Why so many TC 250s for sale like brand new? (Update)

Teejay
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Teejay
Edited Date/Time 9/3/2021 12:14pm
As the title really, I’m in the market for a lightly used TC 250, seem to be load for sale with under 10 hours on them. Whereas the enduro TE seem to be well used before they’re moved along. Is there a reason why?

People like the idea of a 2 stroke then can’t get along with it?

Uncontrollable monster?

Just like peoples opinions on the topic, maybe you’ve owned one and got rid quick, or it’s the best bike you’ve ever owned. Not up for a 2t vs 4t debate, I have no interest in buying a new 4t. Cheers.
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resetjet
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resetjet 7/6/2021 6:10am
7/6/2021 6:10am
They dont work well for offroad guys. And i imagine some moto guys try a 2t and cannot adapt. Then there are the guys that just need to be different which is why they bought a husky in the first place. They now have a beta.
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Motofinne
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Motofinne 7/6/2021 6:10am
7/6/2021 6:10am
It's not an uncontrollable monster. I have the 2020 SX 250 and the engine is the easiest to ride 2-stroke engine out there, great bike!
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Teejay
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Teejay 7/6/2021 6:14am
7/6/2021 6:14am
Motofinne wrote:
It's not an uncontrollable monster. I have the 2020 SX 250 and the engine is the easiest to ride 2-stroke engine out there, great bike!
That’s my thought, surely they’re a great evolution of the old 2 strokes. My last 250 was a 07 Rm, I had looked at getting another but the news ones just have too many benefits over a now 15 year old bike. Glad to hear you love yours!
kieran_macca 7/6/2021 6:15am
7/6/2021 6:15am
I sold mine with low hours and in great condition because of a serious injury, otherwise I'd have well over 100hrs on it now, amazing bike.

Enduro bikes will just tend to do a lot more work than an MX bike, we do maybe 3-4 20min Motos (roughly) once or twice a week, whereas enduro guys will be on the trails for hours.
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Richy
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Richy 7/6/2021 6:16am
7/6/2021 6:16am Edited Date/Time 7/6/2021 6:19am
Seconded, certainly not an uncontrollable monster (at least, it can be set up to be far from it with only the original parts).

Granted I'm returning so late and out of shape that I'm worse than most guys would be as a total n00b, but that kinda makes the following more of a certification; I love mine and I am equally impressed with how civil it is when treated with respect as I am with how fast it picks up when provoked haha.

