BETA’S 2022 RX300 MX BIKE

Are you jack of the fact that the Japanese manufacturers (okay, Yamaha excepted) still refuse to produce new-model two-stroke motocross machines? Yeah, from what we keep hearing, you’re not alone. Of course, KTM, Husqvarna and GASGAS aren’t fussed. These three KTM-owned Euro brands have merrily lapped up the two-stroke market share left behind by Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki, whose loyal two-stroke fans have had no choice but to jump ship. Significantly, those two-stroke die-hards now have a fourth European two-stroke MX bike to choose from: Beta, which produces the only 300cc two-stroke MXer with an electric start on the market!

Yes, the Italian brand’s RX300 is based on its up-speeced RR300 Racing enduro machine. Pitched to appeal to “the two-stroke motocross enthusiast”, it retains the electric-start, but gets a 19-inch rear wheel, along with MX-spec engine, frame, ergos and suspension settings, plus a few other component upgrades.

First produced solely for the American market in 2021, Beta’s RX300 has come in for a bunch of significant upgrades for 2022. And the good news is that Beta Motorcycles Australia has managed to secure some of the USA market’s 2022 RX300 allocation, albeit in limited numbers.

Here are the main upgrades that appear on the 2022 RX300:

New Keihin PKX38 carburetor (whereas the enduro model runs a 36mm carb)
New diaphragm-spring clutch
Adjustable power-valve to provide a custom power delivery
Longer-travel 48mm closed-cartridge KYB fork and ZF Sachs shock
Firmer MX-spec suspension settings
Nickel-plated exhaust pipe
All-new seat

BETA – AN MX BRAND?

What does Beta mean to you? A 115-year-old Italian manufacturer that specialises in high-end enduro and trial bikes, right? Right! Well … right until a couple of years ago, when Beta signalled its intention to enter the MX market when it revealed a prototype 300cc two-stroke motocross model called the RX300. This slick-looking machine was based on the existing RR300 Racing enduro model platform and was produced in very limited numbers for the MX-mad American market in 2021. Meantime, Beta’s been campaigning a prototype RX450 four-stroke machine in the MXGP World Championship in the hands of former Factory Yamaha rider, Jeremy Van Horebeek, who posted a bunch of very respectable top 10 results, and finished 13^th Overall in the 2021 MXGP World Championship in his debut season with Beta.

So, what started as dabble into the MX market has certainly gathered some momentum. And the fact the Italian brand’s 2022-model RX300 has come in for a bunch of significant upgrades underlines Beta’s intentions in the MX bike market.