Decently made VFM 2 strokers?

[Ingah]

Got an urge to look at a small 2stroke as my next bike - really like the idea of the power delivery but don't want something so powerful it'll throw me into a hedge on my first go. Am looking for a fun bike rather than a daily commuter so as long as i'm getting my money's worth i don't mind having to rebuild the engine every once and a while (not after a highly tuned engine that needs rebuilding every 5K or less though!)

There's been quite a resurgence in the old 70s and 80s 2-strokes, which has meant a lot of these bikes that i might've wanted to try are now ridiculously priced 'classics'. So i'm of something more modern like an NSR125 / 250, but i don't know what else i should be looking at and don't want to limit myself to just those 2 bikes.

Which of these sort of bikes are fun? Which ones are to be avoided? Are there any of these 'classics' that are worth the extra outlay?
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-- Ingah

[c_dug]

Id quite fancy an rs125 to play with myself, buy one as standard as possible and do what I like to it, im sure with the right work done to it it would fly along.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Frost]

RS250 is the bike to have i think. They've already gone up in value a fair bit, and i expect the good ones to continue to do so as some are still being ridden in anger.

[G]

First off, do you want a bike which still has quite a 'revvy' nature?

The RS250 is fun, but these days pretty expensive for what you're getting.

If you're stuck on a sports bike, I'd keep an eye out for a 2ma, though the styling is pretty dated.

For me the power is about right I reckon - I had most fun on the RS250 when one powervalve wasn't working and it was making 37.5hp.

If you're happy with different styling, I'd consider something like a KTM EXC - you'll get even less weight and newer models the supermoto wheels will fit straight in.

However, their power delivery can be a bit bland.

For even less money, you could go further back - I reckon the old KTM 350 Enduro I had (1987 no powervalve 2 stroke) would be really fun on the road - it had as much power as an XR250 before it got into the powerband, then it really took off as it hit!
Or maybe a more modern 250 2 stroke crosser converted.
There was a KTM 380 in supermoto trim with updated suspension up for around £1800 on ebay recently - not sure how what the engine delivery is like on them however.

If you can make do with the peak power of a 125, you've got plenty of options. Was riding a NSR recently and reminded that they can be quite fun - but I find them a bit lacking on open roads, it's only the really tight roads that the engine is properly engaging.

[27cows]

Not sure how readily available they are these days (I sold mine a few months ago and got a good price), but something I would recommend having a look at is the Husky WR360. It's one of the most fun bikes I've ever ridden. More suited to off road than on really but I defy anyone to ride one and not have a three foot wide smile on their face afterwards.
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The RXS100: vehicle of choice for Chuck Norris

[G]

What year and what was the powerband like on the WR out of interest?

All the >=250cc competition enduro bikes I've ridden from the 90s onward have had very flat power deliveries - generally flatter than their 4 stroke counterparts.

My 200EXC was actually actually pretty hard-hitting as it came on-pipe, but the 144 was linear if not a bit revvy.

[27cows]

[G]

The only Japanese 2 stroke enduro bike I've ridden is a RMX250 and that was very, very flat. But again was made for enduro rather than motocross, which tends to have more hit.

I haven't ridden a large cc KTM motocross 2 stroke, but their 250cc + enduro 2 strokes as I say have very flat deliveries - almost trials like from the bottom end on the 300 I had.
Recent ones let you adjust the power band with different springs - and typically they have heavier flywheels than the motocross bikes, so that partly explains their delivery.

[27cows]

[G]

Funnily enough - they do!

Ok, it's the powervalve it's actually altering, of course.

You get the bike with Red, Yellow and Green springs.

Yellow is standard, with the red opening it the quickest and the green slowing down the rate of opening so it smooths out some of that initial hit.

It's only the models from the last 5 years or so, so not had it on any I've owned.

[Enduro Numpty]

I've currently got a 2011 KTM250exc stroker and it is a real weapon off road (just wish I could do it justice) but it is a race bike and won't be that happy on the road. Not saying it won't do it but like any competition stroker they don't like steady throttle. Like G says they have adjustable power valves and playing about with them can be interesting.

You would probably have to gear it up which will take some of the edge off it, enduro tyres aren't great for the road so either road tyres or supermoto wheels needed. On the positive side they are fairly reliable, easy to work on and spares are reasonably priced and readily available.

I would stick with a road bike. I know they can be quite expensive but what about a 250/350 LC or Gamma. I would love to have a mid range modern stroker, it's a real bummer that the Japanese have abandoned 2 strokes and there's really nothing out there

[stevo as b4]

Do you want a road bike, trail bike or a classic 2smoke?

I'd go as far to say that any 1980's> liquid cooled stroker over 80cc is a decent bike to have lots of fun with. As time goes by they are all getting rarer and harder to buy for sensible money.

If i could have any one 2stroke bike then personally for me it would be a Yamaha TDR250. They've got everything i want in a fun 2stroke bike. The downside is that due to their age, desirability and being a Yamaha, they have become pricey in any condition.

I've had two Kawasaki KMX200's, which i sort of see as a poor mans TDR, and they have been loads of fun, yet simple and easy to work on. I'd have another 200cc trail bike in a flash i could.

All id say is id avoid anything bigger than a 250cc or a complicated 4pot stroker, as unless you have loads of time and plenty of cash they will cost a fortune to buy, fix and maintain.

125cc Liquid cooled stroker's are probaby the best value, most common and have the biggest range of styles of bike to choose from. There are alot of 125cc 2strokes that i would like to own or have always wanted to ride. I also think that 125cc is the magic ideal capacity per cylinder for a 2stroke engine in performance and usability.

Try not to buy any rare Italian home market 125's though, as getting spare parts for many of them will be next to impossible and made them a real headache to own.

Any Japanese 2stroke from the 80's-90's will if not already be a classic soon, and prices will rise for any bike from a simple commuter to a sportsbike production race rep, and encompass everything inbetween like trail bikes, enduro machines, supermoto's and learner bikes.