Don't sweat it bro, get yourself on one!
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crf584
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crf584 7/6/2021 6:19am
7/6/2021 6:19am
Motofinne wrote:
It's not an uncontrollable monster. I have the 2020 SX 250 and the engine is the easiest to ride 2-stroke engine out there, great bike!
Agree. My 16 year old C class rider rides one, he loves it. You can tune it really well with the power valve adjuster, springs and the map wire. The kid is 6' 3" at 165lbs for refference.
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sebastianer 7/6/2021 6:53am
7/6/2021 6:53am
Motofinne wrote:
It's not an uncontrollable monster. I have the 2020 SX 250 and the engine is the easiest to ride 2-stroke engine out there, great bike!
tell me more about your time on the sx 250. how would you compare the smoker to other bikes you have had the recent years ? im looking to get something new or with little use but dont know if im going 2 stroke again or 4stroke, currently ride is a modded yz250 2004 wich has been my favorite two stroke to date.
sandman768
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sandman768 7/6/2021 7:19am
7/6/2021 7:19am
Most guys do not give themselves enough time to make the 2t adjustment….if you can only have 1 bike, you would be hard pressed to have a better bike than a 250 2T, the bikes have an answer for anything you would ride. Once you get the jetting sorted, these late model KtM/Husky’s are phenomenal bikes.
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mark_swart
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mark_swart 7/6/2021 8:01am
7/6/2021 8:01am
I had the 17 TC 250 and sold it within three months. Powerband was abrupt and had no breadth. I spent the entire season before that on a 125 and also run two strokes in vintage, so it's not like I don't ride two strokes. That bike always seemed unpredictable in the air as far as looping out unexpectedly, and I never had that issue with other bikes. I let a friend ride it and he did the exact same thing. And the original owner, also another old guy, had wadded it up so bad he was getting out of the sport.
I don't know what changes they have made since then, but a good old YZ 250 motor is way better for track work than that particular TC. It was a fun motor for play riding but exhausting for motos.
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FGR01
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FGR01 7/6/2021 8:06am
7/6/2021 8:06am
mark_swart wrote:
I had the 17 TC 250 and sold it within three months. Powerband was abrupt and had no breadth. I spent the entire season before that...
I had the 17 TC 250 and sold it within three months. Powerband was abrupt and had no breadth. I spent the entire season before that on a 125 and also run two strokes in vintage, so it's not like I don't ride two strokes. That bike always seemed unpredictable in the air as far as looping out unexpectedly, and I never had that issue with other bikes. I let a friend ride it and he did the exact same thing. And the original owner, also another old guy, had wadded it up so bad he was getting out of the sport.
I don't know what changes they have made since then, but a good old YZ 250 motor is way better for track work than that particular TC. It was a fun motor for play riding but exhausting for motos.
Did you tailor the jetting correctly? Did you play with the PV adjustment to tailor the power delivery? Did you try anything else to adjust it or tame it down?
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sandman768
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sandman768 7/6/2021 8:27am
7/6/2021 8:27am
2T”s are for guys who Want to tinker a bit. The 17 &18”s came jetted rich on the pilot circuit & lean on the main. The gearing also contributed to a quick, hard hit, then sign off early. Once you get the jetting sorted, then gearing for your type of riding it transformed the bikes power. I have my 18 dialed in so good that it’s just a main jet & air screw adjustment if at extremes with temperatures. I use my bike mainly in the sand and have even gone back to the 50 tooth rear sprocket to make 3rd gear more usable. The 250T are more physical to ride, I can hop on my 350 SFx & ride motos all day without getting tired, the 2T takes more of an adjustment period. Nothing beats the feeling of pounding sand motos on a 2T…IMO…..
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geeZ177
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geeZ177 7/6/2021 8:38am
7/6/2021 8:38am
This is awesome to hear. I have a 2022 KTM sx 250 coming in and my brother has a Husky coming in. We were a little worried about being off a bike for quite awhile and how this 2 stroke would be. But at the same time we didn't really want to go down the expensive 250 4 stroke road. With the tuneability of the PV, map switch and vented or non vented side plates, sounds like you can get the bike how you would like it. And of course there is also fly wheel weights, gearing changes as well as pipes if need be, but I'm sure we will be more than fine with stockers.
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Kyle978
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Kyle978 7/6/2021 8:51am
7/6/2021 8:51am
Carson Brown doesn’t seem to have any issues with the platform.
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rodspindel 7/6/2021 9:02am
7/6/2021 9:02am
Drop 1 tooth on rear sprocket pipe silencer adjust pv to your personal preference and enjoy. Absolutely best 250 smokers ever!

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cwel11
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cwel11 7/6/2021 9:28am
7/6/2021 9:28am
Motofinne wrote:
It's not an uncontrollable monster. I have the 2020 SX 250 and the engine is the easiest to ride 2-stroke engine out there, great bike!
This 100%. I had an 18 TC 250. Without a doubt one of the best and easiest to ride two strokes out there.
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Motofinne
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Motofinne 7/6/2021 10:06am
7/6/2021 10:06am
Motofinne wrote:
It's not an uncontrollable monster. I have the 2020 SX 250 and the engine is the easiest to ride 2-stroke engine out there, great bike!
sebastianer wrote:
tell me more about your time on the sx 250. how would you compare the smoker to other bikes you have had the recent years...
tell me more about your time on the sx 250. how would you compare the smoker to other bikes you have had the recent years ? im looking to get something new or with little use but dont know if im going 2 stroke again or 4stroke, currently ride is a modded yz250 2004 wich has been my favorite two stroke to date.
It's probably the most 4 stroke-esque 2-stroke that there is. It's just easier to ride and more forgiving than the old school 2-strokes. Although you can make the powerband very tiny with a hard hit if you really want that with some power valve adjustments, i just don't know why anyone would want that.

Any 17-> SX or TC with the latest engine is a good bike!
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StevenMX
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StevenMX 7/6/2021 10:37am
7/6/2021 10:37am
I'm on the 2021 KTM 250SX (it was my first bike ever as I just got into the sport later in life +30), and it was powerful at first obviously being new but once you dial it in and put some seat time it's awesome. I just used AJ/Digger's jetting thread here in the forums (highly recommend) and then you can just adjust the PV if you want the punch early/later/or smooth out across the powerband. I'm at 51hrs now on the bike, running FMF Fatty/Turbincore, AJ's jetting (500 main, etc) and everything else stock. The bike is an absolute piece of work, I tend to ride mine like a 4 stroke (3rd gear throughout the entire track at times) and it just carries the low grunt through the corners. Really amazing machine IMO.

