Racing 17-Year-Old CR250 2 Stroke vs Modern 4 Strokes!

We go on board with Howard Wainwright as he races his 2007 Honda CR250 2 Stroke against a full field of modern 250 four strokes at the iconic Farleigh Castle Motocross track for the World Vet 2024. Howard will have his hands full here as he attempts to take on two of his childhood dirt bike heroes in the form of Tommy Searle and Adam Chatfield. Hold on to your hats, this is a fun one! :-)
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Tommy Searle on 4 Stroke vs Young Gun on CR250

[@rex.d4810]

The only reason I'm watching is because of the 2 stroke. Thanks for posting these videos for us to watch.

[@999lazer]

No problem, thanks for watching :)

[@sloppytaco9629]

I don't think anyone cares

[@luliluli1471]

Me too😊

[@Halfthrottle312]

Great riding 2 strokes should still have there own pro championship

[@999lazer]

That would be awesome :)

[@RobertJohnson-bj5lk]

Every year there is a national 2-stroke championship motocross festival at Glen Helen Raceway just barely north of San Bernardino, California. There are plenty of videos on KZbin showcasing it. It’s awesome.

[@yumajdb]

The 2T sounds burly as hell. I love the sound of a properly tuned ring ding.

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching !

[@Fogman5678]

Honda ,Kawasaki,and Suzuki need to bring back the "Murder Hornet 2 Strokes ". Too include open class 500cc's. Braaaaaap!!😊

[@sendaaja8809]

What a beautiful old school track, a proper motocross track.

[@adamwilliams7806]

My arms are heavy after watching this. Epic

[@andrewjensen7413]

You can Feel the four arm Pump from just Watching.😅

[@999lazer]

haha, thanks for watching Adam :)

[@matthewmoilanen787]

​@@andrewjensen7413It's spelled forearms for goodness sakes.

[@billolsen5401]

F’N Awesome upload Max 👊🏻 Found myself steering through them ruts,got me on the edge a me seat.. Great ride boys 🫡

[@999lazer]

haha. .. that's awesome Bill . Did you get arm pump :)

[@billolsen5401]

@@999lazer definitely got pumped,be throwing a leg over this weekend .

[@paulbudford]

It's crazy how quickly they start lapping people! 😯

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching Paul :)

[@stewartmolina5894]

I hope you appreciate the factory support thank you for your video Megatron 909

[@benburton8463]

That was a good weekend mate. Good to see you there. My boy loves the hat ur dad gave him. Appreciate it mate. See you at foxhill

[@999lazer]

Cheers Ben, it was good to meet you all :)

[@woody3486]

You can smell the Castrol R 😀

[@gusgiesel]

Most of the 2T vs 4T debate comes down to the rider's preference and style. It is an individual thing. 2T have more top end power and lighter weight, but 4T have broader powerbands and better traction hookup. To-may-to, To-mah-to. Just have fun, be safe and enjoy the ride! BRAAAP

[@siraff4461]

It used to be more that a 2t would make a boat load more power. Now the 4t's are catching up (but if you watch on the straight that 2t is still pulling them in) but if 2t's had continued development that wouldn't be the case. Another thing is maintenance. A 2t top end is an hour or two's job with limited tools and costs about £100 if you haven't blown it up. You aren't going to get far into a 4t for that kind of time/money.

[@ChrisG1967]

Yeah the whole 2T vs 4T debate gets tiresome. Have fun whatever you ride. BTW the winner was Searle easily on a 4T !

[@herdHistruth]

It seemed like he was accelerating out of the berms late, he should be getting on it before he becomes upright.

[@glennwoods2462]

That's a massive track.... great video thanx 999lazer

[@999lazer]

No problem Glen, thanks for watching :)

[@svenomick5857]

Give Me a Two Stroke any day lots cheaper to Race and Maintain I don’t get the Four Stroke thing for most People it is about Fun, that well Maintained 17 year old 2 Banger says it all great Video cheers Mick Australia

[@rong4189]

Haha, I didn’t catch where this was at (I’m in the US) and as soon as you guys made the sharp left down that two step, I thought “That looks like…”. I used to rent the VHS tape of the Farleigh Castle GP back in the 80’s.

