Dirt bikes give you a new level of adventure with rough rides on rocky, bumpy, muddy, dusty, and rough roads. A stroke is the up and down movement of the piston in the dirt bike engine. The most difficult choice one has to make while buying a dirt bike is between a 2 stroke Dirt bike and a 4 stroke Dirt bike.
The dilemma and debate between 2 stroke vs 4 stroke are as old as the Dirt bike itself. To differentiate between the two bikes, first, it’s important to understand what a two-stroke Dirt bike is and what a four-stroke bike is.
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2 stroke vs 4 stroke dirt bike, which is better?
2 Stroke Dirt bike
How does it work?
In simple terms, a two-stroke dirt bike has two strokes (up and down movement of the piston in the engine) involved in the movement of the engine. A two-stroke does a four-step work with only two piston strokes.
The starting point for working a 2 stroke engine is called a power stroke. The power stroke makes the fuel, air, and oil mixture push the piston downward, and the mixture then reaches down to the exhaust port.
When the piston is pushed further downwards, the mixture is pushed into the crankcase. The intake transfer Port is exposed, and another batch of fuel mixture enters the cylinder; along with the next rotation of the crankshaft, the piston is pushed back.
When the piston is pushed back, the Intake transfer Port is closed, and the fuel mixture is compressed again. This compressed mixture ignites the fuel charge with spark plugs, and the cycle repeats itself repeatedly.
Pros and cons of a 2 stroke Dirt bike
Pros
- 2 stroke Dirt bikes are lightweight: A two-stroke Dirt bike has an easy design with simple working. Therefore they are lighter in weight. It’s easier to handle lightweight bikes as it’s easy to make quick decisions. It’s also easier to accelerate and decelerate a 2 stroke Dirt bike.
- They are cheaper: A two-stroke bike is less complex. And there’s not a lot of complex machinery and technology used on them; therefore, a two-stroke dirt bike is cost-effective. A two-stroke dirt bike saves you a lot of money. Not only is the initial cost less, but the maintenance cost is also Minimal as very less material is used in 2 stroke dirt bikes.
- They are easy to clean: A two-stroke dirt bike does not have a very complex design as it’s made with not-so-complex material and is much easier to assemble. This makes it very convenient and easy to clean.
Cons
- They require more maintenance: Although a two-stroke dirt bike is assembled with less complex machinery and can be repaired easily, these repairs and maintenance need to be done more frequently and regularly, which can be a bit of a hassle.
- Not good for the environment: Two-stroke Dirt bikes are not environment friendly as they consume a lot of fuel and emit a lot of smoke. Due to these reasons, two-stroke dirt bikes are not manufactured anymore and are also banned in most countries due to environmental guidelines of the country.
- More shifting: A two-stroke dirt bike does not have a lot of threshold variability in gears, and a rider is required to shift a lot more than in a 4 stroke dirt bike.
4 stroke Dirt bike
How does it work?
A four-stroke engine has four strokes (up and down movement of the piston in the engine) involved in the movement of the engine. The four main steps are intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust.
- Intake stroke: The piston is pushed downwards during the intake stroke, creating a vacuum in the compression chamber, which opens the inlet valve and closes the exhaust valve. The fuel and air mixture enters the compression chamber.
- Compression stroke: The compression stroke starts when the internal pressure of the compression chamber becomes equal to the outer pressure as the piston moves upward; the temperature and pressure increase after air and fuel compression.
- Combustion/power stroke: After the compression stroke, the air-fuel mixture is ignited with the help of a spark plug. When the fuel is burning, power is generated, and the piston moves backward due to the expansion of the chemical reaction. This reaction increases temperature and pressure, leading the piston to move downwards, driving the crankshaft.
- Exhaust stroke: After the power stroke is completed, the exhaust stroke starts and pushes the piston upwards, opening the exhaust valve(the Inlet valve remains closed), and exhaust gasses are pushed out.
After completing the exhaust stroke, the piston again moves downwards, and the air-fuel mixture is sucked again, repeating the whole cycle repeats.
Pros and cons of a 4 stroke dirt bike
Pros
- Less shifting: In a four-stroke dirt bike, you don’t have to focus on frequently shifting because a four-stroke Dirt bike has a wider powerband Which allows it to run at a wide range of speeds without worrying about shifting.
- Easy to ride: Dirt bikes with a four-stroke engine are easier to ride as they are more stable and less Jumpy than a two-stroke dirt bike.
- Manageable power output: A four-stroke Dirt bike has more manageable power output. Moreover, it does not emit much smoke as no oil is mixed with the fuel and air mixture. Due to the four strokes involved, it uses fuel more efficiently.
Cons
- They’re heavy: A four-stroke Dirt bike is made up of a lot of complex machinery and material, making it heavier and not a piece of cake for everyone to ride. A rider needs to be experienced and strong to handle a heavy Dirt bike.
- Maintenance is expensive: A four-stroke Dirt bike comprises complex machinery and needs professional assistance during maintenance or repair. Moreover, the machinery used in a four-stroke Dirt bike is more expensive than the machinery used in a two-stroke dirt bike.
Conclusion
A two-stroke dirt bike or a four-stroke Dirt bike has advantages and disadvantages. It’s not easy to choose between both of them. But every rider has their requirements or expectations for their perfect dirt bike.
Bikes have different performances in different situations, settings, and rider preferences. Therefore one should keep in mind their requirements and then go for the perfect match.