The leafy hills of Appalachia are 2,000 miles and a world away from the dusty deserts and suburban sprawl of Southern California. Morning Glory and Virginia creeper vines scale tall oak and hickory trees, partially camouflaging the winding single-track trails that snake through root-laced stream beds.
Before me lay a labyrinth of twisting motorcycle single-track trails, aptly named Trails Heaven. Officially known as the Hatfield & McCoy Trail System, it’s easily accessible from West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston, the state capital. The locals, of course, know the natural riches they have in their backyard. But, for a West Coast rider used to cranking the steering damper hard and inhaling dust across yucca-strewn valleys, this truly felt like heaven.
What drew us all the way out to this off-road mecca? The brand-new Triumph TF 450-C cross-country dirt bike was debuting stateside, and we couldn’t wait to throw a leg over this feature-packed machine. Even though I’d broken my left big toe riding back home the weekend before, there was no way I was going to miss this chance!
I don’t know about you, but when I think of Triumph, I envision the sweet sound of their renowned Hinckley triple, a powerplant that’s a blast in the Street Triple and now the spec engine for the FIM Moto2 class. Next would be their Tiger adventure bikes, which I’ve enjoyed on many ADV rides. But a single-cylinder competition dirt bike from Triumph? Really?
That changed when Triumph engineers teamed up with motocross legends like Ricky Carmichael and Ivan Tedesco. The first production Triumph motocrosser since 1974, the TF 450-RC hit the Supercross circuit in 2024. For model year 2026, Triumph offers both 250cc and 450cc models for motocross (X), enduro (E), and—most recently—the cross-country C-model.
Triumph has demonstrated that the company is serious about winning championships from the start. A full factory off-road racing effort in the U.S. debuted with Ricky Russell taking the top step in the NPEG National Enduro Series and Johnny Walker winning in the AMA EnduroCross Series.
Just looking at the TF 450-C’s standard components feels like an exercise in top-of-the-line aftermarket name-dropping. Athena GET ECU with launch control, traction control, and a quickshifter. Brembo brakes. Galfer rotors. ODI grips. ProTaper handlebar. Neken triple clamps. D.I.D DirtStar wheels. KYB AOS suspension. TwinAir filter. Dunlop Geomax AT82 rubber. Phew! That’s nearly the same list of aftermarket upgrades I’ve installed on my own off-road race bike!
The TF 450-C shares much of its DNA with its motocross-specific sibling: a 449.3cc SOHC engine with a claimed 61.5 horsepower at 9500 rpm and 37 lb-ft of torque at 7000 rpm, a five-speed gearbox, and an aluminum central spine/twin cradle frame.
For off-road competition, the C-model adds specific engine mappings and suspension settings, a 2.2-gallon fuel tank for longer range, and protection for both rider and engine in the form of flag-style hand guards and a plastic skid plate with an integrated protector for the aluminum shock linkage. Tool-less air filter access, a kickstand, and an 18-inch rear wheel round out the off-road accoutrements.
As I squeeze my Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro boot over my blackened, shattered big toe, the skies open, and rain begins to fall. No problem, I quickly downloaded the Triumph MX Tune Pro app, which connects to the accessory Wi-Fi module ($199) that Triumph has installed on our test bike.
The Athena GET ECU comes preloaded with two factory off-road maps: Full Power and Softened Power. The Triumph app adds four more factory maps—Desert, Fast Woods, Single Track, and Soft/Mud—and lets me customize each one. For sticky West Virginia clay, I chose the Soft/Mud map and increased the traction control from the standard level 3 to a more intrusive level 6 (out of 10).
After setting the rear race sag to 102mm and adjusting the handlebar and lever heights, the rider triangle between the seat, footpegs, and grips feels completely neutral—rather than distinctly European or Japanese, it was just right where I need it.
With 800mg of Ibuprofen kicking in, I’m ready to go. I fire up the 2026 Triumph TF 450-C, cross Martin Creek, and unleash its quick-revving, throaty thump through the stainless-steel muffler. The hydraulic Brembo clutch lever has a light feel, and the Exedy clutch actuation is smooth—though shifting with a broken toe is a bit sloppy!
Despite the rain and slippery conditions, I feel instantly comfortable on the TF 450-C. Smooth power delivery and neutral ergonomics let me place the front tire exactly where I want. With traction control set to level 6, rear wheel slip is limited, keeping the back end in check. After a solid hour in the mud, I referred to this as Hero Mode. Without it, I’d probably look like a typical West Coast squid in the rock-infested muddy clay and slippery roots.
As the rain lets up and the soil tacks up, I push the TF 450-C harder and learn more about the bike. The Dunlop Geomax AT82 tires are familiar. They aren’t the most aggressive off-road tread, but highly predictable and effective across varied terrain. With 12 psi up front and 11 in the rear, the AT82s do their job in these challenging conditions.
