When the Japanese launched two-stroke expertise to motorcycle Grand Prix racing within the early Nineteen Sixties, few had an thought how dominant the tech would change into within the following forty years. In highway bikes, as properly, two-strokes appeared to be the perfect engine: mild, easy, low cost to fabricate, and rather more highly effective than four-stroke counterparts. But there was one drawback for a world more and more apprehensive about air pollution; two-strokes are very ‘dirty’ engines, burning their lubricating oil together with the petrol, resulting in extraordinarily poor emissions.

Modern fuel injection systems have addressed this problem successfully, and fortunately, there are nonetheless a handful of two-stroke bikes nonetheless in manufacturing right now. Though most of those are supplied in twin sport trims by completed manufacturers like Yamaha and KTM, it seems it is likely to be too late for a brand new breed of screaming two-stroke highway bikes to begin showing in showrooms. As a outcome, we’ll should concentrate on bikes from the previous on this story. With that pre-requisite out of the way in which, let’s dive in.

UPDATE: 2024/03/27 14:47 EST BY UTKARSH SOOD

While most two-strokes have been off the cabinets for a very long time, these iconic bikes are nonetheless wanted by each collectors and fans. Since we wish our readers to know extra about these magnificent machines, we have now up to date this listing with detailed specs together with particular options for every bike. We have additionally added new entries to make sure all of the content material stays related and informative.

In order to provide the newest info attainable, the information used to finish this text was sourced immediately from the producer’s web site alongside authoritative websites. The fashions are listed in response to their yr launched, from the earliest to the newest.

12 Kawasaki H2 Mach lV

Year Launched: 1971

As if the 1969 Kawasaki H1 Mach III 500cc mannequin wasn’t mad sufficient (one highway check claimed it was solely secure when parked with the engine off), Kawasaki then turned up the madness dial with the 1971 H2 Mach lV. The bike carried a three-cylinder, 750cc two-stroke engine, creating 74 horsepower whereas weighing 452 kilos. If the dealing with was higher than the ‘Widow Maker’ Mach lll, it was nonetheless a handful in something however a straight line. And even doing that, it was exhausting to maintain the entrance wheel on the bottom.

Performance Specifications

Arriving earlier than the seminal Z1 900, it was yet one more nail within the coffin for the British motorbike trade, which was nonetheless constructing parallel twin-engined roadsters, because it had been doing for the previous 20 years. The writing was on the wall, and it was bikes such because the H2 Mach lV that had been doing the writing.

Special Feature:

• Triple-Cylinder Power: The H2 Mach IV is famend for its triple-cylinder two-stroke engine, delivering a formidable 74 horsepower within the 748cc variant, setting a benchmark for energy and pace.

11 Yamaha TZ750

Year Launched: 1974

If two-stroke engines had 4 cylinders, they tended to be of V4 or sq. 4 configuration. When Yamaha unveiled its TZ750, it was distinctive in having an inline four-cylinder two-stroke engine, producing 89 horsepower initially in 1974, which rose to 120 horsepower by 1979. In the Seventies, Formula 750 racing was massively fashionable, and it was the protect of fire-breathing two-stroke engine bikes from Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha.

Performance Specifications

What set Yamaha’s strategy other than its rivals was that they developed the TZ750 particularly for the sequence, and it was a brutal beast. With the highest pace lingering within the 180s, it is quick even by right now’s requirements. The bike ate via the racing tires of the time and tied itself in knots even on the straights when the throttle was opened. Famously, Kenny Roberts turned one right into a flat monitor racer and received the 1975 Indy Mile occasion. It scared him a lot that he himself was instrumental in getting the bike banned!

Special Features:

• Dominant Racing Heritage: The TZ750 is widely known for its dominance within the racing scene, significantly within the legendary Daytona 200, the place it showcased its distinctive pace and reliability.
• Four-Cylinder Performance: With a 750cc four-cylinder engine, the TZ 750 supplied an ideal steadiness of energy and agility, making it a favourite amongst skilled racers.

10 Yamaha YZ250

Year Launched: 1974

The Yamaha YZ250 is a kind of uncommon bikes on this listing that continues to be in manufacturing practically 50 years after it was initially launched. The 249cc engine of the most recent YZ250 is light-weight and small, producing a broad powerband. This engine is now extra environment friendly than ever due to cutting-edge applied sciences just like the digital CDI and the Power Valve System (YPVS).

Performance Specifications

But there’s extra to it than simply its motor. The YZ250 has distinctive dealing with resulting from its light-weight aluminum body and swingarm, and its entrance and rear hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent management and stopping energy. Both the 48 mm inverted KYB entrance fork and the KYB rear shock with low-friction Kashima Coat internals are absolutely adjustable. Meaning, it stays one of many most fun-to-ride dual sports to personal in 2024.

