Cycle News Staff | January 24, 2018
The Italian Alternative | 300cc’s of Two-Stroke Fun
While the Beta motorcycle brand seems relatively new in the United States, the Italian company started producing bicycles in the early 1900s then switched over to motorcycle production in the late 1940s. The founding family still runs Beta and the current production facility, near Florence, was established in 1972. So, Beta has a long history of producing motorcycles and has been increasing its presence in the U.S. via Beta USA for several years. It is still a relatively small brand, but the bikes have proven to be competitive at the top levels of off-road racing, with the UK’s Steve Holcombe winning the 2016 and 2017 FIM Enduro World Championships on a 300 RR model.
There is no shortage of good ol’ torque and outright power when it comes to the 2018 Beta 300 RR.
For 2018, Beta offers both 250 and 300cc two-stroke RR models as well as the Race Edition version of each, which include an upgraded closed-cartridge fork and a few other upgrades. We have spent several months riding and racing the standard 300 RR and have come away impressed with the Italian beauty. The 2018 model got a new frame with increased rigidity, an upgraded cylinder, new clutch and lost 10 pounds in the process. That weight loss was due in part to removing the backup kick starter but that can be added back if you prefer the security.
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Photography by Kit Palmer
Standout features include an FMF exhaust and silencer, Electronic Oil Injection system, Nissin brakes, Brembo Hydraulic clutch, Keihin carburetor, plastic skid plate, kickstand, and an electric start. The RR also includes a dual map ignition, very functional computer that includes an odometer, two trips, miles, hours, time and speed. A headlight is also standard.
This bike is a looker. If you don’t like attention, then the Beta isn’t for you.
In the sea of KTM and Husqvarna’s found at most off-road events these days, the Beta generated a lot of looks, questions and comments from fellow riders. Most agree that it is a great looking bike and want to know how it performs.
The answer is very good. The Beta 300 RR has an aggressive feel right from the beginning. The suspension is stiff enough for fast trail riding or racing and it turns really well despite having a “light” feeling front end. The power is smooth yet strong and prefers a taller gear rather than revving it to the moon. The power-valve is adjustable to allow you to change the character. It also includes a dual-map ignition, one aimed at a mellower power delivery, but we did not feel a significant difference between the two options. To answer the most common question, it does feel different than a KTM/Husqvarna two-stroke but not significantly different. The Beta has a little more responsive corning but that comes with a trade-off of a little less stability at speeds.
Lightweight and a snappy engine bump up the fun factor by a hundred percent.
Speaking of speeds, the six-speed gearbox is very versatile, but you will find that it tops out on open roads or washes. And the combination of rough terrain and speed is where you will likely notice a little headshake. A steering stabilizer would cure that. And compared to the latest generation (2017) KTM/Husqvarna two-strokes, the Beta generates a lot more vibration.
We raced the Beta at the Los Ancianos Tecate Enduro, which featured around 70 miles of tight, technical trails and several tough, rocky hillclimbs and downhills. It was nearly six hours of racing and we came away very impressed with how well the bike finds grip and tractors up technical climbs. The only casualty was the stock skid plate getting ripped off in the rocks.
Beta builds its own engines and this one is one of their best.
The electronic oil-injection is a great feature. It does not seem like a big deal, but it is nice to not need to mix fuel. The electronic fuel-injection system modulates the oil based on the rpm and the load the engine is experiencing, which provides the optimum ratio and less smoke. The 2.5-gallon tank will get you about 45 to 55 miles before you will be looking for gas. The Keihin carburetor is jetted well and did not provide any issues.
When it comes time for service, the Beta’s include tool-less air filter access and a nice push-button seat removal to provide access to the oil injection tank. By the way, that 650cc tank will get you about three tanks of fuel before having to add more oil and includes a warning light.
The 300 RR two-stroke uses an oil-injection system rather than premix that makes living life with the Beta much simpler.
We thought that the Sachs fork and shock felt a bit harsh in small chop and rocks but realized that the stock Michelin Enduro Competition FIM spec tires were the main culprit. They have very stiff sidewalls and the tires lasted forever but provided a harsh ride. We installed a set of Dunlop AT81 tires and it made a night and day difference in the compliance of the bike and traction. The forks are not great, but they are good, and most riders will be happy with them. And the Sachs shock performed well.
After losing a little weight in 2018, the Beta weighed in at 250 pounds on our scales with a full tank of fuel, which is very similar to the KTM and Husqvarna 250/300 off-road bikes (the KTM and Husqvarna four-strokes are shockingly in the same range, but the Japanese off-road four-strokes are around 25-30 pounds heavier by comparison). The 300 RR feels light and responsive on the trail.
The stock Michelin tires have super-stiff sidewalls. We swapped them out with a set of Dunlop AT81 tires that offer a far more compliant ride.
To wrap it up, you will likely not be disappointed if you choose this Italian beauty as your dance partner for the trails. It will deliver a little more vibration and perhaps some instability on high-speed terrain than the Austrian options but will likely reward you with great corning, strong performance and a fresh look.
You might be wondering if the Beta is competitive, well, the 300 RR won the FIM World Enduro Championship in 2016 and 2017. That should answer your question.
And don’t forget about Beta’s Build Your Own Beta program, where you can customize your bike before you even get it. You just visit Beta’s website and they will walk you through the whole process as you pick your parts. You just order what you want and they’ll install them for you, then your new Beta arrives. It’s a pretty cool program; we’ve tried it in the past ourselves and were, to say the least, very impressed. It’s worth checking out. CN
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SPECIFICATIONS
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2018 Beta 300 RR ($8499)
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Manufacturer:
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Rignano Sull’Arno, Italy
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Engine:
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Liquid-cooled 2-stroke single-cylinder
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Displacement:
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293.1cc
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Bore x Stroke:
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72mm x 72mm
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Compression Ratio:
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11.9:1
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Carburetor:
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Keihin PXK 36mm
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Starting System:
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Electric (Optional kick start)
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Transmission:
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6-Speed
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Frame:
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Steel with aluminum subframe
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Front Suspension:
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48mm Sachs with adjustable compression and rebound
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Rear Suspension:
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Sachs Aluminum body w/ adjustable rebound and hi/low compression
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Front Wheel Travel:
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11.6 in.
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Rear Wheel Travel:
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11.4 in.
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Front Brake:
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260mm rotor
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Rear Brake:
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240mm rotor
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Ground Clearance:
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12.6 in.
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Seat Height:
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36.6 in.
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Wheelbase:
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58.3 in.
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Fuel Capacity:
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2.5 gal.
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Oil Injection:
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650cc tank
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Weight (fuel fuel):
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250 lbs.
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