Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/757317
20 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com I had the opportunity to put the Beta 250RR through its paces on a nice long 120-mile run in New England. I am no A Class Rider, but just a mortal woods rider who rides moderately aggressively on occasion and likes challenging terrain. I ride mostly in the Tennessee mountain area so the Vermont/New Hampshire area was a great proving ground since the terrain was somewhat similar in diffi culty and gradient. This ride was a great opportunity to really get to know a bike. I have been looking for a mid-size European bike to add to the stable. My current bikes are a Yamaha WR 450R and a Yamaha YZ 125. I have spent a good bit of me in the setup on both. I know that my bike choices are sort of bipolar but I really like aspects of each one of these bikes, depending on my mood, the terrain and my choice of riding partners. My goal in the next bike is to capture some of the good things that each of my current bikes do without over compromising. I tried another European off ering of the 300cc two stroke variety. I liked it a lot but it did not completely speak to me. The cockpit did not feel as good and it did not like running fast out in the open as much as my 450. The power and power delivery were amazing but I actually like running closer to the pipe or on a two stroke. If you are not an A class rider and up, truly riding a 300 on the pipe can spank you! I had the choice of riding both the 300RR and 250RR. So how did I like it? "Like it" did not describe my experience. The bike far exceeded my expecta ons. I was expec ng some sort of compromise. There was very li le if any. The bike was like taking the best a ributes from each of my current bikes, combining them and making them be er. I liked the 250RR so much I did not want to give it up to try the 300RR. Right off the start I no ced the shorter seat height. Any average size rider will appre- ciate the confi dence that ins lls. The general ergonomics were top notch. The bike was loaded with smart features like hold handles, a bu on removable seat and oil injec on. With the lower seat height, one would expect it to feel more cramped. Au contraire. The seat- ing posi on and pegs felt very natural. It never felt small in that 120-mile ride. Yamahas are known for their suspensions so I am somewhat a snob when it comes to that. The sus- pension setup on this bike was great right out of the box. I didn't touch a thing. I think if I spent a li le more me with the clickers, I could make it even be er for my style. The power delivery and weight combo were perfect. It is clearly heavier than my 125 which ps the scales at just over 200 pounds, but with the way the 250RR carries the weight, the Beta felt much more like my 125 (I know, that 450 is a tank!). The power delivery was outstanding. You could ride it a gear high or low. It did not seem to mind either way. You almost had to try to stall it, yet it liked to rev as well. That was paramount to a regular rider who rides with a diverse crowd. When the going was tough, I could fasten the chinstrap and the bike could clearly take me places beyond my talent. On the easy sec ons I could let it rip. It would over-rev nicely without falling off . In short, I was amazed. Could it be that there's a bike that is light and crisp like a 125, but will chug like a 450 and has an even more tractable power band? Why yes indeed. Throw that in with a good suspen- sion, well thought-out feel and ergonomics, then you have one hell of a bike. I am one that usually devotes me and setup into what I already own instead of buying the latest and greatest new bike. This bike is an excep on and I will be ge ng one! The Beta 250 RR through the eyes of a casual woods rider Bill Pa erson 20 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com