There's naff all between them nowadays so it comes down to things like:

Is it just for fun or for racing as well?
How much road work?
How technical is the riding going to be?
How much do you want to spend?
New Vs 2nd hand?


Everyone is different so I'd say just get what you fancy the most.

You can't really go wrong with a 350f or 300 if you are already an experienced rider and want an all-round bike.

 

One of each.

 

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BIKE ! 2-STROKE or 4-STROKE? - YouTube

 

This was well done too, I thought.

 

For trail riding, road work, heated grips, sheepskin seat covers and general hooning about a long way from humans or in the desert then it has to be 4t. They start well. Smooth. No vibes. Just bad volume. Less maintenance but when you do it’s big.

For woods, racing on mixed terrain, tricks or hard/extreme enduro then it has to be 2t. Everything simple to sort if a carb bike, tpi or carb piston change is the same. More frequent maintenance but it’ll cost less if it does ever go bang. Hopefully.

You need to try both though. You’ll end up owning both. I’ve gone from 2t, to dyed in the wool 4t and back to 2t. I still won’t rule out a 4t but I’ll definitely have to have stopped doing the riding I enjoy most. Just go buy either. Change as required.

 

Great thread, I'm also trying to decide between a 300TPI, 350 / 450 / 500 EXC-f. I'm used to big multi-cylinder road bikes (old school GSXR1000, ABS & traction control R1 etc) but need some off-road power for the 'roads' around here. I'll follow this thread with interest!

Does the TPI not work too well on the road? I might do 20 miles or so on tarmac. Or I might get a 390 Adventure for that kinda stuff...

 

Try both if you can, 300/350 are great options. I love two strokes and think they should be cherished whilst we can still have them. I ride a 300/2 in the desert but I like to live dangerously, taking back to the mrs all the time. [emoji28]

I like smokers big and small, 350/4 a good bike to get on and ride though. Try both. Ride what you feel most comfortable on, or most uncomfortable if you’re that way inclined. [emoji1][emoji482]

 

I always rode 2 strokes as a kid messing about on disused railway lines and local fields, I then had a couple of 2T mx bikes as an adult, I bought my first new bike in 2016 (which was also my first enduro bike) and thought I’d give a 4t a try, it was a 2017 model 350f which I loved, but soon realised I totally missed the buzz of powerband… sold it and moved back to 2T and didn’t regret it for one moment.

I ride for fun, 4t are too linear despite being better bikes in many situations.

 

Don’t think riding a 1000cc road bike will mean you need a big motor off road. The opposite is true. The 20 miles or so road work says 350 4t to me. I’m less convinced the 350 will teach you good habits though. A small 2t would be the smart choice but only as long as you can avoid road work. This would only teach you good technique and skills that transfer onto bigger bikes. It doesn’t work the other way around. Even a 2m tall 20st man mountain will learn more from riding a 125/200 for a while than anything else would ever teach them.

It’ll definitely be worth doing some training. An Ady Smith KTM day would be a very good investment. You can try everything KTM offer and Ady will soon tell you what you are best suited to. You’d also get some top basic training which will pay dividends.

 

Yes, I agree. I mentioned the road bike stuff to emphasise the lack of off-road experience I have. I’ll look at Ady Smith course and try to get on one, when I’m back in the UK.

Wgen you say small 2 stroke, we are talking about a 300TPI aren’t we??????

 

If agree with the last two points… [emoji16] Pindie’s about coming from the road onto dirt resonates well. Came from a CBR600 into the dirt with no real prior experience, knew I wanted a smoker. Guy we know was selling a 200EXC and 200SX to buy a 250XC for Enduro/H&H. Went for my first ride on it, was like Bambi on spice![emoji28]

“Aye… good off-roaders make good road riders but it seldom goes the other way… [emoji16]”

Aye, cheers John. [emoji847][emoji28] Guy was a trials rider from youth, great control/skill.

Bought the 200EXC and off I went, still got it. [emoji16] Like a big 125, can lug about though, should be ideal… old ones have the same 38mm carb as the SX though, comes on the pipe and takes off like a scalded cat. [emoji3062][emoji28] You learn a lot more riding the smaller smokers though, if you can ride them well you can ride anything well. Big bikes just teach bad habits.

Brought Mrs onto two wheels from a four stroke ATV, big RFS motor. She’s having to go back to her learner RG125 days and learn how to use the clutch properly as got her on a 150SX. A 250/4 probably an easier starting point but she’ll learn more on this. Can always move to a four stroke like a 350 later.

Riding a four stroke feels like cheating after years on the smokers… but they aren’t for everyone. Need ridden but when it’s all working together, singing, flowing, it’s magic. [emoji3526]

 

Beta 200 if you don't ned to do a lot of road-riding. A very good rider, experienced. and quite hefty bloke I know has ridden just about every enduro bike going has one for racing and fun.

Why?

"Because it makes me smile!"

 

KTM dropped the ball getting rid of the 200 IMHO… sure the 150 is fun but those extra 50cc make a massive difference, especially in enduro tune. The 200 is a woods weapon.

 

It's always funny when you get a billy big balls 1000cc rider picks a 450 "cos he needs power" , then at lunch asking if anyone wants to ride it or asking to "try" the 250 😁 😁 😁

 

That is likely to be me!

