Newbie thinking of getting a TE 250 ..need some advice..

[montanaman]

I have wanted a dirt bike for years. I got back into motorcycles with a BMW 800 GS and love to ride it off road but there are limits of what I can do on that bike. I am about to buy a TE 250 as I like the fact that it can be plated here in Cali and on paper it seems like a great mid-size dirt bike that I can handle and ride more technical trails. I am 5' 8" and concerned about the seat height (37.5 inches is 4 inches taller than my GS and thats a stretch for me) and the emissions and gearing issues. Any thoughts . ALso reading that a lot of people change the ECU and remove the throttle stop to make the performance better. Is that a must or is the bike still great with the canister and all that emission stuff intact?

Thanks .. I would like to hear the good and the bad before I buy a slightly used ( 500 miles) 2010 TE..

 

[Phoenix]

I am 5'6" and ride a stock height 2010 TXC 250. I did shave probably 3/4 of an inch or more of seat foam out of the seat, which some may not wish to do, but it works great for me because I keep my ground clearance (which aready seems to be slightly lower on the Husky) but can get my foot to the ground when I need to. On my husband's bike with the stock seat, its a little higher than I am comfortable with when I get in technical situations.

As for the other stuff, there are power-up instructions somewhere here on the site. You don't really have to change out the ECU, but you remove the O2 sensor and that puts the ECU in race mode. My bike came with all the smog stuff off and in race mode. For kicks, I put the O2 sensor back in and the bike would hardly run (but I didn't have the restrictive stuff on, so that may have been a big factor).

IMO you will love the bike after a little tuning and tweaking. The bike may be taller than your GS, but it is so much lighter that the height will be less of a factor.

 

[jxg]

i'm 5'8" and have a '10 TE250 that i bought used. i can't comment about the bike without the powerup kit because it came already "powered up". i rode the bike for a couple weeks stock height, but then added the Kouba Link because it was in the box, thought i would try it. i like the fact that I can reach the ground a bit easier in certain situations (mainly in the really rocky sections that we have here in the NE). i rarely use my bike on the road, so I can't comment on how the link affects on road performance (besides which my bike is geared 12/51, so it basically sucks on the road anyway, but i like how i can crawl over many sections, and also tractor my way through mud holes).

 

[CJBROWN]

You definitely want to do all the power-up stuff. The bike was never intended to really be run with all that, it's just to pass carb regs and get the the cert.

The 250 is outstanding on TST (tight single track). If you're going to do any desert or any road at all you would probably be happier with the 310 - same bike but with a little more punch. I rode my KTM 250XCFW (very similar bike) for 2 years before I felt like I wanted a little more. Lots of exprience here though. For a noob you may find it's plenty. They do have to be revved though, there is not much torque at low rpm. It's a very different riding technique going from my 250 to my 630.

They are tall. Most learn to deal with it, or you drop it an inch with bones/suspension, and shave the seat so you can touch the ground. Once you get some experience you find out you just stand on the pegs anyway.

 

[R-Man]

I bought a 2007 TE 250 in January - it had been set up wonderfully by the previous owner with Rekluse clutch, rear brake hand control, big-bore kit, etc. I have only spent about 8 hours on it, but took a serious couple of days riding a couple weeks ago and WOW ! It is an awesome bike - did some gnarly trails that would have killed me on my old XT350. I could not believe what it would crawl up and keep on going. I can't imagine you would be disappointed with that bike.

 

[Runner]

FYI the TE250 will be offered in a low configuration for 2012.

 

[montanaman]

Yep.. saw that the new one are coming 2 inches lower by shortening suspension. Wonder what that does to clearance? Hmm.. There are leftover 2011's out there new for $ 5600.. 2012 add 2k to that. Anybody think its worth the difference? I am ready to buy this weekend. Thought for a minute about KTM but all their seats are 38 inches. No thanks

 

[510 SM SC]

Yep.. saw that the new one are coming 2 inches lower by shortening suspension. Wonder what that does to clearance? Hmm.. There are leftover 2011's out there new for $ 5600.. 2012 add 2k to that. Anybody think its worth the difference? I am ready to buy this weekend. Thought for a minute about KTM but all their seats are 38 inches. No thanks

Buy one, once you get it set-to your liking? you will love it. I am 5'9 and put the low seat " special parts"
on and let the suspension settle in. Like C.J. said ride it like a 250, on the pegs and you will have a blast.
I bought my TE 250 to complement my SMR 510. Both bikes are Legal Plated Race Bikes, Ha Ha. Rummor
is that will end soon, bummer, good on Husky for pulling off as long as they could.

