Best 4 stroke dirt bike for trail riding for all skilled level riders

Motocross Bike vs. Trail Bike: What’s the difference?

Many people get confused when looking for a trail bike. Trail bikes often get mixed up with motocross bikes. And I can see why.

The trail bike is nothing but a type of dirt bike with some changes. Your typical dirt rides are all about going fast through the racing tracks with sharp cornering. Plus, you look for suspensions to take on the pounding of jumps and drops with the ride. So, they get made to be shed as much weight as possible to make them move faster.

Where else trail rides are more about having a smooth ride on unpredictable terrains. They need to be more reliable and sturdy. You look for a bigger tank, bigger tires, and many other things that will make the ride heavy. That’s why the 4-stroke engine rides get preferred for this type of riding. Where the motocross riders go for the 2-stroke variants.

Is A 2 Stroke or 4 Stroke Better For Trail Riding?

By now, you should have an idea about it. No doubt, both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines have their perks and pitfalls. But if you just have to take the trail riding experience into account, then 4-stroke bikes come up on top for various reasons.

Compared to the regular motocross tracks, trails are quite unpredictable. You never know what to expect at the next turn here. Therefore, you need to have a stable ride. And 4-stroke is the more reliable option due to its quality build. Yes, it might not produce the raw power of the 2-stroke engines, but it will let you go through with minimum problem. At lower RPM, you will get better torque with 4-stroke rides.

That’s why you can rely on it for long rides. And even if you think from the environmental point of view, the no mixing oil system blends with the surrounding better. No noise, no smoke to disturb the wildlife near you.

Not to forget, the fuel economy of the 4-stroke is also much superior to its counterpart. And that comes in handy on tracks where there is no chance of you finding a petrol station.

Besides all that, the engines give you a smoother riding experience with more control over the ride. That is what you need on trails over just raw power.

Which is the Best Oil for a 4-Stroke Dirt Bike?

You can’t use the same oil that gets used for 2-stroke engines. That’s because those get mixed with fuel.

The 4 stroke engine oils are more like the ones that get used in the car. There is no pre-mixing. You just pour down undiluted oil.

But even though you know that you can’t use pre-mix oil for it, you can’t just use any oil for the bike. You need to know the exact type of oil weight that the ride requires. And the best way to find that is by looking into the bike’s manual or the website.

However, you need to know what this oil weight is all about?

If you think that the weight here means how much each type of oil tips the scale, then you can’t be more wrong.

Instead, the weight here refers to the viscosity level of the oil. In simple terms, at a given temp, how well the oil flows through the engine. So, when you’ll be looking for trail bike oil, you often come to see figures like 10W-40 and many others.

The number 40 here denotes the viscosity level. The lower the number, the quicker it will flow, but the lower the protection will be in high temps.

What about the other number with the “W”. That’s the number that shows how the oil will work in winter conditions. So, the 10W means, when it’s below zero temperature, it will work as a 10-weight oil. And when it gains the right heat, it will function the 40-weight oil.

You might be thinking about why it needs to work like that? That’s because, on cold days, you will have a hard time getting the engine started if you’re using heavy oil. It won’t flow fast enough to get the engine ignited. But you can’t risk using a thin oil for a long time, as it will not be able to protect the engine in demanding conditions.  

That is why you use multi-grade oils that work differently according to the temperature.

2-stroke vs. 4-stroke: Which is Faster?

The argument will never end when it comes to the 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines. Though, they both have their pros and cons. But when the subject is in the context of speed, then there is one that comes up on top. And that one is the 2-stroke engine.

But why’s that?

For that, you’ve got to know how both the motors work. You don’t have to dive into much detail to realize what’s making one faster than the other.

The 2-stroke engine functions mainly on compression and combustion. When those things happen, the piston within the motor goes up and down.

The same is for the 4-stroke engine. But with a slight bit of difference. To perform the compression and combustion to make the piston move up and down, the engine got intakes and exhausts. So, the intakes take in the air to make the crankshaft rotate and compress. And when combustion happens, the exhaust takes air pressure out of it.

The 2-stroke engine doesn’t require the intake or exhaust valves. Instead, it uses something called the scavenging port that’s on the cylinder wall which works the same way to provide the air. Bypassing the two steps, the 2-stroke makes quick work of the engine cycle with just one spin of the crankshaft. Where the 4-stroke engine requires two rounds. That’s why the 2-stroke gives instant power which makes it faster.

But that speed comes at a cost which is why the 4-stroke engine is taking over.

Are 4-stroke trail bikes good for beginners?

It depends on the rider, to be fair. No doubt, the luxury that a 4-stroke bike gives is unparalleled. You get a fast and smooth ride that you can tame easily on the trails, unlike the 2-stroke engine rides. Even for riding through the longer distances, they are the best kind of vehicle out there.

But the problem is that they are slightly bigger in size. Therefore, it has that weight that might not make it easy for a beginner to balance the ride. Especially on the volatile tracks. Where else, the counterpart 2-stroke trail rides have that leaner size that makes them easy to balance. And that is something beginners will always feel comfortable driving.

But as I’ve said, it depends on the individual. Still, most beginners will discover riding on the 2-stroke easier than the heavier 4-stroke dirt bikes.

What is your skill level?

If you’re not a complete beginner, then you can go for a 4-stroke dirt bike. Though, you need to be honest with yourself about the fact, how good you’re riding bikes on the trail.

Let’s say you’ve just started riding bikes on the trail. The perfect ride for you will have a smooth riding experience with a power level that you can manage.

That is something that most people don’t get. It is much more fun to ride a slower ride fast than having a powerful bike and not getting it to ride to its max.

And it’s not just about the speed. It is also about learning the skills of riding. There is more to just moving fast on the tracks. Learning how to control the throttle, the clutch is another side of riding that often gets overlooked.

If you move up to a high-end bike before learning those things, you won’t be able to enjoy it. That’s why you should start with a ride that suits your skill level and then pick up those skills before moving up to a more advanced bike.