2025 Husqvarna TC 250 Heritage First Ride Review

Electronic fuel injection (EFI) found its way onto Husqvarna’s full-size two-stroke motocross bikes in 2023, which was the same year those TC models as well as the FC, TX, and FX machines moved to a new platform. Fast forward two years to today and the Austrian brand’s full-size motocross and off-road competition bikes enjoy a mid-generation update. There’s a Heritage trim available for them and the enduro models once again, and the dual sport duo can now be purchased with the throwback livery too.

Not having tested Husqvarna’s TC 250 since 2023 when it last received a major overhaul, we were extra enthused to ride the reworked 2025 model. Read on to find out how this year’s 250 two-stroke motocross bike from Husqvarna performed on a test day at Fox Raceway that presented challenging conditions.

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I like the TC 250 engine. On Dirt Rider’s in-house Dynojet 250i rear-wheel dynamometer, this fuel-injected liquid-cooled two-stroke 249cc single-cylinder mill spins 43.0 hp and 29.6 lb.-ft. of torque, which is more peak hp than 250cc four-strokes and more maximum torque than 350cc four-strokes.

Lower in the rpm range a lot of bottom-end can be found, which is nice because it helps give the bike somewhat of a four-stroke type of power delivery and the ability to be lugged rather than needing to be revved-out all the time with a ton of clutch use. There’s a little bit of hesitation between bottom-end and midrange, then it comes alive before signing off up top. Once you get used to this type of power, it can be ridden to great effect. In other words, short-shifting is the way to go.

We swapped out the stock closed-off airbox cover for Husqvarna’s optional vented one (part No. A36006903000AB), which worked wonders for increasing throttle response and overall power. The TC 250 is an amazing bike for starts, especially with its strong bottom-end. It could be one of the best premix-burning machines to have underneath you when the gate drops, and help riders get good starts whether they’re competing against two-strokes, four-strokes, or a combination of the two.

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Track conditions play a large role in testing, and this particular day at Fox Raceway made suspension changes more necessary than usual due to both the vet and main tracks having ruts as far as the eye could see as a result of rain leading up to our ride day. Despite the challenging terrain, the TC 250′s suspension sat down and settled through ruts and in turns, and even more so when dragging the brakes slightly.

With a 10mm (0.4 inch) lower suspension setup than KTM’s and GasGas’ full-size motocross bikes, Husqvarna’s standard-model (including those with Heritage livery) TC and FC machines can be trickier to set up. Less suspension travel puts them into a firmer part of the stroke more quickly. With that, stiffening compression damping at both ends helps the components stay higher in the travel, resulting in a plusher feel for advanced-level riders.

Given my past AMA Pro Motocross racing experience, that’s exactly what I did. In addition to stiffening compression damping, I slowed rebound damping at both ends—the combination of which helped the TC 250 navigate choppy areas and get through ruts without trouble. Speaking of tuning, damping adjusters that can be turned by hand are a nice feature of the WP Xact AER 48mm fork and WP Xact shock. I was able to make trackside suspension tweaks without tools or my mechanic, Andrew Oldar.

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A very rutted track makes it difficult for bikes to handle well too, but the TC 250 was more than up for the challenge. It had been a while since I had ridden a machine with a steel frame, and the TC 250 handled admirably in fast sections due to its impressive stability. Direction changes are made without much effort either, aided by the fact that this bike weighs just 232 pounds on Dirt Rider’s automotive scales. The combination of light weight and a 10mm-lower suspension setup help this Husqvarna turn with the best of them.

There are five 250cc two-stroke motocross bikes on the market in 2025, and one aspect that helps separate the TC 250 from the others is its lower suspension setup, which gives it a Dirt Rider–measured seat height of 37.3 inches. This lowest-in-class seat height makes it the most approachable 250cc two-stroke motocross model for shorter riders and those who want a bike in this segment that initiates corners with minimal effort.

The TC 250 Heritage is a fun bike to ride with advanced two-stroke engine technology, a brand-specific suspension setup, neutral-handling chassis, high-quality components, and some of the raddest retro livery found on a stock dirt bike. If a white frame and throwback plastic colors and graphics aren’t your thing, the TC 250 offers all of the same great performance in Husqvarna’s standard-model motocross bike appearance.

Helmet: Arai VX-Pro4

Goggle: Spy Foundation

Jersey: Alpinestars Fluid Haul

Gloves: Alpinestars Radar Pro

Pants: Alpinestars Fluid Haul

Boots: Alpinestars Tech 10

Bike Stand: Works Connection Factory 4

Number Plate Backgrounds: DeCal Works preprinted