Confirm My Bike Choice (Beta xTrainer) or Recommend Something Else

I'm looking for a 'new' woods bike, and looking for some thoughts.
Back about 15 years ago (just checked dates on pictures, it was 20 years!) I had a 2001 KTM 400 EXC, then a 1999 KTM 200 EXC, and also a 1996(ish) Honda CR250 in the mix somewhere.
I can't say that I ever really learned to make friends with that 400, and ultimately sold it to get that 200.
I think it's fair to say that I made friends with the 200, but I was never a very skilled rider. I really liked the 2-stroke feel vs. the 4-stroke.
Part of my lack of skills led to me getting a new ACL installed. By the time I had that new ACL all healed up I had pretty much lost the urge to ride bikes in the woods and I sold off the collection.
Today I'm fat (about 235 nekkid), old (47) and generally lack skills. I'm 6' tall but have a 32" inseam.
But I think I'd like to take another stab at bikes.
I do currently have a 2003 KLR650 that I commute to work on when it's not nasty out.

I'm thinking of a few-year-old Beta xTrainer. My typical ride would be putting around the neighborhood, and ideally taking my 6yo out to a trail. Here in Michigan all trails are sandy. I'd imagine that a few times a year I'd take it on a 4-day long trip in the UP (just riding the bike on the trips I'd normally ride my quad on)

I'm also planning on riding LAB2V with a group of buddies next fall (thanksgiving of 2025), and the Beta would be my mount for that ride.
Thoughts on the xTrainer?
It seems to check the boxes of being relatively light, controllable while also being relatively powerful and has a wide enough gear spread to be useful trail-to-trail.
I'm a KTM fanboi so the Freeride came to mind. But it sounds like they might not have hit the same magical combo that Beta did.
I'd be OK with another KTM200, but they're getting harder and harder to find.
I had talked myself into a KTM300, but folks tend to say the xTrainer is just an easier bike for fat unskilled guys.....

Pics of old bikes, since everyone likes pics.

Have heard the xtrainers kinda go to hell at speed. Just dont have the suspension for it.

With your size, I would just grab a 300xcw and call it a day. Wouldnt be scared of a sherco or beta either..

Can you expound on the suspension thing? Do the shocks get hot and fade?

JayMcJay said:

Can you expound on the suspension thing? Do the shocks get hot and fade?

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Not quite. You wont find that happening on any modern suspensions. I'm not sure how much reading you've done on the XTrainer, but what it basically boils down to is that not only is the XTrainer essentially a 7/8 scale dirt bike in a few different ways (seat height, suspension travel, etc.) the factory settings in the suspension are incredibly soft since the design intent of the XTrainer is to be a dirt bike/trials bike hybrid. It's not meant for high speed, it's meant for trials techniques and hard enduro.

You can combat that problem by getting the suspension sprung and valved for you by a tuner and changing the pipe to a 300RR style pipe to get a more traditional powerband. When you do that, the XTr turns into a superlight woods weapon, but it's worth noting the things you have to do to acheive that setup.

From what you're saying, I think the XTr is a decent option, though I also agree with Steve that a regular 300 is a more rounded pick (can handle high speed if wanted and has more aftermarket available).
I do have to bring up though, Beta still makes brand new 200 2strokes if that's something you'd be interested in.

The beta guy up north actually just took in a 2023 200rr trade that he’s looking to get $5500 for, and also has a 2024 200rr race demo for $8k otd.
I’m tempted by the 200 for sure.
I can’t recall ever running out of top end on my old 200 (it was a lot of years and beers so) but the guy at the shop was suggesting that might be an issue

240lbs+ gear doesnt scream 200cc to me. The bigger bike will be easier to ride IMO.

Steve300xcw said:

240lbs+ gear doesnt scream 200cc to me. The bigger bike will be easier to ride IMO.

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This all day every day.


Especially if you're looking at newer bikes with adjustable power valves. You can throw on a gnarly pipe and turn down the valves for low end that actually gets calmer as you rev out, or crank up the valve and put on a fatty for more hit up top.


But it's far easier to tame down a 300 than convince a 200 to make enough torque.


At the end of the day your hand controls your speed. Learn to ride 1 finger on the clutch, 1 on the brake at all times and actually have control of the power and stopping. Clutch is used to control all the power, so it's the key to technical riding.

Get the suspension setup for your weight, and you'll be way more comfortable and confident also.
My sister has a 200, and it works for her at 140 lbs in gear. My 230 lbs geared up it's very, very slow and makes a lot of trails more difficult.

I think that the thing I liked the most about that old 200 was that it felt lighter and more controllable for me than the 400.
I have ridden an xTrainer for a few minutes once, but have never ridden a full size 300. In my mind the 7/8 scale of the XT should translate to me feeling more in control vs. the full size bike.
I really wish I had both an XT and a 300rr or EXT to ride side by side but I don’t have a great way of making that happen…..

My 150 is the most fun bike I have ever rode. And for a fuck off bike it is just a ball.

