Cycle News

Cycle News 2020 Issue 47 November 24

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1312225

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2021 BETA 200 RR R I D E R E V I E W P74 I don't think I've ever met a 200cc two-stroke that I didn't like. Even back in the day, I still have fond memories of Suzuki's PE200, Yamaha's IT200, and of course, Kawasaki's beloved KDX200 (all three initially starting out as 175s). And they didn't have to be two-strokes, either. In its own playful way, even Honda's anemic XR200R was a blast to ride. However, KTM put all previous 200s to shame when it introduced its first 200 off-roader in 1997, the limited edition Jackpiner 200. It paved the way for the many wonderful KTM 200 variants to come down the road over the next 19 years. For whatever reason, KTM stopped producing a 200 after the 2016 model year in favor of a 150. Luckily for us, Beta realized there was a need for a 200cc two- stroke in the U.S. and eventually picked up where KTM left off. The Beta 200 RR first saw the light of day in 2019. RARE BREED FUN, LIGHT AND SPUNKY, 200s WERE ONCE THE RAVE. THE BETA 200 RR KEEPS THE WAVE ALIVE WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER

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