Special Feature:

• Adjustable Tuning: You can fine-tune the YZ250’s efficiency with options such because the adjustable handlebar mounts, adjustable compression and rebound damping on the suspension, and adjustable exhaust valve timing.

9 Yamaha RD350LC

Year Launched: 1980

Yamaha took classes realized with the TZ750 and put them to significantly better use within the RD350LC, together with water-cooling and a monoshock rear finish. Yamaha turned to its European HQ for assist in designing and configuring the bike, which meant that it was already when it went on sale. It subsequently grew to become an enormous success, significantly in England.

Performance Specifications

It was quick sufficient to tackle 750cc four-stroke inline fours. The dealing with had come a great distance from older fashions and its profile was helped by a massively profitable one-make racing sequence. It was even promoted by none apart from Barry Sheene himself. It received Bike of the Year twice within the UK and was that nation’s most stolen bike! Legendary and collectible.

Special Features:

• Iconic LC (Liquid Cooled) Design: The RD350LC launched liquid cooling to the RD sequence, enhancing efficiency and sturdiness, making it a standout alternative amongst two-stroke fans.
• Lightweight and Nimble: Weighing in at simply over 300 kilos, the RD350LC’s light-weight chassis and agile dealing with contributed to its reputation, offering riders with an exhilarating and responsive using expertise.

8 Honda CR500R

Year Launched: 1984

Off-road motorcycling has all the time been the place you’ll discover probably the most two-stroke engines. Even right now. It’s not exhausting to see why: mild heft and large energy are the right substances for fulfillment. When producers began bolting 500cc two-stroke singles into their MX and Enduro bikes, fireworks had been assured and Honda’s 1985 CR500 was one of the vital incendiary.

Performance Specifications

Almost 65 horsepower on a motorcycle weighing 238 kilos took some taming, nevertheless it additionally took some beating, successful the 500cc MX class eight years in a row. Honda had resisted two-stroke expertise for many years however usually, when it relented, the outcome was whole domination.

Special Feature:

• Incredible power-to-weight ratio: Weighing in at simply over 200 kilos, the CR500 was one of many quickest dust bikes of its time.

7 Suzuki RGV250

Year Launched: 1988

In the late Nineteen Eighties, producers – and clients – had been nonetheless conscious of some great benefits of a super-lightweight, small-displacement sports activities bike. And who might blame them when the outcome was bikes such as the RGV250? The 249cc, two-stroke V-Twin pushed out 60 horsepower, which was lots on a package deal weighing 282 kilos dry!

Performance Specifications

The energy band was slender – between 8,000 and 11,000rpm – which made it tough, however the chassis greater than made up for it and a well-ridden RGV250 might run rings round 750cc and 1000cc sports activities bikes on monitor. Sadly, nonetheless, the age of the two-stroke highway bike was coming to an finish and a new breed of 400cc four-strokes were more reliable and, crucially, had been simpler to trip.

Special Features:

• Race-Derived Technology: The RGV250 incorporates expertise derived from Suzuki’s Grand Prix racing machines, providing riders a style of high-performance options in a manufacturing two-stroke motorbike.
• Lightweight Aluminum Frame: The aluminum body of the RGV250 contributed to its agility and responsiveness, setting it aside as a precision instrument for riders in search of an exhilarating and dynamic expertise.

6 Yamaha RD500LC

Year Launched: 1984

You may suppose that, given the identify, this was merely a 500cc model of the profitable RD350LC. Think once more. In the Nineteen Eighties, producers had been eager to capitalize on race success by providing road-legal variations of their Grand Prix bikes to the general public. Following Suzuki’s RG500 and Honda’s NSR400, the Yamaha RD500LC had a 500cc two-stroke V4 engine bolted into a light-weight body and bodywork.

Performance Specifications

The engine was significantly de-tuned from the total racing bikes however nonetheless, 88 peaky two-stroke horsepower was greater than sufficient to show the hair grey, even when the Japanese had, by this time, obtained a deal with on constructing frames out of greater than ingesting straw-thickness metal tubes.

Special Features:

• V4 Powerplant: The RD500LC launched a V4 engine configuration, bringing a singular and highly effective character to the two-stroke class, and setting it aside as a technological marvel in its period.
• Aluminum Frame: Featuring an aluminum body, the RD500LC maintains a light-weight profile, guaranteeing an ideal steadiness between energy and dealing with, making it a sought-after alternative amongst fans.

5 Suzuki RG500

Year Launched: 1985

There was a time when anybody might purchase a 500cc Grand Prix bike from the manufacturing facility and go racing with the celebrities of the day: are you able to think about doing that right now? The Suzuki RG500 was additionally out there as a road-legal bike, full with a 95 horsepower, four-cylinder, twin crank sq. 4 two-stroke engine.