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Spudnut
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Spudnut 7/6/2021 10:51am
7/6/2021 10:51am
Kyle978 wrote:
Carson Brown doesn’t seem to have any issues with the platform.
He’ll be racing his TC250 at the washougal National this year
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CKNY 7/6/2021 11:29am
7/6/2021 11:29am
Motofinne wrote:
It's not an uncontrollable monster. I have the 2020 SX 250 and the engine is the easiest to ride 2-stroke engine out there, great bike!
sebastianer wrote:
tell me more about your time on the sx 250. how would you compare the smoker to other bikes you have had the recent years...
tell me more about your time on the sx 250. how would you compare the smoker to other bikes you have had the recent years ? im looking to get something new or with little use but dont know if im going 2 stroke again or 4stroke, currently ride is a modded yz250 2004 wich has been my favorite two stroke to date.
Motofinne wrote:
It's probably the most 4 stroke-esque 2-stroke that there is. It's just easier to ride and more forgiving than the old school 2-strokes. Although you can...
It's probably the most 4 stroke-esque 2-stroke that there is. It's just easier to ride and more forgiving than the old school 2-strokes. Although you can make the powerband very tiny with a hard hit if you really want that with some power valve adjustments, i just don't know why anyone would want that.

Any 17-> SX or TC with the latest engine is a good bike!
That would be a TPi.
StevenMX
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StevenMX 7/6/2021 11:39am
7/6/2021 11:39am Edited Date/Time 7/6/2021 11:40am
Kyle978 wrote:
Carson Brown doesn’t seem to have any issues with the platform.
Spudnut wrote:
He’ll be racing his TC250 at the washougal National this year
I have seen and been on the track with Carson the last couple times out at Riverdale riding the TC 250 as he is practicing... OOOF! My bike doesn't seem to be as fast :D
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Leeham
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Leeham 7/6/2021 11:43am
7/6/2021 11:43am
I had a 17 250 SX. For starting out, its a handful. For some who try to go fast too fast when they shouldnt, they end up scaring themselves. Im sure maybe a couple of those owners tried a 250F or a 125 and felt much more comfortable. Some people are small bore users and others like the big bore/lots of power. Im much faster and in control on smaller cc bikes than on 250 2 stroke/350/450 machines. Others may feel the opposite!
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theToothPerry
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theToothPerry 7/6/2021 12:40pm
7/6/2021 12:40pm
Came off a 2019 CRF450R. Absolutely love this 2T. More than enough power, no light switch power band and crazy light. My favorite bike I’ve ever owned.


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Spudnut
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Spudnut 7/6/2021 12:47pm
7/6/2021 12:47pm
Kyle978 wrote:
Carson Brown doesn’t seem to have any issues with the platform.
Spudnut wrote:
He’ll be racing his TC250 at the washougal National this year
StevenMX wrote:
I have seen and been on the track with Carson the last couple times out at Riverdale riding the TC 250 as he is practicing... OOOF...
I have seen and been on the track with Carson the last couple times out at Riverdale riding the TC 250 as he is practicing... OOOF! My bike doesn't seem to be as fast :D
Lol he’s got a xr 75 that’s faster than my TC and YZF 😉😉
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Johnny Ringo
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Johnny Ringo 7/6/2021 1:08pm
7/6/2021 1:08pm
They probably hate air forks
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ratonmacias
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ratonmacias 7/6/2021 4:05pm
7/6/2021 4:05pm
i would think the mikuni carb and the air forks foul the party

also many guys cant ride a 250 2 stroke and prefer a 250f.
Dirty Points 7/6/2021 4:18pm
7/6/2021 4:18pm
Husky: vet bike
TC250: vet 2nd bike
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Skerby 7/6/2021 4:35pm
7/6/2021 4:35pm
I grew up on yz250s, but rode 125/250f the last few years.

Rode a 17 TC250 at a tighter track a month ago, scared me in 2nd gear. Decided to just leave it in 3rd the whole track and it was pretty manageable.

Some guys need to try shifting up before they bail on their new rides.
mark_swart
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mark_swart 7/6/2021 4:53pm
7/6/2021 4:53pm
mark_swart wrote:
I had the 17 TC 250 and sold it within three months. Powerband was abrupt and had no breadth. I spent the entire season before that...
I had the 17 TC 250 and sold it within three months. Powerband was abrupt and had no breadth. I spent the entire season before that on a 125 and also run two strokes in vintage, so it's not like I don't ride two strokes. That bike always seemed unpredictable in the air as far as looping out unexpectedly, and I never had that issue with other bikes. I let a friend ride it and he did the exact same thing. And the original owner, also another old guy, had wadded it up so bad he was getting out of the sport.
I don't know what changes they have made since then, but a good old YZ 250 motor is way better for track work than that particular TC. It was a fun motor for play riding but exhausting for motos.
FGR01 wrote:
Did you tailor the jetting correctly? Did you play with the PV adjustment to tailor the power delivery? Did you try anything else to adjust it...
Did you tailor the jetting correctly? Did you play with the PV adjustment to tailor the power delivery? Did you try anything else to adjust it or tame it down?
I believe there was a needle that people said good things about, but I didn't mess with that. I don't feel like this was a jetting issue.

