Four Strokes For Faster Lap Times - Two Strokes For Fun!

by Steven Adamus
(Curacao Dutch Caribbean)

My name is Steven and I'm from Curacao (Island next to Aruba). I learned to ride at 11 (1985)on a Honda cbx 750cc. Since then I was hooked. After a while they knew me by name in our local hospital which made me decide to try offroad where I wouldn't encounter cars, traffic signs, dogs or old ladies!

In the bush it was just us, the acacia trees with the 3" thorns and mucho cacti , oh yeah I forgot those exposed dry coral reefs which eat away at all tire compounds.

My first offroad bike was a 1981 Honda xr500r. I was proud of my 500 until one day I heard that high pitched annoying sound. It was a 80 cc Kawasaki kx80. This small dude on this small neon green bike would be quick around everything. On open roads I would wheelie by him, but once we got in the bush he was gone.. I ended up 30' in the bush, my gas tank, seat and one ball went one way and the rest of the bike and I the other.

That was the last time I rode a 4 stroke. Since then I had a 86 Kawasaki kx125 and after that 2 Suzuki rm125's and still have the 2003 rm125. These days I do the same thing to the four strokes in the bushes since I crashed. I tried a 09 rmz250 and a 09 rmz450 (modified for racing) and they where both smooth. I would play in and out of the corners with the 2 strokes.

Only on the track where the seconds count you would want a 4 stroke - no question about that, period. On the track you will always clock better riding a four stroke but even in the 11000 rpm range a 4 stroke is just lame. It's like comparing a 350hp naturally aspirated 5 liter v8 car to a 350hp inline 4.2 liter turbo car @ just 15 psi, you will always be surprised when the power kicks in. So to wrap up my story..

If your income and career depends on winning races go buy a 4 stroke for $8000 plus and tons of parts for maintenance to win your races. If you are not a pro and want to have exiting fun and be surprised every time you turn that throttle for years, yes years on one piston and one ring your only option is a 2 stroke. It doesn't matter what year or cc, choose whatever used 2 stroke you think you can handle on a budget of max $2000 and go have some fun smoking the hell out of the 4 strokes.

- Awesome pic Steven! I had to Google Curacao as I've never heard of it. Fascinating place it looks like. I love hearing other riders stories esp. from interesting and crazy places such as yours. Cheers for your thoughts.. did you really lose one nut?

Hayden -