The Triumph TF 250-X is here! It took a while, but it’s arriving in dealers as we speak so Triumph offered us to come ride the bike at the Gatorback facility in Florida. So what do you guys want to know? Is it faster than the Yamaha YZ250F? Does it feel light? How’s the suspension? These are the types of questions that I get when a new bike comes to market. Why not answer these straight on right here in this article? We are not going to get all tech here, but we will simply answer the questions you guys ask me the most. Get to the good stuff, Keefer? We shall!
Is it faster than the Yamaha YZ250F? Even though this isn’t the proper way to word this question, it is the question that I get. The TF 250-X fits in between the YZ250F and the KTM 250 SX-F. It doesn’t have as much low end torque of a YZ250F but it has more torque “feel” than the KTM 250 SX-F. The TF 250-X likes to be revved, there is no doubt about that. However while the engine is building rpm’s it does have some substance to it’s pulling power (torque feel). As you roll on the throttle out of corners in second gear it does feel like it needs a little coaxing with the clutch lever, but not too much as it is quick to get back into the meat of the power as the engine is very free feeling to the rider. The Triumph pulls harder in the mid to top end range than the YZ250F and feel very similar to the KTM on top end/over-rev. The TF 250-X might even pull a little farther (over-rev) in 2nd-3rd gears than the orange bike. Since I am super picky about engine vibration, the Triumph has a little less than the KTM but more than the Yamaha. In other words the Triumph fits in nicely within its competitors. Is it going to blow your mind? No. Will it have enough power for what you are looking to do on the track? Yes. Oh and I don’t care that Triumph claims 50 horsepower. I go off of feeling and how easy the bike is to ride. The engine on the TF 250-X feels like it can handle a lazy vet well and that hyper active B class kid.
Is it a KTM? Ehhhhhh boy. This is a very common question or even a statement and I guess I can understand why, but since I’ve had some experience with the brand, I can say it is NOT a KTM. Michael Lindsey from Vital MX asked this question in a round about manner at the presentation dinner and the Triumph brass answered in a manner like this. Basically, if you were taking a brand new machine to market, wouldn’t you take inspiration from all of the best motorcycles out there today in order to try to make a motorcycle that is the ultimate machine in all categories. This resonated with me because, to me, that is a great answer. Why not look at what KTM is doing. They have a great engine package. Why not look into what Yamaha is doing to their suspension? They have the most comfortable suspension package in class. Why not look into these brands and see what they can do, in order to make their own bike better than what is currently out there. So did the Triumph start it’s life as a KTM? Possibly. Is it a KTM clone? Absolutely not. Triumph makes a lot of the TF 250-X parts in house in England. In order to help with the quality control process they choose to make some of the engine pieces right there in the jolly ol’ UK. When you ride the Triumph it is very unique feeling. It doesn’t feel like a KTM or a Yamaha. It feels like it’s own brand. Hopefully that helps you a little.
What does the frame feel like? Chassis feeling is quite nice around the track. There is a lot of chassis comfort on straight line as well as bump compliance. Slap down feel as well as edge of tire feel has enough flex to not warrant rigidness yet have enough stiffness within the frame that it doesn’t feel like a wet noodle when pushing it to its limits. One thing that hurts any motorcycle is when the frame gets so stiff that you can’t cut across a track with bumps. The rider gets deflection and the throttle rolls off. The TF 250-X feels light as it weighs in at 230 pounds, which is near the lightest in class, but I really don’t even care about the number. I care about if it’s light feeling in the corners and if it has a enough weight to feel planted down the straights. The lean in (or tip in feel) as you enter corners is very light feeling but the Triumph does want to stand up a little mid corner. I think some of this is because of the 100 sizing of the rear tire but also there is a little bit of stiffness coming from the head tube/clamp area of the machine. This is only noticeable mid corner in tight corners. Once passed that mid corner the Triumph feels light again. There is just a little tight spot in it’s effort to lean all the way through some corners (not all). I do think that the frame has a nice blend of stability and cornering ability with a flickable aerial feel. Yes, I said aerial. You’re welcome.
Is the Triumph/KYB suspension as good as the YZ250F suspension? I still the the AOS KYB fork on the Yamaha is a little better than the Triumph/KYB AOS in bigger sized bumps but the KYB set up on the Triumph is right behind it. I had to go a little stiffer at Gatorback with my setting as the Triumph wants to ride a little low in the corners under load. I went up to 102mm on the shock with the high speed compression at 7/8 turns out. This is because I wanted my rear end up under throttle. Having the KYB fork at 3mm fork height as well as two in on compression helped balance the bike off throttle and give me a feeling that I could be more aggressive. I think the track toughness of the machine is quite good from track to track so dialing in your KYB set up will be easy for the rider. I like that you can over jump certain doubles and the fork will not kill you. The shock could use a little more damping on the end of it’s stroke but running the high speed compression in a little will help this.
What about the reliability? We just started these production bike hours but I do know some of the process in which Triumph takes into their machines prior to release and I can tell you it’s the most aggressive durability tests that I have seen in my 20 or so years of production testing. The tracks they ride in the UK, in the conditions they ride them in are some of the most brutal I have ever seen. I have been in England on durability test days and have seen first hand on how gnarly the track was and how crappy the weather was. It sucked and they were out there riding the crap out of this TF 250-X. Can I discuss the length of time that these bikes performed? No. However, I can tell you that the hours put on this bike before production release was the most I have heard of in the production durability process.
Why should I even listen to you Keefer, if you are a part of the testing process? Valid… Maybe you shouldn’t, but let me have you chew on this a bit. I am not paid to sell you on this bike. I am not paid to say that this bike is the best bike ever. I am only here to tell you what the bike feels like to me. No one from Triumph has ever told me what to say. It would do no good for me to tell you that this bike is for everyone. I know that it isn’t. Hell, I love a Yamaha. I love a KTM Factory edition right now. If at anytime you think I am pulling the wool over your eyes, feel free to head over to Vital MX, Motocross Action Magazine, etc. I am just trying to give you some background on the bike itself and what I think it does good and bad. As usual, I am not scared to call it how it is. If it sucked, I would be hiding somewhere in the high dez. I would be a mute, but this bike is in the mix with some of the better 250F machines in class. At 9,995 MSRP, it’s also in the realm of pricing with other premium 250 motocross machines.
Why a 100 rear tire? Manufacturers do this for weight savings. The 100 is one pound lighter than the 110 rear size tire. Does it mean it works the best? No. If it was me, I would go to a 110 rear size tire. Is the Pirelli MX32 good? Yes! It has a lot of great qualities but it doesn’t last that long. The carcass is soft, which is great on square edge bumps and hard pack areas of the track, but the carcass does break down sooner than the knobs do. That means the tire will roll on you under load so make sure to keep an eye on carcass feel. Run 14PSI in your Pirellis.
Does this bike come with quality parts? Brembo brakes. Galfer Rotors. KYB suspension. GET ECU. Pro Taper ACF bars. ODI lock on grips. Yes, it does come with great products. I mean it has a GET ECU which is unheard of in the world of production bikes. So if you’re wondering why it’s on the upper echelon of pricing, this is why. Don’t get mad and start yelling about the price before you figure out why it’s more expensive than a KX250.
Is Triumph making a 350? I asked. I got no answer. Trust me, I would tell you.
If you have any other “REASONABLE” questions, please feel free to kick in that virtual door open, over at kris@keeferinctesting.com.
