The Fight is Already Over

by Tyler Duran
(Wapakoneta, Ohio, U.S.A.)

If you look around you'll see that all the dealerships are only keeping a handful of 2 strokes. Most of which are little 50cc jobs to get the little ones interested in the sport.

Free style guys love two strokes but the fact is when your life is on the line and your bike bogs as 2 strokes do you can die and it's not worth it. Sure this limits their run up distances etc. When on a 4-JOKE however they walk away alive. Plus people love the idea of not having to fill up every time they go for a ride so they go with a four stroke. As well this really helps when riding in an enduro race. Since you can take any production 4-JOKE and stick a hot cam and a whole bunch of parts into them they are also much more customizable than 2 strokes. Where as with a 2 stroke all you can do is exhaust reeds and air filters and a couple other little things unless you are lucky enough to find that 60 year old man with a shop full of files and dental picks who can port the cylinder to make some intense power. You don't find people who can port 2 stroke jugs as much anymore because they are essentially a done deal which is why the guy who knows what he is actually doing is as old as dirt.

However, as long as I ride you can bet it'll be on a loud premix smoking 2 stroke, nothing beats the sounds, the smell and the always killer power band.