Triumph TF 250-X—Triumph’s First Motocross Bike
Triumph may be best known for its classic asphalt-going machines, like the Bonneville, Thruxton, and Trident. But the company has also spent a decent bit of time off-road—the Tiger 800 became their best-selling moto upon its release in 2010, after all.
Now, the British bike maker is going all in on the dirt. Triumph has officially launched its first motocross bike, the TF 250-X.
The TF 250-X has been designed from scratch, representing an entirely new platform. During the development process, Triumph sought the help of names like Ricky Carmichael and Iván Cervantes.
“The TF 250-X is an incredible bike. This is the bike that we set out to build … Whether you’re a professional rider or an amateur rider, you will not be disappointed,” said Carmichael in a statement.
As a result of this collaboration, the TF 250-X boasts a unique, lightweight aluminum chassis and a purpose-built engine. Let’s look at what the bike has to offer in terms of numbers.
Light but Powerful
Triumph says it developed TF 250-X’s engine from the beginning for racing performance. The 250cc four-stroke single, with titanium valves and a forged aluminum piston, is compact and light to keep the bike’s weight to a minimum.
The powerplant is paired with a five-speed gearbox and a wet multi-plate Exedy Belleville spring clutch. For managing the engine’s characteristics, Triumph has available the (optional) MX Tune Pro app, which has real-time selectable engine mapping, engine sensor dashboard, and live diagnostic functionality.
The aluminum chassis features a light spine frame with twin cradles, and it has been fine-tuned to offer the kind of balance between performance and flexibility MX riders need. Triumph has kept the frame slim with a 32.91-inch handlebar width and a 58.74-inch wheelbase. The seat height sits at 37.8 inches.
Thanks to the light weight of both the engine and chassis, the TF 250-X clocks in at just shy of 230 pounds wet. With the low weight, Triumph says the bike is set to provide an unparalleled power-to-weight ratio.
For keeping the jumps and bumps smooth, the TF 250-X comes with a KYB 48mm AOS coil spring fork that offers 12.2 inches of travel. The fork features compression and rebound adjustment, as does the KYB three-way piggyback coil rear shock with the same travel dimensions.
The braking system from Brembo has twin 24mm piston floating front calipers, a single 26mm piston floating rear caliper, and Galfer 260mm front and 220mm rear discs. For wheels, the TF 250-X features DirtStar 7000 Series aluminum rims and machined hubs, clad in Pirelli Scorpion MX32 tires.
In addition to the above standard features, Triumph offers a collection of optional accessories for the motorcycle. Some items on offer include the MX Tune Pro Wi-Fi module, Akrapovič full titanium exhaust system, Athena LC-GPA launch control module, and a performance seat.
Taking It to the Races
Triumph clearly has faith in its new motocross model, as the company is entering the FIM Motocross World Championships in the 2024 season with the bike. The Triumph team will field two of the bikes in the 2024 MX2 class.
Additionally, the TF 450-X will enter the MXGP class and the Supermotocross World Championship in 2025. Wait, TF 450-X? Indeed, Triumph has more motocross goodies in store that will be revealed later in 2024.
For its part, the TF 250-X is available now with shipments beginning in late spring. The motocross machine retails for an MSRP of $9,995.