Anyone go from a 450 to a TC250 or 250SX?

paddyB745
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paddyB745 12/26/2017 11:01am
12/26/2017 11:01am
Just sold my 16 Kx450f after riding it for 2 years. Before that I was on a 13 250sx. Got a 17 TC250 last week and rode it once so far. Felt comfortable on it pretty much right away. The lack of vibration from the counterbalancer is one of the biggest things I noticed, it’s so smooth. With all the adjustment in the powervalve you can totally customize the way the power is delivered to suit your riding style/ track type. I’d say pull the trigger and have fun!
Scull79
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Scull79 12/26/2017 11:34am
12/26/2017 11:34am
I'm also 37 with 2 kids. I have a 17' TC250 and couldn't be happier! The power delivery is very smooth and bike handles great. I don't have much 4 stroke experience as I've always ridden 2 strokes but I don't think there is any way you'd be disappointed. I don't race so it's all about the fun factor for me. My cousin has a 15' crf250 and I let him ride my TC when I bought it. He loved it so much he won't ride it again cause he said he doesn't want to be tempted to have to go buy one. Haha!
slipdog
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slipdog 12/26/2017 12:03pm
12/26/2017 12:03pm
Went from an '08 CRF to '17 TC a year ago. The TC is a great bike, best 2-stroke ever made. It was fun, light. fast and handled great. After 15hrs the honeymoon wore off and I realized how much more effort it was to ride that bike even close to as fast as I could the CRF and traded it for a '17 CRF 450. I really liked that TC 250, I like the CRF 450 more...
Whip
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Whip 12/26/2017 12:11pm
12/26/2017 12:11pm
Ex-450 racer now on the 250 SX just for fun.

Put a 300 kit on it to make it more tractor like and it's damn perfect.

The Shop

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jeffro503
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jeffro503 12/26/2017 12:23pm
12/26/2017 12:23pm
slipdog wrote:
Went from an '08 CRF to '17 TC a year ago. The TC is a great bike, best 2-stroke ever made. It was fun, light. fast...
Went from an '08 CRF to '17 TC a year ago. The TC is a great bike, best 2-stroke ever made. It was fun, light. fast and handled great. After 15hrs the honeymoon wore off and I realized how much more effort it was to ride that bike even close to as fast as I could the CRF and traded it for a '17 CRF 450. I really liked that TC 250, I like the CRF 450 more...
Traitor!! AngryAngry

Tongue
alexk417
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alexk417 12/26/2017 12:25pm
12/26/2017 12:25pm
You could also consider a TX300 and grab a 19 inch rear wheel and put on the smaller 1.5 gallon TC tank.

Then you get E-Start. I really want E-Start. Tongue

I own a TC250 and it is truly a great bike, you won't be disappointed with either.
mwssquad827
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mwssquad827 12/26/2017 12:33pm
12/26/2017 12:33pm
35 yr old, went from 15 kawi 450 tp 17 tc 250.. bike is so fun.. make the switch you won’t regret
RPM68
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RPM68 12/26/2017 1:27pm
12/26/2017 1:27pm
My favorite years were when I went from a 450 to a 250 SX and 300 XC. Such a good time!
slipdog
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slipdog 12/26/2017 2:20pm
12/26/2017 2:20pm
slipdog wrote:
Went from an '08 CRF to '17 TC a year ago. The TC is a great bike, best 2-stroke ever made. It was fun, light. fast...
Went from an '08 CRF to '17 TC a year ago. The TC is a great bike, best 2-stroke ever made. It was fun, light. fast and handled great. After 15hrs the honeymoon wore off and I realized how much more effort it was to ride that bike even close to as fast as I could the CRF and traded it for a '17 CRF 450. I really liked that TC 250, I like the CRF 450 more...
jeffro503 wrote:
Traitor!! AngryAngry

Tongue
Haha, and I agree with everyone that the OP won't regret making the switch. I had no intention of getting rid of the TC until the opportunity for the CRF presented itself. Since life can't afford 2 bikes right now I chose that for a fulltime bike, but would no doubt buy another TC if I become able to buy a back up bike. Cool
FDMoto525
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FDMoto525 12/26/2017 2:24pm
12/26/2017 2:24pm
I have a 16 tc250 that I race jdays with. I love that bike. I also have a 14 fc450 that I use for Moto. I like the 450 but don't love it. I'm thinking about selling the 450 and using the money to buy another suspension for the 250 and being able to race both with it. I'm for sure a little slower at Moto on the 250 but it's so much more fun
aaryn #234
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aaryn #234 12/26/2017 2:28pm
12/26/2017 2:28pm
I Spent 2 years on a 15 RM-Z450 then last year on a 17 TC250

