TE/TC 2015 TE 250 review. The good the bad and the ugly with video

[fletchman45]

Ok so I am trying to get video uploaded and not having great luck. Lets talk about the bike for a minute. The bike has quite a few cool parts but here are the main differences performance wise between a stock 15 tc 250 and this one. 50 tooth rear sprocket and a 9 ounce flywheel weight . Scotts steering dampner with a rubber submount, Front and rear suspension revalved by Halls Husqvarna. Stock springs. My current weight 167.5 pounds. Age 50. Still aggressive. None of the video at race pace but a fun safe pace for sure (mostly safe LOL) I must report chapter 3 for Husqvarna will be fine. With a steel frame and plastic subframe the chassis seems to provide plenty of flex for rider comfort. I will update this every day for the next few days as i am on vacation. The engine is a giver. Very good performance. Smooth powerful lugs down to nothing without stalling. Revs out very nicely and the clutch is silky smooth perhaps a tish lighter then a Gas Gas. Suspension at this point feels good. And I mean good. I was able to bottom it but hit hard and I mean hard. Not harsh at all. Chassis very predictable and nice handling. I trust it. Front end does not wonder or do anything strange (if any of this changes due to conditions etc I will report) I also installed the factory Husky 1/2 inch lower seat with gripper cover ($125.00) a noticable improvement with being shorter and the 15 cover does not impress me but this cover is very grippy and a totally different material then the stock seat cover. The chassis is said to be nervous and I may not be riding fast enough but I did not notice any signs of nervousness. I picked the bike up from Halls this way and did not touch anything not so much as a clicker and this thing feels solid!! My only real sore spot comes with the rear brakes..All brembos are not created equal....And I won't go into detail but the Red bikes had better stoppers. The front brake is good and compairable to a current model Gas Gas. It gets the job done. But for sure not as nice as a one finger Red bike. The rear i cooked in ten minutes flat and my buddy blamed it on me as he said i cook every one of my bikes rear brakes as I am a chronic pedal dragger. Keep in mind Halls had lowered the rear pedal to the Max already. One good feature I do like is there is also a bolt to allow you to take out excessive freeplay and allows even further lowering. A quick call to Jay and he said switch to Motul brake fluid and relocate the footpart from the top to the bottom to allow more room so I won't drag the brakes. Other options like my Gas gas are to drill a hole in the rear caliper (just like the factory Gas Gas team does and I did on a Gas gas with great results. keep in mind I already had the sintered pads removed and replaced with semi metallic ebc red pads. What I have learned is do not get to caught up in the internet cowboys saying this and that.... I am a fairly fast A rider and find shortcomings quick. As a KTM hater I am looking to pick this bike apart. Believe me. I just can't at least not yet..... But I have a week!! I was immediately comfortable with this chassis. Not sure if it is the steering dam pner or what. But feels good at speed. At least at the moment and I need more rocks for testing there is little deflection and the suspension ranks up there very very very good!! Rear feels nice and does not kick. tracks well. No swapping. Front feels awesome. Stays up in the travel glides over stuff with little deflection and takes hits very nicely!!! I am also told if I do not find satisfaction with the rear brakes that there is and oversize rotor available and a different caliper mount that allows use of the stock caliper. (The red bikes had a larger stock rear rotor) I belive with the tricks I have to do these brakes will be fine just a little tinkering. Seat height is just fine for my 5' 7" (May be shorter as I'm old now!) Bike is very light feeling. A super turning bike and stable. Feels like a good balance between stability and steering capability. Ergos feel like any thing modern and dare I say make the red wr 250-300 feel dated. Very dated. Again engine revs out nice and runs strong like any modern 250 should. Did not stall it once and must not be riding fast enough as I did not crash the bike even once!! More tomorrow..This riding is in Grand Junction Colorado. We messed around for a couple hours on friday and rode saturday as well and were now in Moab going to Dubinky tomorrow...having a blast!

 

[LandofMotards]

Have fun at MOAB. Was there snow on the ground in Grand Junction?

Oh and about time you rode that bike

 

[fletchman45]

Have fun at MOAB. Was there snow on the ground in Grand Junction?

Oh and about time you rode that bike

looks like snow but it is calcium (salt)was super nice there!! Rode the soverign trail today! Sweet.....Chapter three will be just fine but please take the ?@#*$#&@ KTM stickers off the bike and if you are going to platform share use parts that are not stamped

KTM.... In my brain it is a nice Husky and the legacy continues even if under and arch rivals banner...... Oh did I mention...This dam thing handles VERY VERY nice......

