MXA RAW VIDEO: THE PURE SOUND OF A KTM 250SX TWO-STROKE IN THE LACR ECHO CHAMBER

The sound of a two-stroke engine at full-tilt has a magic power over those who remember the glory days of two-strokes — and for those who weren’t old enough to ever hear 40 250 two-strokes blasting off the starting line in a rush to the first turn. It is no secret that the perfect engine for motocross is a two-stroke. It is lighter than a four-stroke, makes more horsepower per cc than a four-stroke (which is why four-stroke have to have twice the displacement to compete with them), has less moving parts than a four-stroke, can be repaired at home by an backyard mechanic (unlike a four-stroke), costs less to manufacture than a four-stroke and is more fun to ride than a four-stroke.

But most of all, they don’t sound like a four-stroke and the sound they make only travels half the distance—which means that they are functionally quieter to the outside world. Let Pro racer and MXA test rider Ty Hames give you an auditory thrill as he circulates Los Angeles County Raceway (LACR) on a 2019 KTM 250SX.