The KYB 48mm air-oil separate, coil-spring forks hold up well. There’s no wallowing, and good bottoming resistance on high-speed drop-offs. For fast woods riding, the KYB suspension is balanced fore and aft. At 180 pounds, I’m able to use the full suspension stroke, and the off-road damping settings seem to track well in these tricky conditions.
Patches of blue sky peek through the leafy canopy overhead, and the sun quickly begins to dry out the trails on the south-facing hillsides, providing some much-needed traction. The TF 450-C is equipped with a quickshifter, and there are a few short straightaways that allow me to bang through the gearbox up through 4th gear.
Even with the Soft/Mud map selected, the 60+ horsepower is effectively applied to the ground, and I’m hauling the mail in a hurry, putting the gripper seat cover to the test to keep my body in attack position.
Fortunately, there’s just enough traction for me to get hard on the brakes to evade what appears to be a slowly moving rock making its way across the trail. The initial bite from Brembo binders is relatively tame compared to what I’ve experienced on other off-road bikes. Yet, it is still strong with good modulation, and I’m happy to report that this little woodland box turtle will live to see another day.
The break in the rain has afforded some amazing riding conditions, and the dimension of time seems to completely fade as I settle into a state of rapturous flow. Only motorcyclists know this feeling, and it’s absolutely addicting. The perfect union of rider and machine, in complete control while blasting through the gorgeous scenery of West Virginia. All is right with the World.
At a road intersection, I find a small clearing with a view of the sky and stop to take it all in. A guy in a side-by-side stops to chat—it’s Trails Heaven Trail Manager Jamie Smith. He is the mastermind and trail boss behind the Tornado Single Trax network. If this is Heaven, then Jamie is The Creator. In the process of building the trail system, Jamie moved to the outskirts of Tornado, West Virginia, so he could live adjacent to a trail head and work six or seven days a week on the project.
I try to express my appreciation, but words and a handshake feel inadequate for the single-track bliss he’s created. Jamie smiles and gestures to the gathering clouds, and I make haste back to the staging area, hoping to beat the next downpour.
As my time on the all-new TF 450-C winds down, I mentally shift gears and take stock. Given that I had only had a few hours on the bike, in mostly sloppy conditions, and the Ibuprofen is wearing off as the pain in my mangled toe returns. Where do I stand? I haven’t even had a chance to test out the launch control, experiment with engine mapping and traction control scenarios, or get the bike into 5th gear!
Rounding the final turns of trail and crossing the tarmac to the staging area, I’m reluctant for this ride to end. The 2026 Triumph TF 450-C has left me wanting more—more time, more distance, more adventure. My immediate impression is that the 450-C is a highly refined off-road racer right out of the box, and I’m eager to put it through its paces on familiar West Coast terrain to truly calibrate it against the competition. At the same time, I crave more of West Virginia’s Trails Heaven! The Tornado Single Trax trail system is so much fun, I need to return with a gaggle of crusty West Coast riders and make True Believers out of them.
Photography by Don Williams
RIDING STYLE
- Helmet: Klim F5 Koroyd
- Goggles: Klim Viper Pro Off-Road
- Jersey: Klim XC Lite
- Backpack: Klim Nac Pak 3L Hydrapak
- Gloves: Klim Impact
- Pants: Klim XC Pro
- Boots: Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro
2026 Triumph TF 450-C Specs
ENGINE
- Type: 4-stroke single
- Displacement: 449cc
- Bore x stroke: 95 x 63.4mm
- Compression ratio: 13.1:1
- Maximum power: 61 hp @ 9500 rpm
- Maximum torque: 37 lb-ft @ 7000 rpm
- Valvetrain: SOHC; 4 DelWest titanium valves )
- EMS: Athena
- Fuel delivery: Dell’Orto EFI w/ 44mm throttle body
- Transmission: 5-speed w/ upshift-only quickshifter
- Clutch: Exedy wet multiplate w/ Belleville spring and hydraulic actuation
- Final drive: Chain
CHASSIS
- Frame: Aluminum spine and double cradle w/ aluminum swingarm
- Handlebar: ProTaper ACF Carbon Core w/ ODI half-waffle grips
- Front suspension; travel: Fully adjustable KYB inverted 48mm fork; 12.2 inches
- Rear suspension; travel: Fully adjustable KYB shock w/ adjustable linkage; 12.0 inches
- Wheels: Wire-spoke D.I.D DirtStar 7000 rims
- Front wheel: 21 x 1.6
- Rear wheel: 18 x 2.15
- Tires: Dunlop Geomax AT-82
- Front tire: 80/100-21
- Rear tire: 110/100-18
- Front brake: Galfer 260mm disc w/ Brembo 2-piston caliper
- Rear brake: Galfer 220mm disc w/ Brembo single-piston caliper
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 58.7 inches
- Rake: 27.4 degrees
- Trail: 4.6 inches
- Seat height: 37.8 inches
- Fuel capacity: 2.2 gallons
- Wet weight: 247 pounds
- Color: Triumph Racing Yellow/Black/White
2026 Triumph TF 450-C Price: $10,695 MSRP
