2020 K TM 250 XC TPI
RIDE REVIEW
P68
There are a
number of
advantages
when it
comes to EFI,
especially on
a two-stroke,
but spot-on
throttle
response
is high on
the list.
complete family of KTM two-strokes is great. Their
counter-balanced engines are impeccably smooth
and comfortable, and the componentry is top-notch
as it has been for years. This is the leading edge of
two-stroke development. If you're in the market, this
is where your interest should likely start.
TPI TIMELINE
We've been riding fuel-injected two strokes from
Austria since 2017 and XC's in general for a lot lon-
ger than that. For us, our TPI journey started with
the Husqvarna TE250i—a pre-production bike we
wrangled from Husqvarna to take to the mountains.
Next were the KTM TPI models—all in the XC-W
range of wide-ratio, single-track-minded enduro
bikes with softer suspension and the like. But what
we've really been waiting for is this technology to
make its way to the fastest off-road bikes in the
bunch—the XC line.
Why? Because we love XC's and everything they
represent. And we're weird in the fact that a lot of
us like 250s better than 300s. We desperately want
the TPI tech to replicate the finely tuned carbureted
two-stroke versions we've tested and owned in the
past. Bluntly put, we want to see if TPI can deliver
the punch to be competitive in an XC world.
Up to this point, our experience with TPI has
been impressive, but not exactly exciting. Easy to
love, yes! Easy to never want to go back to mix-
ing gas because of EFI, yep! Exciting, not really
(except for the reasons mentioned previously). The
only time TPI has really let us down is on startup;
it sometimes acts if a choke is on until the engine
reaches operating temps.
The TPI system delivers fuel efficiently to the two-
stroke system and delivers broad, smooth power
across an insane range of elevation and temperature.
Its best power range in the 250 platform is mid to top
with ultra-clean, and worry-free cable pulls on-call.
The machines with TPI simply sing a consistent tune
to the moon from open desert, sand dunes and
more. Likewise, they grunt up anything, are massive-
