2024 Triumph TF250-X arrives in Australia

The highly anticipated Triumph TF 250-X has touched down in Australia this week, marking the first of several motocross and enduro models from the British manufacturer.

Retailing for $14,250 ride-away, the pioneering new TF 250-X joins a tightly fought 250 four-stroke MX segment and will be sold throughout Triumph’s 30-strong dealer network in Australia.

Triumph hopes to extend its dealer footprint to more regional areas with the future rollout of its off-road range, which also includes the Triumph TF 450-X due to be revealed later this year, plus a separate enduro range.

Speaking at the launch of the new TF 250-X this week, Triumph Australia brand manager Jonothan Kent said the TF 250-X marked a new era for Triumph.

“We’ve got 30 dealers nationally at the moment, but there are certain areas that we want more dealers – like western NSW, north-west Victoria, Bathurst and the southern NSW coastline, even north Queensland – to grow our brand,” he said.

It’s understood Triumph Australia has secured moderate initial allocation of the TF 250-X, with more examples making their way to showrooms later in the year.

With increasing pricing pressures again driving up competition in the off-road segment (as well as driving down prices), Triumph is standing behind the TF 250-X’s quality components and standard parts with respect to its fairly lofty $14k purchase price.

“It’s a slightly different type of buyer, we want to go after the up-and-coming riders and get them into our brand – there’s a lot of work going into that,” Kent said of a potential price war with existing rivals.

The brand is also considering its options to go racing in Australia, after already making successful entries in both the AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross Championships, and the MXGP World Championship.

The Thai-made TF 250-X is powered by a Triumph-built 249.95cc single-cylinder DOHC engine that boasts segment-leading 47 horsepower (35kW) and 28.6Nm, paired with a five-speed transmission incorporating a quickshifter.

It contains a forged aluminium piston and titanium valves, as well as diamond-like carbon low-friction coatings, lightweight magnesium covers, and a Exedy Belleville clutch.

Engine management and tuning is handled by an Athena EMS and can be tailored via the MX Tune Pro app, while launch control, switchable traction control and two map options can be configured via the handlebar switch block.

A Triumph-built aluminium spine frame chassis with twin cradles wraps around the engine and contributes to an equal best-in-class wet weight of 104kg.

Braking is handled by Brembo components, with a twin 24mm piston floating front caliper and a single 26mm piston floating rear caliper. The calipers are paired with 260mm and 220mm Galfer discs respectively.

KYB suspension is also included on the TF 250-X, with a 48mm AOS spring fork combined with a forged and machined 7075-T6 aluminium triple clamp and a three-way piggyback coil rear shock.

The TF 250-X is fitted with DirtStar 7000 Series aluminium rims and machined aluminium hubs, and are fitted with Pirelli Scorpion MX32 mid-soft tyres. Rounding out the equipment list is a Pro Taper ACF carbon ‘bar and ODI half-waffle lock-on grips.

Triumph dealers will offer sales, services, parts, and a whole range of apparel, with a mobile-optimized 24/7 online parts supply system allowing for express delivery.

Officials explained this week that owners will be able to purchase parts through the online system, but would still need to go through a dealer to pick up the parts or organise separate delivery.

The Triumph motocross project spanned five years of development and was headlined by Ricky Carmichael and Ivan Cervantes, among other development riders.

The TF 250-X arrives several months later than originally planned, after British officials admitted they weren’t 100 per cent satisfied with the feel and performance of the aluminium chassis.

Further afield is the TF 450-X and the enduro range, but Triumph wasn’t willing to divulge further details this week.

Officials also deflected questions as to whether the brand would go down the path of offering a 350cc four-stroke in either the MX or enduro ranges.

It is understood Triumph will incorporate Oset into its portfolios in due course, after announcing it had acquired the electric manufacturer in 2022.

The Triumph TF 250-X is available in showrooms now.