2009–2013 · Enduro · Buyer's Guide
Trail Weapon With A Plate
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.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| 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) |
The first thing you notice is the height. At 38.2 in (970 mm) the seat is tall, and it is also narrow, a plank built for moving around on rather than sitting still. Shorter riders will be on tiptoe at stops, and standing up feels like the natural way to ride it. On a cold morning the engine needs patience. It hesitates just off idle and can stall until it has some heat in it, so let it warm up before the first tight section. The pavement stretch to the trailhead is where it feels most out of place. A steady buzz comes up through the bars and pegs, and the slim seat gets old quickly. On dirt the same bike makes sense. The narrow chassis lets your knees grip it properly, the controls sit where your boots and gloves expect them, and the bike feels small underneath you. The small tank also makes you watch the miles.
Catastrophic camshaft bearing failure
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
Front fork seals are prone to leaking, leading to oil loss and reduced damping performance.
Clutch slippage
Premature clutch wear can cause slippage and difficulty shifting, often requiring clutch plate replacement.
Brake fade under hard use
Brake performance can degrade with hard riding, resulting in a soft lever feel and reduced stopping power.
Lean off-idle stumble
The engine hesitates and can stall just off idle when cold due to lean EPA fueling. Improves once warm.
Intermittent electrical/starting issues
Some owners experience difficulty starting or intermittent power loss, possibly due to weak battery or faulty wiring.
Plastics cracking and loose hardware
Plastic panels may crack, and bolts can loosen over time, requiring regular checks.
Where this Husqvarna TE 250 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the TE 250 is actually built for.
This is your bike for technical desert day rides. It's light, has plenty of clearance and pulls well in the midrange for ledges and sand. Plan fuel carefully, because 2.2 gal won't cover long loops.
Made for Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes · Johnson Valley OHV Area
On the rough sections of a BDR it will run circles around a middleweight. For multi-day travel, though, the tank, seat and highway buzz work against you, and there's no luggage system to build on.
Made for AZBDR — Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route · California BDR South · COBDR — Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2002–2008
Featherweight Four-Stroke Trail Weapon
Compare to the previous model →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.
Successor · 2014–2018
Pure Two-Stroke Singletrack Weapon
Successor · 2009–2014
The Tight Woods Weapon
Roughly $1,000 cheaper used than this bike at 13 yr
Competitor · 2009–2010
The Pure Two-Stroke Weapon
Competitor · 2008–2010
Light, Planted, Woods-Ready