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/1516218
RIDE REVIEW I 2024 BETA 250 RR P88 bikes in the class. The forks deflect a little in the rocks, but the shock performs well up to a fast, but not race, trail pace. Faster and/or heavier riders will probably be looking for sus- pension mods or may find it worth paying extra for the RR Race Edition model. The 2.5-gallon tank delivers a similar range to any other bike in this class, although the fuel-pickup tube is relatively tall, resulting in the need to switch to reserve when there is a lot of fuel/range left in the tank. So, it gives you an early warning to look for fuel, and if you are racing, you would be wise to run it on reserve so you don't "run out" at an inoppor- tune time. The fuel tank petcock is positioned in a spot that can be hit by your boot, so you should keep an eye on that. The chassis performs well at speed with confidence-inspiring stability. The 300 RR works well in slow technical terrain as well, but a few test riders that race hard enduro events noticed that the turning radius is a little wider than other bikes and requires some modifica- tion to the radiators to provide more clearance if you remove the steering stop bolts. The ergonomics on the Beta are comfort- able for all our test riders, but a few men- tioned that the seat is a little uncomfortable after several hours of riding. Betas are easy to work on because of their logical use of hardware and assembly. The tool-less seat removal and easy-to-access air filter are appreciated. Betas continues to get good feedback on the styling. They have a clean design that most riders like, and they still generate a lot of com- ments from people at the track or trailheads. If you are a racer who needs a 250 for a particular class, Beta has two great options: the 250 RR or the 250 RR Race Edition. Based on our experience with the Race Edition mod- els, we feel that is the way to go for racers. If you are a trail rider looking for a fun bike that will provide solid performance, less vibration, and more over-rev, the 250 RR may be a better choice than even the more popular 300. CN 2024 BETA 250 RR ($9899) ENGINE TYPE: 2-stroke, single, adjustable powervalve COOLING SYSTEM: Liquid DISPLACEMENT: 249cc BORE X STROKE: 66.4 x 72mm STARTING SYSTEM: Electric (optional Kick Start backup) LUBRICATION: Electronic Oil Injection FUELING: Keihin PWK 36mm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed CLUTCH: Wet multi-disc diaphragm-style clutch with hydraulic actuation FRAME: Molybdenum steel perimeter double-cradle-type FRONT SUSPENSION: 48 mm Sachs Open Cartridge with compression, rebound & Ignition spring preload adjustment REAR SUSPENSION: Aluminum Body Sachs shock w/ adjustable rebound and hi/low speed compression FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL: 11.6 in REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL: 11.4 in FRONT WHEEL: 21 in. REAR WHEEL: 18 in. FRONT TIRE: 90/90 x 21 Maxxis MaxxEnduro REAR TIRE: 140/80 x 18 Maxxis MaxxEnduro FRONT BRAKE: 260mm floating rotor, Nissin master cylinder and caliper REAR BRAKE: 240mm, Nissin master cylinder and caliper SEAT HEIGHT: 36.6 in. GROUND CLEARANCE: 12.6 in. WHEELBASE: 58.3 in. FUEL CAPACITY: 2.5 gal. WEIGHT (FULL FUEL, MEASURED): 245 lbs. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S