my cousin is buying a 1988 suzuki lt230 and he thinks he is going to smoke my 300ex (with mods in sig) in a drag race. we will be racing on pavement slightly downhill. the lt230 is stock as far as i know. who do you think will win?

 

They are both so old, probably both will blow up! Seriously, a guy I ride with has a 230, and I don't think it will be no contest for the 300..

 

The 230, believe it or not, is a more advanced machine, even though it's older. The engine has higher compression, the stock suspension is better (ohlins) and it's quite a bit lighter. The 93-up 300ex is pretty much a re-badged 92 250x with electric start. When I was 15 I had a 1985 QuadSport 230 and I raced by buddy's 87? 250x, stock for stock. Mine had more top speed and got there quicker.

 

Every 230 I have saw has been a slug compared to the 250X or the 300EX. The front end of the 230 are heavy, the thing doesnt turn nearly as good as the Honda.
Theres a lot more to performance then compression levels.

 

You're probably thinking of the wrong model lt230, I think they made an E and a G model, as well as the S model which had a manual clutch. I went and assumed he was was asking about the LT230S model. There are many things that make motors perform differently, as you said. I mentioned compression as one of these factors.
Also, the LT230S has a very light front end, more so than the 300ex in fact. Just read the reviews and articles in old quad magazines, they are notorious for their ability to wheelie well.
Is a 300ex a more reliable machine? Yes, by far.
Would I buy a 250x/300ex over a LT230? Absolutely.
But with all bias aside, I answered his question correctly.