[@ZafiraSteve]

Absolutely loved that. Much appreciated

[@999lazer]

No problem, thanks for watching :)

[@andyroo3022]

Enjoyed this race. On a big screen the footage was awesome.

[@jameshibberd8077]

That was awesome , not often I watch a whole race on helmet cam but that was quality that lad has some talent 👍

[@999lazer]

cheers James:)

[@andrewjensen7413]

Great Ride Fantastic to Watch a nice outdoor Race over the SX and you have to Love the Sound of the 2 Stroke Singing.👍

[@999lazer]

Cheers Andrew, the bike did sound awesome :)

[@kevinmee3501]

Another fantastic production Max.

[@999lazer]

Thanks Kevin

[@kauai5839]

Bike is just singing across that track!🤙🏼

[@laserdad]

It's nice to see a race course that isn't full of triples and tabletops.

[@ragnarironspear1791]

Brilliant footage as always 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@999lazer]

Thanks :)

[@SoulKiAries]

I was hoping to see some onboard, what a race that was! Hopefully you have all 3 races of on onboard max👀

[@999lazer]

We had the camera on Howard all day on Sunday...they only did 2 motos but we got both :-D

[@SoulKiAries]

@@999lazer oh perfect! I looked forward to seeing the 2nd moto uploaded😁

[@rfiskillingussoftly6568]

In 2000 I was kicking all the new bike's a$$es with a 1983 cr250...go figure !🤣 Was Sean racing?

[@fpvflightfootage7869]

I’m glad that two strokes didn’t die out completely. I like how they are coming back now people are realising that four strokes are too expensive to fix as well as sounding shit. I honestly don’t think there’s a better sound in the world than a 250 2 stroke.

[@herdHistruth]

Thank you 👍

[@herdHistruth]

I raced in '83 and watched this video to hear that sound, I'm still physically tightening up getting pumped up being an old man, I still mountain bike though 🤷

[@siraff4461]

17 years of extra development and no doubt a bike thats fresher on bearings, suspension and all the rest. Thats if we ignore the 2t development being pretty much stagnent since the 90's. It looked like Howard was struggling to get bite so that could be tyres or 17 year old chassis tech. It looked a bit bouncy as if the spring rate was a little stiff or the damping a little sloppy. Either way its nice to see and hear those things buzzing about again.

[@christoulsonmxchannel451]

Epic weekend, nice to meet you there aswell 😊

[@motoxmainia]

That was special ,2 strokes baby the way forward

[@Joeyhill-wj6js]

It that was true then 4 strokes wouldn’t have ever been a thing.. get your head out your arse..

[@RobertJohnson-bj5lk]

Goodness, there’s hardly a single jump or bump on this track. It looks like an old fashioned scrambler event.

[@jamesmiler36]

Being the owner of a 1999 CR250R I agree with Ronnie Mac.. 4-stroke suck 💯🇺🇸🦅

[@alankelter9416]

Imo I don't think it makes a difference either way. Id put my money on a rider before a bike.

[@yssha5342]

Watching cus of the 2 stroke. I had a 2003 CR 250 loved that bike

[@ErikFolkesson]

I just love the cr250, moste beauty bike

[@alankelter9416]

Wow, all I can say. More like this video. Now. Here was a good one. Even if he had not faired so well would still be good.

[@999lazer]

Cheers Alan

[@zackk695]

Sweet mother of god! The one thing I noticed is the 2 stroke pulled so much faster than the other bikes which were also on the gas. You can only compare the two if both bikes are hitting it hard and that CR would easily out pull them everyone. Love it but wished badly I could have seen the race. We were in helmet came so all we seen was dirt

[@rayrice9060]

Awsome race

[@999lazer]

cheers

[@Tanstaafl1976]

Brilliant race and pass!

