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#395183 - 01/29/09 11:57 AM Your thoughts on the NEW four strokes reliability.
SBR_Racing Offline
Gang Member

Registered: 03/18/06
Posts: 248
Loc: Aransas Pass, near Corpus Chri...
Well boys and girls the age of the four strokes is here and here to stay. The two smokers of yesterday coughed them selves out of the game and like before you don't have a choice when you buy new bike.

But are the new four strokes that much better, the answer is bitter sweet. We can ague all day long which one is better for racing, but we all know the answer, four stokes will win hands down, it's not that they make more power, rev higher, are lighter, or more reliable, they simple make the power where the two stroke dare not tread.

I would like to point out that from a mechanics point of view these new bikes have became something of a throw away. Gone are the days of a rock solid dirt bike you can ride hard and put up wet. Four strokes are all about moving parts and timing, So what does this mean? It means that every moving part must do it's job on time without exception. This is a dream come true for a manufacture, it means in three to four years you'll need a new bike.

I work on a lot of bikes, and my case load within the last four years had gone up three fold. So why has this happened?
The best answer I have is that these new designs tap the limits of what a four stroke is capable of. To make these engines compete they had to throw out the rule book, they went to smaller piston skirts, under piston oilers, five valves, very short stokes, pulsed fuel delivery. All of these components require constant maintenance which means more trips to the shop and replacement of more parts. And lord help you if you left these go. Many of the cases I've been seeing require $1000 plus in work so if you buy a bike for $2300 expect to pay another $1000 if that bike wasn't maintain properly. I see a lot of people that buy a used bike and in as little as four rides require major work.

I always suggest to my customers to keep their maintenance records if they ever plan on selling the bike. It also makes me wonder if we'll ever have a shortage of parts for these aging dirt bikes.

So what are the long term affects of our new four stroke friends, will it help our environment like all the tree huggers said? Will the they be like the XRs and be around for my grand sons to enjoy? Will they keep the two strokes or even a diesel away from the game? I'm sure some of the answers will surprise us, What are your thoughts, and comments.
_________________________
XR650L
KXF 250
KLX 110
KX 65
85cc Blaster
KFX450
1976 KAWASAKI BX100 MOTOBIKE





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#395184 - 01/29/09 03:30 PM Re: Your thoughts on the NEW four strokes reliability. [Re: SBR_Racing]
mikie Offline
Gang Member

Registered: 01/08/06
Posts: 167
Loc: Houston
I've owned both, and sorry but Fourstrokes dont make more power.

The YZ250 makes 10 more Torque pounds and 10 more HP than the YZ250f. And they both weigh 216lbs.

The 250f's are indeed throw aways. I couldn't imagine buying a used 250f, riding it three times, and having it grenade! 2G's later, having a 5K used dirtbike that will constantly need repairs. Ugh.

As much as I liked my 450's, I LOVE my 250.


Edited by mikie (01/29/09 03:34 PM)
_________________________
| FLY RACING | Western Power Sports | Honda of Houston |
TORCS #144 - 30+A

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#395185 - 01/29/09 08:27 PM Re: Your thoughts on the NEW four strokes reliability. [Re: mikie]
Hoop Moderator Offline


Registered: 12/20/00
Posts: 1830
Loc: Beaumont TX
My thoughts? I like to ride 'em, not work on 'em. I haven't owned one of the high performance 4-strokes yet, I have owned XR's, DR's, and DRZ's, and they have all been rock solid. I can't imagine owning a bike that requires major maintenance after 100 hours. I think this is one of the big frauds that the dirt bike mags cover up when they rate the new 4 strokes. This last test of 450's, Dirt Rider had a few comments about how some bikes hold up and others don't, but they really ought to get more specific, and do a dyno after 100 hours, 200 hours, 300 hours, etc.

SBR, I think you've hit the nail on the head.

I just want fuel injection on my next dirt bike, carburetors are so, like, the 90's.

_________________________
Hoop
2006 XR650R, the dual sport bike
2004 DL1000, the street bike

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#395186 - 01/29/09 08:51 PM Re: Your thoughts on the NEW four strokes reliability. [Re: SBR_Racing]
EMARacing Offline
Hall of Fame

Registered: 12/20/00
Posts: 1280
Loc: Round Rock, TX
2006 YZ450. 160+ hours. Holy roller religous oil/filter/filter changes. Haven't even had to adjust a valve yet. Replaced the clutch at 145 hours, still looked new, now have a spare. Still going......

