns take this seriously, and honestly think one sucks and the other rules, and if they can just yell loud enough and hurl abuse on forums then people will agree with them.
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No one likes a one-eyed bigoted fundamentalist when it comes to religion, it gets boring even faster when you come up against these dirt bike fundamentalists. Personally, I almost got a four stroke Sherco 300 last year, but opted for the RR300 instead so I take the piss out of four stroke riders at the moment. However, I still look with lust upon the French maiden, the Sherco SEF-R300 and if I buy one I'll then be taking the piss out of two stroke riders. But if you want to seriously argue about this stuff please give me a stiff coffee to stop me falling asleep.
Talking of falling asleep, everyone finds a graph boring. I reckon this is a very broad summary. But keep in mind rider skill will trump your choice of engine every time. For example, Toni Bou is the world's top trials rider on a four stroke - he is so good that any power or weight disadvantage is neglible. And if you put Graham Jarvis on a thumper I'm sure he would still flog the vast majority of the world's best extreme enduro riders.
Here is an overview of the potential advantages and disadvantages of going four stroke or two stroke.
TWO STROKE BENEFITS
More powerful per cc
Lighter
Less likely to stall at low revs
Less likely to overheat at low speed
Quieter over a distance
Cheap top end overhaul & do-it-yourself
Cheaper to buy when new
TWO STROKE DRAWBACKS
Less economical and more pollution
You need to premix oil
Snappy response can make traction hard
Front end can be twitchy & easily deflected
Much less engine brake
More engine noise for the rider
Top end rebuilds are more frequent
FOUR STROKE BENEFITS
Smooth power delivery good for traction
Better fuel economy & less pollution
Engine braking is good for beginners
Less snappy response good for beginners
Engine noise is quieter for the rider
Less frequent top end rebuilds
Extra weight gives a 'planted' feel
FOUR STROKE DOWNSIDE
Expensive & time-consuming top end rebuilds
Heavier
Easier to overheat at low speed
Much more likely to stall at low revs
Exhaust noise travels much further
There are many things that can complicate the choice between a two stroke and four stroke.
In some countries, pollution laws will restrict which bikes can be registered for road use, and even which can be raced or not. For others, it can be very subjective and one will appeal much more even if on face value it wouldn't be the logical choice.
One thing does stand out to me, and that is the two stroke does benefit the skilled rider more. The instant engine response at low revs that can break traction so easily becomes an asset to the skilled rider, who can constantly blip the throttle in tough terrain to get traction in certain spots, then deweight the bike over slippery bits.
And while modern two strokes have much less of a powerband than their ancestors, the way the power kicks in at higher revs can still be intimidating for the less experienced rider.
In the end, you really just need to get a good test ride on both a two stroke and four stroke to see which you would prefer, and remember your riding skill will always be way more important in the long run.
And in the long run, eventually the debate will be over because it will all be electric bikes once the technology is good enough... you'll probably be able to just dial in whether you want a two stroke or four stroke engine characteristics.
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24 авг 2024