 

[fletchman45]

suspension seems to be working VERY well! Can bottom the forks if getting super aggressive. Rides high in the stroke with no diving and glides over small square edged bumps with little or no deflection. Does not feel nervous . And front end seems VERY trustworthy. Possibly the best suspension I have had! Possibly by accident I am sure!! Seems soft and compliant but has decent bottoming resistance!

clutch action is silky smooth with no signs of fade. Engine runs out well with no signs of overheating. Knock on wood but no lost or loose bolts.....a first. The owners manual is super comprehensive and much improved over the red bikes......In fact the tool kit, manual, jet kit, cover book etc.. is very nice! I don't have the video but there is some VERY VERY nice gnarly first gear singletrack out here! This is like my 7th or 8th time to Moab and if you have Never been here keep in mind life is short and put it on your bucket list!!

 

[LandofMotards]

Skinny ridge is a hell of a place to test a new bike lol

 

[rockdancer]

NICE REPORT / crazy riding area thanks for sharing

 

[fletchman45]

May take today off and spend with family. The rear brake seems to be working ok and I have been more careful not to do as much brake dragging. The front brakes are OK but I guess I expected more with them being a brembo. The front brake stopping power is not as good as and Italian red bike and this is a fact I stand by. The binder is adequate but will not astound you. The TM had a better front binder. The rear at least does not do the dreaded Nisan (Gas Gas) squeak every time you apply the brakes. The rear heats quick if you drag your foot at all. Probably due to the fact the stock rotor is smaller then a Italian Husky The caliper must not be as good either....These rear brakes get a Get the job done rating but a thumbs down not so much to Brembo but to KTM specing the bike this way. Keep in mind I am a chronic rear brake dragger and I do not use the front brake at all (rare occasions) Stock tires feel great in these conditions and I must say the Colorado riding was high speed stuff and I didn't notice any bad handling traits that stood out in fact more the opposite. By accident I may have got lucky because this revalve feels better front and rear then probably ANY of my previous bikes. Again nothing but praise for the clutch in both action and feel and no fading. Pulls as easy or easier then a Husky 144 very nice. Also do like the additional brake pedal adjustment height. A thing I became used to with the Red bikes. I have not forgotten my fond memories of my Swedish Huskys or my beloved Italian ones. I simply must have a good dealer for parts and service and who I can talk to and Halls has fit the bill for well over 20 years. So Chapter three goes on and the name Husqvarna stays in my blood. I was hoping to hate this bike so I could justify dumping it and not looking back but at the moment it is quite the opposite....we may even see a chapter four someday!! Anyways more reports to come....

 

[robertaccio]

"A quick call to Jay and he said switch to Motul brake fluid and relocate the footpart from the top to the bottom to allow more room so I won't drag the brakes. Other options like my Gas gas are to drill a hole in the rear caliper (just like the factory Gas Gas team does and I did on a Gas gas with great results. keep in mind I already had the sintered pads removed and replaced with semi metallic ebc red pads. What I have learned is do not get to caught up in the internet cowboys saying this and that.... I am a fairly fast A rider and find shortcomings quick. As a KTM hater I am looking to pick this bike apart."
Fletch, Trying not to be another intertube cowboy---for rear brake reiterating- Motul 660 and red carbon X EBCs with addition of zipty or other reservoir extender and cap for more fluid volume heat dissipation as well as additional slavens caliper end in line heat sink (I used all these items on my red 450s and 310s) the only item not used on my wht kato husky is the slavens in line heat sink.
I also have seen a UK built item under the pads spacer heatsink/weird flag type thingy, that may be beneficial ( I have zero experience with this). Our crew member the UK Welshman Dai actually made his own flag type pad spacer heat sink a couple years ago for his Kato. My front on the TE300 is OEM stock and for me and my skill level fine as is. You know all this is personal dialing in stuff. Note- I also burn rear discs, first day mine was blue and the red paint was burned off my pads. Just my intertube 2 cents

 

[robertaccio]

ps the front binder feel may be result of a different dia master or caliper(slave) cylinder piston(?) because the caliper and pads sure seem to be the same, even with the assemblies (caliper and lever assy) and pads being the same dims, different cylinder/piston dim specs could do this. Usually from experience the master cyl dim is 9.5 to 10.5 mm bore range on dirtbikes just for thoughts on that

PS as usual good pace Fletch mucho more exciting than most intertube viddys.

 

[ajaxauto]

Your heading says TE but then you say TC and I see you kick start it So I guest it is a TC 5 speed 250

 

[wallybean]

Buddy of mine is down there right now but is spending most of his time up near Chimney Rock. Sovereign trail times twenty. Tons of single track and some very technical rides. If you want to meet up with him PM me. He isn't quite at your riding level but won't slow you down and will attack anything.

 

[fletchman45]

Your heading says TE but then you say TC and I see you kick start it So I guest it is a TC 5 speed 250

my mistake I meant to put TC. I bought a TC because I dont want the extra weight of Estart etc.. It does have a te tank.

 

[fletchman45]

Ok no day off four days in a row. I am a little beat up! Went to Dubinky utah today and did 40 miles. Was a blast..Bike works very well! Handling is pretty nice. No disappointments !! I won't lie this thing seems to handle awesome!

 

[fletchman45]

ps the front binder feel may be result of a different dia master or caliper(slave) cylinder piston(?) because the caliper and pads sure seem to be the same, even with the assemblies (caliper and lever assy) and pads being the same dims, different cylinder/piston dim specs could do this. Usually from experience the master cyl dim is 9.5 to 10.5 mm bore range on dirtbikes just for thoughts on that

PS as usual good pace Fletch mucho more exciting than most intertube viddys.

Thanks. I have the red EBC pads installed right when the bike is new. I have found I have been dragging the pedal a tish in the defense of the bike. Yea not sure on the brakes. Not referring to you at all as internet cowboy. LOL. You know your bike inside and out! Jay said the brake extender barely clears the exhaust but it will. Any luck with drilling the caliper? Seemed to work on my Gas Gas

 

[findlay70]

my mistake I meant to put TC. I bought a TC because I dont want the extra weight of Estart etc.. It does have a te tank.

I got really excited about this post as I've desperately been trying to find a review on the TE250 which I have ordered ('16 model). I had struggled for some time to decide on a 250 or 300 and there was even a point I was looking at the KTM 200. I'm about 165 and 5'11". Was worried the 300 would be too much for me - I'm intermediate rider, fit 50yo and ride semi-aggressively. After reading 100's of opinions on each, it seems the 250 is the best fit. I want to invest in a good bike that will last me - thoughts about installing rekluse, LHRB, and steering stablizer.. and whether this will be worth it. Cheers and love the vidoes and riding location in the videos..!

 

[fletchman45]

I got really excited about this post as I've desperately been trying to find a review on the TE250 which I have ordered ('16 model). I had struggled for some time to decide on a 250 or 300 and there was even a point I was looking at the KTM 200. I'm about 165 and 5'11". Was worried the 300 would be too much for me - I'm intermediate rider, fit 50yo and ride semi-aggressively. After reading 100's of opinions on each, it seems the 250 is the best fit. I want to invest in a good bike that will last me - thoughts about installing rekluse, LHRB, and steering stablizer.. and whether this will be worth it. Cheers and love the vidoes and riding location in the videos..!

I have owned a few 300's and for me the additional vibration makes me prefer the 250. Many of my friends have a rekluse and I have rode there bikes. Call me old school but I prefer a stock setup and the Husky pulls so easy there is no getting tired. According to my trusted dealer the chassis is nervous enough that a dampner is definitely worth the money. I popped for the rubber submount in and effort to keep vibration to a minimal. I was very skeptical about buying a KTM/Husky but this bike seems to work and I have not touched anything since picking up the bike! I have not detected any negative handling traits as of yet and have four days of riding.

 

[findlay70]

According to my trusted dealer the chassis is nervous enough that a dampner is definitely worth the money. I popped for the rubber submount in and effort to keep vibration to a minimal.

Thanks fletchman..! Can you advise what rubber submount you installed, please.
I will install a skid plate, rad guards, brake disk guards and pipe guard - still researching whether to use Husky brand or other.
Thanks once again..!

 

[robertaccio]

my mistake I meant to put TC. I bought a TC because I dont want the extra weight of Estart etc.. It does have a te tank.

past Saturday in mex I purposely kicked only....for 99.9 percent of starts. these things start so easily never more than 2 kicks. Our oldest member of the crew always removed the estart stuff from his bikes, he wants the enduro/xc model but not the extra 10-15 lbs.

 

[robertaccio]

On a side note for all the TE250/300 fans (me for one).
For our class with Graham Jarvis, he was on a 100% OEM stock off the Murrieta demo floor TeeCee250, he had only GT front tire added and the plastics from a TE300 on it.......so in capable hands the MX, TC version of the model series is more than good for off road as well.

 

[robertaccio]

Thanks. I have the red EBC pads installed right when the bike is new. I have found I have been dragging the pedal a tish in the defense of the bike. Yea not sure on the brakes. Not referring to you at all as internet cowboy. LOL. You know your bike inside and out! Jay said the brake extender barely clears the exhaust but it will. Any luck with drilling the caliper? Seemed to work on my Gas Gas

Fletch I've never machined or messed with calipers, I know many top tier teams have in the past removed metal for lightening and actually for changing flex characteristics of the caliper as well, along with allowing air flow through it, at my skill level demands it has never been an issue. Consider a race quality caliper, brembo gold, or one of the Braking calipers and disc kits??? Braking has some super nice set ups (I know one of the testers)
As Jay said the extender does come close to the pipe, I thought about putting on wrap of exhaust insulation around the pipe there, but it seems OK without a lot of heat transfer.