Intermediate Vet rider at 39 year of age, who has ridden four strokes since 2004 and only owned on two stroke prior as an adult (2000 YZ250)

IF you are a two stroke guy you can't go wrong with the TC250, thing has plenty of bottom end and if you can get your head around it can be ridden off the bottom pretty much like a four stroke (maybe not the same as a 450, but prob better than a 250F)

At the same time still has the 2 stroke punch as it hits the meat of the power and sounds unreal if you want to wring it out in any gear.

For me personally I prefer a fourstroke and hoping to go back to one early next year. Outright speed I don't think I was any slower on the TC 250, at my age my speed is my speed lol, But I can ride at that speed for longer on a four stroke with less effort.

If I had the coin I would have kept the TC250 as a fun second bike, great for practice days or just riding with mates. If I was a little younger, fitter and willing and had more time to spend on the two stroke, I could have stuck with it for sure.
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Motofinne 12/26/2017 2:32pm
12/26/2017 2:32pm Edited Date/Time 12/26/2017 2:36pm
I'm still on my 2017 SXF 450 but i got to ride a 2018 SX 250 and i'm very tempted to switch.

The most fun bike that i have ever ridden whilst being very competitive. The only reason why i haven't made the switch is that i only have 50h on my 450 and i want to wait and see if the 2019 gets the new frame.
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NeedMoto 12/26/2017 2:36pm
12/26/2017 2:36pm
slipdog wrote:
Went from an '08 CRF to '17 TC a year ago. The TC is a great bike, best 2-stroke ever made. It was fun, light. fast...
Went from an '08 CRF to '17 TC a year ago. The TC is a great bike, best 2-stroke ever made. It was fun, light. fast and handled great. After 15hrs the honeymoon wore off and I realized how much more effort it was to ride that bike even close to as fast as I could the CRF and traded it for a '17 CRF 450. I really liked that TC 250, I like the CRF 450 more...
That same TC250 has cycled it's way through two more guy's (old one's mind you) that realized the same thing as Slip.

They both went back to the 450 after owning the TC for a couple of months.
slipdog
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slipdog 12/26/2017 3:25pm
12/26/2017 3:25pm
NeedMoto wrote:
That same TC250 has cycled it's way through two more guy's (old one's mind you) that realized the same thing as Slip. They both went back...
That same TC250 has cycled it's way through two more guy's (old one's mind you) that realized the same thing as Slip.

They both went back to the 450 after owning the TC for a couple of months.
That's funny you say that because someone did tell me that they thought they saw it on Craigslist recently.
Wade221
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Wade221 12/26/2017 3:28pm
12/26/2017 3:28pm
slipdog wrote:
Went from an '08 CRF to '17 TC a year ago. The TC is a great bike, best 2-stroke ever made. It was fun, light. fast...
Went from an '08 CRF to '17 TC a year ago. The TC is a great bike, best 2-stroke ever made. It was fun, light. fast and handled great. After 15hrs the honeymoon wore off and I realized how much more effort it was to ride that bike even close to as fast as I could the CRF and traded it for a '17 CRF 450. I really liked that TC 250, I like the CRF 450 more...
NeedMoto wrote:
That same TC250 has cycled it's way through two more guy's (old one's mind you) that realized the same thing as Slip. They both went back...
That same TC250 has cycled it's way through two more guy's (old one's mind you) that realized the same thing as Slip.

