Rieju MR Pro 300 Review

[SS109]

I posted this in my riding vids thread but realized I really should post it separately so everyone can see it.

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So, my buddy picked up this brand new leftover '22 Rieju MR Pro 300. MSRP is $10,599 and he got it for $10,200 OTD. This machine has it all. 300 2T engine with map switch and adjustable power valve, DLC coated KYB forks and a KYB shock, e-start w/backup kick start, hydraulic clutch, Xtrig triple clamps, S3 pegs, tool free quick change FunnelWeb airfilter, lightweight skid plate, flag style hand guards, Polisport Clutch & Ignition Cover Protectors, gripper seat, Goldspeed billet hubs with excel rims, and Nissin calipers/masters cylinders w/NG rotors.

In the video below you see the parts he purchased to get it off road legal and protect the bike and himself.





Now I take it out for it's first real ride. In the third video you see why this was a good thing as I found a serious issue.










Pros: As you can tell from the vids, I love this bike! This is flat out the best enduro dirt bike I have ever ridden and, sadly, yes, that includes the KDX. It blows away my fully modded KDX200 and my '11 GasGas EC250R and those bikes are fully dialed in for me where this suspension was bone stock (.42/5.0 springs where I normally ride .38/4.8 (GG) or .40/5.0 (KDX) other than adjusting the clickers. This bike is packed with goodies that a lot of bikes just don't have. Then add in the phenomenal KYB suspension (valved by Technical Touch for Rieju) front and rear, and the way it handles, it's just about the perfect machine IMO. The brakes, both front and rear, are the best I've felt on any bike I've actually ridden and that's quite a lot of modern machines.

Cons: The hefty $10,600 MSRP is pretty steep. However, if you compare it to a similarly equipped KTM it's considerably cheaper.

I really don't like the handlebars. They are Renthal Twinwalls that are just way too stiff for enduro use and limit how you can arrange the controls on them. My buddy wanted the kill and starter switches flipped side to side to be more like us Americans are use to but the bars just don't have the room. I think this is a non-issue on the '24 and up versions as they did away with the bulky headlight/starter switch assembly for a much more traditional one.

And the elephant in the room, if you watched the last vid anyway, the runaway I experienced. These bikes have been known to come with cables that are just a smidge too short and also have a somewhat weak return spring. Which caused the issue I'm not 100% sure. I checked everything else and found zero issues that could have caused it. So, the throttle cable and return spring are being upgraded to better pieces.

Well, I hope you all got something out of that and I hope you give Rieju a serious look if you're in the market for a new bike. Price wise, feature for feature, you just can't beat what you get with any of the bikes whether it's the Ranger, MR Racing, or the MR Pro line. BTW, all are available in a 200cc size!

[Chuck78]

The one thing I didn't like about their smaller bikes is tgat all bikes come with the same chassis... If you like extra long limousine wheelbase for hill climbs, that's great, but some people like the lighter more agile and nimble chassis of an E or H Series KDX, a '97-'07 KTM 200 when they shared the chassis with the 125 vs 2008+ in the 250/300 chassis, or a '95-'02 KX 125 chassis...
Also, I believe the 200 uses the same bottom end as the 300, does it not?
All of these are big reasons to go with a 2024+ Beta 200RR Race Edition if looking for a lighter more agile bike...

I'm actually a big fan of what Reiju is doing with the "real Gas Gas" brand bikes, but I'd not consider tge smaller engine sizes as much as their 300. I'm a 125/134/139/144/200/220 guy hands down, so that points to Beta, YZ125X, Sherco, or a TM EN144...

The suspension on these Rieju MR300 Pro mosels seems like the absolute best you could find though, I'll give it that! Although the new KYB 2020-2023 KX250X & Showa 2020-2024+ KX450X & 2024 KX250X suspension is basically identical to this Reiju KYB with the 450X having DLC coated tubes, and all models being closed chamber forks with incredible woods valving as stock. The '24 Beta RR Race Edition bikes also cane with KILLER valving stock in the KYB AOS closed chambers, and a new KYB shock as well...


