Hubba hubba....2016 Beta 250RR

I had an opportunity to ride two 250 two strokes on Monday, courtesy of a friend of mine who works for a motorcycle publication. We went out to McCain Valley for some unofficial trail riding fun with a new Husqvarna TE250, and the Beta RR.

It was easy to pick which bike I wanted to ride first....


Sexy red Italian always gets the nod. Sorry Husky.


I hopped on the Beta and Don Williams piloted the TE. I started to feel at home right away on the RR. Sure, the suspension was set up too stiff, but I felt like the dampening curves of both ends were ideal for trail work, and all I would need was slightly lighter springs to get the job done. Brakes were superbly progressive, and the ergonomics really fit me well with comfortable transitioning between sitting and standing. The only thing that bothered me on the bike was gas tank where it stuck out a bit behind the radiator shrouds. My knees bonked into the corners a few times during the day when I would move forward. The bike feels skinny and very balanced for technical work and tight trails, although I'm not sure if it can rival either of my WRs for cutting a tight corner cleanly. I really loved the electric start, the hydraulic clutch and the smooth, powerful engine. The powerband seemed quite civilized at lower RPMs, then tore flat out on the main jet for plenty of wheel lofting fun in the whoops.

At some point, we switched bikes....but I didn't waste too many miles on the TE. It just didn't suit me...in lots of ways. So I soon switched back to the confidence inspiring ride that the RR had to offer. I only had the rest of one day to ride something truly special, so I might as well spend the remainder of the afternoon on the Beta.

Once we finished our cross country loop, we hit a few spots for a photo shoot, then it was time to load up, hit a burger joint and head home. Day in the life of a non professional bike tester for me. I'd pick the Beta in heartbeat. The new oil injection was something that I could really appreciate also. Barely any oil on the end of the silencer, even after plenty of slow poking around through the rocks and brush






P.S. I really enjoyed getting some great shots from a professional.

The TE had a strangely heavy and nervous feel to it. It just didn't seem to feel as precise at either low or high speeds. Transitioning from sitting to standing seemed to require a lot more effort than the Beta. Rear brake was too touchy. Suspension felt plush but vague early in the stroke, then spiked at midpoint. Engine had a lot more torque right off of idle, but that didn't seem to make it better in loose, technical situations. Engine flattened out a bit at mid range.

Things that I liked about the TE...seat was a little cushier, and there were handguards.

Great pix. I agree on the ergos though my impressions were on the showroom floor. On the Beta I felt right at home. On the TE it just felt different, maybe even weird.

I would love to be able to do a back to back comparison ride, but I'm afraid I'd be in debt soon after.

Funny you should mention that. I'm 5 ft. 5 in. tall and I liked how the Beta felt roomier and easy to stand up on. The Husky felt cramped and I felt like I had to rise further from a position where my knees were bent more so than on the Beta.

The TE I rode and the RR were about equal in how easy it was or wasn't to touch the ground....I couldn't tell any noticeable difference, although specs say the Husky is about an inch taller. Maybe the TE was running less preload.

It's no different then the red huskys. Always called halls and bills for parts...just saying