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86
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8/19/2020
Location
WNY, NY
US
Edited Date/Time
8/21/2020 9:38am
Trying to decide my next and first brand new bike purchase. Was in love with the 2021 Crf450 until I saw the new 2021 Beta 300 rx. Been a dire hard Honda guy since the cr80 days but these new models and manufacturers have me intrigued. How do the Betas and “boutique” brands compare to the big five? I have no intention of racing again just want to do some aggressive trail riding, having fun at a track and some hare scrambles. I realize they’re different bikes but was wondering how they compare quality wise, ride ability and durability with a Crf450 specifically. Thanks!!
Really depends overall what your goals are. They all have strengths and weakness. I can get really good pricing on Beta, friends with the distributor. I ended up just going with a 2021 Husky 300 TX. I have not ridden the newRX as it is a US only deal with the American distributor. I can tell you how the 300 RE feels.
The Shop
I have about 70 hours on my bike and it's been absolutely great. Has it's limitations (which i knew when i bought this model) but it's the best out of the box bike i've ever owned. Biggest gripe is the electrical. Overall it's fine, but just placement of some plugs that result in water messing with connections from washing. Easy enough to catch when it occurs and fix, and if i wasn't lazy i could probably re-locate or protect them better.
Put my wife on the 125 RR-S earlier this year and so far she loves it. Only full size trail bike on the market without going to a race bike. We were after a turd that was not over weight, but full size ergonomics. Once again, it has it's limitations that we knew about before we bought it but it's been great for the last 7 months.
I also own a 2018 Sherco 250 FST (trials), have about 8 events on the bike and plenty of playing around. Been absolutely solid since i bought it as a dealer demo.
Parts for both are easy to get. Typically takes a few days if it's in stock, 1 week or so if it's not. Few part suppliers offer 15% off list. I get parts sooner with these bikes than i did with the big brand bikes. Also helps the dealers (while few and far between) actually can help you if you need it.
Zero concerns buying either of these brands.
More than a few parts cross over. Front number plate is off a CRF, chain guide, brakes, levers are same as KTM, rear sprocket is old husky / gasgas, factory models with KYB forks share with other brands using KYB, etc.
I have a KTM next to it in the garage. The Sherco excels in a lot of places like hardware, overall componentry, and is equal or better in build quality. In terms of refinement, The KTM is straight to the point where the Sherco has a bit of excess. Small things like the wiring routing (not as clean or compact as a KTM), airbox layout (nothing beats a KTM IMO), and the use of a nut and washer instead of rivnuts for some fasteners (although not necessarily a bad thing) are where the Sherco is different. I do believe that a lot of that comes down to dollars and cents as KTM has a board of directors to satisfy where Sherco is a family owned company. Standard items on the Sherco (massive stator, radiator fan, skid plate, overflow tank, handguards) are extras on the KTM. And thats not including the KYBs or Akropovic exhaust that are stock.
Anyway, I would buy another in a heartbeat. If I could find a Sherco 125 at a decent price id replace my KTM with it.
Try one in person, most guys are very friendly and won’t mind sharing their thoughts.
Ghost
This is the wrong forum though, go to https://thumpertalk.com/forums/forum/353-beta-motorcycles/ and dig around. The Covid has stopped the demo tour of the last few years, find a dealer that's offering rides, most do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3fYQ24cgrk 2021 Beta 300rr unboxing. Bike Porn.
As for the rest of the about smaller Euro brands, I find no more “quirks” with Beta or TM than any other Japanese or Austrian brands.
To the original post, if you have like Honda’s you should really look at the TM. Their 300 MX model if that’s the type of bike your looking for is very fast, yet with the new motor starting in ‘19 still isn’t hard to ride. The aluminum frame is very well built. From my experience Honda has nice looking welds where you can see them, TM has great looking welds even in hidden places! Plus quality of things like the hardware and 2nd to none. Parts are never an issue, we have never wanted for anything. Having been to the TM USA head quarters and seen their parts supply I wouldn’t ever worry about that.
Please check out our off-road shootouts to see how Betas in general compare to the Japanese bikes.
https://www.vitalmx.com/features/2020-Vital-MX-450-Off-Road-Shootout-En…
The chassis, suspension, and engine character are vastly different (not better or worse, just different) than the other bikes.
Quality and durability wise, I've never owned a Beta but I have spent at least some time with them, changing oil and air filters and checking normal things. Everything I dealt with was 100% the same as any other bike I've worked on. Nothing harder or easier and no surprises like things breaking or bolts rattling loose.
Pit Row
We had this exact bike before MXA did their review. I’ve said it before on posts, this is the best handling 4t I have ever ridden. Very light feeling and excellent cornering. I also really liked the way it’s built
The new version actually has a little different motor that is reported to be even better, it’s twin pipe.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nf1jwe6pLc
Ghost
If you want to have an RX or Race Edition Beta, that will require some waiting.
He has his grandson on a TM 250 4 stroke and he seems to do well on it.
They're a bit pricey, but well built, trick bikes. Definitely not for everyone, and he doesn't sell a lot of them but really nice bikes none the less.
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