(but sub 500 for 450!)

 

I don't see what the problem is, like I have always said the throttle works 2 ways. Yes the bigger bike will be harder work in the tight stuff but good to have that extra power/grunt for when you can use it.
Last time out I was swapping between a yz125 and a wr450f all day, the time before that I rode a 2 day rally on a 950, it's good to ride different bikes because no matter what you are on the grass will be greener elsewhere, I have about 14 bikes but still feel the need to but another one.
Don't rule out Lectric, we have 2 and I would have bought one of them Alta's if they did not have so many problems.

 

I know exactly what you mean Lee but if you're a total offroad noob you'll have an easier time on a 250 than a 450, the extra weight, the occasional bit of extra throttle etc etc....

 

That was well timed, just seen a video of a front runner at the Paris supercross have a big off, looks like he lost control and gave it a handfull just when he did not need to, if he can do it!.

 

Having an engine that is too big/powerful for your needs/skills is perfectly OK whilst you are in charge of the throttle, as soon as you have a case of whiskey throttle you will regret your engine choice pretty quickly!

 

Yeah, the 500 was a pussy-cat, possibly the easiest bike to ride if you wanted to pop down the shops, but a handful as soon as I tried getting some momentum.

On the occasional times I go to a track with MX jumps I find I wrench open the throttle on landing, the 350 will pull a bit of wheelie when this happens and I soon get it under control, I think a 500 would just punish such an error by dumping me on my arse / in the hedge etc.

If I did not enjoy the odd Enduro circuit day here and there I think anything 250 - 500 would do, predominantly I just want to get from A-B across whatever terrain is in front of me and I reckon they would all have + / - for that, but I do enjoy a bit of a thrash sometimes and that is a bit challenging on the 350 - but still fun, with a 450 / 500 I would very much be a back-seat passenger.

 

At ady smiths I tried everything 250 - 500

250 4t - easiest to ride
300 2t - biggest grin
500 4t - mental power, probably great for unpaved roads easy tracks with some road work.

Ended up on a 350 which is a good balance for trail riding novice like me. Wont get bored or need more, but probably go quicker on mates 250 on mx practice track as it goes forwards rather than sideways or upwards.

 

I've had a LOT of enduro bikes over the last 20+ years.....with a good mix of 2 and 4 strokes of most capacities. Having been brought up on 2 strokes, I now prefer the idea of 4 strokes.....but after countless back to back evaluation I'm quicker on 2 strokes / always had better race results. My last bike was a 2021 KTM 350 EXC-F; I only rode it for one mile but seemed like an absolute beast, and generally people have commented that these latest gen 4 strokes really are now the bike to have unless you are doing hard enduro.

 

After everything has been said you finally should decide and buy a 300 two stroke (fun, easy to maintain, best for hard enduro) AND a 350 four stroke (faster everywhere except in hard enduro sections, much better on paved roads,..)

 

Now thats an idea…

Of course, I can lend the TE300 to mates who visit and I won’t be too worried about them crashing. New 350 exc-f 6-day? Or the 500?

A bit more A road….

(well, a B road perhaps).

 

What happened after the mile Dave?

 

This is an ‘A’ road here, so what do we think? 2 or 4 stroke….

 

This is an ‘A’ road here, so what do we think? 2 or 4 stroke….



View attachment 43601

Depends if you're sticking to the "A" roads or not!

Honestly, if you're doing long days, and not spending much time in 1st/2nd, then get a 4 stroke. Looks like the type of terrain where you'd do some serious miles and want the reliability for running from the lions..

I can come over with my 2 stroke and you can have a go, if you want...

 

FFS, it doesn't matter what the frikkin road is like, just pick a bike you like to ride.

 

If your following that road, 350 4t.

If you are off piste and actually riding properly, dodging bushes and making up little loops off road then it can only be 2t.

Your welcome to my 250 2t? Send me the money today and it’ll be in a container and on its way later today. Sold as seen.

 

And I think I've just added Kenya to my bucket list - once the terrorism dies off a bit. lol.

 

Just get tooled up. AKs are easy to come by. Get a few flash bangs to, handy for distraction.

 

"There is a heightened threat of terrorism, including terrorist kidnappings, across Kenya. Attacks, including terrorist kidnappings, could target Westerners, including British nationals. Attacks could occur at any time, including around religious or public holidays. Attacks could be indiscriminate in places frequented by foreigners including hotels, bars, restaurants, sports bars and nightclubs, sporting events, supermarkets, shopping centres, commercial buildings, coastal areas including beaches, government buildings, airports, buses, trains and other transport hubs. Places of worship including churches and mosques have also been targeted. Be particularly vigilant in these areas. You should avoid regular patterns of movement and aim to travel during daylight hours. "


yeah... no.

 

People say that sort of stuff to cover their asses. Its fine here, although I did 23 years in Her Majesty’s so maybe less risk aversion?
Thankyou for the offer of a bike in a container, however they are very expensive to buy and ship - ask me how I know!. Bought this, loads of speed, fuels nicely but the chain is knackered (new on the way), brakes are fubarred (new braided lines and pads on the way), levers are facked (AS3 ones are on the way) and the expansion pipe is a bit dented.

Apart from all that, oh and the battery has gone AWOL, it’s great!