VOL. 54 ISSUE 26 JULY 4, 2017 P91
delivery of the 390 RR-S is
in true off-road riding terrain,
like single-track and technical
slower riding.
The six-speed wide-ratio
transmission suits the power
of the engine nicely and we
learned quickly to use first
gear in slow terrain; the 390
just doesn't have enough
torque to pull second gear
unless you have a little momen-
tum. Heavier riders may even
choose to add a couple teeth
to the rear sprocket for a little
more grunt and tighter spacing
between gears.
The Beta's powerplant
features separate oil compart-
ments for engine and trans-
mission oil, helping to keep
transmission grime out of the
engine. It adds a little more
work when it comes to oil
changes, but the benefits are
worth it.
Beta equips a kick-starter as
a backup if the starter should
have an issue, but as with all
modern fuel-injected bikes, a
super-dead battery will prevent
starting even with a kick-starter.
We recently learned that the
2018 model will not have a kick-
starter and that the cases are
the same as the 2017 model,
allowing you to install one if you
feel the need. We carry mini
jumper cables in case of a low
battery in these modern fuel-
injected times.
Plush Is The New Black
Sachs suspension has been
the norm for Beta off-road bikes
for quite a few years and every
The 390 RR-S is
another bike in the fast-
growing segment of truly
barley street-legal dual-
sport motorcycles.
