TF 250-X (MY2024)

The TF 250-X is Triumph building a motocrosser from a clean sheet, with no legacy platform underneath it. At its heart is a short-stroke, high-compression 250 cc single that makes 47 hp at 13,500 rpm and 21 lb-ft at 9,000 rpm. That is a race engine's character. It wants revs, and it pays you back with the top-end snap you need to clear a tight rhythm section. Around it, Triumph fitted fully adjustable coil-spring suspension with 12.2 in (310 mm) of travel up front and 12.0 in (305 mm) at the rear. Traction control, selectable ride modes and launch control all come standard. For a pure MX bike, that is an unusually complete toolkit.

It feels like a Triumph should. There's real emotion in it, and there's proper hardware to back that up. At 230 lb (104 kg) wet it changes direction with very little effort, and the suspension quality is clearly a cut above the merely functional. The adjustability is what this bike is about: a racer who knows their clickers can set it up for their own dirt, and traction control gives you something to lean on when the track goes hard and slick late in the day. It's built to take abuse and has plenty of aftermarket potential. The one known issue is cosmetic: the brakes squeal when they get hot. The honest caveat is that this is a race bike first, and it rewards riders who commit to it.