ADB’s Enduro Editor, Geoff Braico, popped over to Canada for the world launch of Husqvarna’s 2018 TE250i and TE300i.
WORDS // GEOFF BRAICO PHOTOS // HUSQVARNA
The British Columbian resort is at 1500m above sea level and we were told that we’d be climbing to the Panorama summit at over 2600m. The test loop that the Husky crew had mapped out was technical but we did get to experience what it was like to hold it wide open up some pristine ski slopes.
The TE250i and 300i we rode were pre-production models, there will be a fair bit of development before they hit our shores. My first bike was the TE250i and right away I noticed that the oil injection system produces a lot less smoke.
TE250i
In the tight, the 250 just cruised along. The motor is incredibly smooth, almost too smooth for a 250 really, but I think a lot of riders will like that because it won’t tire them out.
As we cleared the first singletrack section it was time for the uphill ski run. Basically, click third and hold it pinned to the top. I held it wide for that long, I was worried the bike would lean out but thankfully, the fuel injection was doing its job and we made it to the top with no dramas.
We had been told that at the summit we would notice a 20-25 per cent drop in power due to the thinner air but I believe the TE250i had a bigger drop than that. The ECU worked its magic well enough but the 250 really struggled up there.
Something made me feel like the sudden change of elevation kind of confused the ECU for a split second and there was a hesitation from quarter to half throttle. Almost as if the sensors were making the bike run rich and then it would catch up with itself and lean out.
Other journos also noticed the slight flat spot on the 250i under load. If I could compare it to a carby bike, the TE felt like it had a slightly blocked pilot jet and the response off the bottom was inconsistent.
The second time I headed up the mountain on the 250, it was later in the day and was a lot warmer and the bike ran much cleaner. It still had that lack of power but, off the bottom especially, it ran cleaner and crisper than in the morning. I was impressed with the nimbleness of the 250i on the steep, tight and technical trails.
Switching up your lines on a tricky off-camber section is where the 250 shines. It pulls up quickly and the added traction from the smooth TPI motor allows you to transition from braking to acceleration seamlessly and in turn, you are way less fatigued even after a few hours in the saddle.
TE300i
Having a carburetted TE300 in Oz as my ADB long-termer I was eager to try the 300i. My 2017 TE300 is probably the best 300cc two-stroke I have ridden so I had high hopes for the 2018.
I noticed right away the extra 50cc and not just because of the extra speed. The 300 is a different animal all together. I liked the extra grunt off the bottom that the 300 offered and it just had a better overall feel on the trail.
Just like its little brother, the 300 feels incredibly smooth and easy to ride. You can crawl the thing around the trail at super low revs and it won’t stall. It doesn’t have the bottom end snap of my carby TE300 and honestly, I was a little disappointed about that.
I love that about the 300Ts. That ability to ride at low revs and then, with just a flick of the clutch, launch out of a corner. I mentioned to the Husky guys that I would like to try the red power valve spring to try and get that grunt off the bottom but it was not available for the TPI bikes yet. By the time you read this, they’ll probably have one ready to go. They don’t mess around those Euros.
Of the two bikes, the 300 ran cleaner. At the top of the mountain, the TE300 didn’t seem to be as affected by the altitude as much as the 250i. Sure, you could tell it wasn’t as strong as it was at 1500m but the characteristics of the motor were the same. Smooth, useable and easy to ride.
Apart from the new injection system, there are a few other updates that the 2018 Huskies get across the board. The WP XPlor forks have been given a facelift with new tubes and firmer damping to give extra trail confidence.
For me, the fork is still a tad soft but with the external preload adjuster, you can crank that up and that helps the fork sit up a bit in the stroke. The biggest news outside the injection is that the trusty Brembo brakes have been given the flick for Magura units.
The Maguras have a very similar feel to the Brembos. Strong and progressive. Lastly, Pro Taper takes care of the handlebars now and the new bend seemed higher but is quite comfortable.
SUMMARY
With so much hype surrounding these bikes, I guess the only thing left to answer is, do they live up to the hype?! Well, for me, it’s a yes but only just. I still prefer my long-termer TE300 because of the throttle response and the more aggressive nature of my bike.
But at the altitudes that we rode at, my carby bike would have had to be re-jetted and would have lost power. While the great thing about the injected bikes, it’s all self-adjusting and as time goes by, there will be different engine maps that you can load with an iPhone app.
I take my hat off to the Husky and KTM guys for getting TPI off the ground. They have created an engine so smooth and easy to ride, that even the most sceptical four-stroke guy will enjoy. I am very keen to ride these bikes at home and see how they stack up in the Aussie bush.
Read the full lauch report in ADB issue #456.