Irbis TTR250 – characteristics of the most common motocross motorcycle

In the segment of budget motorcycles, competition reigns fiercely. The big four of Japan - Kawasaki, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha - have been dividing the market among themselves for many decades, and in the last ten years, numerous Chinese companies have also joined the battle for customers’ wallets. Irbis TTR 250 Cross is one of these guests who came to us from the east, from the country of victorious communism, and he very confidently declared himself. Low price, reliable design and good technical characteristics - it simply could not go unnoticed by the motorcycle community.

Irbis TTR250 and TTR250R

Side view.

On the asphalt.

Outdoors.

Side view.

Vladivostok engineers worked on the mistakes, listened to the opinions of experts, and a year later presented a modification - Irbis TTR250R , simultaneously adding several additional goodies to it.

But the advantages of the new product turned out to be so important that it grew from the category of modification into a separate model. The bikes still had some things in common, but the documentation, as well as the stock equipment, immediately separated them.

A detailed comparison of the models will be below, but here it is enough to note that when purchasing the first version, the user receives a sales contract and a refusal letter for traffic police inspectors, which clearly states that the motorcycle is sports equipment and cannot be registered. Naturally, if a rider is caught on special roads (public roads), a fine will follow.

Of all the documents, only the operating instructions.

The second model has received all the documents, and if you wish, you can register it, and having received your license, you can legally drive both on special roads and outside of them.

Irbis XR 250R: A universal lightweight bike for all occasions

Discreet design, affordable price, mediocre technical characteristics. But the Irbis XR 250 is in demand precisely because it is a kind of strong middle peasant in its class, reliable, unpretentious and inexpensive.

affordable price strong average in its class

Of course, the Chinese clearly didn’t bother with the design, so the Irbis XP250 subtly resembles several models at once. Its general appearance is similar to the design of Japanese touring bikes from the early 90s, like the Honda Dominator, but in fact it has nothing to do with this class. Don't be fooled by the raised rear suspension, high front fender and other features typical of a tourenduro. The Irbis XR250R is an ordinary classic road motorcycle, which, provided it has suitable tires, is quite capable of light off-roading, without swamps and quicksand, nothing more. But who said that this is bad? For the price at which you can buy a new Irbis XR 250, this is quite acceptable.

Specifications

Technical characteristics of Irbis TTR250 are presented in the instruction manual.

As the developers themselves admit, they ripped off the engine concept from Honda - the CB250 . The only change is a reduction in torque, and therefore an increase in overall thrust, starting from the bottom, but it still remains a “high engine”.

From the gearbox side.

Engine from the spark plug side.

Close up of the cylinder block.

• Type - 1 cylinder, 4 strokes.
• Working volume - 223 cm3.
• Marking: 166FMM.
• Power - 16 hp
• Number of valves - 4.
• Cooling - air;
• Fuel supply - carburetor.
• Ignition is electronic.
• Start - electric starter or kick starter.
• Tank volume - 8 l.

There are no complaints about the quality of gasoline - from AI-92 and above .

Transmission and clutch

The bike gets a 5-speed gearbox as standard. It doesn't cause any problems, it switches well.

The desired gear is located right away, and the neutral is located in the usual place - between first and second. When the engine is turned off, neutral is caught well. If you want to drive around the city, you will have to get used to finding neutral.

• Multi-plate clutch , oil bath, power transmission - cable .
• The main drive is a chain .

Brakes

The model is equipped with disc brakes on both wheels.

Front disc brake.

Rear brake. Here the tuning is two pistons.

Hydraulic drive, supported by 1 piston . No options are offered. It is interesting that the working hoses are reinforced .
Some people change the calipers to 2 pistons. Availability of spare parts is very good.

Chassis and brakes

The frame of this product is made of steel. By type it is duplex. There is no chic in its appearance, but all elements are made carefully and tastefully. The steering wheel here is typical, as are the spoked wheels, which immediately makes it possible to recognize the TTR 250 as a purebred enduro.

The rear pendulum suspension here is equipped with a monoshock absorber, and the front one is a telescopic fork. The TTR 250 brakes at the rear using a 220 mm disc complete with a single-piston caliper, and at the front for this purpose a 245 mm disc is used together with a two-piston caliper.

Driving performance

The maximum speed (measured by GPS) is 120 km/h, but it’s long and tedious .

Acceleration from standstill to 60 km/h - 5 seconds (GPS) . Up to 100 km/h - 16 seconds on stock stars. According to users - a normal cruiser - 80 km/h confidently, then extremely reluctantly with the ringing and grinding of the engine, transmission and everything else. Due to the lack of a balancing shaft, there is a slight vibration on the footpegs.

