Are small two strokes good for hard enduro?︱Cross Training Enduro

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Blast from the past! Some time ago, I stopped creating weekly supporter videos for viewers who were financially helping to keep the channel afloat. I'm slowly releasing a few of the more popular ones so you may have seen the much shorter version a few years ago. Enjoy! My apologies to any supporters who feel this is unfair as they had exclusive access to these videos in the past. However, ad revenue from KZbin has dropped dramatically and as most of you know I refuse to do any affiliate marketing or accept sponsorship in exchange for promoting products.

[@daddister7471]

The KTM 200 EXC is the only bike I have any hard enduro experience with. I had a 2000 and 2004 model and sold the 2000 this year to replace it with a YZ125X. I've always been curious about the Yamaha 2 strokes and was keen to try a motocross to enduro modded bike. I do love the 125X and it works beautifully in any area that you're able to keep moving. Come to a complete stop though and getting moving again is a challenge. Also the 125 and 150 bikes don't have the option to run a tucked in Gnarly-style pipe and it would be super easy to completely tear the pipe off. Interestingly enough, when you showed the footage of Ina on the Shero 125 it appeared the pipe didn't hang as low as similar models. I must say I definitely prefer the PDS over linkage for crawling over stuff.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I'd love to try a YZ125X.... I did ride the Beta RR125 a few years ago and it was great fun as long as you weren't in the gnarly stuff!

[@BigJobe21]

I went from a YZ125 to a YZ125X, and while it does have better bottom end torque, I can see it struggling in the type of terrain the enduro crew rode them in. My riding trails are 98% flat - you really have to look hard to find a hill to climb. On flat trails, it's nice to have a light and flickable bike in tight woods, muddy trails or dry riverbeds.

[@rthecarpenter]

I hardly comment on channels but this video I felt like I needed to. I commend you guys for welcoming 2 new guys to yer crew. I am new to eduro technique’s, & for newcomers it can be very hard & intimidating. having 2 cool heads on the trail to help patiently is awesome. you are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to riding. thank you for committing so much time & effort into your stuff. great channel! awesome content. so helpful.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

We try our best to welcome all riders and it's a good feeling when new riders come away feeling more confident after a ride!

[@backtoobasics]

I ran a 125 with a rekluse clutch, raised bars, upgraded rear suspension and tubless tire setup on trials tire. Super fun cross over and insanly easy to hand over to people to learn challening terrain

[@marvelaturraz5405]

My 2-cents: As a prior pro MX racer, I had the opportunity to test ride a KTM 150 (circa 2015). I rode it for a few hrs in the mountains. My first impression was that the bike felt perfect. Next, I found out that the front brake was about 4x stronger than anything I've ever experienced. A light, one-finger pull could stand the bike up on its front end! It was a very light, nimble bike, and the engine was crispy and had broad power, with the most bottom end of any 2-stroke I've ever ridden. I really didn't want to give it back! So yes, a small 2-stroke is great for any situation except wide open desert.

[@squier250]

I love small bore content! I ride a 150 TBI and it’s so much fun.

[@MotoDude1967]

I was exhausted just watching that! Impressive work, gentlemen!

[@DuhYaThink]

I’ve had a few KTM 200 models and love them. Also a 250 and 300. Next bike will probably be a 24”Beta200rr race Edition. Good video 👍🏻

[@finrampe]

I've done 100hrs of hard enduro / trials on ktm 150 tpi and I absolutelu love it. I have tuned it a bit with head and tsp ecu + plenty of guards. It has more power than most riders can handle. Other pros are it's very quiet and keeps cool even on very slow and long technical sections (never boils radiant or gas). With low power it has bullet proof oem clutch. Small pipe and small muffler (small everything). Very low gas consumption on low revs. Starts quick & light and has pedal (never used). Feels light to handle. Only cons would be lack of power on some long Romanian hills and is not very suitable for traveling the distance. When riding faster needs a lot of gear changing back and forth on corners.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Interesting to hear it never overheats in the slow gnarly stuff, rampe. Possibly it has the same sized radiators as the 250 and 300?