They both went back to the 450 after owning the TC for a couple of months.
Eskimo bros.
sandman768
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sandman768 12/26/2017 3:56pm
12/26/2017 3:56pm
50 years old, I have both. A 2016.5 450 & 18 250 sx.......no doubt about it, the 450 is easier to ride faster and lap times will be more consistent. with that out of the way, I still love riding the 250, Most of us old guys grew up on 2 strokes, I Feel like I"m going back to my roots when I ride it, yes, it tires me out quicker, the jetting requires some tinkering, and you have to shift & clutch a lot more.....it"s intense......kind of what riding/moto is supposed to be...
1
FDMoto525
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FDMoto525 12/26/2017 4:11pm
12/26/2017 4:11pm
like all of us old guys I grew up on 2 strokes and didnt start racing 4 strokes till maybe 2008. It seemed from my memory (my last 2 stroke was a 92 RM250) , but I had it in my mind that there was no bottom end on these things and I never pulled the trigger on a newer one because of that. Then I got a deal on the 16 tc250 that I just couldn't pass up. I was blown away at the amount of torque they have now. Like said previously the torque isn't close to a 450 but it's by no means a slouch down low. I even installed a rekluse on it so I could get away with a little less clutch work and that helped a lot with my arm pump issues.

Pit Row

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bics56
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bics56 12/27/2017 7:04am
12/27/2017 7:04am
Seems like the response is I will have a lot of fun on the TC250/250SX and the only downside may be is the 450 is easier to be consistent and maybe slightly faster on...less overall work. Not sure if I will care much considering I mainly go to practice tracks and just do it for pure fun.
Motofinne
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Motofinne 12/27/2017 7:07am
12/27/2017 7:07am
bics56 wrote:
Seems like the response is I will have a lot of fun on the TC250/250SX and the only downside may be is the 450 is easier...
Seems like the response is I will have a lot of fun on the TC250/250SX and the only downside may be is the 450 is easier to be consistent and maybe slightly faster on...less overall work. Not sure if I will care much considering I mainly go to practice tracks and just do it for pure fun.
Keep in mind, the 2017-2018 TC/SX 250 is in my opinion by far the easiest to ride 250 2-stroke that i have ever been on.

That is why i feel like it's a very competitive bike.
friday10
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friday10 12/27/2017 7:50am
12/27/2017 7:50am
slipdog wrote:
Went from an '08 CRF to '17 TC a year ago. The TC is a great bike, best 2-stroke ever made. It was fun, light. fast...
Went from an '08 CRF to '17 TC a year ago. The TC is a great bike, best 2-stroke ever made. It was fun, light. fast and handled great. After 15hrs the honeymoon wore off and I realized how much more effort it was to ride that bike even close to as fast as I could the CRF and traded it for a '17 CRF 450. I really liked that TC 250, I like the CRF 450 more...
I have to admit that I'm in the same boat, 08 CRF 450, then 17 250 sx. The sx is great fun but after riding my son's 450 for a bit, I realize what I was missing. Going back to 450.
bics56
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bics56 12/27/2017 11:13am
12/27/2017 11:13am
friday10 wrote:
I have to admit that I'm in the same boat, 08 CRF 450, then 17 250 sx. The sx is great fun but after riding my...
I have to admit that I'm in the same boat, 08 CRF 450, then 17 250 sx. The sx is great fun but after riding my son's 450 for a bit, I realize what I was missing. Going back to 450.
Why exactly? Do you race competitively often? Just wondering what you were missing, everything I hear is how much more fun a 250 2stroke is to ride.
Jrewing
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Jrewing 12/27/2017 1:20pm
12/27/2017 1:20pm
I'm hunting a 150 as a second bike as I'll keep the 450 to race.
mark_swart
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mark_swart 12/27/2017 1:39pm
12/27/2017 1:39pm Edited Date/Time 12/27/2017 2:00pm
I've put 3 hours on my 17 TC 250 since I got it in November, went straight to racing after one mud ride. 45 year old Vet B (or slow A, depending on how you look at it.) Did 2017 on a YZ 125, before that on 450s since roughly 06. Yes, the TC is fun. Exciting is the first word that came to mind when I jumped on it. But so far I am definitely searching for a motor tune that makes me happy. Not quite enough bottom to torque, midrange snap to much for it's own good, and then it runs out of steam abruptly on top. I'm not even kidding, I swear my YZ 125 made power over a longer and more usable spread. Fun for practice, but not very helpful for laying
down motos and laps. Research is showing that a leaner pilot, richer main and FMF system do wonders. Hoping to test the jetting this weekend and will order a pipe soon. Adjusting the powervalve to tame the hit is a bit of a myth....it just gives you two lumps in the torque curve, which is problematic on a track.
I will say the chassis is a dream. It is light, the motor has the vibration of a 125 thanks to the counterbalancer, and it is surprisingly receptive to input from the bars in turns, unlike many traditional two strokes.
I'm confident I can get the power sorted, but I'm a little miffed that KTM/Husky didn't do it in the first place. So...if you want to race it, expect to do some homework. But ideally once I get it set up, I'll have a 50-ish hp, 212 lb bike that feels like a 125 and I won't be worrying about valve train maintenance....ever.

