Back when Ray from Beta called and asked if I wanted to try out the RX450, I said yes faster than a bloke with a broken throttle cable. Though in the back of my mind, I was a little hesitant, mostly because this was a new bike and a brand I was not all that familiar with in the motocross scene. A couple of months down the line, I’ m knee-deep in time aboard their second-generation MX machine, and I can honestly say this( again), the more you ride it, the Beta it gets. If you remember from the past three months, a few things have stood out to me. First, those stock grips are rock hard, and the gas tank hole is annoyingly small. It’ s these little quirks that remind you Beta is still a little locked into its ways, but don’ t let that fool you. There’ s plenty to like here.
LOOKS GOOD, FEELS BETTER In my eyes there’ s no doubt about it, the Beta RX450 is a sharp-looking machine. The Italian styling really pops, and it’ s wrapped in a full sticker kit that looks race-ready. Although, to be fair, a couple of those decals did start peeling
after a few rides, but that’ s small stuff. The cockpit is flat, roomy, and surprisingly ergonomic even for my 190cm frame. The hydraulic clutch, Nissin brakes, and stainless exhaust have a factory look that all adds to the premium feel.
SMOOTH OPERATOR What really won me over from the beginning was the engine. It’ s not a fire-breather like some of the more aggressive 450s out there, it’ s smooth, torquey, and incredibly rideable. This motor is a short-shifter’ s dream. It pulls cleanly from down low and rolls into a grunty midrange that hooks up well without trying to rip your arms off. If you’ re a Barcia-style wild man who loves to bounce it off the limiter in every gear... this ain’ t your bike. But if you want a 450 that won’ t punish you for getting a bit lazy or line-hunting late into a moto, the Beta’ s got your back. Third gear has become my go-to on most of a track, and with that mellow power delivery, I found myself riding smoother and more confidently. The traction is impressive. It’ s the
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