TE 250 (MY2024)

The TE 250 is a 249 cc liquid-cooled two-stroke single running throttle body injection, and that combination sets the whole tone of the bike. 40 hp and 20 lb-ft read modest on a spec sheet, but in a chassis this light, with 11.8 in (300 mm) of WP travel at both ends over a steel double cradle frame, the paper numbers stop mattering a mile into the dirt. A six-speed box, suspension that adjusts front and rear, and selectable ride modes put it in genuine competition-enduro territory rather than the softer trail-bike end of the class.

It rewards a rider who reads terrain and keeps the motor working, and it repays sloppy input with clutch work. Ownership runs on a two-stroke rhythm rather than a service interval you can forget about, though the layout keeps that work simple and the parts support behind this platform is deep. Who it genuinely suits: experienced off-road riders who want the hard line, not the easy one. The honest caveat is fit. At 37.4 in (950 mm) the seat rules out a lot of riders before the first trail, and nothing about this bike apologizes for that.