[@carlosmurgelcddr.1418]

I have a EXC 200 2004 and love it!

[@gasdive]

I bought a 200 exc and was disappointed that I didn't suddenly become an expert. It was a lot easier to ride than the XR600R though.

[@brentroy03]

Really enjoy the patience displayed here

[@hagarengela8312]

9 years ago when I was riding alot, my 200 exc kept up with everyone. I now have a 300 and find myself gassed, but need to ride more. Loved that 200

[@rotorhead5000]

The smaller bore bikes are a real breath of fresh air when you are used to something big and heavy. I ride a 250 4 stroke dual sport, its kitted out for single track and enduro pretty well, but its hard to get away from how heavy it is. Hop on my buddies 20 year old ktm 200, and it feels so light, so narrow, and has so little resistance pulling itself up out of a hole, its an entirely different kettle of fish. That coupled with me not being a very big dude, makes me really consider a modern 125.

[@thedragon2299]

I probably speak for millions when I say that there was no place I couldn't go on a Kawasaki KDX200!🐲

[@chasebolyard1962]

I had an 85 Yamaha IT200 that was geared down, that thing was an absolute tractor

[@sammiller9625]

I ride and race enduros and harescrambles on a YZ125, with the goal of learning all the hard enduro techniques on the bike before upgrading to a 250 or 300

[@pjsmiddleton1]

I have the Beta 200rr. The seat is lower, it was cheap to buy, and it is so easy to pick up when I drop it I am less tired after any race. It also makes me grin because it always wants to go. Unless you are a pro I’d say the 200cc class is perfect

[@Pompomgrenade]

I am here by writing the one thing you will never believe for the rest of your life: My 2000 CR125 is still running on its original clutch, in 2024... Neither the friction plates nor the fiber plates have ever been changed, the cover has never been removed... I changed my oil once in awhile... My cable is stretched to s*** but it is also OEM... See you down the trail. If you choose to take easier trails than what I observe in your videos. Beating bikes to s***🏁 Thanks for the great content

[@marvelaturraz5405]

Just wondering how many re-rings and top ends you've done on that bike? Never needed to replace main bearings, either? Is there a lot of time on the engine? Does it make that shuffling, whirring sound yet (indicative of tired main bearings)? When you change your oil, since you don't slip your clutch much, I'm going to guess that it comes out looking not so bad? I used to race pro MX, so of course with every ride I changed oil and it always came out gnarly from heavy clutch slippage under full power. What about your chain and sprockets? Have you had to change them out? How many times?

[@hollowsesh90]

I had a 97 yamaha wr250z, wish i still had it as they are rare af these days. Was a burt flood complianced bike. Had great low end and near yz250 mid and top end. Loved that thing, spent many years riding it keeping up with much larger bikes like a crf450 ect. I now have a 04 wr450f and love it, haven't got it out in the bush yet though due to not having access to a trailer but next year hoping that changes. I remember when i first threw a leg over a steel frame wr450 and it was mental, instant power and would loft the front in any gear. My current wr is also a animal but yet to get it out for a proper ride. 2 smokes will always have a special place in my heart though and would happily own another wr250 2 stroke but ive not seen a cheap one in many years. Cheers josh

[@cyclemoto8744]

Gold!. thanks for sharing

[@TheKitchenTechnician]

The only 200 I would buy is the Beta 200RR. It’s an 85% bike. Smaller,lighter and easier to maneuver than a 300. That said, I still love my Beta 300RR. If the going gets really stupid I just flip the map switch to rain mode and the power is much more manageable. The Rekluse clutch also helps. An accessory I can’t live without. I’d have both the 200 and my 300 but it could possibly lead to divorce court. Still weighing the benefits of both options!

[@minkusmcminkus7598]

This is a great vid, a real goat path.