I ended up going to an FMF pipe, that gave it a little better breadth down low but again, still not as broad as an antique YZ 250.

The power valve adjustment is a bit of a myth in my opinion. What it actually does is put the powervalve at odds with the port timing and that just moves the hit to weird place up or down in the torque curve - I don't know of a better way to say it than it makes a lump in the powerband. I think swapping out the springs was actually more effective. But when you have a bike with no over-rev to begin with, then put in the "bottom end" spring, it felt like a trail motor.

Honestly I was super pissed that I had just made a big investment in this bike only to discover that I was going to have to chase things just to make it perform decent... kinda felt like I was finishing the factory's job for them. I am willing to accept responsibility that it just wasn't a good fit for my (lack of) talent level. I've always struggled with 250 two stroke power delivery for some reason, so I guess I can own that. It seems like I either like small bores or big bores, but something about the 250 2T range doesn't work great for me. I ditched it for a YZ 250F and never had a single regret.
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AJ565
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AJ565 7/6/2021 6:19pm
7/6/2021 6:19pm
rodspindel wrote:
Drop 1 tooth on rear sprocket pipe silencer adjust pv to your personal preference and enjoy. Absolutely best 250 smokers ever! [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/07/06/500791/s1200_FB_IMG_1596159367393.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/07/06/500790/s1200_FB_IMG_1596159340780.jpg[/img]
Drop 1 tooth on rear sprocket pipe silencer adjust pv to your personal preference and enjoy. Absolutely best 250 smokers ever!

Try 14/52 and you’ll like it better. Almost the same mathematically, but different chain angles so the rear suspension isn’t in a bind under load.
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wr74
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wr74 7/6/2021 7:04pm
7/6/2021 7:04pm
mark_swart wrote:
I had the 17 TC 250 and sold it within three months. Powerband was abrupt and had no breadth. I spent the entire season before that...
I had the 17 TC 250 and sold it within three months. Powerband was abrupt and had no breadth. I spent the entire season before that on a 125 and also run two strokes in vintage, so it's not like I don't ride two strokes. That bike always seemed unpredictable in the air as far as looping out unexpectedly, and I never had that issue with other bikes. I let a friend ride it and he did the exact same thing. And the original owner, also another old guy, had wadded it up so bad he was getting out of the sport.
I don't know what changes they have made since then, but a good old YZ 250 motor is way better for track work than that particular TC. It was a fun motor for play riding but exhausting for motos.
FGR01 wrote:
Did you tailor the jetting correctly? Did you play with the PV adjustment to tailor the power delivery? Did you try anything else to adjust it...
Did you tailor the jetting correctly? Did you play with the PV adjustment to tailor the power delivery? Did you try anything else to adjust it or tame it down?
mark_swart wrote:
I believe there was a needle that people said good things about, but I didn't mess with that. I don't feel like this was a jetting...
I believe there was a needle that people said good things about, but I didn't mess with that. I don't feel like this was a jetting issue.

I ended up going to an FMF pipe, that gave it a little better breadth down low but again, still not as broad as an antique YZ 250.

The power valve adjustment is a bit of a myth in my opinion. What it actually does is put the powervalve at odds with the port timing and that just moves the hit to weird place up or down in the torque curve - I don't know of a better way to say it than it makes a lump in the powerband. I think swapping out the springs was actually more effective. But when you have a bike with no over-rev to begin with, then put in the "bottom end" spring, it felt like a trail motor.

Honestly I was super pissed that I had just made a big investment in this bike only to discover that I was going to have to chase things just to make it perform decent... kinda felt like I was finishing the factory's job for them. I am willing to accept responsibility that it just wasn't a good fit for my (lack of) talent level. I've always struggled with 250 two stroke power delivery for some reason, so I guess I can own that. It seems like I either like small bores or big bores, but something about the 250 2T range doesn't work great for me. I ditched it for a YZ 250F and never had a single regret.
Agree with pretty much everything mark said. I have an 18 300 Xc. Completely stock, I was amazed how bad the engine was, given all the gushing you hear from so many orange (and white) two stroke owners. From the factory, it runs rough (and weak, poor torque) down low, explodes in the middle, then tapers off on top again. Direct comparison to a yz250 (I’ve owned a few), power was narrow, hard to use, and basically just nowhere near as good. The stock mikuni carb is a joke. The head set up (squish) from the factory is the same. Once I had my head worked on by tsp, and bolted on a new pwk, I started to love the bike. The ergo’s and handling are awesome, and worth fixing the engine for. But it amazed me the Ktm would let such a poorly set up machine out the door of their factory.
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