Do 2-strokes have to be rebuilt every year?

Question

I heard the piston and rings need replacing or the top end needs to be rebuilt annually, if so how much is it to rebuild every year? Im thinking of getting a motocross bike like a suzuki RM250 or even a road registerable RMX250 and ive heard 2-strokes need alot of maintenance so i would like to get a rough idea of the costs im up for. I have owned 2-strokes before but only for a short while but i want one for the long term.

Answer 1

OK,

there is a lot of good and bad advice here, let's weed some out, shall we?

2 strokes are inherently STRONGER than 4 strokes, with a more narrow power band, so the weaker comment eliminates that answer.

Rebuild every 2 years? How many miles? Ignore that one!

Do you know what is involved in rebuilding the top end of a 2 stroke? You should! It is not much harder than a tune up on most cars! No legitimate shop will get their boat payments from you! If you just need rings (this is very often the case) you might be into $20.00 in parts. You need the gasket for the cylinder to the crankcase, because it will tear removing it, but the head gasket is most often reused.

My yamaha Zuma had 15,000 miles on it when I sold it, and it was never rebuilt (only 50cc), and I ran it like I stole it, so that statement is also not valid. Synthetic oil is the key to longevity on these engines (not to mention cleaner).

If you are going for a road bike, I would recommend 4 stroke, they are cleaner for the environment, and the wider power band is an advantage.

Answer 2

It just depends on how hard you ride it Kevin. What you have been told is for someone that races their bike hard all season long. Most casual riders could ride an 85 3 or 4 years before needing any top end work. Sitting over the winter doesn't have any affect on how often you rebuild the engine, only how hard you ride it.

Answer 3

People who race motorcycles with two-stroke engines rebuild them frequently to keep the engines at absolute top performance levels. Those who ride for fun, or just on the occasional weekend don't need to be so fastidious, and as long as the bike is maintained properly, it shouldn't need an annual rebuild. I have owned dirt bikes that were still running strong after several years of use.

Answer 4

they do not have to be rebuilt every year. a lot would depend on the mileage you are doing and how the bike is been driven. two strokes are normally very high revving and therefore there is more wear. the maintenance on a two stroke is simpler than a four stroke as there are less moving parts in the cylinder head.

Answer 5

Amount of mileage and conditions you use it in. Dirt bike that sees lots of use, to keep it reliable if you put boo-coo miles on it it may pay to re-do the motor every 12 to 15 thousand miles. Anyone who tells you every year is probably a mechanic with a boat payment due.

The Baron is right though. Those puppies will happily chug away just about forever if you are careful and don't ride it like you stole it. I would worry more about the chain than the motor. Most people ignore chain lube, and the trouble you get when your chain goes ain't fun.

Lube the chain, change the oil at regular intervals, keep a clean air filter, and make sure you use the factory advised gas and oil mix. You should get plenty more use than one year out of the motor. Take care, ride safe. Ciao!

And poor Jim down there with his 25 or so years experience obviously has learned nothing in that time. Seems he could not come up with anything new, and just badmouthed the other answers. Well, they say you live and you learn. But not everyone does. Smell ya' later Jim! You got a block now!

Answer 6

They are weaker then 4 strokes, but it is not bneeed to rebuild every year.

If you look after the lump ( let it warm up well, use 100% syn oils ) the bike will last a good while.

My rule of thumb was always to rebuild every other year, just to be on the safe side.

Its a simple engine anyway.

Answer 7

They SOUND like they need to be rebuilt annually, but not. They run for years and years, the pistons happily slapping away inside the bores until it's time for one of the pistons to try to turn sideways.

Answer 8

2-stroke is a fairly simple engine. Rebuilding depends only on how much wear and tear you've done to it, not how long you've used it... The Universal Rule: "If it works, don't mess with it"