Husqvarna TE 250

Review

 As a yung boy in the ’70s, I became enthralled with the Husqvarna name after my dad took me to my first pro motocross race. Watching factory racer Kent Howerton wheelying out of corners at the head of the pack made an impression that stuck in my mind for many years.

Those images faded as Japanese brands came to dominate the racetrack. But they returned in more recent years, when Jacky Martens and Alessio Chiodi won World Motocross Championships on Huskys, and Travis Preston took a victory in the 125 class of the 2001 Houston Supercross. Meanwhile, Husqvarna was racking up World Enduro Championships with consistency against its mostly European competitors.

So I was intrigued when I got a chance to test one of the company’s 2004 models, the TE250.

Like all the new Huskys, the TE comes with a 100th anniversary graphics package. The celebration is actually a year late, since Husky was founded in Sweden in 1903. But it appeared it might not happen at all, since the brand, now built in Italy as part of the MV Agusta family, nearly collapsed in a failed merger, then survived a flood that heavily damaged the factory in 2003.

However, Husqvarna persevered to introduce an impressive 2004 lineup of four motocrossers and five off-road models. The TE250 is the smallest four-stroke in the enduro/hare scrambles/GNCC line, which also includes the TE450 and TE510, plus the two-stroke WR125 and WR250.

Walking up to the TE250, I immediately noticed the classic Husqvarna looks and the top-grade componentry: hydraulic clutch, titanium exhaust pipe, aluminum handlebars, wide footpegs, magnesium engine, etc. The biggest surprise, though, is the red button on the right handgrip—yes, this bike, like all the new Husky four-strokes, comes with an electric starter.

Once riding, I quickly noticed the responsiveness of the engine, which pulls well from down low all the way to the rev limiter. Add in the hydraulic clutch and slick-shifting six-speed gearbox, and you’ve got a very controllable powerplant.

Of course, the best engine in the world can’t make up for poor handling, and here again, the Husqvarna didn’t disappoint. Other than a hard seat, the ergonomics were stellar for me as is, but with adjustable handlebar clamps and tunable suspension, the bike can be made to fit anyone.

I rode the TE with stock suspension settings on everything from a motocross track filled with double jumps through a whooped-out sandy hare scrambles track to extremely tight woods sections. And the verdict? The TE handled it all with flying colors. Sure, it bottomed the suspension a few times when landing off big jumps, but that’s what suspension adjustments are for.

Having spent some time on a Yamaha YZ250F, I can say that while the YZ felt a little lighter and quicker on the track, the Husky was considerably easier to ride. Thanks to its broad, forgiving powerband and natural seating position, I actually felt I could ride faster on the Husky, even though it’s not a true motocrosser. And on the trail, you can really see how this tiny brand has earned all those world championships.

With an MSRP of $6,299, the Husqvarna is competitively priced between the Yamaha WR250F, which retails for $5,799, and the KTM 250 EXC four-stroke, at $6,548.

As far as maintenance is concerned, the TE was trouble-free throughout the test. This was a bike I just put gas in and rode. It always started quickly and ran great.

My only suggestion: Make the seat a bit softer. —Jim Kimball