| There's nothing quite like the scream of a two stroke | | | | revolution) of the engine. Four strokes in comparison |
| engine and the smell of burning engine oil is always | | | | use a camshaft and a series of valves to separate all |
| right there with that scream. In the world of | | | | the phases of energy production. These additional |
| motorsports its sound is unmistakeable. Dirt bikes | | | | components add overall weight to the four stroke |
| would see the two stroke engine utilized on early | | | | engine. The two stroke however must burn oil during |
| models because of the smaller size. Snowmobiles | | | | its ignition phase. This accounts for the blue or grey |
| would also follow suit because of the light weight. It | | | | smoke which emulates from every two stroke |
| was only a matter of time before the atv would | | | | exhaust port. Two stroke engines require oil to be |
| make use of the technology to improve response, | | | | injected simultaneously with the fuel or pre-mixed in |
| increase speed, and reduce weight. The first two | | | | the fuel tank. Two strokes also burn more fuel |
| stroke quad made it to market back in 1985. The | | | | versus the four stroke powerplants. Citing emissions, |
| Suzuki Motor Corporation would design and release | | | | noise pollution, and higher fuel usage, the two stroke |
| the Quad Racer, a two stroke racing quad with a | | | | engine has all but been eliminated from automotive |
| 246cc powerhouse. Although two stroke engines | | | | and street motorcycle market, but the lightweight |
| were appearing on earlier ATC's from the big four | | | | simplicity and sheer horsepower per cubic centimeter |
| manufacturers (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and | | | | of these engines allowed them to flourish in the |
| Yamaha), this quad in particular would set off a | | | | offroad market. |
| revolution of racing and sport riding. The atv brought | | | | In their heyday, quad manufacturers flooded the |
| more stability to the table with four wheels versus | | | | market with their own two stroke engines. Beside |
| the three wheeled atc's. Engine size and power was | | | | the big four, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha, |
| utilized far better on quads when riders became | | | | other big players like Polaris as well as a variety of |
| more apt to keeping their wheels beneath them. The | | | | small scale Chinese manufacturers have capitalized on |
| atc was considered unstable and its production would | | | | two stroke power for their quad atvs. But new, |
| eventually be outlawed, but the two stroke quad | | | | lightweight, and more efficient four strokes would |
| would flourish in the coming years with all the major | | | | eventually become the accepted powerplant for the |
| manufacturers contributing their own version. | | | | majority of production quads. The two stroke has |
| The two stroke engine was first invented back in | | | | been completely dropped from the lineup of most |
| 1878 but the first patented two stroke motor, a | | | | manufacturers in favor of reasonably quiet, fuel |
| v-twin, didn't come along until 1904. The two stroke | | | | efficient, technologically advanced four strokes. Sport |
| design has certain advantages and disadvantages | | | | quad riding and organized racing have also, for the |
| when compared to a four stroke engine. One stroke | | | | most part become four stroke events. As quickly as |
| equals one cycle, therefore a two stroke engine | | | | the two stroke engine entered the atv industry, it |
| completes its energy production using half the cycles | | | | has, for the most part, fallen by the wayside even |
| of a four stroker. This is because two stroke engines | | | | with new advances in emission technology, including |
| have no valves. The fuel intake, fuel ignition, and | | | | reductions in odor as well as smoke. |
| exhaust emission all happen on each cycle (or | | | | |