I'm a huge fan of what Beta, TM, Sherco, and Reiju are doing, especially as KTM is beginning to suffer financially due to poor decision making during the latter portions of their 16+ year period of dominance, and now are suffering the consequences as these other brands are edging in on them, especially Sherco and Beta taking a good enough chunk of their sales.
Now if only Yamaha would get hip to what's been happening with the huge resurgence of off-road 2-strokes for 10+ years now, and make a YZ250X with a larger fuel tank, wide ratio 6-speed gearbox, stock lighting stator coil, and tighter squish clearance on the cylinder head.... And if Kawasaki would just finish developing their 300cc 2-stroke emissions compliant engine slated to go into a KX250X chassis... I think they may've canned that project unfortunately...

[SS109]

The one thing I didn't like about their smaller bikes is tgat all bikes come with the same chassis... If you like extra long limousine wheelbase for hill climbs, that's great, but some people like the lighter more agile and nimble chassis of an E or H Series KDX, a '97-'07 KTM 200 when they shared the chassis with the 125 vs 2008+ in the 250/300 chassis, or a '95-'02 KX 125 chassis...
Also, I believe the 200 uses the same bottom end as the 300, does it not?

Yes, same chassis. That said, these bikes are very nimble and are great in the tight a twisty stuff, IME, yet somehow are still really stable. This is the third of these I have ridden. '18 GasGas EC250R, '21 Rieju MR300 Racing, and now this '22 Pro version. All have been excellent in anything I've thrown at them. The EC250R that I first rode belongs to a local lady A class racer (Brea Core) here in the AMRA series and her bike was properly sprung for my weight. I got to take her bike out at Kelly Canyon (Flagstaff, AZ) and hit some 3' high monster boulders (as in up and over them) and some nasty rocky switchbacks and fell in love with it. I felt that comfortable that fast. Same with my buddy's '21 MR300 Racing that I installed the Rekluse in on my channel. Took it out to Wilmot and was hitting whoops great and it carved up the flowy stuff. This Pro version was like those two but only a little better. I felt so connected to the bike almost instantly. Never seen a bike that was setup for a much heavier rider than I am that I could get comfortable on and hit some challenging spots. Honestly, why I loved the original GG bikes was because they reminded me of my KDX bikes. They just have a familiar cockpit and feel to them.

Yes, the 200 shares the 250/300's engine cases and chassis, however, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The components are beefy so the transmission and clutch should last forever. As for the weight, our KDX's aren't lightweight to begin with. I can tell you that these bikes "feel" lighter than a KDX and, after dropping the Pro in a rather bad spot (GoPro was messed up and didn't capture that) and having to lift it back up on a hill, it felt easier to lift that my '98 KDX220. Honestly, ride one before not considering one. The price for these bikes just can't be beat for what you get and I truly believe it will shock you how good they are.

[Chuck78]

I'm really glad to hear of how well the chassis and suspension setup comes as stock. That's pretty incredible that they had an aftermarket suspension company like Technical Touch develop the suspension valving, I must say...
Aside from Yamaha's S.S.S. (KYB AOS) suspension, and the 2020+ KX250X KYB AOS / 2024+ KX250X/2020+ KX450X Showa suspension, it took other manufacturers decades to start putting out enduro suspension that was valved close to perfection off the showroom floor...
If I were to consider a new bike, I'd definitely consider a Reiju... Although an all black plastics black/red themed graphics '24 Beta 200RR Race Edition would immediately be my #1 choice over all others...

In general, I'm really surprised that the actual suspension design/manufacturing companies themselves don't seem to typically have the ability to design and release a really well dialed off-road suspension valving setup on stock bikes. Hopefully these exceptions that we're seeing with the '24 Beta Race Editions & '24 WP are to become the norm.

[SS109]

I really like the looks of the '24 Racing model. I wonder why?

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Of course, the Rangers are really clean looking and I really love white bikes with some color.

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You like the black and red look? Have you seen the Alfredo Gomez edition of the Pro model? Bike is sweet!

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[Chuck78]

You like the black and red look? Have you seen the Alfredo Gomez edition of the Pro model? Bike is sweet!

Ahhh...too much white for my personal tastes, looks like a Honda

I really like the looks of the '24 Racing model. I wonder why?