[@timothydrake1030]

Nice video, next time you do this trail get a Trials rider to join the group so we can compare.

[@jamesdenton3692]

EXCELLENT idea !!!😁

[@crosstrainingenduro]

That would be cool! We've got a friend with an electric trials bike but we haven't been able to drag him out to these areas.... yet.

[@ronaldbronson1285]

I had an 04 ktm 200exc and it was great in the desert and fast single track. Amazing in whoops and turned on a dime. Replaced it with an 04 525 exc, surprisingly much better in slow stuff and not as fast in the flowy stuff. I miss my 200... But I'm happy i got rid of it, was going too fast and wouldve seriously hurt myself eventually.

[@mikeyerke3920]

Shane Watts is the man. Hey, from the US! 🇺🇸

[@masond.4931]

I built up a Yz125 with a 144 kit, rad fan, and flywheel weight, and it's a fun challenge! I still prefer my tx300, but that yz is so fun for about 1/4 the money

[@davehowe_just_an_old_dirtbiker]

I have to say that if I have learned anything from you it's to weight the rear tire!!! It's saved my butt more than once. As far as bike size, my buddy sold his KTM300 to get a Beta 200RR and is so much better on the smaller bike, it's embarrassing for me. Of course he is pretty short and 150 lbs soaking wet. When I ride his bike I really don't like it...mostly because I have 70 lbs on him! I figure that for the pros it 80% rider 20% bike but since I'm a gumby and maybe have 10% the skills of a pro, for me it's more like 8% rider and 92% bike (please don't check my math 😅)

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Weight the rear... I often feel like a broken record with how often I seem to say it in the vids, Dave!

[@jonWilk8156]

that just means youve got a lot of room to improve every year, 2025 bikes will be better, than 2026,2027 etc...by 2033 youll be up around the normal 80/20% math checks out

[@HeAdChEeSe1983]

One thing I like about enduro riding is with most people we have a brotherhood. I'll ride with most people. There are a few DB's but most of us are a pretty tight community.

[@francorohrmosers7464]

My first enduro bike I got was a 150 XC-W.. It wasn’t easy, took me a long time to get the hang of it.. I kept it because the TPI were coming and I wanted to keep a bike with carburetor .. I got the first version of the 300 TPI ignoring everything that was being said in the street, I just trusted the thing.. Things got so much easier since I am a very heavy rider.. Years passed and with the experience I have now I can ride the 150 and love it, its light and fast and all the things you said.. Bottom line for me would be… Its not for beginners, but after some experience and clutch control .. Its an awesome bike ! Oh but I don’t recommend it for long trips, when you start getting very tired that low end of the 300 will get you through the horrible terrain without doing much yourself 😅😅. With the 150 you must be super focused and in attack position at all times, using that clutch a lot and keeping that engine screaming.. which is nice when you have the energy….

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Totally agree! The smaller ones are a blast to ride, but it takes a little time to figure out.

[@DmitriyAdv]

I've put almost 100 hours on my Husky TE150i, both faster singletrack and hard enduro type riding. I bought it specifically to learn better clutch control and fine tune technical skills that 300 let me cheat on. I think the bike is great for beginners on open/flat trails, but not on anything gnarly because the torquey part of the powerband is pretty small and requires a lot of constant shifting and clutch control. The TPI model has a much better bottom end (a friend of mine has a 2018 carby TE150, which I've ridden) due to FI and the pipe design, but it's still a far cry from a 250 a 300, or even a 200. I do love the light weight and playful nature of it. It's a very confidence inspiring bike to ride and makes it less scary to tackle tricky terrain. The Husqvarna has a lower seat height and more planted feel than the KTM, so to me I prefer it to the KTM when things get really nasty. The 150 TPI pipes are also a bit more tucked up than the 300's in the KTM lineup. I've also had a 2013 KTM 200 a few bikes ago which I put about 170 hours on. That bike had a sweet tractable power and would go up anything. It felt like a slightly slower 300.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I still haven't ridden a 150 but I'd be keen to try, Dmitriy. I have enjoyed riding the 200EXC in this vid and also a Beta RR200... very easy to throw around but the lack of grunt makes the gnarly stuff a bit tougher.

