This past Thanksgiving long weekend, Seb and I were lucky enough to borrow two demo bikes from Backcountry Motorsports: TM Racing’s 2024 EN 250 ES Fi 2T and 2024 EN 300 ES Fi 4T. We couldn’t wait to test these machines out in the stunning and rugged terrain of Bear Creek, near Kelowna, British Columbia. Saturday morning started early, with the familiar buzz of excitement that comes from packing up the van and preparing for a full weekend of riding. We met up with our local friends, Zoë Verbauwhede and her partner Joe, for a ride through the recently burnt forest that stretches out from their backyard. It’s always a bittersweet experience seeing the beauty in nature’s regrowth following a fire, but it also makes for some epic riding conditions.
Day 2 was a one-man show with Seb, Zoë, Ashley, and our dear friend and favourite photographer, Carolyn Genovese from Five Five Media, who joined us to capture the magic. The vibes were perfect! We felt like we were truly locals for the weekend, thanks to the hospitality of some incredible people.
Now, let’s get to the juicy part—these Italian-made masterpieces. With my background riding a Honda 250 RX and, more recently, a 2023 GasGas EX 300, I was curious to see how these TMs would stack up. Spoiler alert: they didn’t disappoint!
TM EN 250 ES Fi 2T: A Screamer Through the Trees
First up: the EN 250 ES Fi 2T. It only took me a few minutes to realize that this bike has some serious power. What really blew me away, though, was the consistent power delivery and throttle response. It’s, by far, the most consistent two-stroke motorcycle I’ve ridden. And that level of predictability gives you immense control, especially when things get technical.
The 250 cc fuel-injected two-stroke engine loves to scream—no surprise there, but its smoothness was on another level. As long as you keep her on the pipe, this bike is nothing short of a gem. Or, as I like to call her, a screamer.
Comparing it to my GasGas EX 300, I noticed a few key differences that stood out. Most notably, the gearing. On the GasGas, I’m used to staying in second gear for technical terrain. The EN 250, however, kept me in first gear more often than not. It was definitely a different feel, but not a bad one. In fact, it made the bike extremely nimble in tight, slow sections where precision is key.
I also found it to be incredibly forgiving with clutch mistakes. The bike hardly ever stalled, even when I thought I’d pushed it a bit too far. That’s a massive advantage when you’re navigating tricky sections.
The ergonomics of the EN 250 ES Fi 2T push you into an aggressive, sportive riding position. It’s a bike that doesn’t let you get lazy—there’s no slack to give here. Whether you’re slicing through trees or tackling rocky Okanagan slabs, the EN 250 constantly demands that you stay “on-it”. Built for speed, riding this bike makes you want to push harder and faster.
One of the more surprising parts of the weekend was how quickly I adapted to this bike for technical manoeuvers. I spent some time practising clutch ups and pivot turns, and, to my surprise, I dialled in a few clean ones with ease. The bike felt like a natural extension of myself—something that doesn’t always happen right away. That kind of instant connection is rare, and it’s a testament to the engineering that goes into these machines.
The suspension of the EN 250 ES Fi 2T is also worth highlighting. The KYB suspension set is a total game changer compared to the WP air suspension I have on my GasGas. The difference was night and day, especially after a full day of riding through rocky terrain. The KYB setup absorbed the bumps and impacts like a champ, leaving me less fatigued and more confident to keep riding hard.
In short, I had an absolute blast on the TM EN 250 ES Fi 2T. The power, precision, and sportive feel made it one of the most exciting bikes I’ve ridden in a long time. I’m already looking forward to trying the EN 300 to see how it compares—and potentially making one of these Italian beauties my next bike.
TM EN 300 ES Fi 4T: Smooth Power in the Bush
Next on the list was the TM EN 300 ES Fi 4T. I’ve always been more of a four-stroke rider myself, having spent a good amount of time on my 2019 Honda 250 RX. But I’ve come to appreciate the raw power and agility of two-stroke bikes in recent years.
That said, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a 300 cc four-stroke motorcycle in the challenging, technical terrain we typically ride in. Would it feel too heavy? Would it be too powerful for the tight, rocky single tracks? I’m happy to say that the EN 300 exceeded all my expectations.
For a bike with such a large displacement, the EN 300 ES Fi 4T felt incredibly light and responsive. The traction was on point, and the bike seemed to climb with minimal effort.
Whether I was tackling steep, rocky climbs or winding through tight trails, this bike held its ground. In situations where I thought I’d have to throw in a foot dab or muscle the bike through, it would just glide up as if it were nothing. That weight distribution and overall design made the bike feel deceptively light. This allowed me to ride with confidence in the most difficult sections.
Just like with the 250, the clutch and throttle response on the EN 300 were impressively precise. It allowed me to make micro-adjustments as needed, especially in technical climbs where every inch matters.
The bike was incredibly smooth! Even after a full day of hard riding, I was neither sore nor fatigued—thanks in no small part to that KYB suspension.
I also took the EN 300 to the endurocross park for some jersey barriers, logs, and rock hops. This bike performed beautifully! The smooth suspension, combined with the bike’s power and control, made it easy to tackle obstacles without second-guessing myself.
Another standout feature was how natural the bike felt at high speeds. “Popping wheelies” and hopping over obstacles at speed came naturally. This is not something I usually expect from a four-stroke bike in technical terrain. The EN 300 ES Fi 4T inspired confidence, and I found myself pulling off moves I thought would take a few tries to perfect.
One thing I’m especially excited about is getting the EN 300 4T onto a track. I can’t wait to see how it handles fast corners and big jumps! The combination of power, smoothness, and lightness underfoot makes me believe that it will be just as impressive on the track as it is in the woods. I’m eager to push it hard and see if it can handle aggressive riding in a more open environment.
Wrapping Up the Weekend with our TM Motorcycles
We ended the weekend by installing a graphic kit on Zoë’s adventure bike and the TM EN 250 demo bike. It was the perfect way to wrap up an incredible couple of days with great people and some top-notch machinery. Huge thanks to Backcountry Motorsports for generously letting us demo these amazing bikes. Seb and I are already looking forward to saddling up on TM motorcycles again in the near future!
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