We’ve had a Triumph TF250C in the shop for some time but haven’t had a great deal of time to ride it until recently. Our first experience with the bike came at the press introduction in West Virginia late last year, but the 250 was overshadowed by the TF450C and we only had a day an a half of riding there. Later, we actually got a test bike out here in California, and only then did we begin to realize how good it really is. That bike was thrust straight into our 2026 250 off-road shootout, where it finished second. Triumph went all-in for 2026, releasing two off-road 250 four-strokes. The “C” is designed to be the more race-oriented of the two. Following the pattern, it is closely related to the TF250-X MX bike, but with these differences: a 2.2-gallon fuel tank, off-road suspension settings, handguards, a skidplate, an O-ring chain, an 18-inch rear wheel, Dunlop AT82 tires and a kickstand. The gearbox, mapping and power delivery are all the same as the motocross bike.
It turns out, that’s fine. The Triumph TF250X motocross bike did exceptionally well in our last 250 MX comparison and most modern-day 250 motocross bikes, we have found, have excellent power delivery for off-road. It’s very different in the 450 class, where riding a full-power race bike in the woods is no fun at all. The TF250C has a very long powerband with just enough low end that you don’t have to shift unless you really want to go fast. Down low, there’s very little tendency to stall. The power does feel a little soft down there compared to some of the others, but on top, it’s the king. The Pro Circuit Dyno backed that up–peak output was measured at 44.3 at 13,600 rpm. It feels like it wants to keep on making more power when the rev-limiter steps in.
Having the same five-speed gearbox as a motocross bike is fine for an off-road bike as well. There were two six-seeds in the shootout and it turned out that they were at a disadvantage on our tight off-road loop. First gear was too low and sixth was just an overdrive for dirt roads. They were both effectively four-speeds. The Triumph does have a big gap between third and fourth, but that’s easy to deal with.
Like the motocross bike, the C has excellent stability. The suspension is also strong in low and medium speed terrain, and the Triumph was the lightest in the shootout at 228 pounds without fuel, as measured on our scale. Detailing is well-thought out from the translucent fuel tank to the skid-plate which extends rearward to protect the linkage. The only real complaints were that the riding position is a little cramped and shifting is stiff. The Triumph TF250-C sells for $9695.
MERT LAWWILL
Mert Lawwill passed away on May 10 at the age of 85. He was a larger-than-life figure to a generation of motorcyclists. His 1969 AMA Grand National championship was just one small piece of his overall presence in the motorcycle world, and some of that gravity was captured in Bruce Brown’s legendary movie On Any Sunday. Lawwill was also an iconic figure in the mountain bike world, where he pioneered many of the designs and configurations that became standard in that industry. On top of all that, Lawwill developed a system that allowed amputees ride motorcycles and bicycles. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2012, Lawwill was granted AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend status, which is reserved for those whose accomplishments transcend their induction category in impactful ways throughout the motorcycle community.
“I BETCHA DIDN’T HAVE THAT ON YOUR BINGO CARD”
That was Ken Roczen’s post after he won the 2026 Supercross Championship. “I was an emotional wreck today. It was not an easy task by any means. I’ve been exhausted, physically and mentally, over these past few weeks, but I’ve dreamed of this since I was a little kid. This is just a testament of you never give up,” Roczen said. “Anybody, at any age, whenever you’re competing and you feel anxiety, you feel strange emotions that rob your energy, you’re not alone. I feel those too, but I don’t give up. I work on it daily.”
NEW BDR
The Adirondacks Backroads Discovery Route-X is a new 700-mile loop GPS route through the vast Adirondack Park in upstate New York. Adirondack Park is the largest protected area in the contiguous United States, with much of the region preserved as “Forever Wild.” The route is approximately 50% unpaved and offers a mix of scenic dirt roads and winding pavement, especially vibrant during the fall riding season. If you’ve never ridden a BDR, this is a good place to start. The X suffix means its designed to be a round trip excursion rather than a point to point. The Adirondacks BDR-X documentary film premiers May 28, and you can learn about how to ride a BDR here.
See you next week!