[@waynesmith2012]

2 strokes and castrol r magic

[@philliphols]

Charging out of a corner looks so much more effective on the 4 strokes. I come from an atv background and used to race motocross on a yfz450. Prior to that I owned a banshee so I know all about 2 v 4 stroke pros and cons. Yfz owned the track but I’ll take that 2 stroke banshee anywhere else

[@RobertJohnson-bj5lk]

Y’all should check out the Two-Stroke World Championship at Glen Helen Raceway. It’s located just barely north of San Bernardino, California. It’s literally two-stroke heaven.

[@RobertJohnson-bj5lk]

I love how he doesn’t have those modern, compression front forks for the start, and still kicks a$$ anyway,

[@tonypalmer7779]

What a ripper

[@poppachops5136]

Long live the power band! Braaaaaap!

[@Superdisco199]

I'd love to see 17 year old 4 strokes versus modern 4 strokes. I think F.I and high compression ratios (flameouts, high idles, jerky low end response) has pretty much killed them off outside of motorcross. I think they peaked in 2007.

[@Hanibul_Lecktor]

Bad gas, everything you stated is due to running ethanol based fuels or poor clutch control. Here in the states, we can still get recreational premium fuels. Snag some T4, mix in a little for extra spicy fun. Coming from the late 70s and 80s strokes, to my first 4T a 2003 CRF450R. We had a TC250, loved it. Then I rode a FX450, and FC450. Doubt I'll ever purchase another 2 stroke other than building a CR500 BRC in a modern Husqvarna chassis...

[@MrHeiss-my3co]

I'm impressed with the 250 4- strokes of today . I remember the 250 2-STROKES going against the 450 4- Strokes . Technology sure changed . I'll bet the Suspension on that 250 2-stroke is no where near stock and probably the engine too . I've ridden 2- strokes all my life and I would love to give the 4-Strokes a try . But , I don't have the funding in my budget for a 2-stroke or 4-stroke . So I will watch your videos and enjoy them . I'm wondering if you could get a NOS system for the 4-stroke to give it a little extra boost when you need it . Supercharger maybe ? I'm a old school car guy and Motocross rider . Used to stencil 250cc on my 500cc bikes . 😊

[@stewartmolina5894]

You need linear flowing lines to maximize your two strokes Power band you do not have low-end torque therefore you have to stay high RPM

[@caveyful]

We were conned with 4 stroke MX bikes. Mainly coz 2 strokes got so capable they were beyond all but the best riders and the 4 strokes have always been easier to ride for the average rider.

[@lukecombs5242]

Ride red baby lets go 🤙🏻

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching Luke

[@adamcuttler9665]

Awsome i can watch 2 stroke pass 4 thumper all day. Cant wait to fix my yz250

[@marco21falcon]

First! Woot woot! Mate, if ya ever make your way out to utah for some epic single track or dune riding. Hit me up! I'd love to ride with yuz

[@999lazer]

cheers Marco

[@herdHistruth]

Good video 👍, miss that two stroke sound 😁

[@rickd-xb7nu]

The four strokes sound like an everlasting beer burp. I grew up with 2 strokes and love the sounds of them and also were much easier to fix them.

[@thomashoglund3472]

Great racing!👍

[@999lazer]

Cheers, its was awesome to watch:)

[@OKFrax-ys2op]

Bring back the open class!

[@Ktm-jas]

Good work.

[@danrobin3027]

Nice ride!!

[@pepemanolo390]

Spectacular friend...I'm thinking of changing to putoline for fantic xe 125 2t, but I don't know if mx 9 or mx7?? The enduro I do is slow and rocky, at what percentage or mixture do I use it? 1.5% or 2% greetings from Spain.

[@999lazer]

We use MX9 in all our 2 strokes and mix 125ml Oil to 5 litres of fuel. Cheers

[@Sn0w1981]

On it ✊

[@pbmachines972]

That was awesome

[@dodgybodger3124]

Ya can't beat an old smoker. 👍 Unless Ya Tommy. But he's great on a smoker 2 👍👍👍

[@johnrambo1227]

Old school vs new school ..👍

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching :)

[@cat1racer]

The answer is in the very name itself it takes twice as many strokes for a four stroke to make the same amount of power hence it takes a 450 to compete with the 250. Not sure I said that right but U get the idea. A 2 stroke is more powerful because it takes half the energy to make the same power. And they sound a lot cooler than a lawnmower engine and that’s not saying anything about the weight differential.

