The choice between 2 or 4 stroke engine is
dictated by personal choice, riding style,
weight load and terrain. If your primary
purpose is commuting, or require a faster
top speed - you may be more interested in
a 2-stroke. If you pull a trailer and/or
anticipate cruising at slower speeds, you
may be better suited with a 4-stroke engine.
2-Stroke engines: smoother running; faster speeds, lighter
weight, runs cleaner at faster speeds.
- Continuous cruising at slow speeds will cause
more rapid carbon build-up, and require more
frequent maintenance.
- Requires gasoline, pre-mixed w/2-stroke oil
before filling tanks but very little maintenance.
- Clean spark arrestor and exhaust ports after
a few thousand miles (the 1st time) -becomes
less frequent after engine breaks in..
- Only 3 moving parts.
- 87 octane, or better, non-ethanol.gasoline
(reference manual of your engine)
*** Never mix fuel rich even on break-in! Always mix 50 to 1 (One US gallon gasoline
to 2.6 oz Two- stroke mixing oil). For Air
cooled engines; synthetic blend - not straight
synthetic oil.
4-Stroke engines: a lot of low end torque at slower speeds,
engine runs clean cruising at slow speeds
- Not recommended to run at absolute full throttle
for extended periods of time, but to back
off slightly, for continuous running.
- Convenience of pulling into closest service
station when low on fuel but must add oil
occasionally and periodic oil changes.
- 11 moving parts - eventually requires valve
adjustment (many thousands of miles but depends
on your riding style).
- 87 octane, or better, non-ethanol gasoline
and automotive oil (reference manual of your
engine)
*** 4-stroke engines contain shipping Oil
- Add oil before running engine (less than
3 oz) but don't Overfill - keep oil level below Full indicator
on dipstick. When checking oil level, Push dipstick in - Don't screw it in - just push
in, like checking oil level on auto dipstick.
Check oil level when engine is cool, before
starting or allow engine to cool a minimum
of 5-10 minutes after running, before checking
oil level.
Too much oil will cause
oil to be sucked
into the PVC valve, won't
hurt the engine
but will make a smelly
mess till it's cleaned/run
out. Hard trail riders
may want to drop oil
level even lower, i.e..
half way between
Full and Low indicators
on dipstick.
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