Husqvarna TE 125 2016 — Specifications

When searching for a true 125cc enduro for an A1 license, the choice often boils down to an Austro-Swedish duel. On one side, the KTM 125 EXC, light and vicious like a wasp. On the other, this Husqvarna TE 125, asserting its difference with a temperament all its own. At nearly €7800 new in 2016, it is not aimed at timid beginners, but at young riders who want to attack the track from their first full throttle.

At the heart of the matter is this 124.8 cm3 two-stroke single-cylinder engine. With its 38 horsepower, it doesn't hold back. The philosophy is clear: an immediate response, a sharp character that demands commitment. It’s not an engine for learning to dose, it’s a tool for learning to exploit. The comparison with a possible 4T version is definitive: here, we are looking for liveliness and lightness, not suppleness. The Magura gearbox and six-speed transmission contribute to this feeling of surgical control, even if handling the clutch requires a certain finesse.

But where the Husqvarna TE 125 really scores points is in its weight/versatility ratio. Dry, it weighs 96 kg. Barely more than a large bag of cement, but infinitely more fun. This lightness, combined with 355 mm of ground clearance and a 960 mm seat height, makes it a formidable weapon in technical sections. The Chromoly steel frame and polyamide rear section work together to offer a well-felt flexibility, which swallows roots and rocks without betraying the rider. The WP suspensions, with their 4CS fork and revised DCC shock absorber, are of absolute seriousness. They transform chaotic trails into playgrounds, offering stability that inspires insane confidence for a 125.

The crucial question for many remains: is the Husqvarna TE 125 homologated for road use? In a pure enduro version like this one, no. It is a competition machine, period. This also explains its price and technical equipment. For those who dream of tarmac, you will have to turn to a supermotard conversion, a Husqvarna TE 125 SM, which implies an additional budget and formalities. This is where the used market, for a Husqvarna TE 125 2017 or a recent model, can become interesting.

Ultimately, this machine is not a toy. It is a demanding 125cc enduro, designed for those who want to progress quickly and hard. It forgives less than a 4T, but it rewards infinitely more. Faced with the KTM, its eternal rival, the choice comes down almost to team preference, as the philosophies are so close. But with its intelligent chassis and fiery temperament, this TE 125 proves that you can be a perfect training machine while having the soul of a warrior.