RIDING THE BETA 250RX 2-STROKE MX BIKE: THE WRAP

MotoFactory · 2 марта

Let’s be up-front about it: every decent human being loves two-stokes. If you actually find someone who trash-talks the great bikes of the ‘90s, stay away. He’s off his meds and might be dangerous. Today, these bikes comprise a comparatively small piece of the market, especially in motocross. Thankfully companies like Beta keep the flame alive. The 250RX is the first brand-new 250cc two-stroke motocross bike in, like, 100 years. It joins the Yamaha YZ250 and the Austrian gang of three to make it a real class once again.

The Beta 205RX sells for $9690.

To be fair, the 250RX isn’t completely new and it technically replaces another model. The 300RX was a great bike in its own right, but it created a problem. It didn’t qualify for the 250 class (mostly a thing in Europe) and it didn’t have enough sheer horsepower to outgun the bored-and-stroked Yamahas that populated the Open Pro class in the Two-Stroke championships. So, two bikes replaced the 300RX: a 350RX and the bike you see here; the new 250RX. To see a video on the 350RX, click here.

Pete Murray on the 2026 Beta 250RX

We loved the 350, but to be honest, it wasn’t as sweet as the old 300. That’s why we were looking forward to the 250. Horsepower is great for winning races but rarely makes a bike more fun to ride. We love it! The 250’s power delivery is just soft enough down low to put the fun back into the game. In the middle and top, it makes decent power and it’s definitely a little pipey compared to the 350s. That’s just part of the fun.

When it comes to outright racing, there’s no question that the 350 is going to come out on top. The same horsepower that makes the 350 a little intimidating makes it a better racer in the hands of an intermediate or pro. But we have to back up a little and explore why we’re drawn to two-strokes in the first place. It isn’t about motocross, at least not at the pro level. It’s about everyday riders who ride for fun and that’s where the 250RX excels. For more on this bike, check out the May, 2026 print edition of Dirt Bike.

In a direct comparison with the Yamaha YZ250 two-stoke, the Beta comes in with more of a sportsman focus. The power delivery is softer and the whole package is less rigid.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONDA XR400R

Spud Walters raced the Honda XR400R in the Four Stroke Nationals with some success prior to the arrival of the YZ400F.

Yes, it’s been 40 years since the Honda XR400R was released. It only lasted six years in production, but what a six years stretch that was. The bike made big waves when it arrived, but it had the unfortunate timing of preceding the Yamaha YZ400F by just a short time. In the May print edition of Dirt Bike, we will be featuring a retrospective on the life and times of the Honda XR400R.

That’s me on the Honda XR400R at the 1996 ISDE in Finland. Steve Berkner shot this on the warm-up loop prior to impound.

The bike was more or less designed for Scott Summers, but he wasn’t impressed. He loved his 600 too much.

STEVE LAMSON IN SPAIN

Also from the wayback machine is his amazing shot of Steve Lamson at the 1996 MX des Nations in Spain. This jump was so big that the promoters took it out after practice. Only the Americans would jump it. I believe it’s a Luc Verbeke shot.