SNEAK PREVIEW: BETA’S NEW 250RX FOUR-STROKE MX BIKE–THE WRAP

MotoFactory · 16 февраля

Beta’s factory GP team showed up at the Internazionali D’ Italia Motocross last week with Fransisco Bassi aboard a brand new 250 four-stoke motocross bike. We guessed that such a project was in the works, but the real surprise is how close to production the bike is. Beta R&D project manager Fabrizio Dini says the 250RX 4T will be a 2027 production model and that the very first bikes will roll off the assembly line in late July or August.

The Beta 250RX 4T was under the tent at Mantova for all the world to see.

The bike has a completely new engine platform, sharing nothing with any existing Beta models. It’s an E-start DOHC motor with the gearbox and engine sharing the same oil chamber. The most striking visual aspect is how compact it is. Both the top end and the lower end are much smaller than most existing 250cc four-strokes. One of the most intriguing aspects of this bike is that it could be the basis for even more models. Beta is a company that gets the most out of every new engine it develops. The current four-stroke is the platform for no less than five different displacements and 16 different models. So, could there be a 300cc or 350cc motocross bike also in the works?

The new motor shares nothing with existing Beta four-strokes.

The 250RX 4T was parked under the team tent in Mantova, Italy with no attempt at secrecy. It was, according to Beta, no longer an early test machine, but what they described as a pre-production version. While the engine was unlike anything previously seen, the frame was clearly based on the existing 450RX chassis. Only the engine cradle was visibly different. The components were much like we have seen in production, but with A-kit KYB suspension. The Nissin brakes and many of the bits and pieces appear to be production based.

Francisco Bassi rode the preproduction bike to a 24-22 finish in a pre-season warm up on a very muddy Italian track.

As for the race itself, Bassi finished mid-pack in a stacked field. The track was extremely muddy, with Simon Langenfelder emerging as the victor. Bassi said the Beta’s motor had excellent torque, but they still have work to do. Presumably that will be mostly mapping and suspension settings–at this stage there will be no major parts swaps. There has been no official announcement from Beta as to price and availability, but the 2027 model year is a certainty.

At this point, Beta has released no high-resolution photos of the bike, but more details are certain to come soon.

IN THE MEANTIME …

2026 Beta 250RX two-stroke

We are currently testing 2026 models like crazy. We actually have a Beta 250RX in the shop–the two-stroke version. This was a brand-new model for the 2026 model year, but all the attention was directed toward its big brother, the 350RX two-stroke. We loved that bike, but still lament the passing of the older 300RX. The good news is that the 250 has much of the personality of the 300. And, if you really loved the 300 like us, it’s still available because you can modify the 250 into a 300. Stay tuned for a full review.

Jared Hicks on the 2026 Husqvarna FC250 Factory Edition.

Sean Lipanovich on the 2026 Yamaha YZ250F.

The other two bikes in our shop are the Husqvarna FC250 Factory Edition and the Yamaha YZ250F. Both bikes are outstanding. The Yamaha is unchanged and the Husqvarna is [almost] unchanged. It gets factory level suspension this year. On a side note, the FC250 and FC450 Factory Editions are the only Husqvarna four-stroke motocross bikes offered in 2026. There is, however, no shortage of 2025 models.

See you next time!