After another hard day being dragged about on my Beta 300rr Racing I am considering just cutting my losses on it and trading it in against a KTM 250 EXCF it's a 2017 with the same hours as mine and has had a top end about 30hrs ago.
I am really enjoying getting out on my current bike but I am coming round to the idea that it's too much bike for me as a noob. In fairness I am dropping it less and less. But it's a bit like playing golf, I take a shot and it's a peach I think I am getting the hang of this then it turns into a shocker of a round. That's where I am with this bike one day I love it the next day it's trying to kill me.
Do I persevere or cut my losses? Is a 250 4t a better option for me where I am at the moment in terms of experience? And will it be that much easier for me to ride, compared to my 2 stroke 300
I have an annual bonus coming from work. So now would be the time or I am stuck with my current bike for another year.
Would appreciate any advice, I am sort of on the fence at the moment.
Sean if i was you id go get the 250 even tho i have no experience of riding the 300rr . My reason for this is ive battled with a bike that is in my opinion to powerful for laning . Its taken me best part of 4yrs tweaking it getting it as i want it . Constantly battling a bike will ruin your confidence and result in you giving up or not going out as often as you would really like to . The 250 has all the power you will ever need laning .
As a newbie when I lived in Spain 15 years ago I bought a GasGas 250 2 stroke. Great fun on the road popping power wheelies but a real handful on the rough stuff unless you could ride..... Like all the Spaniards I was riding with!
Sold it, bought a Yam TTR250 and had a much better time off road. It was **** at wheelies though....
Just a thought - You're welcome to borrow my 400 EXC for a couple of hours. Older bike with lovely soft RFS 400 engine (KTM's 450 is a beast IMHO) I have "ride a mates" bike insurance from Carole Nash so shouldn't be any issues from my perspective in leading you round on Beta (except it's a two stroke with no engine braking and doesn't have a lovely soft power delivery). Anyway happy to give it a whirl if you fancy or just borrow the 400 for a tootle.
I had a 250 excf 2009, my first laner bike. Similar engine to the later model a twin cam. Totally different animal to its predecessor the 250 rfs engined one because the later twin cam models are more powerful and very free revving but little low down grunt and required a lot of clutch slipping and was easy to stall. I fitted it with a 280 kit which did help with the torque but tbh it was not a great laner bike. The earlier RFS engine reputably the better laner by far.
The ones after were erm...bit extreme, the TE450 would happily power wheely in first four gears. The KLX after was a tank.
My 250 freeride is a 2t. Soft tractable power delivery and 91kg. By far the best bike for me greenlaning thus far and if I hadn't got that I would have stopped riding as age and a past severe illness would have dictated otherwise. Welcome to try it and trust me it will be an eye opener for you.
Don't buy the 250 excf 2017
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Walk a mile in another man's shoes. ...and you will be a mile away... and have his shoes..
Thanks for all this info guys, plenty to think about. I am probably going to try and get out again this week if anyones around? I am also working from home this week. Due to the nature of my job I have been told to stay at home.
Xtrainer certainly an option Ray. Been impressed by them and I considered buying one but couldn't find one within my budget. Bit more lively and enduro biased but a great bike for the lanes.
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Walk a mile in another man's shoes. ...and you will be a mile away... and have his shoes..
Our 200EXC is the easiest and most capable bike to ride in our stable, it also benefits from being a slightly smaller frame. I took it to Spain once to ride with a group doing Romaniacs training, they all called it a cheater bike by the end of the week. Not so good on an MX track though.
There's a good reason that Beta make two versions of the 300, the enduro version is brilliant but can be tiring so requires softening up a bit. The modern Austrian 250 4T's are built for speed and do need the throttle open at all times to prevent cough stalling or possibly a flywheel weight added if you can, they are a fun ride if you're confident.
They are tricky to find in decent condition. Hopefully I will get a go on Sam's. Gibbs can do a flywheel weight on mine might see what the costs would be for that.
200 KTMs are tricky to find in decent condition. There are a few older ones about. They stopped making them in 2016 from the info on tinterweb. I am hoping to get a go on Sam's. If I like it I would seriously consider one. I think finding one may prove difficult though.
200 KTMs are tricky to find in decent condition. There are a few older ones about. They stopped making them in 2016 from the info on tinterweb. I am hoping to get a go on Sam's. If I like it I would seriously consider one. I think finding one may prove difficult though.
Beta now do a 200rr and the reports say its a great bike 👍🏻
