On the Yam and the GT250 I used the best I could afford ('low ash' is how I remember it, no idea of brand) and I never had to decoke the silencers of either. Can't remember how many miles I covered on them - it's too long ago. In the Jawa I think I used cheap stuff, and the silencers would pour out tarry filth. I think I decoked them about every 1500 miles. So perhaps it does make a difference, not to performance but to maintenance. Or perhaps that's the difference between pre-mix and metered.

I think I'd agree with that.

How much!
Used to be a guy near me who had one years ago.
Used to spin the gear lever over and use as a kickstart!!
When he gunned it up the road it was like a smoke grenade going off!!!!
It broke down every week.
Usekess it was.

The combined gear lever/kickstart was an answer to a question no-one had asked. You ended up with a kicker that was too small (and too close to the footrest - my left big toe still hurts in wet weather after mashing it against the very solid footrest a million times) and a gear lever that was too big and clumsy. You had to ask - why?

If your mate's bike broke down every week, it must have been one of the good ones.

Useless doesn't come close.

Mz 250
 

Three guys on MZ two strokes rode from Japan home via Mongolia, Russia etc. this past summer, 2012. Bit of welding needed I think but they made it without ann major mishaps.

Nothing serious, but I rode South Africa to Kenya and later Morocco to Guinea Bissau, on a beat up classic Vespa PX200E... not exactly reliable, not exactly fuel efficient, not exactly environmentally friendly, and not exactly suitable... but still capable, even offroad.

Still, single cylindered two strokes are great - especially for their simplicity and ease of repair and service.

My biggest concern with two stroke engines is oil consumption. You think gasoline can be difficult to get in some places, try to find two stroke oil! Of course it exists, but finding the holy grail might be easier. And as for synthetic or even semi synthetic... ha, ha, ha.

With your regular 2% oil mixture, and pluss minus 5L fuel per 100km (heavy loaded old tech single cylindered two stoke bikes with small engines are usually thirsty), cutting the shortest distance across Africa translates into 12 liters or so of two stroke oil... that is if no oil is spilled, you don't mix too much, no bottles are broken or lost, and no detours are taken, and no idling with wheels not rolling. In all reality, the oil consumption would likely be more like 15 liters. So, if you plan to go through the heart of Africa and don't want to spend much time searching for oil, be prepared to carry many liters of oil at all time!

Some places, digging for it might actually be easiest.

TST - Two Stroke Touring
 

My '89 Jawa 350 I´ve been riding since´93. Great bike, points-ignition, single carb, low-cost everything except fuel & 2-stroke oil. Never let me into big trouble, just a handfull of roadside-adjustments when I´ve neglected the ignition-timing. The bike needs enthusiastic owner, and lasts forever. Mine starts in 28 celcius below zero, does 80+ km/h with two-up plus campingear for wintertime. Friend did Oslo-Irbit (Sibiria) and return, 9000 kms without problem. Another friend did Hammerfest (190 kms south of North Cape) - Praghue and return, 8000 kms. No problems. Lend me the bike last autumn for a short trip to North Cape. The Jawa 350 will do the job, but I think you have to be slightly interested to keep it running:thumbup1: