krieg
Husqvarna
Pro Class
Welp, I finally got to take the new TC on a proper maiden voyage today. The bike is still in "break-in" mode so I didn't wring its neck or thrash it into oblivion... BUT...
... as the previous owner of a 2010 TC 250, a 2010 TXC 250, a 2009 TXC 250, and a 2008 TE 250... I can report without a doubt that the '12 TC is by far the best Husky 250 motor I've ever ridden. This motor is the real deal and the Keihin EFI is VASTLY superior to the PATHETIC Mikuni shit we Husky Lovers have been making excuses for over the last few years.
STARTING: 1 to 3 kicks cold (just like the Jap battery-less Keihin systems), 1 to 3 kicks hot (DO NOT use the hot start lever). Just like the 2010 TC 250, this baby needs to be kicked from TDC! If you kick it like a 2 stroke, you will be "rewarded" with a kickback that will break your ankle and launch you to the Moon. If you take the extra millisecond to find TDC, you will be rewarded with a quick start. Regarding the hot start lever... I tried it 3 times with the bike hot. All 3 times it actually caused the bike to start harder with moderate to severe kickback. I tried it once pulling the hot start lever about 1/4 open and it started first kick.... just like it does without touching the lever. I recommend trying hot starts WITHOUT the hot start lever, and if it won't start, then try it with the lever barely pulled.
LOW END: Noticeably more than the 2010 TC and TONS more than the '10 TXC 250. Throttle response is instant and the low end is much improved. It's nowhere near the "cannon shot" sensation of our 2011 KX 250F, but the power is useable as opposed to the "holy shit what do I do now?" power of the KX. For woods, I would probably put a 51 on the rear. I think a 52 or a 12 (on front) would be too much. The 51 would probably not be a bad idea for MX as well.
MID: VASTLY improved over the 2010 TC and UBER VASTLY improved over the 2010 TXC. The transition from Low to Mid is almost seemless with the new motor and EFI. This is probably the most noticeable improvement in the motor for those who have owned several different iterations of the Xtra-lites.
MID TO WFO: Vague. Here's where things seem to need improvement. Once you launch yourself into a straight stretch where the throttle goes from 1/2 to WFO... my brain seemed to want to twist the throttle about 1/4 turn more than full stop. It seemd to take a second or two to get onto the "Pipe". Once it hit that "pipe" sweetspot, it was all good and the motor came back to life. It wasn't the same sensation as a bog. Rather, it felt like an automatic transmission needing to find the right time to shift. I didn't spend too much time testing this area because I was worried about proper break-in. Maybe this will improve as the motor breaks in and loosens up.
HANDLING/SUSPENSION: STIFF! and STIFFER! Compared to my 2010 TC, this bike is harsh out of the box. Maybe that's a good thing for the MX'ers out there. Cody always complains about the KYB's on his '11 CR 150 bottoming out. He complained about that on the '10 TC 250 as well. Maybe this is Husky's attempt to address that situation? But for my old man butt... all the clickers were backed out significantly to make the suspension more tolerable in the woods. On my very first ride, I thought I was sitting between 2 pogo sticks!
BRAKES: Superb. Nothing more needs to be said.
WEIGHT: I've seen some articles that mention the bike is a lot heavier than it used to be. I don't feel it. If that's true, it's a non-issue because to my "calibrated ass"... it feels a lot lighter than the 2011 KX 250F behemoth we owned and raced for a few (very few) months. Compared to the Steamroller handling and feel of the KX, the '12 TC feels like a F'in bicycle!
SUMMARY: I have no doubt that this bike, in the right hands, could compete with the Japs and KTM on any MX track. It's still less "rocket-like" than its huge-engined competition, but the power is useable and the handling is lightyears better than our '11 KX 250F. The suspension may need some tender loving care (maybe just for woods riders?), but everything else seems to stack up in favor of a great MX bike... finally!
... as the previous owner of a 2010 TC 250, a 2010 TXC 250, a 2009 TXC 250, and a 2008 TE 250... I can report without a doubt that the '12 TC is by far the best Husky 250 motor I've ever ridden. This motor is the real deal and the Keihin EFI is VASTLY superior to the PATHETIC Mikuni shit we Husky Lovers have been making excuses for over the last few years.
STARTING: 1 to 3 kicks cold (just like the Jap battery-less Keihin systems), 1 to 3 kicks hot (DO NOT use the hot start lever). Just like the 2010 TC 250, this baby needs to be kicked from TDC! If you kick it like a 2 stroke, you will be "rewarded" with a kickback that will break your ankle and launch you to the Moon. If you take the extra millisecond to find TDC, you will be rewarded with a quick start. Regarding the hot start lever... I tried it 3 times with the bike hot. All 3 times it actually caused the bike to start harder with moderate to severe kickback. I tried it once pulling the hot start lever about 1/4 open and it started first kick.... just like it does without touching the lever. I recommend trying hot starts WITHOUT the hot start lever, and if it won't start, then try it with the lever barely pulled.
LOW END: Noticeably more than the 2010 TC and TONS more than the '10 TXC 250. Throttle response is instant and the low end is much improved. It's nowhere near the "cannon shot" sensation of our 2011 KX 250F, but the power is useable as opposed to the "holy shit what do I do now?" power of the KX. For woods, I would probably put a 51 on the rear. I think a 52 or a 12 (on front) would be too much. The 51 would probably not be a bad idea for MX as well.
MID: VASTLY improved over the 2010 TC and UBER VASTLY improved over the 2010 TXC. The transition from Low to Mid is almost seemless with the new motor and EFI. This is probably the most noticeable improvement in the motor for those who have owned several different iterations of the Xtra-lites.
MID TO WFO: Vague. Here's where things seem to need improvement. Once you launch yourself into a straight stretch where the throttle goes from 1/2 to WFO... my brain seemed to want to twist the throttle about 1/4 turn more than full stop. It seemd to take a second or two to get onto the "Pipe". Once it hit that "pipe" sweetspot, it was all good and the motor came back to life. It wasn't the same sensation as a bog. Rather, it felt like an automatic transmission needing to find the right time to shift. I didn't spend too much time testing this area because I was worried about proper break-in. Maybe this will improve as the motor breaks in and loosens up.
HANDLING/SUSPENSION: STIFF! and STIFFER! Compared to my 2010 TC, this bike is harsh out of the box. Maybe that's a good thing for the MX'ers out there. Cody always complains about the KYB's on his '11 CR 150 bottoming out. He complained about that on the '10 TC 250 as well. Maybe this is Husky's attempt to address that situation? But for my old man butt... all the clickers were backed out significantly to make the suspension more tolerable in the woods. On my very first ride, I thought I was sitting between 2 pogo sticks!
BRAKES: Superb. Nothing more needs to be said.
WEIGHT: I've seen some articles that mention the bike is a lot heavier than it used to be. I don't feel it. If that's true, it's a non-issue because to my "calibrated ass"... it feels a lot lighter than the 2011 KX 250F behemoth we owned and raced for a few (very few) months. Compared to the Steamroller handling and feel of the KX, the '12 TC feels like a F'in bicycle!
SUMMARY: I have no doubt that this bike, in the right hands, could compete with the Japs and KTM on any MX track. It's still less "rocket-like" than its huge-engined competition, but the power is useable and the handling is lightyears better than our '11 KX 250F. The suspension may need some tender loving care (maybe just for woods riders?), but everything else seems to stack up in favor of a great MX bike... finally!
. jk. Krieg sure sounds like Husky is closing the power gap and I never question their handling. Thanks for the ride report; excellent job as usual.
... Did you notice the pinkin was not a player in sx till a world class rider got on board? Husky can do the same ... with a world class rider .... Its just that simple ( A.K.A $$$ talks ) .