WORDS: Jock McLauchlan
PHOTOS: Geoff Osborne
2019
HUSQVARNA
TX300
think most of us know that KTM
and Husqvarna are pretty much
made by the same company and
are largely similar machines with a
few differences in the suspension and
chassis departments. Fortunately, just
prior to testing the very sexy looking
new Workshop Graphics Husky TX300, I
had spent a few hours on my old mate
Rev’s new KTM 300XC. Both bikes are
remarkably similar under the skin, but
have enough subtle differences to give
each bike a different feel. And, I have to
say, the Husky feels the nicer machine for
two main reasons. Firstly, the ProTaper
handle bars are more forgiving and
rubber mounted which reduces vibration.
Secondly, I think the ergonomics are
superior because I catch my boot-top
under the side panel on the KTM but not
on the Husky – otherwise they feel very
similar despite the difference in the KTM’s
alloy and the Husky’s composite sub-
frames.
The TX300 is a serious and purpose built
cross-country machine with only the
weight of a side-stand and a sixth gear
added over the full motocross machine,
as well as the excellent electric start. Sure
the list also includes a larger fuel tank and
18-inch rear wheel for general offroad
suitability. Like the MX bike, the TX300
also has a carburretor and WP AER 48mm
air forks. I’d be happy to see this machine
White, blue and packing a
punch, Husky’s TX300 is
one serious XC machine.
gain fuel injection like its TE/EXC brothers,
but in all honesty it is not a necessity.
A power mode switch allows you to
alter the power delivery from nicely fast
and responsive to smoother and less
aggressive for slippery conditions. Further
power delivery tinkering can be done by
changing between the three power valve
springs and by turning the adjuster. There
really is a setting from mild to wild if you
go to the full extremes of the adjustment
available. So, there’s something for
everyone on a setting’s front.
The engine has had a counter-balancer
for a few years now and truly is the
bench mark for two-stroke smoothness
and power delivery. Built with mass
centralisation in mind, the engine is still
very compact despite the addition of the
counter-balancer. It’s fair to say the engine
is fast, smooth and exceptionally easy to
use for a two stroke. Does it have four-
stroke power? I would say no, but it’s a
close run thing. There is still a little more
of a hit in the upper midrange power than
you would expect from a four-stroke.
However, the main difference is the length
of the rev range with the four-stroke able
to pull longer in each gear, while the two-
stroke probably feels faster because it’s
pulling shorter gears and therefore is
slightly more abrupt. Never-the-less, the
TX300 has a seriously good and fun engine
to use.
KIWI RIDER 51