3RD OPINION:
THE TRAIL RIDER
I didn’t get to ride all of the bikes, but this is what I thought of the ones I did manage
to sling a leg over. I started off the day with the 125, which characteristically lacks a
little torque in the bottom end, but more than makes up for that when you hit the
powerband. It’s a hell of a lot of fun for sure, but does have a tendency to bite the
unexperienced hand if you’re not careful – that power delivery is a light-switch on/
off affair.
My pick of the two-strokes however was the larger 300, which felt more like the
four-strokes I’m used to riding on trails. With more than enough pull from right
down low in the rev range to get you up a hill climb and less of a major hit when it
comes on the pipe. I was very impressed with how manageable the 300 two-stroke
was.
Next up I gave the four-strokes a crack, starting with the mack-daddy, the big RR
480 4T. I have always tended to stick with 250cc enduro bikes, preferring the agility
they offer.
Although the 480 is the largest capacity of the full RR range of Beta dirt bikes, the
480 has very good manners. It’s not vicious or twitchy, but obviously still has a huge
amount of get up and go when you ask for it. With a decent amount of low-down
torque, it is just as happy chugging around, as it is when dropping a few gears and
blasting up a hill climb. Even though it’s the largest capacity, it does not compromise
a huge amount of agility, still managing to feel light and nimble.
54 KIWI RIDER