2025 · Enduro · Buyer's Guide
Two-Stroke Enduro Reborn Light
The TE 125 is a 125 cc two-stroke single built as a serious enduro tool. It is not a beginner bike in disguise. Husqvarna builds it on the same hydroformed chromoly frame as the bigger TE models. It gets a WP XACT closed-cartridge fork up front and a linkage-mounted XACT shock out back, both adjustable and both with 11.8 in (300 mm) of travel. Throttle body injection means you never have to rejet it. Electric start means no kicking on a steep, rocky climb. Brembo supplies the hardware for the brakes and clutch. Add ride modes and an LED headlight, and you get a small-bore two-stroke with genuinely modern manners.
On the trail, this bike is all about lightness and precision. It changes direction with almost no input, and the chassis puts the front wheel exactly where you aim it. The engine is the honest caveat. It makes 42 hp from 125 cc, which is strong, but you only get it high in the revs. You keep it on the boil and use the clutch, especially when the going gets slow and steep. It is easy to maintain, it takes a beating, and the aftermarket is deep. For an ambitious rider who wants to learn real technique, or a purist who loves small two-strokes, it's hard to fault.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 42 hp (31 kW) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 125 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 90/90-21 |
| Rear tire | 140/80-18 |
| Ground clearance | 14.1 in (358 mm) |
| Front travel | 11.8 in (300 mm) |
| Rear travel | 11.8 in (300 mm) |
| Seat height | 37.8 in (960 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.2 gal (8.5 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Lighting
Safety
Where this Husqvarna TE 125 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Displacement
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the TE 125 is actually built for.
For technical desert riding this is a great fit. It's light, fully adjustable and precise on ledges and in sand. Plan your fuel for longer loops, and be ready to keep the revs up on steep climbs.
Made for Moab · Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes
It handles practice laps well, but it's an enduro with a headlight and ride modes, not a pure motocrosser. If racing from the gate is your main goal, a dedicated MX bike will suit you better.
Made for Loretta Lynn's Ranch · Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area · Fox Raceway at Pala
Honestly, this is not your BDR bike. The 2.2 gal tank, tall seat and lack of a luggage system make multi-day routes hard work. Trailer it out for technical side loops, though, and it's superb.
Made for AZBDR — Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route · California BDR South · COBDR — Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
