2017 Beta 300 RR Review | First Impression

We recently completed our test of Beta 2017 300 RR, a serious off-road two-stroke that comes with one big convenience – Beta’s Electronic Oil Injection system. In addition to that feature, the bike it fitted with Sachs suspension front and rear, a six speed, wide-ratio transmission, an adjustable power valve, electric start (with back up kickstarter), hydraulic clutch, and a dual-map ignition switch. This is not Beta’s full-race bike, that is their Race Edition version of this bike. This is a machine designed for the non-racer, but the serious rider who wants a real off-road bike to play on (but not a playbike).

First to explain the oil system, there is a 650cc oil tank under the seat that is designed to provide oil for two or three tanks’ worth of gas, but we found that it will likely last longer. Not having to mix your gas is nice, but a bigger benefit is during mid-ride fill-ups at a gas station or when ‘borrowing’ gas from your four-stroke riding friends on the trail – no more need to carry a bottle of pre-mix. Better than the convenience aspects, the system regulates the oil/fuel ratio based on the throttle position and engine load, so Beta can give the right ratio throughout the RPM. The bike is a nicely clean burning, crisp running motorcycle.

As for riding the bike, this 300 has great low-end torque and is happy to lug around. The delivery is not violent, just smooth and strong. We were told that thThe Sachs fork, with 5mm more travel for 2017, is an open cartridge fork that has a relatively smooth progression throughout the stroke. On our 300, we noticed that iThe Sachs shock has a new compression adjuster, to improve both high and low speed sensitivity. The bike felt too springy initially, but we calmed it down by slowing the shock’s rebound and increasing high speed compression (we also increased the fork’s compression); this helped bring in some stability in fast, rough sections. The bike is really in its element in technical riding where it feels great – stable and giving the powerful motor good traction. Beta focused some chassis effort on centralizing mass, and good evidence of that is the location of the electric starter; it’s placed underneath the motor to lower the bike’s center of gravity. The Beta likes to be steered with the rear. That is, using body English and throttle more than the handlebar to initiate and flow through turns. The rear-weight bias sensation if great when lifting the front tire, but doesn’t make the Beta a quick-steering chassis.

With a retail price tag listed aoft $8499, you are also getting a bike equipped with almost everything you need to go racing. It comes stock with a full FMF Racing exhaust system, Nissan brakes, an Excel wheel set, a push-button seat removal (no tools required), quick-change tool-less air filter changes, six-position handlebar mount, headlight [[and tail light]], plastic skid plate, D.I.D o-ring chain, and speedometer/odometer with hourmeter, and much more.! For more on this machine and it’s little brother, the 250cc version, check out the December/January 2017 issue on newsstands now.