IMG_0087.jpg

Now THAT looks AWESOME

I'd like to ride a 200cc version of that vs a 250cc version...

[billie_morini]

Rieju are quite cool. One of my buddies has a Beta x-trainer 200 RR. It is quite phenomenal and has MSRP of $9500 for the 2024.

[SS109]

Here I am installing the new Motion Pro throttle cable. One note that I forgot to include in the video is that I couldn't find a stiffer return spring in time to get it back to my buddy. So, I added a 1/8" spacer at the top of the spring to increase the preload on it. Seems to have helped with the feel of it. Hoping both the cable and increased preload correct the issue.

[billie_morini]

Kelly: neat video about throttle cable replacement. The video is ripe with helpful reminders. It is also interesting to see various components of the bike.

Favorite video quote: "Air leaks are bad. Okay?"

thanks for sharing!
billie

[SS109]

LOL! Thanks for watching my man. I do try to put out little tidbits about things that some people don't seem to know. Like not cranking down on the throttle housing cover and carb cap screws. You don't know how many bikes I have worked on where I found them stripped because someone else over tightened them and stripped them trying to get them out or had to I had to remove the carb so I could use a manual impact driver on them. I really enjoy working on bikes for the most part but some guys out there really shouldn't touch a tool to their bikes!

[billie_morini]

Comments related to quote copied from post directly above.

Quote
"I really enjoy working on bikes for the most part but some guys out there really shouldn't touch a tool to their bikes!"

Comments
1) Amen!
2) In my recently concluded engineering career that involved design & construction, drilling, and mobile labs in civil, mechanical, & environment disciplines, there are unwritten rules. Desk jockeys, degreed, & pedigreed personel were limited on what they were allowed to touch at work sites. The most restrictive rule is that PhDs are not allowed to touch anything, including wrenches & screwdrivers! These measures are necessary to prevent human injury and equipment damage.

[SS109]

2) In my recently concluded engineering career that involved design & construction, drilling, and mobile labs in civil, mechanical, & environment disciplines, there are unwritten rules. Desk jockeys, degreed, & pedigreed personel were limited on what they were allowed to touch at work sites. The most restrictive rule is that PhDs are not allowed to touch anything, including wrenches & screwdrivers! These measures are necessary to prevent human injury and equipment damage.

Now that is a smart policy!

[Chuck78]

I hear you on that! Some people should not be allowed to do any advanced wrenching on bikes, even oil changes...


The amount of work I've had to do to my buddy's "great deal" on a $3000 "fully rebuilt" 2007 KTM 200 XC has been ridiculous... bought from a vwry wwll known rider and enduro racer, at that!!!!

At least the suspension was professionally done by a well known local one-man-operation highly regarded shop. "Half my engine is heli-coils!" - quote from Andy after all the work I'd done to it, fixing previous owner's errors and blunders... Oil drain plug bolt stripped out, held in with RTV silicone, 2 of 6 power valve bushings missing, power valve toothed horseshoe linkage plate installed misaligned and torqued down, gouging out the linkage piece and bending it, power valve not working at all, freshly replated cylinder's power valve subport drum damaged because of this hack job reassembly misalignment, swingarm axle's nut fell off (common issue on KTM 's), Lectron 38mm HV Series from a Sherco 300 installed (poor bottom end response conpared to my wife's 200 XC-W) when even 300's generally come with a 36mm carb...

"Worn out sloppy front wheel bearings" turned out to be a destroyed front hub that had it's bearing registers elongated from from perhaps driving the skinny large diameter KTM tiny ball having cartridge bearings in crooked or else from all the deeply gouged chisel marks in the bearing press fit bores... Unreal.

The KTM 200 are a good 12lbs lighter than the KDX, & I now see why as the hub is paper thin everywhere around the bearing pockets... Wow.
Swingarm axle adjuster bolts seized into the swingarm as well... One thing after another...




I keep telling him it's gonna be a great bike once we work out all the kinks! He'd rather have bought a brand new Sherco 125 woods bike at this point...

[billie_morini]

Quote from above: "Now that is a smart policy! "

Not just smart, but based on factual proof!