Ill admit I havent actually ridden the bike at a normal track day. One mud ride, one AX, and one outdoor race that started with the ground frozen. Race footage from outdoor race:
https://youtu.be/KMfGFh7xabM
friday10
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friday10 12/27/2017 2:51pm
12/27/2017 2:51pm
friday10 wrote:
I have to admit that I'm in the same boat, 08 CRF 450, then 17 250 sx. The sx is great fun but after riding my...
I have to admit that I'm in the same boat, 08 CRF 450, then 17 250 sx. The sx is great fun but after riding my son's 450 for a bit, I realize what I was missing. Going back to 450.
bics56 wrote:
Why exactly? Do you race competitively often? Just wondering what you were missing, everything I hear is how much more fun a 250 2stroke is to...
Why exactly? Do you race competitively often? Just wondering what you were missing, everything I hear is how much more fun a 250 2stroke is to ride.
I have been racing quite a bit lately, I run top 3 in the 60 expert class here in So Cal. I raced the pro class back when I was a lot younger. My 2 cents on why, the 250 sx is a great bike, but if you are not an aggressive rider, you won't go fast, it's cut and run. A 250 2 stroke is a lot of work compared to a 450. After getting adjusted to my son's 450, I found that I could ride longer and smoother, thanks to the additional HP. For me, that's a plus. Going for a 450 KTM soon.
Motofinne
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Motofinne 12/27/2017 3:27pm
12/27/2017 3:27pm
My plan is to ride the 450 in the Finnish B class the 2018 season and the aim is to get top 5 in the series(i got 10th in 2017) on the 450. Pretty much everyone is on 450s, i don't have the balls to ride the 250 2-stroke in that class, i would probably get dominated in the starts.

That is the only reason why i wont get a SX 250 for 2018. The nice thing here in Finland is that you're able to ride a 250 2-stroke in MX2.

So if i manage to get top 5 in the B class i'll ride MX2 on a 250 2-stroke in 2019.
bics56
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bics56 12/28/2017 7:23am
12/28/2017 7:23am
It seems the couple of critical responses are riders who race a lot at a higher level. I am ride 99% of the time on a practice track and now trying to get my 7 year old son into riding. I am not B or A level, just "some guy" who rides for fun when I don't have too much planned on a weekend. SO I am not sure if I can totally relate to how a faster competitive rider reviews the bike.

scooter5002
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scooter5002 12/28/2017 8:31am
12/28/2017 8:31am
260 pound, 55 year old play rider here, rode an ‘18 KTM 300 XC-W at Demo Days, back to back with my ‘07 RMZ 450. A bike I only had about 6 hours on by then, after coming off 250 2 strokes. As you would expect, the bike cornered well, with stock springs. However, I felt instantly comfortable with the power, enough to launch all the jumps, which I could never clear on my 250’s. Only put 3 laps on the bike, but if I was in the market for a new bike, it would be KTM/Husky. The bike is THAT good, that 3 laps sold me. I did a ride review on it, if you care to dig it up. Should also mention, I preferred it over the 250, by a huge margin.
Superdave19
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Superdave19 12/28/2017 9:01am
12/28/2017 9:01am
I've got a 17' CRF450, and a 17' TC250.. They're both awesome. If I had to pick and choose, I'd say the TC is more fun, but I'm old school and grew up on 2 strokes. The margin for error is thin, but you get use to it like anything..

The KTM350SXF is the happy medium between the two..
DerickYZ
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DerickYZ 12/28/2017 9:20am
12/28/2017 9:20am
I've owned my '15 TC250 for 2 years and at first it was awesome. Bike was fast, comfortable and fun! However as time went on I got to a point where it wasn't fun to ride it. I had a '15 YZ250 that I wish I never sold for the TC250. I have a '02 RM250 that I absolutely love and can ride faster and longer than my Husky. I'm just a C class rider that rides moto and woods. The TC250 took a lot out of me too keep it going fast while riding in control, its just a handful at times.

Great machine, I would recommend it because it's honestly a great bike. It's just not for me!

Good luck!

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