2017 Husqvarna TX 300: FIRST RIDE

By Adam Booth

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER AND BOOTH

All-New Model

To understand the all-new Husqvarna TX 300, you have to first understand the all-new 2017 Husqvarna TC 250 two-stroke motocross bike, which is very similar to the all-new KTM 250 SX  we recently tested. Husqvarna redesigned the chassis, engine and suspension, dropping weight and improving performance and handling. The Husky TX 300 is the off-road version of the motocross TC 250, with 50cc more displacement (through piston size, not stroke), electric start, an 18-inch rear wheel, slightly softer suspension settings, hand guards and a kickstand. The TX 300 also features a six-speed semi-close transmission, while the TC 250 uses a five-speed. The TX 300 has a bigger gas tank, hold 2.6 gallons of fuel and is ready for any type of riding you want to throw at it.

The 250/300 two-stroke engine is the most produced engine at the Husqvarna/KTM factory. It finds a home in 10 different models between Husky and KTM. For 2017 the two-stroke powerplant is completely new. The clutch is 4mm higher and the crankshaft is 19.5mm higher, moving mass closer to the center of gravity. The cylinder has new transfer and exhaust ports, a reworked exhaust-valve system and an optimized water-jacket. A huge and exciting addition to the two-stroke engine is a counter-balancer, which Husqvarna claims reduces vibration by more than 50 percent. Feeding the new engine is Mikuni TX 38 carburetor. The electric starter is now below the engine cases, cleaning up the look and centralizing mass even further. The TX 300, like all TX/FX and TC/FC Husqvarna’s comes equipped with the WP AER 48 air fork. It is an impressive 3.6 pounds lighter than the 4CS fork it replaces. A lithium-ion battery on the TX 300 (slightly bigger than the battery in the TC 250) saves considerable weight over a standard lead-acid battery. To see more studio photos and get more info on the TX 300, check out the Cycle News First Look.

Similar Similarities

If you are wondering if the new Husqvarna TX 300 is a white KTM 300 XC, they do share a vast majority of components, but the subframe, airbox and swingarm are different on the Husky, creating a slightly different feel, both in engine performance and handling. The plastics are also different, giving the bikes their own look and on-board feel. The suspension is identical (and the settings), as is the frame, engine, carb, ignition, exhaust, footpegs, shifter, brake lever, brakes and other components.

Anywhere You Want To Ride

The new chassis works very well, it is stable, balanced and comfortable. Helping the chassis do it’s job is the power delivery from the engine. The smooth, yet strong power helps keep the rear end planted and driving forward, not spinning and stepping out, a trait that two-stroke lovers are very familiar with. Thanks to that torquey strong pull, use of the hydraulic clutch isn’t as frequent as one might think, but when you do need it, the pull is smooth and the engagement consistent. The addition of the counter balancer is simply one of the best additions to the TX 300; it makes it feel like the vibration is completely gone. It doesn’t vibrate anymore than a four-stroke and makes jumping back onto a traditional two-stroke without a counter balancer a hand-numbing experience. The lack of vibration also makes the engine feel more free when revving. The new 300 engine still lugs down extremely low when picking your way through technical terrain, providing great traction, then, without complaint, pulls smoothly through a strong mid into a healthy top-end. This broad spread of power allows the TX 300 to be ridden confidently in any terrain and at any pace. Our four-stroke-loving testers waited for the traditional explosiveness of a two-stroke and were pleased to find nothing but smooth, strong and controllable delivery throughout the rpm’s. The 300 has a kickstarter but chances are you’ll never use it, the electric start works great.

The addition of the WP AER 48 fork that replaces the WP 4CS fork on the Husqvarna FX/TX and TC/FC line is darn-near perfect. It is way lighter and works way better! On our TX 300 we ran the standard 142 psi (9.8 bar) and hovered right around the standard 12/12 on compression and rebound for riders in the 150-170-pound range for off-road. We went up a bit on air pressure and increased compression for the motocross track. Out back the sweet sag number was 105-110mm depending on the rider’s style. A big bonus to the air fork, especially on a bike like the TX 300 that will be ridden in all types of the terrain is the ability to make spring rate (air pressure changes) to maximize handling for track or trail. For dedicated single-track or hard enduro-type riders, Husqvarna makes the TE 250/300, a full trail-bike version of the TX 300. We will get the chance to ride those in July for the first time in Sweden so be sure to check for our first impressions. We are very happy with how the TX 300 performs in in all off-road situations (slightly harsh in extremely rocky sections, though) so if the TE 300 is better we will be ecstatic.

The TX 300 is an ultra-fun and easy bike to ride, especially off-road. It crosses over from off-road to motocross extremely well. It is a bit soft on jumpy motocross tracks, but on natural-style tracks like Cahuilla MX Park (a fairly natural-terrain MX track in Southern California), we had a hard time coaxing our 140-pound pro motocross tester Kai Mukai to pull in. The TX in TX 300 could easily be changed to Crossover 300, it has the ability to go anywhere and be ridden in an abundance of different styles. With the 2.6-gallon tank the range is good to decent, depending on the terrain and ride style. For long rides with four-stroke buddies, carrying gas will be standard. Husqvarna did a great job with this first-year off-road race bike. Two-stroke lovers, the TX 300 is the latest and greatest when it comes to 300 two-stroke technology and ridability.