2 stroke vs 4 stroke snowbikes

[thewwkayaker]

Curious of the benefits of one vs the other.

Thinking about all the worry everyone has about running cold and getting fuel in the oil on a 4 stroke made me wonder why the 2-stroke snowbikes aren't the first choice. The KTM 300SX seems to have more hp than most 450s and is lighter to boot.

 

[Rider1999]

Myself and a most of the guys I ride with run 2 strokes. I am on a 250sx, and we have a couple 300's, 380's and a brc500 in the group. also have a couple of 4 strokes that join. A properly tuned 2 stroke sounds so good reving through the trees. change the trans oil yearly when piston is swapped and let'er eat. oh, and so much easier to start in sub artic temps.

 

[AllHatNoCattle]

In deep powder the torque of a 450 or bigger 4 stroke makes the difference. I have ridden with 300 two strokes in the deep pow and they just cant hang.

In different snow (hero snow), I could see how a two stroke would do well and be fun.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

In deep powder the torque of a 450 or bigger 4 stroke makes the difference. I have ridden with 300 two strokes in the deep pow and they just cant hang.

In different snow (hero snow), I could see how a two stroke would do well and be fun.

^^^^

Also rider weight.

A guy around 160# will be much happier on a 2 stroke than a guy around 230#

2 stroke requires a very active aggressive rider.

4 stroke has a much longer usable power range in each gear. (Roughly double)

 

[Archie]

I’m running a 300xc, very happy with it all around, but I also switch it back and forth every year to dirt. In the deep snow, it’s a work out for sure to make it perform, a 450 would be better in these situations.
If I had a dedicated snowbike it would be a 450, but converting every year I would still stick with my 300.

 

[eric82930]

2 strokes are harder to keep warm on the super deep days but I still prefer them and I own both. The 4 stroke doesn't get used much. Most 300s suck until you turn them up and throw the wide ratio in the trash, they are weak trail bikes. It's much easier to start with a motocross bike 2 or 4. The 300sx is the only new bike that even sparks interest for me.

 

[teal_210]

I have both. A 23 KTM 300 and a 24 KTM 450 both with 2025 Mtn Top kits.

The 300:
- Feels very light, quick and responsive
- Lifts the ski instantly
- It's more tiring to ride, it gives me arm pump but I'm usually smiling.
- Suffers in big open terrain compared to the 450.
- Harder to be in the right gear and requires a lot more shifting.

The 450:
- The go-to for most days. It just flat works and takes on any terrain that you point it at
- More stable and less "fun" to ride at times.
- Extremely forgiving, can ride almost any terrain in a few different gears.

I actually set the 300 up for my wife and kids to learn on. Turns out they all like the 450 much more than the 300.

 

[SnoWest007]

I too have both. A KTM 300 with a Yeti FR 129 and a KTM 500 with a Timbersled Riot 3 Pro. I don't live out west so if you're riding the steep and deep, this likely won't be as relevant.

As @teal_210 has stated, the 300 is very nimble and easy to turn and in really tight stuff, it leaves the 500 in the snow dust. I would say that especially paired with a Yeti, the 300 is amazing! It's definitely more work to keep it in the right gear sometimes and the torque is noticeably less in many snow conditions. It also doesn't climb like the 4 stroke due to the differences in torque.

The 500 is much more work in the tight stuff but everywhere else it's easier. In my opinion, they are both great and offer slightly different experiences. The two stroke makes me smile all day but the 500 is a work horse and is easier to ride especially when you get tired at the end of the day.

I too thought my wife and daughters would ride the 300 but they all prefer the 500. Whatever bike you have, get a kit on it and get out there. They are all a blast to ride!

 

[GlennRMK]

I think most people covered it here but there are some factors to consider IMO:

If you can swing a dedicated bike, 450 MX bike is best. I have a 19 Husky FX450 and it has been really good to me. If you like to ride MX in the summer, this bike works really well in both seasons. If you want to ride technical/hard single track, they are literally the worst bike you can ride.

2 stroke 300 SX or 300 XC (no wide ratio, so would not recommend 23+ XC unless its a 25 250 XC, which has a new close ratio 6 speed). This bike works great if you ride woods/mountain single track/hard enduro in the summer and have one bike. I had a Mountain Horse on my old 11 300 XC and did not love it. I could never get the bike to run consistently. Gave up on it after a season of frustration. I would assume a TBI or TPI would fix that but someone else could comment. I'm a bigger guy at 6'3" and 210 lbs but I didn't find it lacking power but you definitely need to ride it like a 125 on an MX track, which can be fun. Also, in the area I mostly ride around Big Sky, MT the snow is super dry and fluffy and the base is not as solid as some places, so it makes getting around more difficult. Also, I personally wouldn't want a 3"+ track with the 2T. It really pulls the 450 down. I would want a 120 x 2.5. I also have a 23 TC 250, but have never put my Timbersled on it. I've thought about trying it to see if the TBI fixes the inconsistent running. I rode the TC for over 200 hours on tons of technical mountain single track and the bike is amazing.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you like to do some single track and do a lot of dirt roads and more dual sport stuff, the FE501 is a great bike if you uncork it. They are way, way better than a 450 MX bike on technical trails and can cruise 60 MPH with ease. They don't rev or have the overrev of a 450 MX so they definitely don't work as well in the snow, but they still work well.

Overall, the 2T favors a lighter rider, at lower elevation, with more setup snow.

 

[Jaynelson]

Here where the mountains are big and the snow is deep - everyone who's a serious, regular snowbiker runs a 4S. Everyone who ran a 2S and said it was great at the time now runs a 4S if they stuck with the sport. Anyone who was worried about power went back to a sled. If you are buying a bike to specifically snowbike, with the least BS possible - don't think too hard and just buy a 450 of your favourite colour.