Time to upgrade to smaller bike?

[Motosportz]

Dude you picked the bike reported to have no power. That sucks.

 

[ioneater]

Yeah, this thing's completely gutless Just got back from a little break-in ride with F2G and his 09 250. What is mind boggling is how beefy it sounds compared to the 09 running them side by side. It sounds like my 510 but without the chirp at idle. Suspension is very predictable in a good way with me not touching any clickers. Took it pretty easy on it, but there's a lot left on the throttle. I had to PRY it out of David's claws when he took it for a spin, guess he liked it too Plenty of low end for half the cc's of what I'm used to wrestling with. Going to dump the oil and go through the bearings this week. Got to get it armored up for some single track action!

 

[fitness2go]

I can't wait to see it in a magazine comparo with a WR250F and CRF250X.

I rode it back to back with my 2009 TXC 250 that I have only ridden 4 times. I need a couple more rides on both to really put things into perspective, but initially I am thoroughly impressed. A lot of you hear me complain about how heavy our Husky's are and Kelly would tell you that you don't notice it when you're riding...wrong! You feel the weight difference immediately...whether your pushing the bike, picking it up (no I didn't drop his bike), riding it really slowly, riding it really fast, riding it over nasty stuff, blasting through a corner and over whoops. The weight difference between my 2008 TE 450 and 2009 TXC 250 was a huge leap forward and the gap is even more with the 2010 TXC 250. The power to weight ratio on this 2010 bike is off the charts. The 2010 TXC 250 has to be close to 30 lbs lighter than our 2008 TE's and it's probably 10 lbs lighter than my 2009, but we'll know for sure when he's done putting on similar protection. It has plenty of grunt down low and the power is instantaneous...it really lights up. My 2009 TXC 250 is electric smooth compared and the 2010 is race twitchy, but EFI smooth. I probably can ride my bike from a near crawl to a full-on romp better than I can on the 2010. If you're racing aggressively corner to corner, this 2010 TXC will gobble up my 2009 TXC 250. The ergos are similar on both bikes...balance, front to back, is great on both (just lighter all the way around on the 2010)...suspension felt very similar and don't wallow like a TE while resisting bottoming out. The twin cartridge zooks on my 09 TXC 250 are unbelievable and giant step forward compared my 08 TE 450.

So here is the real scoop. I broke my shoulder on August 22th and have been on my brand new 2009 TXC 250 four times (all within the last 2 - 3 weeks). Drum roll please...are you ready for it? I am instantaneously faster by a HUGE margin on my 2009 TXC 250 than my 2008 TE 450. The scary thing is, I can see myself being even faster, more aggressive, on this 2010 TXC 250...not sure if I want to go that much faster. Husqvarna has a bona fide winner with the 2010 TXC 250, but my 2009 isn't far behind for many reasons.

 

[ioneater]

Yep, he was freakin flying around the place, grabbing air, throttle turning, riding circles around me, way faster than on the ole 450. Was fun to watch.

 

[ioneater]

Here's a boring 8 minute clip from the maiden voyage. My favorite part is at 4:17, something I don't see very often. You know that feeling when there's the sudden lack of engine noise from someone else's bike? It was all good, though.

http://vholdr.com/node/62532

Sorry for the horrible audio, vHoldr's definitely suck in that department.

 

[fitness2go]

That guy in the red outfit curses like a sailor and is such a tool. Oh, tell him that outfit makes him look fat!

 

[HuskyDude]

Hey that thing sounds like a bear.

Still pretty wet out there isn't it. How far can you ride from there any forest nearby?

Cool vid

 

[fitness2go]

It's actually a crappy little plot of land that people dump crap on (bastards). It's in city of Tacoma like an inner city war zone, but it's close to me a Greg for tinkering with the bikes without having to drive 2 hours. It's also a great place to practice throttle turns, slow technical riding over rough stuff and a small rough track with jumps.

 

[R_Little]

Kelly,

If they went to a much smaller clutch, do you think it is a re-use of the 125 clutch?

Walt

i was thinking the same thing.

The 125 has 5 bolts? how many on the new 250?

 

[ray_ray]

I've never been a big bore guy or a 4t guy either...always been on the 250 CRs 2T. But, I gotta admit, my 08 TXC250 is really a cool bike for the single track stuff in GPNF. Plenty of horses, suspension is very good after dialing it in a little, and it just goes as fast or slow as I want to out there...It also seemed like the faster I went, the harder I rode and tighter I wound the engine, the bike got better on the top side It would just level out and scream down the trail through the rough stuff ...

It has a 6-speed transmission and I have always liked these plus it is very flickable in the woods...I'm sold on it ....

 

[Motosportz]

and Kelly would tell you that you don't notice it when you're riding...wrong!

Not sure what you are referring to but I don't think i ever said that. I did post a few times when people start talking about 2-5 pounds difference and Ti bolts etc. I think i have pointed out several time how much lighter and more flickable the 2010 TXC is over the older one and it is very noticeable. I also rave about the lightness of the 125. It feels even lighter than the 2010 TXC by a good margin. In the end IMHO a few pounds make no difference for off road where you bike will gain 20 pounds of mud anyway and your packing 10 pounds of tools and food. 10-15 pounds plus is very noticeable and makes a performance difference. Then there are bikes that are relativity heavy but ride much lighter than they are like the Berg. Mass centralization and lower center of gravity in many cases is as important or more important than overall weight IMHO. Part of what you are feeling with the new TXC is the low center of gravity over the old motor / frame. I sold my excellent 08 TXC450 to get a 125, I think I understand weight.