[@rodneyharrison8064]

Brilliant

[@Bobby8451]

HAIL 2 STROKES!

[@stevo184]

Awesome, those back markers are a pain in the a$$

[@kentr2424]

The worst thing is for the two stroke they can't hear you coming so can get out of the way....

[@siraff4461]

Makes you wonder why the marshall had a sledge hammer at the side of the track instead of a blue flag...

[@tessbushell5489]

Nice job 👌🏻

[@999lazer]

Cheers tess

[@jamesstenner8335]

That was mega

[@999lazer]

Thanks James :)

[@RichardGilbey]

You'd never overtake my four-stroke into the hairpin

[@herdHistruth]

Here we go 🤦 💩🥾💩🥾💩 it's getting deep 🙉, self praise is no recommendation 🧐 be humble, sit down

[@pedrogonzalesthespanishgyp7964]

CR250 Hondas are for real men. Men who dont shave their chests, ball bags and moisturise themselves. Men who listen to the Prodigy and Mudvayne Dig as a warm up. Men with 9 inches on the slack who don't wear shorts with a mankini. Even Ron Mac went GayGas from the Screaming Eagle.

[@sandmanrrr]

Makes you wonder where 2 strokes would be if they had advanced technology the way they have for 4 Strokes. It might not even be close.

[@siraff4461]

It wasn't close when the 2t's stopped getting any real development back in the late 90's. If they had continued to be developed it still wouldn't be close.

[@daddski1]

Fact is the blue 4 stroke rider in 2nd place kept him at bay just long enough to let the other win. If not for him in the way the 2 stroke woulda stomped em all. thats racing lol

[@stewartmolina5894]

Point of reference flightscope race line

[@paulbaker655]

If. He. Was. On. A. New. 2 stroke. It. Would. Have. Been. Game. Over. For. Them. He. A. Good. Rider

[@KennethGerecke-k8w]

How about a 450 four stroke against a 450 two stroke !!??

[@jeffdacey4673]

I hate idiots that scream to try and get you to move for them. No buddy he should hold his line and if your faster you need to find your own way around

[@alankelter9416]

Lapper was in the way, same lap sure hold out, getting lapped MOVE!

[@johnwatson8516]

Love it

[@999lazer]

Thanks John:)

[@danpoxon2425]

Brilliant bit of racing only watched because of the 2t the 4t don’t do nothing for me

[@lorenzkockaerts]

it"s the driver that make the differents i drive now a cr 125 from 2000 i can follow new 4strokes even stark E bike that bikes goes way better bud somme driver's not... i love the 2 strokes must say 4strokes making me slower 2 i cant drive them so weird ..

[@999lazer]

Thanks for watching :)

[@bertr286]

the skill gap between the faster and slower riders in this event is dangerous, back markers OK they happen but this was ridiculous. waiting for an accident to happen.

[@weirdo1083]

Maybe they just gave up.

[@phenri4809]

Nice track. What my 60yr old ass needs

[@vetb882]

HOLY SHUCKING FITT.😮😮 who is this rider, GP level of you ask me. His intensity was mesmerizing to watch.

[@999lazer]

His name is Howard Wainwright, he is a British Championship rider.

[@ОктайМехмедов]

👍👍👍

[@Mac-jc8hd]

2 stroke is a racing thoroughbred machine, 4 stroke is a fat heavy street bike. simple

[@stewartmolina5894]

Are we about to watch a cold day in hell

[@Randy_Cox]

Wait you brits race 250 2 strokes against 250 4 strokes? Well the 2 stroke should win hands down as it has way more power. In America 250 2 strokes race against 450s.

[@jasoncashmore6675]

Few more laps would have had him👌

[@rockyesterline7942]

And I also ride a Honda CR500!!!

[@alexnajarianmusic]

A 250 two stroke has between 45-52hp. A 250 four stroke has about 35-38hp. With equal riders, the two-stroke should demolish the four stroke.

[@gregweever5895]

Awesome to hear the two strokes for sure but damn those tracks over there are pretty flat and boring. But at least the two strokes still have a place still

[@andreabrindesi6526]

2 strokes (250) forever.