Fuel consumption

Gasoline consumption - 3.5 liters per 100 km .
For a small-capacity model, the performance is not the best. For the cross version - within reason.

Pros and cons of Irbis XR250R

Advantages

• Moderate weight. Of course, 144 kg is by no means lightweight, but still, any beginner with at least basic motorcycle riding skills can handle the bike without any problems.
• Gas tank capacity 12 liters. This is small, but not for an archaic 250 cc engine, which even at maximum speed is not capable of consuming more than 4 liters per 100 km. And the average gasoline consumption of the Irbis XR 250 is well within 3-3.5 liters of AI-92. Considering the constant rise in fuel prices, this is very relevant.
• Surprisingly comfortable fit. Even for a motorcyclist with a height of 180-185 cm, sitting on the Irbis XP250 is quite comfortable, since there is enough space for the legs and they do not rest against the steering wheel.
• Disc brakes on both wheels. Of course, with the simplest calipers, but that’s not bad. The braking intensity of this motorcycle is acceptable, although a lot depends on the quality of the tires.
• Affordable price and maintenance cost. Spare parts for the Irbis XR250R are very, very cheap.

Flaws

Significant saddle height by class standards. Shorter bikers, especially those who don't have long legs, may have trouble getting their feet to the ground with confidence. Despite the decent build quality of the Irbis XP 250 motorcycle, the quality of spare parts noticeably “floats”

When purchasing anything, you need to pay close attention to this point.

Mediocre standard tires. The problem can be solved by installing something more acceptable

And if you buy a used bike, then most likely the tires will already be replaced. When overtaking, the lack of power is clearly felt. The Irbis XR250R loses the remaining dynamics at 70-80 km/h, and then accelerates very sluggishly. No fuel sensor. Quite a strange decision, especially since the Chinese did not skimp on the tidy in general, and did it quite well, even adding a tachometer.

TTR250 design

Since the model is intended for sports use, steel became the main material during development. To reduce weight and improve maneuverability (what distinguishes all Irbises), a tubular design was used.

• Another technological feature that was supposed to reduce weight, and therefore help the rider control the “iron horse,” was thin plastic . However, it was a miscalculation by the developers and if the frame can withstand falls, then the plastic has to be changed regularly.
• The suspension is carried out according to the standard design - an inverted telescopic fork , a pendulum on one spring in the rear (a very stiff spring) . But even such an ordinary design gives rise to criticism - the bike’s pendulum is frankly rather weak. This also includes the lack of ability to adjust any settings. And also the fact that the progression of the rear part depends only on the pitch of the springs (which probably should have affected the reduction in the cost of the motorcycle).

Exterior

The appearance of the crossover bike follows the canons of the genre - short wheelbase, high ground clearance, tires with an evil lug.

Front fork.

Rear tire mark on the ground.

Powerful rear tires.

Front end

• The first glance at the front part does not raise any questions. A fender pulled up just under the frame, and a small piece of plastic into which a small square headlight is inserted. According to users, it provides light, but it is not clear where it is directed.
• A sporty horned bullet on clip-ons and, as a continuation of the plastic, a small panel that, in theory, should cover the missing (on the cross-country) instrument panel.
• A more picky user will notice that the angle of rotation of the wing covers the front part of the bike, but the dirt raised by the wheel flies directly onto the air vent.

Ignition.

Front view.

Another perspective.

Control knob on the right. Starter button and engine stops.

Air intake for engine cooling.

Devices

As a rule, for cross-country versions there is no instrument panel at all. The TTR250 was no exception. Only the second generation bikes got their panel trained.

However, most resources have diagrams for installing a bicycle computer as an hour meter .

Back view

Long, sporty-sharp stem, long distance to the saddle, which is not designed for long-term sitting. And in front of him there is a large “lamb” under his arm - the gas tank cap.

• The capacity of the latter is 8 liters . For sports equipment that will live most of the time in the team’s garage, they did not separate the reserve .
• To the delight of the neighbors, there is no flute in the muffler, there is direct flow . The can itself hangs on the right side at approximately the level of the wheel hub.

Main technical parameters

The TTR 125 R modification is quite popular - it allows the biker to get a fairly powerful motorcycle used for off-road use. The frame is made of steel tubes, which reduces the weight of the structure, but provides the necessary level of strength and rigidity. The front suspension is implemented using an inverted telescopic tube, the rear suspension is a pendulum-type monoshock absorber. The use of a hydraulic braking system and brake brakes makes it possible to ensure the necessary level of traffic safety and emergency braking (provided the system is in good condition). The use of spoked wheels allows for a slight reduction in the overall weight of this model.

Dimensions and weight

The dry weight of the motorcycle is 120 kg . By adding 9 liters (tank) and 1 liter of oil + all sorts of technical fluids - 130 kg equipped.