Point is: Maintain them and they will last. Ride hard, put up wet = boom.
_________________________
John E. Walker
#44
DLR Cycleworks
Central Texas PowerSports
HP Bikes
Answer Racing

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#395187 - 01/29/09 09:23 PM Re: Your thoughts on the NEW four strokes reliability. [Re: EMARacing]
RadChad Offline
Veteran Lunatic

Registered: 07/12/07
Posts: 3753
Loc: Arlington, Texas
x2 on what EMARacing said..maintenance, maintenance, maintenance people!

another thing, the maintenance on these modern 4strokes really isn't as hard as some people make it out to be. its actually kinda fun!! (to me atleast)


_________________________
Chad Walsh #23

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#395188 - 01/29/09 10:46 PM Re: Your thoughts on the NEW four strokes reliability. [Re: RadChad]
Fender_Bender Offline
Veteran Lunatic

Registered: 11/28/01
Posts: 4472
Loc: Hamilton, Tx
As good as the 4 st are the reliability belong to the 2st hands down. Way less maintance, cost and time.
My last 2st (2000 300exc) had way over 1000 hours and other than the top end's that it needed the bottom
end never had any work done. And theres no valves to set and no cam chain to change.....much simpler to
maintain.
_________________________
Curtis
TORCS.....154

Sheldon
TORCS.....153

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#395189 - 01/29/09 11:28 PM Re: Your thoughts on the NEW four strokes reliability. [Re: Fender_Bender]
Zacherd Offline
Hall of Fame

Registered: 08/12/06
Posts: 1105
Loc: Keller, Tx.
I miss paying 100 bucks for a new topend.
_________________________
2007 KTM 200xc,

TORO c243, Torn 243, TCCRA j643

Thanks to:

Mom and Dad,
ASV Inventions,
Fluid Athlete Hydration,
Panolin Lubricants,
Steel MX Optics,
Sunstar Sprockets,
REV Graphx Custom Graphics

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#395190 - 01/30/09 09:53 AM Re: Your thoughts on the NEW four strokes reliability. [Re: Zacherd]
IEATDIRT97 Offline
Gang Member

Registered: 06/03/08
Posts: 180
Loc: TEXAS
ALL I HEAR ABOUT IS COMPLAINING FROM PEOPLE THAT OWN 4 STROKES. dONT GET ME WRONG THEY ALSO LOVE THE HELL OUTTA THEM BUT WHEN THEY ARE BROKE DOWN ALL THEY WISH THEY HAD WAS AN EASY TO WORK ON 2 STROKE. i KNOW OF THIS ONE CASE WHERE MY COUSIN HAD THIS BRAND SPANKING NEW 06 450 AND HE PUT IN MORE THAN $2500 FROM BREAKING DOWN MORE THAT 10 OR 15 TIMES, AND IT ADDS UP. ESSPECIALLY AFTER ONLY RIDING IT FOR ABOUT JUST UNDER 2 YEARS ( DUE TO HAVING EXSTINSIVE KNEE SURGERY AND BEING OUT FOR THE REST OF 06 AND MORE THAN HALF OF 07 SEASON) tHAT SOUNDS PRETTY UNRELIABLE TO ME. bUT THEN AGIAN ITS ALL ABOUT HOW MUCH WORK YOU CAN DO ON YOUR OWN BIKE. aND HOW OFTEN YOU KEEP UP WITH BASIC MAINTINANCE. BIKES BREAK DOWN WHETHER A 2 OR A 4 STROKE, BUT PRICE WISE ALL AROUND 2 STROKES ARE MORE THAN IDEAL, IN MY OWN PERSONAL VIEW.
_________________________
The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on.
R I P JUSTIN TAYLOR #97

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#395191 - 01/30/09 10:21 AM Re: Your thoughts on the NEW four strokes reliability. [Re: IEATDIRT97]
mikie Offline
Gang Member

Registered: 01/08/06
Posts: 167
Loc: Houston
^^^

That bike is back in the shop today. And guess what.. my old 450 is back there too!

Four strokes are like hot girlfriends that cheat on you. Yes, they're nice but you can't trust 'em.
_________________________
| FLY RACING | Western Power Sports | Honda of Houston |
TORCS #144 - 30+A

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#395192 - 01/30/09 10:45 AM Re: Your thoughts on the NEW four strokes reliability. [Re: mikie]
SBR_Racing Offline
Gang Member

Registered: 03/18/06
Posts: 248
Loc: Aransas Pass, near Corpus Chri...
But where do you think used bikes are headed in the next five years? How many of these bikes could passably make it to see age ten? What happens if you can't buy new parts?
_________________________
XR650L
KXF 250
KLX 110
KX 65
85cc Blaster
KFX450
1976 KAWASAKI BX100 MOTOBIKE





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