kind of engine that’ s ideal for newer 450 riders or guys coming over from off-road who want a bit of bark without the nasty bite. One downside? I burnt a hole in my pants on the exhaust. No heat shield means the pipe gets toasty, and my leg positioning just happened to make for a perfect storm. Not the end of the world, but I liked those pants.
SOFT SERVE, BUT GOOD For 2025, Beta made some smart changes to the KYB suspension on the RX, mostly internal valving tweaks, and it shows. The fork is plush off the top and great through braking bumps and small chop. It does dive a bit under hard braking or G-outs, especially if you’ re heavier or ride aggressively. I’ m about 95kg, so I did find myself pushing the limits of the stock spring rate. A step up in spring rate would be worthwhile for riders in my weight bracket. The rear KYB shock is equally friendly. It tracks well, offers decent comfort, and doesn’ t deflect even when things get fast and rough. Midstroke support is the only place it feels a little
soft, but for 90 % of riders out there, including vets, trail riders, and weekend warriors, this setup is confidence-inspiring straight out of the box. It doesn’ t snap into corners like some of the Japanese or Austrian bikes, but once it’ s leaned in, it holds its line well. Some online wisdom suggested lowering the fork height and running about 102 – 105mm of sag. I tried that setup and found it definitely helped improve turn-in without compromising high-speed stability.
COMPOSED AND PREDICTABLE The steel frame and updated suspension combine to make a bike that feels calm at speed. It tracks straight, doesn’ t twitch, and remains composed even when braking bumps start stacking up. This isn’ t the razor-sharp edge you get from some other brands, but it’ s a forgiving platform. Great for anyone transitioning into 450 territory. There’ s no denying the Beta RX450 still feels a bit enduro at heart, but it’ s made a solid leap into the moto world, and even though the 2025
32 KIWI RIDER