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/734589
2017 BETA 125 RR-S FIRST RIDE P90 hits. Jumping and hammering whoops isn't what this bike is de- signed for, especially if you are over 130 pounds. Our scale says the 125 RR-S weighs 249 with a full tank of gas, but thanks to the larger wheels and balanced ergos it doesn't feel like an anchor on the trail. With a real- world seat height of 35 inches, it is about an inch lower than a full-sized bike, helping those vertically challenged to feel more confident when coming to a stop or placing their feet on uneven ground. We found the top speed to hover around 65 mph on a flat smooth road. Any incline drops that to around 60 mph and a downhill (very steep downhill) allowed us 68 mph. This little bike will do 65 mph, but that doesn't mean you should get on the freeway. You'll get run over and besides, it's illegal to ride a bike under 150cc on the interstate. Cruising around town and rip- ping down two-lane roads is no problem and we logged tons of miles humming along at 60 mph. The vibration from the little 125 is almost zero and the Beta 125 RR is actually pleasant to ride for extended periods. If you're heavier than 140 pounds, the front half of the seat doesn't provide much padding, that's where the gas tank is. Our solution was to slide back when logging longer miles. The front brake leaves a lot to be desired. It is pretty weak and even after 100 miles of hard use it didn't provide adequate power for a bike this heavy. We added more brake fluid and bled the system, which offered a slight improve- ment to performance, but the bottom line is this: They need to be more powerful, especially for a bike of this size. Out back the rear brake is opposite than the front, it has a tendency to grab and lock when you want to feather it. This is not a great attribute for beginners trying to learn controlled use of the rear brake. IMPRESSIVE LITTLE BIKE! After some decent time cruis- ing town and exploring different types of off-road terrain, the idea of a smaller-than-average dual- sport has grown on us. The 125 RR-S is a great reminder that enjoying riding off-road doesn't have to involve big power. This is also a great gateway drug into serious dual-sport riding for a be- ginner or smaller-sized rider. As a bonus the Beta 125 RR-S would look pretty sweet decorating the front or back of an RV. CN 2 0 1 7 B E T A 1 2 5 R R - S ENGINE TYPE: .......124.5cc liquid-cooled, 4-valve, 4-stroke, single BORE X STROKE: ............52.0 x 58.6mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ..................... 11.2:1 FUEL DELIVERY: .................Mikuni 26mm carburetor IGNITION: ................................... CDI (TCI) TRANSMISSION: ......6-speed multi-plate wet clutch FINAL DRIVE: ............................428 chain FINAL GEARING: ..............................14/63 FRONT SUSPENSION: .....41mm USD fork REAR SUSPENSION: ....Steel body shock w/adjustable spring preload FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ............... 10.3 in. REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: .................. 10.6 in. FRONT BRAKE: ............................. 260mm REAR BRAKE: ............................... 220mm FRONT WHEEL: ..................................21 in. REAR WHEEL: .....................................18 in. TIRES: ..... Michelin Enduro Competition (DOT Approved) SEAT HEIGHT: .................................. 35 in. WHEELBASE: ................................. 56.7 in. GROUND CLEARANCE: .................. 13.0 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ............................1.6 gal. CLAIMED WET WEIGHT: .............. 219 lbs. (without gas) ACTUAL WEIGHT: ........ 249 lbs. (full gas) MSRP: ............................................ $4999 S P E C I F I C A T I O N S THE 125 RR-S IS A GREAT REMINDER THAT ENJOYING RIDING OFF-ROAD DOESN'T HAVE TO INVOLVE BIG POWER.