Sometimes, you don't want or
need a fire-breathing 450 out in
the woods.
Traction control was also
crucial on the greasy clay, as
it reduced rear wheel slip and
enabled maximum traction
with the Dunlop AT-82 tires.
The suspension package
earned the Triumph more
bonus points. The KYB Air-Oil
Separate (AOS) 48mm closed-
cartridge coil-spring fork
offers a good mix of comfort
and front-end traction. We
didn't face any big hits or real
jumps, but the fork felt just
fine over the roots, rocks and
descents that we encoun
-
tered. I preferred running less
sag in the rear, 102mm in-
stead of the standard 105mm,
and found that getting more
weight on the front end al
-
lowed the bike to turn better in
the tighter switchbacks. This
is something I picked up from
riding the 450RC motocrosser,
and it transferred directly over
to the 450-C model as well.
The brakes and clutch on
the Triumph are top-notch,
and the Brembo units are
strong and dependable in any
conditions. Both front levers
feature dial adjusters to per
-
fectly customize the feel, and
neither system faded despite
exposure to heat, rain, or mud.
Overall, the cockpit is very
comfortable and easy to get
familiar with.
This bike is designed for
GNCC racing. In the woods,
its smooth power is easy to
manage and keeps the bike
manageable during a long
race. We kept burning laps on
P98
RIDE REVIEW I 2026 TRIUMPH TF 450-C
The racing inspiration is evident in the off-road TF 450-C.
