This is not my full review. This is just my initial thoughts from the 4 hours I've ridden the bike. Beta has done an awesome job with this bike overall. When you look at what Beta accomplishes with these bike, and the price point knowing they make far less bikes than many of manufacturers, it's pretty incredible.
Motor
- Very good bottom end and grunt in the technical stuff. Feels more punchy than a 200cc bike.
- It really screams on the top end. It has stank on it!
- This is the better option for a small bore 2 stroke. I don't get the 150cc. The 200 is better for my needs.
- Don’t get me wrong, this feels more like a 150 than a 250, but it’s good.
- Vibration only becomes an issue when doing longer transitions on roads. Fine when I’m out on the single track.
Suspension/Chassis
- These open cartridge forks are better than the ones I rode on the 2017 Beta 300RR. More predicable. Better compliance. Not as harsh. I have done a mix of faster stuff and a bunch of slower stuff now. It’s good.
- Feels agile when on the move.
- Feels light and nimble
- I don't like the limited mobility of the handlebars. The radiators sit up very high, and you hit them with the forks really quick. The stock steering limiters keep you about 3/16th of an inch away from the forks and it makes the bike very hard to ride in technical stuff. You can’t turn the freaking bars. I pulled the bolts out and installed different ones. I now have it so that I’m barely contacting the radiators with the forks and it’s not enough travel. SEVERELY LIMITS you on tight, technical, rocky trails and switch backs. It’s the worst turning radius I’ve had on a bike since I started paying attention to it.
- Front brakes are grabby. Not sure why these appear to be more grabby than the 390RR. Maybe a different piston or master cylinder? Can’t put my finger on it.
- Pipe is tucked up nicely, but I’ve still managed to start denting it
- Linkage is tucked up better than some bikes, but I'm still hitting it. Need a better skid-plate that covers this when doing hard enduro.
Plastic/body
- I broke the tail light and rear fender when I wheelied over on a cliff face. That is pretty brittle. I don’t break the fenders when doing this on some of the other bikes.
- I smashed the radiator pretty good since the stock rad guard doesn’t offer any bracing qualities.
Much more to come on my full review.
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