[@DmitriyAdv]

@@crosstrainingenduro to me the KTM/Husky 150 feels closer to the Beta 125 than the Beta 200 in terms of handling. But it has enough low end to be actually rideable off the pipe. They did a really great job with this on the TPI version. I do love that it forces you to learn things like loading the flywheel and using the clutch, you can’t simply twist the throttle mid hill and expect to go up it.

[@specializedbighitfsr]

I love my ktm 150xcw for super techy hard enduro riding. Again, I am only 150lbs, so that probably helps... Does just fine up in Taylor park Colorado up to elevations close to 12,000 ft. I havent ridden anything bigger at those places, so maybe I dont know what Im missing? Either way, the 150 is so light and nimble. I cant remember ever saying "if I had more power that would have been easier...."

[@f3verMonkey]

I had a 2018 Husqvarna TE 150. Put 100 hours on it. For a beginner, it is under powered and not a good choice. For an experience Offroad enduro rider, it is fun particularly in technical and challenging terrain - it feels like a mountain bike. Ultimately it felt like riding an 85cc bike from a power perspective. To me, a 250 2 stroke cones close to the grunt of a 300 and the agility and lightness of a 125 / 150. My ramblings before my sushi dinner tonight.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Mmmmm.... sushi!

[@kraigvanderwyk1153]

My 14yo son is currently riding an Rm85 and Crf 150r. He quite capable on diamonds. He sometimes rides my Sherco 300 on short rides but the big bike is a bit much for him to sustain on longer rides. I’m wondering if a 150 or 200 beta would suit him or if he should wait another year to develop more muscle mass and go straight to a 250/300.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I haven't seen teenagers make this transition myself but I've heard countless dads say a 150 or 200 was the perfect move up....

[@adambatchelder4121]

I wouldn't put the 200 in the small bore class, but I agree with the rest of it

[@otero2235]

The KDX works great for just about anything you throw at it.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

It’s a great bike for sure.

[@AdamCoffey828]

I’d like to try a 150 or 200 about as much as I’d like to ride hard enduro in Australia! What area is most of the good riding and racing in down there?

[@enduro5761]

I think that the 200cc two stroke should probably not be considered as a "small bike",it kinda stands alone in the middle because while it doesn't have the torque of the 300, it's definitely a lot more manageable in hard enduro situations than a 125 or a 150

[@throttlebuff]

The Beta 200 is better than the kittum in my opinion. It feels more powerful or quicker in some way. Respect to anyone riding a 125 cause thats a lot of shifting and clutch work. I had bought my son a 150XC and almost kept it for myself but sold it. I get arm pump on it I think due to how narrow it was

[@HowToGetMoreMetal]

Did the 150 and 200 and 250 and 300. I'm 200 lbs. A rider. For Enduro the 150 is a no go. The 200 gets the job done. The 250 does it better. The 300 does it better at elevation.

[@Slidetodrive421]

I used to do hard enduro on a yz125. Went everywhere the 300s went but had to rebuild every 25h

[@jonWilk8156]

MAN THATS a lot LIKE work....

[@throttlebuff]

The Beta 200 is better than the kittum in my opinion. It feels more powerful or quicker in some way

[@ljprep6250]

What's that pesky guy Bo (Beau?) riding? It's the red motorcycle with the big letters GAGGAG on the tank. Never heard of it. BTW, that hard enduro track looks like a total cast iron beeyotch.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

Beau's on the GasGas 300. He spent close to $1000 on the TSP mods to try and get some bottom end grunt from the engine... it's definitely improved now.

