RR 250 (MY2020)

The RR 250 is the mid-size two-stroke in Beta's enduro range, and it's the one you pick when you want snap instead of lugging grunt. A 249 cc liquid-cooled single breathes through a traditional carburetor and drives a 6-speed gearbox, so what your right hand asks for is what the rear tire gets. Around it sits a steel double-cradle frame with a fully adjustable upside-down fork and shock, and ride modes come standard to soften the delivery when the ground turns slick. No ABS, no traction control, nothing to pose with: this is a tool built for tight, technical dirt. Honest work!

At 247 lb (112 kg) wet it moves the way a Beta should: direct, playful, easy to place. The suspension stays composed over sharp hits and deep ruts, which keeps the chassis settled through fast woods sections and rocky climbs. It's a rugged machine that's easy to wrench on, and there's plenty of room to build it your way over the years. It suits aggressive trail riders and amateur racers who like to stay busy, because this engine rewards the right gear and punishes laziness. That's the caveat. If you want a bike that tractors up everything while you think about lunch, look at the bigger classes.