Performance Specifications

The bike was mild and quick, so long as you saved the engine on the boil above 5,000rpm, beneath which there was little energy. Above it, nonetheless, and also you wanted to hold on: not many bikes of the time, regardless of engine dimension, might match the RG500 for acceleration. At a time of stodgy and heavy sports activities bikes, this actually was a Grand Prix bike for the highway.

Special Features:

• Grand Prix Pedigree: The RG500, derived from Suzuki’s profitable Grand Prix racing bikes, featured a square-four engine structure, showcasing Suzuki’s dedication to bringing racing expertise to the streets.
• Advanced Suspension: Equipped with superior suspension elements (for the time), the RG500 delivered distinctive dealing with, making it a favourite amongst riders who appreciated a mix of energy and precision.

4 Honda NSR250

Year Launched: 1985

The Nineteen Eighties had been a good time for race replicas, with fashions from Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki and this one from Honda. With ‘only’ 45 horsepower and a weight of 328 kilos, it may not have sounded just like the quickest highway bike, nevertheless it was definitely quick sufficient to fret the insurance coverage firms.

Performance Specifications

The factor that actually set the pulses racing of each red-blooded boy who dreamed of being a Grand Prix rider was the truth that the NSR250 appeared precisely just like the bikes that had been successful within the 250cc Grand Prix world championship, full with Rothman’s sponsorship paint job and a single-sided swing arm. The good previous days…

Special Features:

• Pro-Arm Rear Suspension: The NSR250 showcased Honda’s innovation with its Pro-Arm single-sided swingarm rear suspension, enhancing stability and enhancing rear wheel entry for swift tire modifications.
• PGM-III Technology: The NSR250 incorporates Honda’s superior Programmed Gearshift and Ignition (PGM-III) expertise, optimizing energy supply and guaranteeing a easy and responsive using expertise.

3 Bimota V Due Evolution

Year Launched: 1997

Bimota’s restricted version Evoluzione stays to be extremely wanted right now. But sadly, it did extra hurt than good to Bimota’s status within the late Nineteen Nineties, forcing them to briefly shut down on account of the losses accrued. It had the primary (and solely) 500cc, 90-degree V-twin two-stroke engine ever made by Bimota.

Performance Specifications

The reality is that it had plenty of issues, together with oil leaks, irregular transmission of energy, and engine seizures. Bimota adopted it up with 26 restricted racers which weren’t permitted to be used on public roads till the Evoluzione Corsa and the famend Evoluzione was launched in 2001. Even although it enjoys a collectible status right now, the V Due Evolution will all the time be remembered as a horrible conclusion to a real two-stroke legend.

Special Feature:

• It had Bimota’s first and solely 500cc 90-degree V-twin two-stroke engine.

2 Suter MMX 500

Year Launched: 2017

How many fans fervently want that Grand Prix racing hadn’t deserted two-strokes in favor of four-strokes in 2001? Even if the 125cc and 250cc lessons continued with two-stroke tech for plenty of years, the times of the blindingly quick two-stroke 500cc bikes had been gone. But what if the two-stroke had remained the ability unit of alternative?

Performance Specifications

That’s what Suter asked themselves before creating the MMX 500. Suter is well-known in GP circles for constructing among the finest chassis, however in 2017, they determined to go the entire hog and construct a whole bike, albeit not for racing. The engine was a 576cc, twin-crank V4 creating a claimed 195 horsepower. Weight was 280 kilos, so we’ll go away it to you to think about the efficiency for those who can!

Special Features:

• Limited Production Supremacy: The Suter MMX 500 is a limited-production two-stroke marvel, that includes a 576cc V4 engine, offering riders with an unique, high-performance expertise.
• Carbon Fiber Construction: With a chassis crafted from light-weight carbon fiber, the MMX 500 combines cutting-edge supplies with a strong engine, delivering extraordinary efficiency.

1 Langen Two-Stroke

Year Launched: 2022

Today, the one two strokes to be discovered are fitted to MX and Enduro bikes. Although not fairly. In a small workshop in Northern England, a agency referred to as Langen is hand-building completely stunning and unique bikes powered by a 250cc V-Twin two-stroke engine. Pushing out 75 horsepower whereas weighing 251 kilos provides a power-to-weight ratio of 660 horsepower per tonne!

Performance Specifications

It’s bristling with top-end suspension and braking elements and light-weight carbon fiber, aluminum, and titanium development. While we doubt that is the start of a resurgence of two-stroke bikes from the most important producers, it does reasonably set the guts racing!

Special Features:

• Modern Classic Design: The Langen Two-Stroke blends traditional styling with trendy engineering, creating a singular aesthetic that pays homage to the golden period of two-stroke bikes.
• Titanium Exhaust System: Featuring a titanium exhaust system, the Langen ensures optimum efficiency whereas emitting the distinctive and iconic sound that defines two-stroke machines.

Sources: MCN and Cycle World