In terms of dimensions, you can’t call it a small-capacity model. The bike has:

• length - 2,191 mm;
• width - 821 mm;
• height - 1,230 mm;

Seat height - 930 mm .

For whom is it intended?

A fairly high seat position implies that the rider must be tall. According to reviews from bikers of average height, an uncomfortable saddle creates certain problems when maneuvering.

Parameters and characteristics

The Chinese did not reinvent the wheel, but followed the beaten path - they took time-tested components, built a tubular steel frame and hung everything necessary on it. The road brother in the GR 250 line gave the TTR 250 its single-cylinder air-cooled engine, once diligently copied by the Chinese from one of the old Japanese engines. The picture is completed by a 5-speed gearbox, carburetor, 8-liter gas tank and good suspension. The brakes are also good - there is a disc on each wheel. Considering the modest weight of the motorcycle (only 120 kg), their efficiency is more than enough for confident braking. In general, we can say that the characteristics of the Irbis TTR 250 fully correspond to its cost.

Large wheels allow the bike to cope with uneven surfaces that await the motorcyclist outside of paved roads, and the toothy standard tires literally bite into the ground, preventing the motorcycle from losing traction. True, for short-legged bikers, the seat on the Irbis TTR 250 may not seem very comfortable due to the high height of the saddle - alas, this is the price for the large free travel of the suspension.

Speaking of pendants, they are really good. So good that you wouldn’t even expect to find them on the budget Chinese enduro Irbis TTR 250 R Cross. And even if they do not have full adjustments, they are extremely effective at absorbing any shocks. The motorcycle is equipped with an inverted telescopic fork at the front, and a classic monoshock absorber at the rear. If the motorcyclist is very heavy, and the TTR 250 fork breaks through bumps, you can try pouring more viscous fork oil into it - this will add rigidity

But here it is important not to overdo it, otherwise the oil after half an hour of active driving may foam and ask to come out, squeezing out the seals

Comparison with Irbis TTR250R

1. The main advantage of the new model has already been indicated above - the presence of a PTS . In addition to this, the bike has a full set of lighting equipment and mirrors, which will allow you to register it with the Traffic Police and calmly drive through special traffic regulations.
2. Availability of instrument panel . It is minimal, but the tachometer/speedometer is present. In addition to them, for convenience, a gear indicator is installed, and there are also indicators for turning on neutral and high beam.
3. Saddle . The new version is positioned as a touring enduro. Therefore, here it has been redone, two people can sit freely.
4. The limits for tuning in the new version are unlimited. One rear shock absorber is offered in as many as 10 variations.
5. Chain . According to user reviews, the new bike does not have problems with chain stretching. In any case, with use it sags over time, but its resource is significantly increased.

For whom

Here are the main features of the Yamaha TTR 250:

• maintainability;
• reliability;
• affordable price.

In addition, the motorcycle is sufficiently developed, and there will not be any glaring problems with it. Convenient and simple, the Yamaha TTR 250 will suit many connoisseurs of the class who need a good and inexpensive option with decent performance.

Flaws

However, the bike has few disadvantages:

1. The chain stretches quickly . Can be replaced with a suitable Japanese version (according to reviews - Xonda SV250 and other variations of the SV line).
2. The quality of electrics is a standard problem for the Chinese, but you can re-arrange or corrugate them yourself.
3. Weak plastic and suspension are the main problems, but cannot be solved.
4. Starter . Try to find a second-hand model with a working electric starter. It will be hard. The design is flawed; the gear that transmits force from the starter to the engine breaks. Standard problem.

Sometimes there is a high seating position, but for an off-road bike this is the norm.

and dignity

Small jump. I'm doing it. The editor-in-chief is trying the “250 tyr-tyr” thing.

Some of the advantages include:

1. good motor (unpretentious and pulling);
2. ease of maintenance;
3. low fuel consumption.

In addition, you can add what distinguishes Chinese models:

1. price;
2. maintainability;
3. large selection of components.

Disadvantages of the model

1. The factory chain stretches quickly, so it is better to replace it immediately.
2. Weak light optics, characteristic of most Chinese motorcycles, need to be replaced.
3. The clutch cable is located very close to the engine, so the rubber sheath can melt.
4. The screws securing the plastic to the metal are constantly being unscrewed.

In general, reviews of the irbis xr250r are positive. The quality is quite high. No malfunctions that would be difficult to eliminate were identified. The plastic is quite resistant to falls. The engine runs great. Acceleration dynamics are good. The brake system is disc. It is characterized by reliable operation and durability.

The tires provide good grip on asphalt and are versatile in terms of operating conditions. Replacing the light optics with stronger ones will increase the safety of driving in foggy conditions and at night. The only thing is that you need to get used to the sharp nose, which affects the illumination of the surface in front.

