I still get heaps of questions from guys about
bike recommendations, despite constantly saying there are so many things I need to know about
their situation first. And I am hopelessly unqualified to make recommendations anyway! Sigh.
Anyway, many ask if they should buy a 250 or 300 two stroke. Get a test ride! It's the only way
you will know for sure. But if you want a dodgy opinion from a dirt riding muppet, hang around. So
up ahead is Pete on his 250. It's all he will buy, and he often tells us we will sell our 300s and
get 250s when we learn how to ride properly. Of course we tell him he is a skirt-wearing nancy
boy who will sell his princess pony 250 when he mans up and grows a pair. So how do they compare?
Well, two strokes have come a long way recently, and especially the 250s. The Europeans are
really getting some serious low down grunt from the little two strokes, which has narrowed
the difference considerably with the bigger 300s. But the 250 is still a favourite for guys who
like a lively engine, and like to rev more without killing themselves. The smaller engine revs up
faster, usually a bit higher, and despite having less lowdown power in most brands the 250s are
putting out the same top end power as the 300s. For less experienced riders the 250 will probably
be safer and less tiring too. The milder power in the low to midrange revs will keep you out of
trouble, and if you adjust your power valve you can soften that hit of power you usually get with
the 250s at higher revs. Mind you, our research indicates that plenty of experienced riders love
the hit of the powerband when you put change the power valve setting from mild to wild... your
previously tame beast is suddenly wheelspinning uncontrollably, the front wheel is pawing the
sky, your arms are pulled out of their sockets and your eyeballs are pushed back into your
brain. If this is your sort of caper then the 250 can be a winner for experienced racers
too. Another alleged advantage of the 250 is less rotational mass. A few years ago Stephen
Hawking sent us this easy equation that explains everything. The idea is all the moving bits in
your engine tend to keep the bike upright. So a bike with a smaller engine should be be easier to
tip over into corners. Me? I'm not good enough to pick the difference. I can with the heavier four
strokes where there's a lot more rotational mass, but the 250 and 300 two strokes? Nup. However
plenty of experienced faster riders say they can tell. Get a test ride and see what you think.
Interestingly some riders say this makes the 250 less tiring to ride. But then others say the same
about the 300 because it requires less rider input with clutch slipping and gear changing. Who knows.
A major point for many is the price difference. In some brands the 250 is up to a thousand dollars
cheaper. It costs exactly the same to make, but the manufacturers know everyone wants to
ride the bikes the top hard enduro riders use, so they have to make the 250 much cheaper in order
to sell it. Now the funny thing is that often the complete 300 upgrade kit is around $1000 too.
So beginners can start with the 250 then later on spend their savings on an upgrade to a 300.
Sweet! Okay, that all makes the 250 sound pretty good. But me? I love 300s. Lugging around at low
revs, less gear changes, less clutch slipping and grunting up hills effortlessly. Slightly less
often top end rebuilds. Riders were raving when the first 300s came out, saying they are like
riding a four stroke but so much lighter and better handling. the 300 is all about a linear
powerband. heaps of low down grunt, same in the midrange, same in the top end. I love it for our
slow technical riding. At low revs a small blip of throttle lifts the front wheel for all those
obstacles, it's almost impossible to stall as long as you have some throttle applied, and there's
way less clutch work needed compared to the 250. You can see why it's the bike of choice for hard
enduros. And then when the track opens up you can just go for the high gear and chug around like
a turbocharged tractor all day. Epic stuff. So that's my two cents worth. I should also mention
the two strokes are so tunable nowadays. The power valves are just getting better and better at
totally changing engine characteristics. The mapping switches are also improving, especially
on the Shercos where you would swear you are on a completely different bike when you flip the
switch. There's a range of aftermarket pipes for extra grunt or top end. In KTMs you can fit
the motocross heads for increased compression, or just head your existing head modified. It's
all a far cry from the old deadly peaky two stroke beasts that were the ulimate way to commit
suicide. Go in peace, my brethren and sisteren.
