Words: Guy Streeter

Probably the favourite of the two-strokes, the 2017 Husqvarna TE 250 is a really fun bike to ride. The bike is lighter than the four-strokes and handles amazingly in the tight and technical single trail. If the amazing handling doesn’t get you excited, then the smell and sound of the quarter-litre two-stroke will soon win you over.

Husqvarna has continued to develop the two-stroke well after many other brands pulled the hand brake on producing these off-road rocket ships. The Swedish manufacturer put a lot of time, money and effort to keep the two-stroke development continuing into the future. The majority of the focus in this development has been on power, weight and function.

Having ridden a few older two-stroke motocross bikes recently, I had barely ridden to the first corner and could feel the difference of the new TE 250. Husqvarna has added a counter balance shaft, which has significantly reduced the vibration the engine produces. This has helped with rider fatigue and comfort, which really stands out from the moment you get moving and is easily one of the most outstanding developments Husqvarna has moved forward with on the new generation two-stroke.

The overall weight of the bike is down from the previous TE 250 and the added advantages of less weight are very evident. But the weight reduction isn’t only part of the equation. Lets take a look at what other improvements Husqvarna have made for MY17, starting with the frame. The frame of the 2017 Husqvarna TE 250 features a new design that assists in working with the suspension, while also receiving a wight reduction. Designing the all-new bike, Husqvarna has focused on centralising the weight of the bike.

Image: Grant Reynolds (Fiftysix Clix).

The new generation chrome-moly steel frame is 30 percent stiffer from side to side, which improves handling and rider feedback while allowing the bike to corner better. Changes to the flex of the frame from front to back by dropping the stiffness by 20 percent has also allowed the frame to work a better with the suspension. This all helps the rider on longer rides and aids with rider fatigue.

Moving onto the motor, Husqvarna has made the heart of this enduro animal more compact, more powerful and with less vibration. This 250cc engine has been highly regarded as being the strongest and most powerful in its class, and it is better than it was previously. The addition of the counter balance shaft, as previously mentioned, has reduced vibration by a massive 50 percent. Having changed from the Keihin carburettor to the new 38mm Mikuni TMX carburettor, the new flat slide carb allows the power to be delivered far smoother and in a more controllable manner. This has also helped with the two-stroke problems of jetting for altitude and temperature differences.

The TE 250 puts power to the ground via a six-speed transmission with the same ratios as the previous model, they have not messed with what was considered to be perfect on the original. The 2017 Husqvarna TE 250 also has the option of a really strong and reliable electric leg, which is powered by an ultra light weight LI-ION battery, but you also have the conventional kick starter to get it fired into life.

WP has developed an all-new suspension package for the 2017 TE 250, starting with the XPlor 48 forks. The fork features 300mm of travel and more ‘on the fly’ adjustment than you can poke a stick at. Compression and rebound are in separate fork legs with on the fly clickers on the top of each fork tube. Complementing the new XPlor 48 fork, WP has supplied and made further improvements to the DCC linkage rear shock.

Source: Supplied.

The MY17 TE 250 comes standard with Brembo brakes and a hydraulic clutch. This is something that really finishes off the controls well and gives the bike great stopping power and a light consistent clutch feel. Brembo has worked with Husqvarna and changed the rear brake caliper, making the pedal length longer by 10mm and reducing the caliper piston slightly smaller to give a better feel in the rear brake. This is more fine-tuning of the rear brake to offer a more precise feeling.

With function clearly being something Husqvarna wanted to address, there are also plenty of new innovations Husqvarna has adopted. Most of these don’t make the bike perform any better but they make life that much easier out on the trail. It would be strange for a new generation of bike to have the same plastics, so they have been redesigned and have two grab handles incorporated into the rear of the seat area. This gives you a better spot to grab the bike from pulling it out of a bog hole or over rocks when you are stuck on the side of a cliff.

Continuing on with the plastics, the air-box has been redesigned for better air-flow. The air-filter has also been redesigned with a new locating pin, making it easier to fit the air-filter correctly, preventing damage to the motor. The sub-frame has also been redesigned and is approximately one kilogram lighter thanks to a composite material featuring 30 percent carbon fibre!

Image: Grant Reynolds (Fiftysix Clix).

Moving back to the front of the bike and the one thing you will notice is the new ODI lock-on grips. These have been used on mountain bikes for years and it’s surprising it has taken this long for ‘us’ moto riders to pick this up. No more burning your nose hairs and getting high on grip glue, you can focus on the pre-mix. The seat has also been reshaped slightly to improve comfort with a flatter area to move back and forth on the bike.

Prevention is always better than a fix and Husqvarna has put some effort in two key ares on this. The ‘no-dirt’ footpegs and ‘no-dirt’ shift lever. Both of these updates aren’t really improving performance, rather a smarter option that Husqvarna has included to make your overall ride hassle free. The footpegs have also been raised 6mm, allowing for better ground clearance. However for taller riders who might want them slightly lower, you can easily switch out the enduro variations with the lower motocross footpegs.

The new ‘no-dirt’ footpeg mounts are there to prevent dirt building up, which can cause the peg to not sit flat as it normally would. It’s not every ride that you are going to think about this, but if you’re in the middle of some difficult snotty trails, it’s one less thing you have to worry about. The ‘no-dirt’ shifter also works on a similar premise, preventing dirt entering into the movable elbow and jamming it back. Again, this doesn’t happen often but its one less thing to worry about.

The 9.5 litre tank is again white/opaque giving you no excuses for not knowing how much fuel you have left. The tank is one-litre larger on the two-stroke TE 250 in comparison to the four-stroke models. It also features a new fuel-line connector, which will help prevent any tree branches snagging on your fuel-line.

Source: Supplied.

The motor of the 2017 Husqvarna TE 250 is really a stand out – it’s fast, strong and features 50 percent less vibration. The power is delivered smoother than the previous model and a little more controllable, this can only mean you are faster. The suspension of the TE 250 is also plush and can really take up the bigger hits in a stable and forgiving manor.

The overall ride of the bike feels very light and nimble, and this is highlighted in the tight single trail. Some of the more appreciated items on the MY17 TE 250 are the more functional parts Husqvarna has developed into the new generation model.

If you love two-strokes then you don’t need any convincing that the Husqvarna TE 250 should be on the shopping list. If the improved handling and reduction of weight (down by 2.1kgs) isn’t anything that gets you excited, maybe it should be the new functional parts, or the ability to work on the bike a little easier in your own garage.

The 2017 Husqvarna TE 250 is now available at your nearest dealer at a recommended retail price of $12,995 including GST. For more details on Husqvarna’s 2017 off-road range, visit www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com.