[@stewartmolina5894]

Hey my guy I need you to study MotoGP race lines

[@hig4s]

Why isn't he on a new 2 stroke?

[@alankelter9416]

Why? He was showing it don't need to be new. Besides new two stroke? What's the point it's still the same old two stroke tech.

[@hig4s]

​@alankelter9416 no, a modern 250 2 stroke has almost 10 more horsepower, much wider powerband, FI that automatically adjust air/fuel ratio and computer controlled engine mapping for more precise tuning.

[@alankelter9416]

@@hig4s so? It's a race machine not a tractor, the addition of fuel injection is a convenience not an addition to hp. Peak ho it's the game in racing not a flat curve like I said it's not a tractor. And 2 stroke tech has not changed, depending what new bike you are measuring it against hp numbers are only up 2-6 hp well within the porting range of the older bike. The ho numbers are pretty much tapped to a 38mm venture. And my point was in "why" was the title 17yr old vs new. Would that not defeat the point and second looked to be doing just fine on the older bike so anything more was not needed

[@hig4s]

​@alankelter9416 I'm confused, if it is about peak ho, and the 2007 cr 2 stroke has 45hp and a 2024 yz 2 stroke had 59hp, that makes my point? Besides that, any frame and suspension technology improvements made in the last 17 years has been implemented on both 2 stroke and 4 stroke. But you are incorrect that it is all about peak hp. It is about getting as much power as possible and still keeping tractibility and rideability. A wider power band definitely helps that. Once you hit the top class even the best or riders detune their 450s on virtually every track except Denver, to make them more rideable.

[@alankelter9416]

@@hig4s you are 10hp off, the new yz 2t makes 49hp. And they say detuned because that's what they do to the band is shift it up top and out of the bottom. Meaning junking the flat curve. (Detuning) Flat curve is a selling point for beginners. And again as the title stated 17yr old bike vs. not new yz 2t vs. secondly point is it obviously does not take a new bike. And you do realize every bit of that "new suspension" tech can be transfered over to an older bike. Rake and trail has been lingering around the same specs since early 90s as well. We have to date never seen a decade of advancements made like the 80s. Since 90s real advancements have not been game changers. Rather let's just jump a couple mm on fork dia and call it a new bike same goes for rear shocks and piston size. Anyone that's familiar with shim stacks can make any form work well from the 90s as well as shocks. Or simply bolt on and revalve the new stuff. No the 2024 yz 2t is not in the least earth shattering. Cool looking? Yes. Breaking ground on new tech?.......no. pretty sure you could run it against just about any bike late 90s and not see any real gains in times. BTW low end torque (flat curve) is not tractions friend. A soft bottom engine tracks much better.

[@johncartelli]

4strokers got the torque...you need to keep that 2 stroker on the pipe more often than the 4s to get the pull

[@herdHistruth]

Two strokes have that savage power 🤯, even the old big bore two stroke street bikes - Kawasaki "h" series, nothing like two stroke power 💪, plus I can rebuild a two stroke but I'm lost with valves and timing chains 🤡

[@herdHistruth]

👈p.s. that's me in '83 😁

[@herdHistruth]

But an experienced rider can keep a two stroker "on the pipe" and in the lead 😁

[@johncartelli]

@@herdHistruth basically what i said

[@herdHistruth]

@@johncartelli the circle of life 😁

[@ALIVE8455]

This track is a borderline dirt road.

[@bryankirk]

Kawasaki leads! Yes!!!

[@MikeAsbury-ti2yx]

14-51 gearing would of been better I hear rpm but no going lol 13t is too small for cr250,s

[@rockyesterline7942]

I see this guy's problem in the corners. When I would be gassing it he is not. He's about one second slow on gasing it in every corner And he's letting off the throttle too soon. Going into the corners So theoretically , if the number one rider was on the two stroke , he would probably be in the same position in front!!

[@stewartmolina5894]

#MetalMulisha

[@jamesamsler2418]

Did great....f the 4stroke

[@MrBumbles2]

uk track looks like a road