However.. You have gotta be dialed in to do much with it. You are going to use all the gears, all the rpm's, and way more clutch than you have ever used on an adult bike. If you bobble, you have lost it and theres no getting it back. Which means you have to hit everything with all its got.

Terrain that a guy could idle up in 2nd gear sitting down on a 250/300. A lil bike is goona be full send

I view the 200's as I do the 150.

JayMcJay said:

I think that the thing I liked the most about that old 200 was that it felt lighter and more controllable for me than the 400.
I have ridden an xTrainer for a few minutes once, but have never ridden a full size 300. In my mind the 7/8 scale of the XT should translate to me feeling more in control vs. the full size bike.
I really wish I had both an XT and a 300rr or EXT to ride side by side but I don’t have a great way of making that happen…..

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I think most things will feel lighter than a 2000 era 400.

I am still confused why a 240lb 6' tall person is concerned about buying an adult sized bike

JayMcJay said:

I think that the thing I liked the most about that old 200 was that it felt lighter and more controllable for me than the 400.
I have ridden an xTrainer for a few minutes once, but have never ridden a full size 300. In my mind the 7/8 scale of the XT should translate to me feeling more in control vs. the full size bike.
I really wish I had both an XT and a 300rr or EXT to ride side by side but I don’t have a great way of making that happen…..

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The 4t engines just always feel heavy. Lots more stuff in there moving around, heavier crank and piston, etc.
I think it has more to do with engine placement and reciprocating mass only because a 300 that weighs within 1 lb of a 450 and makes the same 60+hp will always feel 25 lbs lighter in the tight stuff.

My buddy had an 02 400xc and it was a tank. It also wasn't all that fast. So it's not necessarily a good comparison to anything.

Of course you’d find one actually in Michgan………

What are the thought on the 3 KTM brands vs Beta vs Sherco?

Are you looking at new bikes or used?

Back in the era when I rode a lot I swapped bike with a buddy for his WR250 4t and it felt pretty ‘big’ also. I was more comfortable on my cr250 than his WR in the woods.
Might just be that I’m a 2t guy?

Steve300xcw said:

Are you looking at new bikes or used?

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I’m looking at fairly current used.
It looks like I can get into the 21-22 year range on an XT for $5500-6500 ballpark
That money might get me a ‘19 Ktm 300 with a headlight

Sherco and Beta still have a carb on them. That was one of the selling points when I bought the sherco, as I have seen/heard of to many guys with issues on the injected Ktm's.

Sherco riding position is a bit cramped from the factory.

Seat on the Beta is a 2x4.

Have seen more issues with the KTM, though theres a whole lot more of them out there. Seems like the new ones have the quirks sorted out and everybody I know with one is pretty impressed with the motor.

What about power valve tuneability on stuff that's new-ish but not fuel injected? Are the current Beta and Sherco powervalves (electronically?) controlled as Chevy_Man was talking about?

Powervalve adjustment is just a set screw and a couple of springs. Its the same on my '13 300xcw as my '23 150xcw.



Sherco is electric powervalve. And I have no idea on if it is adjustable or not. Cant say I have any desire to change it.

Map switch on the newer bikes makes a big difference. My Sherco is a totally different bike when you flip that switch.

Is that adjusting the ignition advance curve?

I dunno

I know in one setting, it likes to be short shifted and lugged. Really likes the lower rpms. No real hit from the powerband, just a very smooth tractor

Flip the switch and it doesnt really like to be lugged anymore. Its happier being up on the pipe, And there is a bit of a hit.

All these questions and you are skipping over the most important thing

Steve300xcw said:

All these questions and you are skipping over the most important thing

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What's my favorite color?

Yellow! But I'm not getting a Suzuki!

JayMcJay said:

What about power valve tuneability on stuff that's new-ish but not fuel injected? Are the current Beta and Sherco powervalves (electronically?) controlled as Chevy_Man was talking about?

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Beta is manual with swappable springs IIRC. KTM is electronic 2023+, but was adjustable from 2022 down on carbs and TPI bikes.

JayMcJay said:

Is that adjusting the ignition advance curve?

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Steve300xcw said:

I dunno

I know in one setting, it likes to be short shifted and lugged. Really likes the lower rpms. No real hit from the powerband, just a very smooth tractor

Flip the switch and it doesnt really like to be lugged anymore. Its happier being up on the pipe, And there is a bit of a hit.

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Pretty sure the fun part about E-power valves in that case is that the map switch is fuckin with both the ignition map and the power valve.

willis_racing said:

Pretty sure the fun part about E-power valves in that case is that the map switch is fuckin with both the ignition map and the power valve.

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That makes sense.

Steve300xcw said:

All these questions and you are skipping over the most important thing

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Or did you have a more important thing in mind?

JayMcJay said:

Or did you have a more important thing in mind?

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Looks matter Which kinda takes the beta off the list. And orange is just so over done....

The choice should be obvious.

I dont think I have a pic of that beta. That doesnt have the guy working on it