[@ljprep6250]

@@crosstrainingenduro And ya didn't even respond to my joke. (sob, sniffle, honk)

[@Motofamilyracingteam]

That looks 🙀

[@cowboyanimal_1]

@3:08... fuuuuuuuck I feel for that dude. I don't think viewers realise how the camera angle flattens out angles and how tired that poor bloke probably is at this point in time.

[@HusseHeiza]

If you are new to Enduro, start with a 125/200, Not with a 300! Because only than you will learn how to usw the Clutch properly.

[@Michael-s1b]

Nothing like a little communal suffering to build friendships!

[@crosstrainingenduro]

🤣

[@ronald8673]

The smaller/lighter bike the better. Hard enduro, half the time is spent wrestling the bike around, why not make it easier ?

[@mjkicks2518]

I wouldnt say a 200 or 250 is a small 2stroke. Plenty to handle enduro riding jn the states.

[@afrojo49]

200 all the way

[@LukeDupin]

I'll stick with my CRF250rx

[@Pompomgrenade]

It happens. It's a freak thing😂 some little 200 making it happen..

[@JonDeth]

An interesting strategy in the forest where everything can kill you.

[@kraigvanderwyk1153]

I enjoyed the video, but you didn’t talk much about small bores. One of the finest parts of riding hard enduro is torturing the newbies😅

[@crosstrainingenduro]

🤔😂👍

[@aroundtheblockmag]

I’ll be the first to tell you I’m not competitive 😂🤣😂🤣

[@TimPaddy]

Beta 200 definitely is

[@SPKMoto69]

You Crack Heads (and I say that with love) ride trails I wouldn't even hike up.

[@oly10676]

Beta Xtrainer 300...problems solved.

[@kyegunn3699]

I will never understand. I’m sorry, I just don’t get it. Different strokes.

[@crosstrainingenduro]

I get it. I will never understand the Harley thing for example. But obviously many love them to death. And riding in a straight line all day with all that noise lol.

[@panicrev555]

I like to rip. This stuff doesn't even look like fun.

[@reverendaljones45]

i have ridden on short stretches of trails like this in b.c. on a 2004 ktm 450 4 spd track bike, lol, and it was challenging to say the least for me and the motorcycle, dropping the front sprocket down a tooth helped but yes, ripping around on less challenging terrain is more enjoyable.

[@JagLite]

Uh, no. That's not motorcycle riding, that is dragging a heavy motorcycle uphill with some power assist. Small 2-smokes? Would be good if they weighed less, a LOT less. Unfortunately the mfg's are using common parts of the bigger bikes that are too heavy. Along with the fragile engines the mfg's should be using much lighter, smaller, and thinner parts to drastically cut the weight. Every part on the bike should be substantially lighter. Tires, tubes, rims, spokes, hubs, brakes, axles, and so on all the way through the bike. There should not be any parts in common with the bigger bikes. But that will price the smaller bikes out of the market because they will cost as much or more to build than the bigger bikes that share so many parts. I really liked reading about the ISDT back when they had small bike classes from 50cc up. I was riding mx (too slow to really say racing) when Suzuki bombed the mx world with their ultra-light race bikes. I think the factory 125 weighed 145 lbs and the 250 was well under 200 lbs. Not that we could buy those bikes but it showed what could be done. One of the popular bike magazines in the USA built a race bike using a Yamaha DT-1 (250cc) motor with the goal of making it as light as possible and they squeaked it in under 200 lbs to show it could be done with the right parts and a pocket full of money.

[@deathrabbit82]

No, they aren’t good for hard enduro. Too peaky power, no torque.

[@johnscribb6731]

These guys aren't keeping their feet on the pegs, poor technique! ...I jest

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

From a trials riders perspective you are absolutely correct! But they aren’t on trials bikes which would go up terrain like this effortlessly. The main difference is the super low gearing that trials bikes have. Any clutch work is to avoid stalling or to rev the motor before popping the clutch to get the rear tire up an obstacle.