Comfort and handling

The all-terrain vehicle is monitored through an electronic instrument panel, which reflects the main operating parameters of the on-board systems and mechanisms, and to prevent theft, the manufacturer has installed a standard alarm system.
Excellent handling of the IRBIS 250 model is ensured by a comfortable steering wheel , an improved suspension designed to withstand significant loads, powerful steering joints, as well as a foot brake pedal , which allows you to instantly respond to an unexpected barrier or obstacle.

Among other things, many owners may like the presence of a cigarette lighter socket , from which you can “power” various gadgets, not to mention its intended purpose.

The chassis provides for the installation of off-road tires of size 21×7.00-10 and 20×10.00-9 at the front and rear, respectively.

Such rubber allows you to move on any type of soil and not get stuck in mud or sand.

The Kawasaki Brute Force 750 ATV is very pleasant to ride on a dirt road or even just through the forest.

The largest single-cylinder ATV in the world: https://themoto.net/atv/yaponskie-atv/suzuki-atv/kingkvad-750.html

Design

The statement that you can cut through forests on a motorcycle had a basis - a powerful steel frame.

Assembled on the basis of a tubular design, it will withstand equally well both when meeting a tree and when driving along “beautiful” Russian roads. For additional rigidity, casting was used, minimizing the number of weld points.

The motorcycle meets all modern standards accepted in motorcycle technology. The grip of the front wheel is ensured by an inverted fork with a diameter of 42 mm.

The rear is supported by a progressive pendulum-type mono-shock absorber. The user is not provided with special settings, but the progressive characteristics, carefully tested by the designers, do not require this. The suspension, as is customary in other developments of the brand, has the same stroke of 180 mm.

Like pit bikes of our own production, the motorcycle has a minimal body kit, but the latter is made of thick plastic, which is difficult to damage if hit or dropped.

pros

The advantages also include a modern and informative instrument panel, good footrests, bright design, a relatively soft sofa, a high-torque engine that can easily support two average-weight riders, and much more.

The instrument panel includes all the necessary data. The only pity is that there is no fuel level indicator.

A special highlight is the simplicity of the design and the large set of information provided by the developers - even a person unfamiliar with technology can assemble a motorcycle with their own hands.

Exterior

Since the motorcycle is positioned as an Enduro, it already has tires with good traction in stock. However, it is also suitable for driving on special roads.

Front view

• The first thing that attracts the eye is the visor on the body kit under the headlight, evoking thoughts of the front fender raised high, like on an Enduro. But if you look down, the mid-length fender is located in the usual place for a road bike - above the wheel. The designers are silent about what this structure was made for, but when viewed from the side, it looks like a logical continuation of the frame.
• The head optics are represented by one irregularly shaped headlight located in the recess of this stem. Above the headlight there is a small windshield to protect the instrument unit from the oncoming flow. There is no protection for the driver.
• The turn signals are represented by LED candles installed on their own stems on the body kit.
• Above is a large horned steering wheel. The mirrors are attached to it. The racks are quite long, so the motorcyclist’s hands should not interfere with the view.
• The most protruding parts of the bike are the grips; the large swing gives good handling, but with a careless maneuver you can blow off the ear of the car that happens to be nearby.

Dashboard

Once behind the wheel, the user sees a neat instrument cluster, which is very reminiscent of the latest Japanese developments. The designers did not hide it - it was redesigned from the old Fazer (Yamaxa, FZ series).

On the left is a dial tachometer, marked up to 12x1000 (red with 10.25x1000, recommended 8.5x1000), on the right is an LCD screen where speed readings are displayed. In addition, there is also a mileage counter (general and TRIP), speed indicator, battery charge and other information.

The service lights are crowded on top of the screen and are hard to see in bright sunshine. For example, if the high beam lamp can still be seen at least somehow, then the switched-on neutral is no longer visible.

There is no fuel level indicator.

Back view

There are no complaints about the rear optics.

• Under the symbolic extension there is a large LED lamp that performs the functions of a stop/marker. Below is his reflector, also red. Even lower are the loops for attaching the number.
• The turn indicators are located outside the bike with LED candles. Behind the space for the second number there is a platform on which a wire trunk is installed. Moreover, the latter is recessed into the plastic of the body kit - it will be an excellent mount for installing a permanent “suitcase”.
• The saddle is large, non-standard for an Enduro bike. The difference between the second number and the driver is a symbolic step. According to user reviews, it’s comfortable to sit here and there.
• The shape of the body kit covering the fuel tank is so well designed that only the hatch in the front reminds of its location in a standard place for a motorcycle. The filler cap is underneath, on the key.