2014 Beta Off-Road

[typeone]

been thinking hard about trading both my Husky's in for a 300RR there's a '13 250RR available locally... hmmm

More 2014 pics and brief test notes

[Pigman]

Set of sumo wheels and that thing is pure SEXXXXXXX......................

[Sheppo]

what is the local support for a Beta? Isn't that the old Bultaco/Montessa heritage???

[gregp]

I read really good things about the Sachs TFX forks when they first came out - now, not so much. Trailrider has a review on one of the '13 RR's and they had to modify the Sachs forks with something called a "huck-valve", which looks like a giant, coated, slotted cylinder that is installed around the base valve. The mod was expensive, but it fixed the forks.
The rear Sachs shock lacks rebound damping, although that may have been addressed for 2014.
The Beta motors are said to much smoother than all of the others - especially as revs build. The shrouds are much thicker than those on other brands as well. This is nice, seeing as I broke a shroud on my new KTM within 5 minutes of off-roading.
The latest Dirt Rider 300cc comparison was enlightening. The Gas-gas was the heaviest, by a lot, and fared poorly. Even the Christini 2WD was lighter!

[typeone]

what is the local support for a Beta? Isn't that the old Bultaco/Montessa heritage???

no, Beta is Italian. Bultaco and Montesa were Spanish. my uncle had a sick Bultaco dirt bike when i was little, man did i stare at that thing.

there is a Beta dealer in Southbridge but they don't really look like a 'bike shop'. i wouldnt be worried about local support anyway (if that's what you mean), pretty much do everything myself and can source parts and knowledge through the internet.

I read really good things about the Sachs TFX forks when they first came out - now, not so much. Trailrider has a review on one of the '13 RR's and they had to modify the Sachs forks with something called a "huck-valve", which looks like a giant, coated, slotted cylinder that is installed around the base valve. The mod was expensive, but it fixed the forks.
The rear Sachs shock lacks rebound damping, although that may have been addressed for 2014.
The Beta motors are said to much smoother than all of the others - especially as revs build. The shrouds are much thicker than those on other brands as well. This is nice, seeing as I broke a shroud on my new KTM within 5 minutes of off-roading.
The latest Dirt Rider 300cc comparison was enlightening. The Gas-gas was the heaviest, by a lot, and fared poorly. Even the Christini 2WD was lighter!

yeah, suspension is my one concern but that's always an immediate mod for preference anyway really. i keep thinking about moving to one bike but i would need the suspension worked over to handle woods and light MX. there's a guy on CafeHusky with a 300RR Race (very different model) who said the suspension works fantastic everywhere. only a few simple clicks if he takes it on track.

Beta is growing quickly, lots of good press, might be my next bike but i should wait to see what Husky comes out with in October... IF i even change it up at all. i'm happy with both my bikes.

[Sheppo]

ahh OK I knew Bultaco and Montessa were spanish, I didn't know Beta was Italian. I had a Montessa King Scorpion 250 back in the 70's. I meant support as was there a dealer around. I do my own work and I know about the internet *wink*, but I do like a local dealer. I've been curious about the Beta and Gas Gas models.

[typeone]

I meant support as was there a dealer around. I do my own work and I know about the internet *wink*, but I do like a local dealer. I've been curious about the Beta and Gas Gas models.

no, i know... i guess i dont worry about that stuff because a few dealers i've had local have been kinda useless.

on the Gassers, i was real interested too but after reading about weight like gregp pointed out, i stopped looking. the GasGas 250 was even heavier than a Husky WR250 i think, which is also a pig. supposedly neither bike really feels heavy though. at least by some rider reports. not sure what the mags say.

[typeone]

Set of sumo wheels and that thing is pure SEXXXXXXX......................

Beta has a BYOB program (build your own Beta), they have sumo wheel sets on the pickins' list

[Paul_E_D]

Hmmm...

[Fast_Eddie]

Beta has a BYOB program (build your own Beta), they have sumo wheel sets on the pickins' list

I really like that 300RR motor design. It sounds like the 2014 has a lot of suspension updates and buying a 2013 and re-valving could be more that buying a 2014 and riding it stock. Has anybody that isn't sponsored by them ridden an MX practice track with one? (I know it's a woods bike).

The Italian MSRP when converted to US dollars looks brutal.

[typeone]

I really like that 300RR motor design. It sounds like the 2014 has a lot of suspension updates and buying a 2013 and re-valving could be more that buying a 2014 and riding it stock. Has anybody that isn't sponsored by them ridden an MX practice track with one? (I know it's a woods bike).

The Italian MSRP when converted to US dollars looks brutal.

yeah, not a cheap bike. the 300RR Racing is ~$8,600. standard 250/300RR is ~$8,000. local dealer has the '13 250 for ~$7,300. not too far off a Husky WR300 at ~$7,000 i guess.

i've only had a few quick conversations with one guy on CH who has the 300RR Racing. he loves it and does a little MX with it but primarily off-road. says it works great. i'm still hunting for more ride reports though. even though my WR is set up for woods and light MX, it bottoms way too easy on track. glides like a couch in the woods though.

[Chippertheripper]

Contrary to many other bikes on the market, I'd fuck that with my own dick and EVERYBODY pushing.

[Chippertheripper]

I'd hit it HARD.

[breakdirt916]

wow, that styling is sick!!

[typeone]

Chip, i hear you. my tent is sooo pitched...

[Sheppo]

sick videos... I love the last one

[typeone]

Dirt Riders first ride... http://www.dirtrider.com/features/20...ro-first-ride/

[KB]

I have a huge boner. That bike is siiiiiiiiick.


Kb

[gregp]

I like the new Beta's, and one was in serious contention when I was shopping for a new Dual-Sport bike earlier this year. The biggest selling point, to me, was the lower seat height. In the end, I went with a KTM 350 EXC-F, but sometimes I still wonder if one of the Beta's would have been a better choice for me. Even though I was not considering a 2-stroke machine, their 4-strokes share almost every single feature as their 2-strokes. Beta also offered 4-strokes in 350, 400, and 500 displacements, but the RS (Dual-Sport) lineup was a bit more limited. Their BYOB program would have allowed me to build a custom machine, with the TFX forks, but the price starts to get very high when you do that.
My KTM is still a very nice machine, but having the chance to ride it back to back with an older (EU) 400 EXC showed me just how different endure or DS bikes can be in nature. The 400 was very mild, and smooth compared to my 350.
Beta's Trials background is a very good thing to transfer to New England trail bikes, IMO.

[KB]

I want

[typeone]

I hear ya... can't get it outta my head!

[Chippertheripper]

It is red and white...

[typeone]

my gear will still match.