Husqvarna TE 250 Buyer's Guide

The Machine's Character

The TE 250 from this 2009 to 2013 run is a competition enduro that happens to wear a license plate, and that order of priorities shows everywhere. It uses a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 250 cc single making 35 hp and 20 lb-ft. The strength of that motor is the punchy midrange, not a big peak number, and in the woods that is exactly the right trade. The engine sits in a steel double-cradle frame on a 21/18-inch wheel pair with 13.2 in (335 mm) of ground clearance. The result is a four-stroke that feels almost as light and throwable as a two-stroke on tight trails.

This bike is built for skilled riders who spend their weekends on technical singletrack and only use pavement to link trails together. On the street it is compromised by engine buzz, a narrow seat and a 2.2 gal (8.5 L) tank. The honest caveat is upkeep. Fork seals are known to leak, clutches can wear early and start to slip, and plastics crack while bolts work loose, so a pre-ride wrench check is part of ownership. A rare but serious camshaft bearing failure is on record too. If you're buying used, ask for maintenance records and listen closely to the top end.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power	35 hp (25 kW)
Torque	20 lb-ft (27 Nm)
Displacement	250 cc
Engine	Single-cylinder
Cooling	Liquid-cooled
Gearbox	6-speed
Final drive	Chain
Front tire	90/90-21
Rear tire	140/80-18
Wheelbase	57.9 in (1471 mm)
Ground clearance	13.2 in (335 mm)
Seat height	38.2 in (970 mm)
Fuel capacity	2.2 gal (8.5 L)

Known issues

Catastrophic camshaft bearing failure

engine rare

Rare case of camshaft bearing disintegration, leading to metal debris in engine and potential seizure. One owner reported a complete engine failure without warning.
Fork seal leaks

suspension occasional

Front fork seals are prone to leaking, leading to oil loss and reduced damping performance.
Clutch slippage

drivetrain occasional

Premature clutch wear can cause slippage and difficulty shifting, often requiring clutch plate replacement.
Brake fade under hard use

brakes occasional

Brake performance can degrade with hard riding, resulting in a soft lever feel and reduced stopping power.
Lean off-idle stumble

fuel system occasional

The engine hesitates and can stall just off idle when cold due to lean EPA fueling. Improves once warm.
Intermittent electrical/starting issues

electrics occasional

Some owners experience difficulty starting or intermittent power loss, possibly due to weak battery or faulty wiring.
Plastics cracking and loose hardware

bodywork rare

Plastic panels may crack, and bolts can loosen over time, requiring regular checks.

The Numbers Compared

Compare the technical specifications of the Husqvarna TE 250 with other bikes in its class.

Head-to-head: Husqvarna TE 250 vs. its rivals

Power

35 hp This bike 32 hp Yamaha TT 250 R 39 hp Honda XR650L 40 hp Suzuki DR-Z 400 S 22 hp Kawasaki KLX 250

Torque

20 lb-ft This bike 20 lb-ft Yamaha TT 250 R 47 lb-ft Honda XR650L 29 lb-ft Suzuki DR-Z 400 S 15 lb-ft Kawasaki KLX 250

Displacement

250 cc This bike 249 cc Yamaha TT 250 R 644 cc Honda XR650L 398 cc Suzuki DR-Z 400 S 249 cc Kawasaki KLX 250

Seat height

38.2 in This bike 36.0 in Yamaha TT 250 R 37.0 in Honda XR650L 36.8 in Suzuki DR-Z 400 S 35.0 in Kawasaki KLX 250

What's new versus the previous generation

If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.

Previous generation · 2002–2008

Husqvarna TE 250 (MY2002)

Featherweight Four-Stroke Trail Weapon

Compare to the previous model →

Alternatives to the Husqvarna TE 250

If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.

Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Husqvarna TE 250. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.