Beta & better
By Team TMX on 31st Jul 15
First enduro test of the year for me, and a nice feeling to be in my comfort zone again with both machine and the company.It was great to spend a couple of days in Italy with the Beta team and especially my long term buddy, Britains Beta importer Johnboy Lampkin.There was a bit of a heatwave going on in Europe when the test took place and Italy was no exception with the temperature at the test venue near Modena close to 40 degrees on the day of the test it was clear that things were soon going to hot up
The Beta factory, at Noale on the Adriatic, is a pretty self-sufficient facility and it isn't a simple assembly plant,
Beta actually manufactures its own engines. Beta made its name off-road in the trials world but the enduro range of both two-stroke and four-stroke models is now well established.
But, as with their trials bikes Beta is a leader, not a follower, and the enduro range is continually refined and updated to hopefully keep it ahead of, not just equal to, the opposition.
The Beta enduro models all feature a simple, light but strong steel tube chassis, with a tasty aluminium swinging arm and link rear suspension system.
Suspension on all models is decicated Sachs equipment.
All tried and tested technology but Beta isn't about reinventing the wheel but providing a reliable, safe, competitive, fun to ride motorcycle to suit novice and expert alike.
And what allows the company to do this is the complete range of models with competitive two-stroke and four-stroke motors that are state of the art.
Quite a feat from what is a relatively small factory, at least when compared to its European rival KTM or the giant Japanese concerns.
With the two-strokes now featuring a refined forced lubrication system and the four-strokes sporting a sophisticated fuel-injection system Beta is forging ahead with developments on all fronts.
FOUR-STROKES
The main innovation of the 2016 RR enduro range is the introduction of the electronic fuel injection system on all four-strokes.
Beta engineers have worked directly with Synerject to provide an EFI system that has proven to be a major stride forward.
Its extraordinarily exact fuel delivery has received much positive feedback from all the factory riders, who have obviously assist in the development of the system.
350 FOUR-STROKE
The smallest of the four-stroke range, to be honest, offers pretty much all you need.
Not only does it pack that nicepowerful punch that you expect from a 350 motor but also has the overall feel of a 250, enabling you to throw the bike about more than just a bit.
This model has been a massive success for Beta, the engine size is just made for novice to pro and just about anybody can handle it.
There's a simple feel to the 350 four-stroke package that delivers the power at every point of the range, from the lowest chugging rpm to the free-revving top end.
The chassis also works extremely well as, like all Betas, handling is its strong point.
Power-to-weight distribution provides a confidence-inspiring balance while the feel from the brakes, clutch and cockpit area provides the expected level of comfort from a European manufacturer.
390 FOUR-STROKE
The very versatile and friendly 390 model has a desire for open ground.
The feel from the motor is almost a step back in time when the new-era 450s had a smooth power delivery up to a certain point in the rev range, before kicking it up a notch with a surprising burst of power.
On low-traction terrain, the 390 really comes into its own with a surprising amount of grip available to the rider.
The Beta four-strokes have got a canny resemblance to a trials bike at very low speed and are a real joy to ride for such a powerful machine.
The bike also turns on a penny as well as holding stability at trail speeds.
Suspension-wise I have to say there is a massive improvement compared to previous years.
Gone is that wallowing feeling and softness when trying to hit anything higher than a curb. It's fair to say the Italian engineers have listened and listened good, as the suspension is now as good as any stock one I've come across so far.
430 FOUR-STROKE
Sometimes a surprise jumps out at a test, and the 430 four-stroke Beta is certainly right up there at the top of this category.
When I tested the Betas last year, only the 350 was fuel-injected – now efi is fitted to every four-stroke model.
Things have changed and changed dramatically.
The ride of this bike was at a different level and the engineers have really nailed it with every aspect of this big thumper.
Power delivery is strong from nothing to full gas, off the scale, ear-to-ear-grin, fun department.
You rev it expecting a big bang but the engine is so torquey that it was difficult to spin the rear wheel in the dry grippy conditions high in the Italian mountains.
