Glenn/RZ500
Well-known member
I had no problem starting the RZ500 using my hand on the kick start lever. Wouldn`t try that on a CR500 though.
Kawasaki Is About to Ruin 2-Strokes Forever
- Thread starter Trackday
- Start date
Mine is a 24 Ex300 no lube pump from the factory premix only.
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Glenn/RZ500
Well-known member
What brand of oil and premix ratio and gasoline of choice are you using on these new-fangled strokers?
I use amsoil intimidator at 50:1 in the 300s and at 40:1 in the 65 and 100.
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When it comes to off-road riding, one truth has never changed: power and speed will always win. Not gadgets, not sensors, not “innovation,” and definitely not whatever emissions-driven tech the manufacturers try to dress up as progress.
There’s a reason Yamaha has refused to bolt electric start, oil-injection, or fuel-injection onto their two-strokes. It’s not because they can’t. It’s because their customer base doesn’t want it. Riders don’t line up asking for more electronics to fail—they want what worked back in the day: a simple, brutally reliable bike that rips.
Comfort on the trail comes from predictable power, instant throttle, and a bike that’s easy to work on. The moment technology dulls that edge—even a little—it becomes a distraction from the only thing that matters out there: speed and power.
TPI proved it. It arrived because of emissions rules, not rider demand—and the market rejected it. Poor throttle response, sketchy oil pumps, and a sluggish feel compared to a crisp carb. Then came TBI, with KTM claiming it “feels like a carburetor.” But everyone knows why TBI exists: the same emissions pressure. And no matter how they spin it, TBI still isn’t a true carbureted, pre-mix two-stroke.
Ask any off-road two-stroke rider what they prefer. Again and again you’ll hear the same answer:
“Give me a carb and pre-mix. Nothing beats it.”
Because in the woods, through the rocks, over the ruts—technology doesn’t win.
Power does. Speed does. It always has, and it always will.
There’s a reason Yamaha has refused to bolt electric start, oil-injection, or fuel-injection onto their two-strokes. It’s not because they can’t. It’s because their customer base doesn’t want it. Riders don’t line up asking for more electronics to fail—they want what worked back in the day: a simple, brutally reliable bike that rips.
Comfort on the trail comes from predictable power, instant throttle, and a bike that’s easy to work on. The moment technology dulls that edge—even a little—it becomes a distraction from the only thing that matters out there: speed and power.
TPI proved it. It arrived because of emissions rules, not rider demand—and the market rejected it. Poor throttle response, sketchy oil pumps, and a sluggish feel compared to a crisp carb. Then came TBI, with KTM claiming it “feels like a carburetor.” But everyone knows why TBI exists: the same emissions pressure. And no matter how they spin it, TBI still isn’t a true carbureted, pre-mix two-stroke.
Ask any off-road two-stroke rider what they prefer. Again and again you’ll hear the same answer:
“Give me a carb and pre-mix. Nothing beats it.”
Because in the woods, through the rocks, over the ruts—technology doesn’t win.
Power does. Speed does. It always has, and it always will.
Grandpa Mike, relax, your heart can't take the stress. It was a joke, and a decent one at that! We need to make sure your milk is actually warm before bed tonight.