 

[fitness2go]

Every single time I mention the weight of my 2008 TE 450 and it being a pig, you would chime in that that you didn't understand the fascination with weight and that it doesn't matter how much it weighs, but only matters that the bike perform well. Well, you're wrong...drastically wrong. You know how I know...because I own a 2008 TE 450 (heavy, heavy, heavy) and a 2009 TXC 250 (lighter, lighter, much lighter), which illustrates perfectly the difference that weight makes. For all intensive purposes, they have the same ergos, but have a weight difference of 30 -35 lbs. I can push the TXC 250 side to side in tight stuff so much easier than on my TE 450...not even close (and I haven't ridden since 8/22/2009). Here's the biggy, I don't get nearly as tired either. The power to weight ratio on the TXC is so much better than my TE. Do you think there is a coincidence that you have gone smaller and smaller and rave about handling and flick-ability when the ergos are about the same as your 2008 TXC 450? All things being equal, give me a bike that is 30 lbs lighter every day of the week and twice on Sundays...that is essentially what a 2010 TXC 250 is!

weight is just one of many factors that performance is based around. I rode a 08 KTM SX450, a very light bike (stripped 4 speed). Honestly in the trail if felt no lighter than my TXC and did many things not as well (handling, suspension, ergos etc.). I would rather ride bike that feels light, works great and is long lasting. That is what the husky is. I have had bikes off all weights including 125 2 strokes. The weight means NOTHING to me, the way it works means EVERYTHING.

if your big into what a bike weighs get the KTM. They are all great bikes and if that is a big determining factor get it.

Quick story. A guy I know local who is a multi time A class enduro champ who rides YZ250's exclusively rode my TXC450 a while back. He bought a TXC450 shortly after and has been winning everything on it. He said it does not feel heavier (even though he knows it is) on the trail, does not wear him out, turns and accelerates better than his YZ and is a great race bike. you might have seen him post here a little (shotgunscott). He is winning everything these days and it is cool he got on a husky. This is in tight single track NW stuff. BTW his YZ is very much setup with LTR suspension, damper, tank, motor stuff, a full on race prepped bike.

I find the fascination with weight funny. I know my bike weighs a lot more than a YZ250 but I still prefer it greatly every day all day.

 

[Motosportz]

Well alrightly then. Yep, bought the 125 cuz it was light. Yep, understand what weight does. I guess if you want to dig up some passing comments about bikes form 2 years ago and call me out as being drastically wrong and that i don't understand bike weight that's fine. I think it is obvious to everyone bike weight makes a difference. I also believe there are bikes that perform very well at several weight levels. The Berg comes to mind. Sorry if i made a post every single time you mentioned weight, guess i did not realize i did that. Obviously i struck some cord with you i had no idea i was striking. I think my main point was weight is a factor but one of many. Suspension, power, fork height, etc. can all make you faster. Your new TXC is not much lighter than a stripped TE450. Part of what makes it feel so much lighter is the less power. Less power also makes a bike turn way better because it is not making the front end push as much. Right now i have a KX100, WR125, TXC250, WXC250, 406, 490, and KX500. Like them all for one thing or another. Wish there were a FE390 in there :>)

K

 

[fitness2go]

Kelly...don't get your panties in bunch...it's called friendly banter! I can take it as well as I give. So I guess it's your turn. Besides, we all know that paybacks are in order and I'm sure you'll pop out of some bushes on some future ride with a camera to document my follies on the trail!

What are you doing online in the middle of a prime riding day? I'm only here at home because I'm packing for Maui and I leave tomorrow morning.
***disclaimer...sometimes I can be a sarcastic prick***

 

[fitness2go]

2009 TXX 250 = 248lbs
2008 TE 450 = 280lbs

I could feel the weight difference when diving into a corner and pitching the bike over. I could feel the weight difference when leaping into large whoops without it swapping out. On the flip side, the TXC is everything that the TE wish'd it could be, but never could! Even though I haven't ridden since 8/22/09, I am much faster on my TXC 250 (unbelievable bike)!

 

[ioneater]

Ok girls, let's save the weight talk for the trail! That's where the rubber meets the mud/dirt/rocks/roots/hill climbs from what I remember. Sheesh, eat some chocolate or something, lol

 

[fitness2go]

I already ate some Lindt tonight and that's part of the problem...if I could just stop the insanity and drop 20 more pounds coupled with the weight loss of my bike, I'll really be in heaven. I hope you can ride when I get back from Hawaii!

 

[ioneater]

Have a good time in Hawaii! We (wife and I) envy you. Motosportz already got the Vapor to me today (dang that was quick), just waiting on a few other things to make it crash worthy for my talent level.

 

[hamiltonuh60]

I hope you can ride when I get back from Hawaii!

Will you be doing some riding while you're there? If you are on Oahu you should check out the Kahuku track on the north shore. I did a couple hare scrambles there and the terrain is awesome.

 

[ARod2000]

Congrats. Let us know how you like the KYB forks with the stock valving.