Time for a new bike: TC250 on the short list

It is time for me to get a new bike. I have been riding my wife's WR125 for the last 3 months...and am loving it. The bike is set-up almost perfectly with the exception of a too soft rear shock spring...but it is my wife's bike, so I cannot change that.

The last day of Red Sticker season was Monday. So, no more WR125 at our usual riding spot, Hollister Hills, for awhile. I was going to wait until the fall to pick up a bike, but I was finally able to get my father-in-law a bike. And, he wants to ride over the summer.

So, I am seriously thinking the TC250 is my next bike....because:

1) It is green sticker (and possibly made street legal?)

2) It has the same frame, etc. etc. as the WR125, which just feels perfect when riding. Plus the handling seems to be the best I have ridden. The TC250 has to be close to the WR125 if not more planted.

3) Price somewhere around $6500 hundred OTD, which I think is really good. The only thing that compares are leftover bikes.

4) Throw on some handguards, larger sprocket and away I go. Maybe kickstand at some point (if someone makes one or I can adapt a stock WR!125 stand).


My worries...

1) getting another 4T that needs a lot of maintenance and work

2) getting another small bore and wishing I had one small bore (WR125) and an open class bike (450 or 3002T)

3) Power. Is the TC250 slow? Are cams available?


Other bikes on the short list: CRF 450r, KTM 450sxf, Husq WR300, KTM 250sx, CRF 250r

Anyone familiar with Hollister Hills knows there is not much super technical riding. Mostly 2-4 gear double track, and some nice flowing single track. I do have to putt behind the family, and hit the vintage motocross and modern motocross track almost every time I am there. Maybe a trip to the bike destroying Pismo (1-2x per year).

Any reason this is not the bike for me? (PS: i do not want the TXC b/c of the weight and FI)

JS

I have been thinking of a TC250 as a second bike to go along with my wr125 as well, and for many of the same reasons you mention. However, I can ride my 125 year round here, and I haven't found anything it can't do.
The biggest problem with the TC250 that I see is kick starting, and I believe that those tricks will be discovered, and starting will be no problem. Some sort of auto clutch would help as well, so you never stall, but if your riding is more open that should not be a issue either.
GP

Are you sure the TC is green sticker? I thought the TC was red and the TXC and TE were green.

Pretty sure. I called Dan at MotoXotica and asked him. He said all the 4Ts are green. I saw a used 2010 TC250 on CL a month or so ago that was listed as green sticker too (which surprised me and got me thinking about the TC again).

JS

Nice line up of bikes there :0 )

The power should be fine on the TC250 ... There are threads out here on the TC and everyone loves it and some are reporting starting problems after heating up BUT most say this is cured after an update kit from Husky on the CARB ...

I gotta admit, the estart is great on the trails ESP when starting the bike in some odd places ... I'm old and will carry the extra 10 lbs with me for this luxury

The 300WR will be a beast as compared to any of the 250fs ... You want bad a$$....go with this bike and just try to pin it ...

PS -- My 08 TXC250 has a CARB and I'm glad no FI ...

And go over to the racing section here and you will read more like this:
http://www.cafehusky.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10107

I'd say if you like a wr125 you will love the tc250.

But...for open stuff and sand a 450 is a good or maybe even a better option.

If you get a TC250, budget yourself a rekluse and a jd jet kit.

Well...I think I am going to go for it. I have had great experience with my Husky's, both my WR 250 and now the WR125.

I have never rode a bike with a rekluse. Gestion01, does the rekluse for the TC250 the one that still has the clutch that can be pulled in to fan the clutch, etc?

I have been following the discussions on the TC250 and everyone seems to be happy with it. Dan at MotoXotica told me it comes with a spark arrestor in the stock pipe. But everyone seems to be changing out the stock pipe. Anyone know the price of the Akra, and whether or not a spark arrestor is available?

thanks for the help.

