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4425
Joined
12/5/2011
Location
Philadelphia, PA
US
Ghost of Jabroni
3/17/2016 4:29pm
3/17/2016 4:29pm
Edited Date/Time
4/29/2018 2:05pm
The "build your own bike" option that BETA USA offers has to be one of the coolest things a mfg has ever offered.
Anyone have much experience with BETA's? What's everyone's opinion quality wise? The Italians can be hit or miss IMO.
My impression of BETA from afar is its a bike with lots of features. A brand that is trying real hard. Not quite at the level of performance as a Husky/Orange Husky but might get there soon.
Anyone have much experience with BETA's? What's everyone's opinion quality wise? The Italians can be hit or miss IMO.
My impression of BETA from afar is its a bike with lots of features. A brand that is trying real hard. Not quite at the level of performance as a Husky/Orange Husky but might get there soon.
They come with some pretty good parts too. FMF exhaust, nice rims, e start and priced a little cheaper than the ktm or huskys
The Shop
Problems:
The 300's are sold out for the year, several other models are almost sold out.
The dealer network is iffy in places, but owners don't seem to care since warranty problems are non existent.
It is a hassle having people always hanging around your pit and chicks stopping you to have their picture taken posing on your bike.
Pros:
Shorter seat height
torque monsters with no flame outs
6 speed WR gearboxes
Electric start and kickstart
own the inside line
OK I'll stop here, and I don't recommend anyone running the Vet class in Central TX consider one ever.
Check out these guys-
http://www.southmountaincycleshop.com/
Riders that ride selling rides to other riders.
Depending upon what area of Philly you hail from, they may be only an hour or so from you.
What i can say is they have come a LONG way in the last few years as far as handling and ergo's. They are HEAVY aside from the 300rr...BUT the newer models don't feel heavy riding, as the mass is lower than most bikes. You mostly notice it loading them or throwing it up on a stand.They are trail/single track weapons.. turn great and the motors are mapped for offroad broad mellow power. Forget mx/sx as they are definitely not built for that. They are great for shorter guy's..not so much for 5'10'' and up. Although there sticker price is lower than a ktm, dealers will not "deal'' on them unless you know somebody, so you end up paying more in most cases. They are an exotic so the cool/rare factor might make the extra price worth it for you. Most bling parts and accessories are available now but they take a little more effort to find than other bikes, some only available directly through Beta. YES they do have some bugs..But there warranty program is solid and they stand behind their bikes if something fails outside of the ordinary wear parts. Hope that helps all i can think of for now...
All but 5 of the 14 '16 models are currently not available for BYOB due to dealer demand. There may be another build run in Italy of 300's TBD. If you want one you need to go dealer direct or get a deposit on the '17's.
2-Strokes (none)
n X-Trainer
n 250RR
n 300RR
n 250 Race Edition
n 300 Race Edition
4-Strokes (5 models)
y 350RR
n 390RR
y 430RR
n 480RR
y 350 Race Edition
n 430 Race Edition
n 480 Race Edition
y 430RS Dual Sport
y 500RS Dual Sport
http://www.betausa.com/content/welcome-byob
Although, he says it has kind of an "old school" feel, just not quite as aggressive as a Jap bike or KTM/Husky.
They sure are pretty! My biggest fear would be issues finding parts when you need them, but maybe that's not a problem?
Here is a good test on the '16 300, it's reviews like this that have them selling out.
http://dirtbiketest.com/bike-tests/2016-beta-300rr/
For me that completely negated the BYOB deal. It really offered nothing of any advantage or convenience for me. All of that being said, my Beta 450 is without a doubt the best enduro bike I've ever owned. After having ridden and raced Hondas, KTMs and Kawasakis for many years, the Beta is by far the best handling enduro bike of them all. On the track is a different story. The Sachs shock just kinda sucks in my opinion. I had TBT Racing tune the suspension and I just can't get the rear shock to work the way I like, which makes the bike not all that great on a motocross track or in motocross like conditions where you might want to use the rear shock a bit more. I might try a heavier spring but I just don't have much faith in the Sachs shock for motocross purposes. I understand you can put a Ohlins shock on it by adapting some Honda parts apparently. Probably rather just buy a motocross specific bike at that point.
Fantastic bike. BYOB may not be the best route for some people. Perhaps it works for others. Do the math first to figure it out with your dealer.
Pit Row
BYOB isn't going to suit everyone, but if you want the springs changed you actually get to buy the bike for under MSRP after the discount is applied, not bad at all.
The Marzocchi forks are now replaced by the closed cartridge Sachs with great reviews. You are right about the price of a fork swap, it's better to go Race Edition if you want closed cartridge, although the open cartridge Sachs perform very well. The same for the shock, although it's spring is typically too light for most by quite a bit. You can get a Fox shock with a few hundred dollar credit for your Sachs.
Don't give up on the MX capability without giving it a chance. What handles on the trail also handles on the track. At 210 lbs I am running a 6.0 spring and 49 front although that is a tad firm for offroad. I have had great luck both front and rear on the Sachs with nothing but springs and oil. The 480 is a holeshot monster (I think your's is a 430?) and it gobbles whoops like nothing I've ridden. Jumps are more limited by me than the bike...
The fact that my '15 500 RS can MX competitively, Scramble, Enduro, Trail, and 2 up street riding is icing on the cake. I got 2 sets of wheels to make for quick change from dirt to street.
D20 MX Rio Bravo Sept '15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ks4iXMkBT4
The Race Ready model is going to come with a OEM setting that may or may not work with you personally.
So I'd say there is a good value in the BYOB deal even if it seems more expensive up front.
The aluminum Japanese bikes are pretty much built stiff for SX and do a disservice to the avg weekend warrior on the MX track. And the KTM's are getting stiffer and stiffer each year (especially the FE's) and at some point are going to lose what made them so nice for the average rider.
I would think a frame with too much flex is a nicer problem to have than a frame with too little.
Im not sure if KTM makes a different frame for their enduro bikes vs their MX/SX bikes. If so, then a KTM is still the happy medium if you want a do-it-all bike.
I'd like some further explanation on why you (or others) think a BETA (or any other true enduro framed bike) couldnt be set up to be functional (and even a advantage) for the average C or B rider at the weekend MX races?
How many of us out here REALLY need a super stiff frame?
The chassis is an inside line demon when set up correctly and never headshakes. The suspension is superior to all the WP's I have ridden and swapped bikes with, and they say the same thing.
The engines are set up for torque, it's great for the Vet class although MXA would always say add a few teeth to the sprocket, I go the other way and shift a lot less with a 480 that could easily be a 4 speed and saves your forearms and makes you able to go harder longer.
https://betausa.com/content/beta-suspension
Ty Cullins is liking his suspension done by Beta..
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhC_ORcnqXb/?taken-by=ty_cullins16
https://www.betausa.com/content/welcome-byob
https://betausa.com/content/beta-suspension
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