WHAT HANDLES BETTER? A TWO-STROKE OR A FOUR-STROKE?

There was a time when the only people who rode four-strokes were grizzled old prospectors tooling around the Southwestern desert (and some guy named Scott Summers). No more! The four-stroke has replaced the two-stroke. The two-stroke had been the bread and butter machine for 40 years. The vast majority of riders racing today learned how to ride on a 50cc, 85cc or 125cc two-stroke. Then, when they decided to make the step up to the big time, they switched to a valve-and-cam machine because it was status-backed by the factory teams and the stars of the sport..

It is culture shock to switch from two to four (or back again). You would think that it wouldn’t matter what type of engine was bolted between the wheels, but it does. The MXA wrecking crew wanted to delve into why a two-stroke and a four-stroke are totally different machines. And, while we can’t tell you which is better, we can leave a trail of bread crumbs for you to follow on your search for the best bike.

Rear-wheel handling.

TWO OR FOUR: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

REAR-WHEEL HANDLING: Listen, and listen good! Two-strokes are “rear-wheel handling” machines—they are guided by roosting, railing and rocketing around a track by using the thrust of the rear wheel to bring about direction changes. True, the front wheel initiates turns, but then it gets out of the way as the rear wheel takes over. The typical two-stroke rider rails into a turn with the front wheel cocked in the hoped-for direction of travel, and then grabs the throttle to bring the rear wheel around the apex.

Front-wheel handling.

FRONT-WHEEL HANDLING: Not so with a four-stroke. Four-strokes are “front-wheel handling” machines—they utilize, depend on and wear out front tires. True, a four-stroke’s rear wheel provides the motive power, but the front tire plays a large role in direction changes. Four-strokes and two-strokes are like front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive cars when it comes to cornering.

WHY THE DIFFERENCE? Two-strokes and four-strokes handle differently because of their unique power characteristics. A two-stroke has snappy power that lifts the front wheel, a quicker rev that allows the rear tire to skim across the top of the ground, and no decompression braking to bury the front tire into the dirt. Conversely, a four-stroke revs slower, which allows it to drive the chassis without sudden weight shifts toward the rear. Twisting the throttle of a thumper doesn’t lift the front wheel as much as it drives it into the ground. Additionally, a four-stroke’s decompression braking creates a massive weight shift to the front end on the entrance to corners. With more weight on the front wheel, even the slightest turn of the handlebars rewards the four-stroke rider with instantaneous response.

WHAT DOES A FRONT-WHEEL-HANDLING BIKE DO BEST?

(1) Off-cambers. On slippery, steep and angled banks, a four-stroke can walk across the top, while a two-stroke slides to the bottom.

(2) Hard dirt. The harder and shinier the dirt, the more a four-stroke likes it.

(3) Perfect traction. The quickest way around any corner is to follow the front wheel. On good dirt, a four-stroke goes where you point it—no push, no understeer and phenomenal accuracy.

(4) Stutter bumps. There is something about the gyroscopic effect, crankshaft weight, centralized mass, “every other” firing cycle and well-aimed front wheel that makes stutter bumps disappear on a four-stroke (until they get too big—then watch the front wheel).

WHAT DOESN’T A FRONT-WHEEL HANDLING BIKE DO WELL?

(1) Sand. All that wonderful four-stroke steering input is confused by shifting terrain. It wanders, refuses to climb on top of the grainy stuff and wallows. A two-stroke gets on top of the sand and stays there.

(2) Mud. What good is the perfect steering input of a four-stroke when it’s so muddy that you can’t steer? And front-wheel steering is of no use when the front wheel is plowing a trench. In the mud, you depend on the rear wheel for everything.

(3) Big whoops. Rear-wheel-handling bikes, like two-strokes, can skip across the top of big whoops because they are able to keep the front end out of harm’s way. Not so with front-wheel handlers! A four-stroke likes to drive the front end forward (not up), and in big whoops, having the front end come in contact with the whoops is not a good thing.

(4) Potholes.  Two-strokes can bunnyhop square-edged bumps, potholes and G-outs. Four-strokes just make them bigger.

WHAT DO REAR-WHEEL-HANDLING BIKES DO BEST?

Two-strokes like big whoops (even if the rider doesn’t). They work well in loam, because that gives the rear wheel something to bite into. They love to fly (and are easier to manipulate in the air). They excel at quick direction changes through S-turns. They are superior in the first ten feet off a dirt starting line. They can get totally crossed-up in the rough and come out of it. The deeper the sand, the faster a two-stroke goes (because its snappy power delivery and light weight allow it to get on top).

What don’t they like? Rock hard dirt, off-camber corners, concrete starting pads and straights where the extra displacement and higher rpm of a four-stroke make it faster.

PLEASE TELL US THAT A FOUR-STROKE HANDLES BETTER THAN A TWO-STROKE

No. It doesn’t. Plain and simple, a modern four-stroke is too heavy (and even when it weighs the same, its every-other-firing stroke makes it feel heavier). There is no way that a vehicle that weighs 240 pounds will be able to handle as well as one that weighs 212 pounds. Pound for pound, a lighter bike is easier to work with when it comes to handling. While the four-stroke may stay planted to the ground with more authority than a two-stroke, that plus becomes a minus when it comes time to bunny-hopping, get light over braking bumps, changing directions, rolling into a turn or making quick flicks.

In the grand scheme of things, you give something to get something. In the case of a four-stroke, you get a bigger engine, more power, more torque, more weight, more weight shifts and more top heaviness. When the conditions favor a four-stroke, it is awesome to ride…that’s because of its power and tractability more than its handling. When the condition don’t favor a four-stroke, a two-stroke is awesome to ride. When it comes to handling (and handling alone), no heavy four-stroke can hold a candle to a light two-stroke.

 

You might also like

Comments are closed.