JS

Jsleeper,

Once you get used to an auto clutch you will never go back. It just makes it soo easy. The left hand rear brake is as much an upgrade as the clutch(almost). I was worried that I would still need to use the clutch a lot on my 144 and popped for the spendy Rekluse 2 finger clutch with the left hand brake. If I use that clutch once or twice a ride I would be surprised and I am a short fat guy riding a lot of tight, steep, stuff. I was mostly surprise at how easy it is to loft the front wheel over down fall with the 144 and an auto clutch. I rarely use the clutch and only when stopped up against the log and need to pop the clutch to jump over the log.

Walt

u guys are making the auto clutch sound very good for the woods....

What is the behavior when the engine is dead and in gear? Does the back tire lock or does it roll? Some of the stuff I'm in now is so steep going down that I kill the motor and put the bike in 1st gear and use the clutch as a brake to drag the rear wheel down the hill ...

Thanks. Sounds good. I have been wondering about an auto clutch for some time...for my wife (Not to imply anything, haha, just that she would benefit from not having to clutch the bike that same an experienced rider benefits from not clutching the bike in very technical terrain or even motocross). But it seems to be a neat option for the really technical stuff, as you describe.

What I am wondering is how they do when riding aggressively, on a moto track, etc. Can you still rev and punch the bike out of corners?
How much do they cost? $400-600?

JS

Have you been able to get your bike to start reliably yet? Or are you still chasing down the problem?

I did not have to worry about the WR125 starting. On an average trail loop with the family I may stop and start the bike 3-5 times. This is a no worry, no thought process on the WR125. But, could be a big deal if I have to kick the bike 15+ times! I may have to tell my family they are on their own if they fall or get stuck, and meet everyone back at the truck....if 15+ plus kicks is a regular occurrence with the TC250 Maybe that would be a good thing, haha. They will probably fall less if I was not there to pick them up.


JS

I have the basic rekluse z-start in my KTM, works flawless, you can override it if you want. I have the EFM in my wr125 and you can over ride it also, but the action is more on -off, so is the rekluse. The rekluse pro supposedly works like a real clutch, haven't tried one.
The new rev lock Motosprtz is selling may be the best option for the price and simplicity.
Unless your clutch skills approach those of Ricky Carmichael, I recomend an auto clutch for woods riding especially on a bike that may be hard to start like a TC250.
GP

First, your question on the rekluse. Yes its the core version. So your lever is just the same as stock. It's magic, should be stock on all 4t's. Your bike will not stall. I'd say its near impossible to stall it.


Starting: cold it will start very easy. Hot, it will not...real PITA. If you start the bike 3-5 times per loop forget about the TC and get a TXC.


That's why you need the rekluse, so the engine does not stop.

Sounds bad on the starting ... but that is an awfully big band-aid for fixing a bike that will not start ..

You can't bump start one with this device on board can you?

No bump start. You have to keep in mind it's a race bike. And that's what i use it for. It's fair to say that following the family around, stop and go, it's not the best bike.

Cold it's a 1 kick bike. I get great dead engine starts. But hot forget about it. It's anywhere from 4-5 kicks to 25-30.

My TC 250 consistently starts in 1-2 kicks cold and 1-3 kicks hot. I installed the carb upgrade from Husky, and I also installed a flex jet fuel screw. The bike is sensitive to fuel screw settings. I will typically adjust it to 1 1/4 turns below 60 degrees F, then close it 1/8-1/4 turn for every 10 degree rise.

I'm still waiting on the carb update. Since the distribution change in Canada getting parts is almost impossible. They really need to do something... if it can start 1-3 kicks hot, then it's a great improvement.

A rekluse enabled bike cannot be bumped started is my point ... I don't like that idea because a very high % of the time a hill is available for rolling to a start ...

That carb update will B UR ticket ... I wish I had a flex jet fuel screw !

I have worked a lot on it. Spent hours practicing starts. At least now it starts 1 kick cold. That is a big deal for H/S racing. Then as long as the bike runs non stop for 3 hours I don't care as much for the hot start. Suffice to say when I pit for gas I don't shut off Not 100% legal though, hiding from the referee on that one.

other than that the bike is very, very good off road.