Suspension yet again had good balance and worked in tune with every aspect of the bike, from chassis to motor to rider position.
480 FOUR-STROKE
JUST twist the right hand grip of this 480 and you won't find much that can slow the raging rear wheel.
The highlight of the fuel-injected 480 engine is the endless variation to how the power is delivered.
You can ease it on or chug along at low revs in high gears and still find traction, or just crank it to the throttle stop and launch it into a different continent.
Fuel-injected four-stroke machines are magic. What comes through is instant throttle response and with such a strong engine, caution has to be used in low traction situations.
A sly turn of the throttle means a lot of power is going to the rear wheel resulting in wheel spin and loss of traction.
Taking all that into consideration the 480 is actually a super fun bike to ride with oodles of power to play with.
TWO-STROKES
The big news for the 2016 RR enduro 2T, models is the introduction of Beta's electronic oil injection system on both the 250 and 300 models.
This system was introduced in 2015 on the ground-breaking X-Trainer model, which has proved to be a real success.
This new feature ensures a perfect fuel-to-oil-mix under any conditions and engine speed, while saving riders from having to pre-mix their fuel.
Separate oil injection is nothing new in two-strokes of course.
But this is light years away from old-school mechanically-operated systems which are/ were pretty basic and almost always delivered too much oil purely to be on the safe side.
With the new Beta system the oil is delivered via the ECU which takes into account engine speed, engine load and throttle position (TPS) which results in a really accurate delivery which is both economical on oil, keeps the emissions down, smoke to a minimum and power to the max.
It also makes refuelling simple with no fiddly measuring, pouring and mixing.
250 Two-stroke
I was looking forward to riding the 250 two-smoker for a number of reasons – but mainly because Beta has focused on making the beastly power more manageable for 2016.
And I'm pleased to say that straight away the torque and pulling sensation from the engine was clearly noticeable.
Unlike some of Beta's competitors, the 250 felt so smooth and comfortable off the bat, with apparently zero behavioural problems.
In the tight, wooded sections the 250 performed impeccably, first gear is all you need in dry grippy conditions, especially with the new oil-injection system managed by an ECU with integrated mix and engine control, which is able to measure the oil based on the engine's revs and engine load measured by the TPS.
As well as this bike performs when held on low revs there's absolutely no shortage of power when you are out giving it some on the special tests.
I have to say that the note this bike makes when it is singing on the pipe is absolutely incredible.
300 TWO-STROKE
The 300, just like the 250, is now an easier bike to ride, and it responded well to the lower power curve on the majority of the test laps in Italy.
The light-feeling chassis and the high gripping front end work really well on this bike as well as the rest of the range.
It is quite easy to see why this is one of Beta's best-selling machines.
Manufacturers develop a reputation over time and Beta's is quickly becoming that of a factory that makes great turning bikes with fabulous chassis and very usable power delivery.
As you'd expect power is available in abundance with the 300 and the snap available at the top of the power is amazing.
This bike really lacks nothing when it comes to producing the goods and on some of the fast, flowing areas of the test track – just like the 250 – was incredibly fun.
n FOUR-STROKES
The main innovation of the 2016 RR enduro range is the introduction of the electronic fuel injection system on all four-strokes.
Beta engineers have worked directly with Synerject to provide an EFI system that has proven to be a major stride forward.
Its extraordinarily exact fuel delivery has received much positive feedback from all the factory riders, who have obviously assist in the development of the system.
n 350 FOUR-STROKE
The smallest of the four-stroke range, to be honest, offers pretty much all you need.
Not only does it pack that nice
n FOUR-STROKES
The main innovation of the 2016 RR enduro range is the introduction of the electronic fuel injection system on all four-strokes.
Beta engineers have worked directly with Synerject to provide an EFI system that has proven to be a major stride forward.
Its extraordinarily exact fuel delivery has received much positive feedback from all the factory riders, who have obviously assist in the development of the system.
n 350 FOUR-STROKE
The smallest of the four-stroke range, to be honest, offers pretty much all you need.
Not only does it pack that nice