Attached is a pic of another way to lower the 250 for street and hard pack dirt.

# 510 SMUSA

 

[Dirtdame]

Yep.. saw that the new one are coming 2 inches lower by shortening suspension. Wonder what that does to clearance?

Ground clearance: 11.42 inches.

 

[montanaman]

Ground clearance: 11.42 inches.

Is that less that the 2011 version? If so is that a bad idea. I read that all 2012's will be sold as "low" versions

 

[Dirtdame]

Is that less that the 2011 version? If so is that a bad idea. I read that all 2012's will be sold as "low" versions

I got that number out of the official 2012 product guide, but it lists the seat height as 37.4 inches and that is wrong. I looked at the specs on the TE310 and they are the same for ground clearance and seat height, so I am guessing that it's an error for the 250. Probably more like 9.42 inches of ground clearance and 35.4 inches seat height. This is only a problem if you are going to be in some really rocky technical terrain. It's sort of a trade off. If the bike is made shorter by redesigning the frame instead of shortening the suspension, then ergonomics can suffer.

 

[montanaman]

I got that number out of the official 2012 product guide, but it lists the seat height as 37.4 inches and that is wrong. I looked at the specs on the TE310 and they are the same for ground clearance and seat height, so I am guessing that it's an error for the 250. Probably more like 9.42 inches of ground clearance and 35.4 inches seat height. This is only a problem if you are going to be in some really rocky technical terrain. It's sort of a trade off. If the bike is made shorter by redesigning the frame instead of shortening the suspension, then ergonomics can suffer.

Thanks.. I am really torn here. There are new 2011's and barely used 2010's out there in So Cal for 5-5.5k. I know the 12's have a few new things that seem like it would make it a better bike. I am 5"8 and I am sure I could benefit from the lower seat. Its just that it will cost 2500 more. There are those in other forums that think Husky is making a big mistake offering only this low version and there will be many discount leftovers next year. That would suck

 

[Phoenix]

A turkey knife and staple gun will run you $50! A nice suspension job might be $800. A 2012 is going to be $2000+ more and you'll have to wait for them to get here. Unless you like the black frame and silver wheels (okay, and the new injector and shock), then I'd be tempted to go for the 2010/11...especially if it already had some farkles!! Just my opinion, though.

 

[Jack]

In California, I wouldn't buy a bike that wasn't already plated. The window for plating dirt bikes closed long ago. Some bikes do get plated, but it's becoming much rarer. Also, with the e-start, the bike can be pretty tall and still be very ride-able.

 

[JasonfromMN]

Rummor
is that will end soon, bummer, good on Husky for pulling off as long as they could.
# 510 SMUSA

What's this all about?

 

[montanaman]

So the decision has to be made. Question. What are the differences between the 2010 and 2011 TE 250. Some of the web sites are confusing. If the 2011 has a slightly bigger tank, better engine protection, CDI switch on handlebar and other upgrades I will just get a new 2011. Not sure. Can I get a new one plated or is that a problem? I could get it plated in AZ where I live part time?

 

[husky bom]

So the decision has to be made. Question. What are the differences between the 2010 and 2011 TE 250. Some of the web sites are confusing. If the 2011 has a slightly bigger tank, better engine protection, CDI switch on handlebar and other upgrades I will just get a new 2011. Not sure. Can I get a new one plated or is that a problem? I could get it plated in AZ where I live part time?

i think the difference between the 2010/2011 are small the best thing that happened in 2011 is the 8.5l fuel tank as to the 6.2l tank on the 2010 250.... if i was to get one i would get a 2011 te 250

ps..2011 te bikes are going to be the better bikes than the 2012 for the price

if you are keen for a 250 or 310 and can wait for the best thing wait for the 2013 its going to blow the enduro market away .........yes i know somthing but canot say

 

[Phoenix]

if you are keen for a 250 or 310 and can wait for the best thing wait for the 2013 its going to blow the enduro market away .........yes i know somthing but canot say

Tease****************************************

 

[montanaman]

i think the difference between the 2010/2011 are small the best thing that happened in 2011 is the 8.5l fuel tank as to the 6.2l tank on the 2010 250.... if i was to get one i would get a 2011 te 250

ps..2011 te bikes are going to be the better bikes than the 2012 for the price

if you are keen for a 250 or 310 and can wait for the best thing wait for the 2013 its going to blow the enduro market away .........yes i know somthing but canot say

thats a year away.. hmm.. I cant wait that long and they will be 8k. I can get a new 2011 from a dealer here for $5500. I am jumping in !!

 

[510 SM SC]

What's this all about?

Living in CA. CARB, EPA, RED STICKER and Arnolds Law.