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
2021 BETA 200 RR R I D E R E V I E W P78 full tank of gas to go before you should start to sweat. The 200 is fueled via a 36mm Keihin PWK carburetor, which feeds the top-end through a V-Force reed induction system. On the departure end, you'll find a mechanical exhaust power- valve that is adjustable using a 5mm allen wrench, though Beta offers a $25 accessory knob that allows you to make adjust- ments by hand. Dial it in for a harder hit, dial it out for a softer hit. An Arrow muffler (non-spark arrestor) is attached to the nickel-plated exhaust pipe. A six-speed wide-ratio trans- mission and an O-ring chain transfer power to the rear wheel and the hydraulically operated clutch is matched to a Brembo master cylinder. Brakes are Nissin with a 260mm disc up front and a 240mm disc in the back. Beta made your life a little easier while living with the 200 RR. No tools are required to remove the seat or access the 200's TwinAir filter, and it de- signed the subframe so you can remove the shock through a slot on the right-hand side, so you don't also have to remove the subframe itself. The aluminum handlebars are six-way adjustable, and there is a digital meter that reveals speed, average speed, maximum speed, total miles, trip meter, hour meter and battery voltage, and that's where the low injector oil light hangs out. After a significant update for 2020, the '21 200 RR sees subtle but welcomed changes, such as slimmer bodywork and a slightly higher-capacity 2.55-gallon fuel tank. The frame has been stiffened up a bit via extra gussets around the steer- ing head area, and the subframe has been beefed up, as well. Beta says the seat base is stron- ger, and the electrical system is more reliable now. And coloring is back to Beta red. BRRAAAAP! Many things stand out when you throw a leg over the Beta 200 RR for the first time; it's difficult to pick just one to start out with. But at the top of the list has to be weight. The 200 feels ridiculously light—125cc light! Beta says the 200 weighs 213 pounds without fuel, the 125 RR is 207 pounds also without fuel. You can attribute the added six pounds to the 200's electric starting and oil-injection, which, when you think about it, is pretty amazing, really. You would think it would be a lot more. But on the trail, it doesn't really mat- ter because it's all about feel, and the 200 does, indeed, feel 125-light and extremely agile and maneuverable. But what tells you that you're not on a 125 is the motor. Compared to a typical 125 two- stroke, the 200 has far more torque and more all-around Soft sand doesn't faze the 200's torquey and powerful little engine.