Two Stroke Guy Rides TXC 250 -- Impression

Fellas -- Just wanted to do a quick write up with some thoughts.

By way of background -- I've got an '09 KTM 250 XC-W. I love my bike and its set up nicely for me. I've never been much of a 4-stroke guy. I have a hard time with the sluggish throttle response and the herky-jerky feel of a 4-stroke. I love the torque and the smooth power band, but not a fan of the extra weight. Two strokes are more my style.

Or so I thought.

Our local dealer had the TXC250 [brand new -- I rode it it had 5 miles] and a Husaberg FX450. I rode each bike for about 15 minutes [about a 5 mile loop] that had some whoops, sand washes, twisty little technical canyons, a long climb and some fast stuff. Rode my bike first to get a baseline. Yep -- great bike.

Rode the Husaberg. I'll spare the detailed write up for another forum but man I thought that bike was fast -- scary fast. My seat of the pants impression was that it was more powerful than my bike by a good measure. Nice bike -- I could certainly justify owning one if all I did was wide open deserty stuff. Handed good in the technical stuff -- but the 4-stroke character comes out when you slow down. Final note -- FI makes the throttle response very much like my bike. REally no difference when you turn the throttle. Nice bike -- not disappointing in the least. I like my bike better though.

Hopped immediately on the TXC. Nice. Kelly mentioned before that Husky's fit better for him. Me too. Can't describe it but it just feels better than the pumpkin. Seat to standing transition is easier and seated position is better. Standing about the same. Not worlds better than the pumpkin -- but enough to be noticeable.

Fired up with a push of the button. To note -- this TXC was fitted with the competition map. Idled nice. Off we went. This is my first opportunity to ride the new chassis. Very nice. Turned as good or better than my KTM and was nicely stable. The suspension needs some work [turning clickers, etc.] and didn't feel as good as my bike -- but that is to be expected. I came away with the feeling that if I put the same effort into this bike as I had my own -- I would have excellent results.

Zipping around I was really impressed by how nimble the bike felt. Easy to get it from here to there and felt very neutral and easy to maneuver. It did not feel like a 4-stroke to me. I liked how it handled just as much as mine and have dreams of what a nicely set up bike would do in the mountains.

The people who say the TXC is underpowered are nuckin futs. The motor was great. Throttle response is awesome and it spools up nicely. To go faster -- just twist. To go faster, faster -- use the clutch. Very nice delivery. Flat out fast on top, but I didn't get there very often -- it was content to chug right along in the mid and I found a nice happy place to ride. Loved the transmission -- single best upgrade from my bike. You guys are lucky. This bike would make me happy.

Seat of the pants comparison of power -- mine has more, but not dramatically so. I felt like my bike had a bit more in the bottom [torque wise] and on top I certainly think my bike was stronger. The difference was not nearly as dramatic as I thought it would be -- maybe 15% more for the two stroke. I actually think the power delivery of the 250 4-stroke might suit me better. I'll be honest, I get tired of holding on to my bike when its on the pipe after 70 to 80 miles. This is a wonderful motor. Really impressed. Still feels like a 4-stroke and has more herky-jerky feeling than I like [but 100% less than the Husaberg]. Throttle response is great -- no concerns there.

I then rode the same loop with my bike. Hmmmm. Tough call but I still like my bike better than the TXC. The first reason shouldn't count -- my bike is set up for me and I'm familiar with it. In the end though -- it still works a bit better. The second deal is I enjoy my bike's more powerful engine a bit more. The TXC compensates nicely with a lovely gearbox and the ability to rev it to the moon. In the end, I just like the two stroke "feel" a bit better. That being said, I really like this bike and would own one in a heartbeat.

Nice review!

what is the "competition map"?

Kelly, is correct the husky will definitely make more power when it is broken in.

If money were no object -- I'd buy one today and begin to play with it. I'd bet that there is a good chance that with some time and some $$$ that I could get this bike to be every bit as fun as my XCW. Just not prepared to take that risk just yet.

I'd love to get the TXC into the mountains with the motor all loosened up and tuned just right, maybe an exhaust and a Rekluse. That would be a more fair comparison.

For now -- I think I'll wait for the "new" 250/300 two stroke that, hopefully, is on its way soon.

Its all good though -- great bike.

Thank you for nicely balanced review.

Well done

I could easily see myself on one, but I am having a hard time riding anything other than my 144 right now, way fun.

Walt

I was at my dealer today and I took my scales with me. I was shocked that the te 250 weight was 222lbs dry. That's sweet. It was lighter than the WR300.

My 06 WR250 was 250 wet out of the box ready to ride before I added any of the protection. Translates to about 230 completely dry. My WR 144 is at 240 with all the protection and the EFM clutch which adds a pound or so but feels like its about 100 lbs lighter riding and loading.

Walt

Interesting on the WR144 being 240. My '02 WR125 with.... 2.9 gallon tank full, full protection, EFM auto clutch, WR spark arrestor silencer, heavy duty tubes, was 232 lbs on the certified coal yard scale. '00 WR250 set up the same, except clutch, was 256 lbs. Coal yard closed, so never weighed the '09 WR125.

Norman,

I wasn't using a certified scale. I was just using the height adjusted bathroom scale method. The only valid point was it was the same scale for both measurements. The listed dry weight for these two bikes is 10 lbs apart but I have at least 7-8 lbs of added weight on my WR 125 including a comprehensive first aid kit under the seat strapped into the empty space by the air cleaner.

Walt

PS, I also have lights, plate, dual actuated LHRB, and FMF Fatty plus TC2 sparky on the WR144

I also had headlight and drop tailight with plate, on both bikes. WR250 had Baja Designs dual sport kit.

Norman,

Now we need someone to find a decent set of scales to weigh the 09 and later WR125. I have no faith that the bathroom scale is in any way accurate. I am sure it is weighing heavy

Walt

Very well done ride report and thanks for taking the time to do so.

wr300

There were two TC250 there. The one was the only bike there that did not have fuel in it. I did not want to post the others because I was not sure how much fuel was in them. I looked in all the tanks and they looked to have very little fuel in the tanks. He put just enough to run them. Here are the numbers anyway.

TC250 dry 222lbs
TC250 with some fuel 229lbs
WR300 with some fuel 235lbs
TXC 450 with some fuel 267lbs
TE 250 with some fuel 253lbs.

The WR125 was out getting the exhaust and reeds updated. I will be heading back to weight it.