Besides the KYB suspension, the Race
Edition comes standard with billet-aluminum
footpegs, gripper seat cover, quick-release front
axle, aluminum/steel rear sprocket, anodized
brake/shift levers, handguards and fluorescent-
red-with-blue plastics and graphics versus the
deep red/black plastics. The Race Edition mod
-
els also use a slightly different cylinder, cylinder
head and power valve, resulting in more com-
pression and power.
I would add the optional radiator fan ($200
from Beta), and I prefer the oil injection system
that comes on the standard RR models (they
don't include that on the Race Edition to reduce
weight). The oil-injection system can also be
purchased from Beta ($350).
The Surron Ultra Bee electric bike was also
a blast to ride. The $6500 "entry-level" dirt bike
is amazingly capable and fun for all levels of
riders. It includes a lot of adjustable settings to
dial down the performance for a new rider, and
the slightly smaller size and 187-pound total
weight are suitable for beginners and experi
-
enced riders who want to tackle challenging ter-
rain. The traction control is amazing in slippery
conditions, and it has an easy-to-use reverse
function that is cool.
All the 2024 250cc motocross bikes are
a blast to ride, but the entirely new Yamaha
YZ250F rose to the top for me, just like it has
for the past several years. The suspension
works well for me on just about any track, and
the chassis is predictable and comfortable in all
conditions. The motor is equally good for most
riders, and the Yamaha Power Tuner app sets
the standard for adjustability and maintenance
tracking. It is a little loud, and the cable clutch
feels a little outdated compared to the hydraulic
units on many of the other bikes in the class,
but it still topped our shootout results.
FEATURE I 2023 CYCLE NEWS BIKES WE LIKE
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