300cc 2 stroke or a 450 4 stroke?

[Throndson]

Looking for a Bike to setup a mtn horse on.
Im likely to end up with the short track but haven't ruled out the LT.
I'm somewhat partial to the 300 2 stroke as they are more economical to rebuild. Any one have experience with a 300 2 stroke and a 450 4 stroke on MH kits?
Seen a few 525 ktm's for sale but I don't want that much bike for non snow riding. Maybe a guy needs a bike for snow and one for dirt.

Any feedback appreciated !

 

[Jon Mutiger]

2 strokes are more difficult to get to run well often, due to jetting ect. Although if you get them working good, they are great. The 4strokes use quite a bit less fuel. Ideally, get a 4 stroke fuel injected bike. If your into woods riding that means a WR450 NEW.. Or KTM500. The KX and YZ MX bikes are great on snow, but are a handful in the woods.

Any bike that is reliable will work well with the kit, the handling of the bike on dirt really doesn't matter on snow.

I chose a bike with electric start, heated hand grips, lights ect.. But I'm a gimp with a new hip in me. The MX'ers make better snowbikes as they are lighter and more powerful, but sometimes creature comforts carry some weight over performance.

The snowbike seems like it would be hard on a bike, but in reality it's not. There is very little shock loading of the clutch or motor, and they seem to stay together no matter how hard you run them. We haven't had a single bike let go on us in 4 years of riding snow.

Jon

 

[powdermuncher]

I have a Yamaha WR 450 My second WR the motors ar Bomb proofed it seems.

I ride it dialled down on the ECU for dirt , makes a super tight woods bike.

More torque than a 250 with slightly more on top and super throttle response.

With the GYTR muffler tip and the competition map dialled in it is right there

with the Moto cross YZ 450 in the power department.

2 minutes to change the map on the ECU fuel and Ignition I like the Yami set up

Pulls the MH with ease.

But there are several guys running 300 2 strokes, you will have to scream them a bunch to get the most out of them.

I also tried a 2008 husky 450 F and looked at a CR500 but the vibes at high

power settings on them were to high for my liking .

 

[Throndson]

I have a Yamaha WR 450 My second WR the motors ar Bomb proofed it seems.

I ride it dialled down on the ECU for dirt , makes a super tight woods bike.

More torque than a 250 with slightly more on top and super throttle response.

With the GYTR muffler tip and the competition map dialled in it is right there

with the Moto cross YZ 450 in the power department.

2 minutes to change the map on the ECU fuel and Ignition I like the Yami set up

Pulls the MH with ease.

But there are several guys running 300 2 strokes, you will have to scream them a bunch to get the most out of them.

I also tried a 2008 husky 450 F and looked at a CR500 but the vibes at high

power settings on them were to high for my liking .

Have you had to stiffen up the front fork?
Ive heard the offroad Non MX bikes are a little soft sprung for snow.
I'm 220lbs so I'll likely have to get heavier springs regardless.
I really like the new WR with FI but its a little pricey for what Im looking to put in (bike and kit).

 

[Throndson]

Ive been looking at some KTM exc 525's (2005). More than I want for woods riding in the dirt but look to be a good potential snowbike. Headlight and Kick/Electric start. Only downside is no FI.
Anyone have any experience with the reliability and longevity of these bikes?

 

[Ausm7499]

Ive been looking at some KTM exc 525's (2005). More than I want for woods riding in the dirt but look to be a good potential snowbike. Headlight and Kick/Electric start. Only downside is no FI.
Anyone have any experience with the reliability and longevity of these bikes?

I bolted my MH to an 06 525 my first season and was not very impressed with it compared to my buddies Honda 450. I definitely had some first season issues that caused the bike to run bad but I think even if I had resolved all the issue it still wouldn't have hung with the race bikes. Last season i ran the kit on my 300 and was pretty impressed with it but I started feeling bad that I was holding it wide open so often so I bought a CR500 to use as a dedicated snobike. If I were you I would run the 300 this season and see how you like it, changing the kit over to another bike is really easy and cheap. The 300 will go anywhere any other bike will it just might work harder doing it but I am a bigger guy (6'2", 220lbs) and it hauled my azz around really well. As for the reliability of the 525, it's a KTM rfs engine probably the best engines they ever made.

 

[snow gumby]

I bolted my MH to an 06 525 my first season and was not very impressed with it compared to my buddies Honda 450. I definitely had some first season issues that caused the bike to run bad but I think even if I had resolved all the issue it still wouldn't have hung with the race bikes. Last season i ran the kit on my 300 and was pretty impressed with it but I started feeling bad that I was holding it wide open so often so I bought a CR500 to use as a dedicated snobike. If I were you I would run the 300 this season and see how you like it, changing the kit over to another bike is really easy and cheap. The 300 will go anywhere any other bike will it just might work harder doing it but I am a bigger guy (6'2", 220lbs) and it hauled my azz around really well. As for the reliability of the 525, it's a KTM rfs engine probably the best engines they ever made.

That's what I'm doing this year, running my KTM 300 xc-w. But did some machine mods to the head and exhaust porting on the cylinder. My friend rode his 300 last year just to get his feet wet. Then he switched to a 501 KTM for the EFI. Found a used one for a bit less of a hit of new. I'll look for a bigger thumper later in the year after I dump the Pro 800.

 

[retired motoman]

Ive been looking at some KTM exc 525's (2005). More than I want for woods riding in the dirt but look to be a good potential snowbike. Headlight and Kick/Electric start. Only downside is no FI.
Anyone have any experience with the reliability and longevity of these bikes?

From what I have seen the 525 works as well or better than the 530's (I have a 530). They have low end torque, are relilable, run well, easy to jet, cheap, plus E start, head light and hot grips. Fi is only a plus for easy starting.
Great choice.

 

[powdermuncher]

Have you had to stiffen up the front fork?
Ive heard the offroad Non MX bikes are a little soft sprung for snow.
I'm 220lbs so I'll likely have to get heavier springs regardless.
I really like the new WR with FI but its a little pricey for what Im looking to put in (bike and kit).

The fork on the 2012 bike is way stiffer than on the old WR. I did go in 2 clicks from where I run it on the dirt just to stiffen here a bit .

At this point I am fine with it as is. Time will tell if I need more Spring in more set up condition perhaps.