Beta, Beta, and more Beta!

Discussion in 'Non-Husqvarna Motorcycles' started by water racer, Nov 1, 2013.

  1. justpinit Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Maryland
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2012 wr 300
    Other Motorcycles:
    93 kx 125 with a kdx 200 engine.
    Agreed 100% however if fi is what it takes to keep riding, i'm all in..
  2. T.Read Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    None anymore.
    Other Motorcycles:
    2014 Beta 250, 3 Hondas, 3 Triumphs
    Thanks Water Racer, that's kinda what I was looking for. I know no amount of talking about how one feels to one guy is going to tell me anything over just getting on one and riding it to see for myself. And Roberto, I didn't really want to compare one type of bike to another, but he has a TC as do I, so that was my reference.

    My TC is set up for woods riding though so it's pretty easy on the arms. I can ride all day and still feel relatively fresh and our woods are really tight and you're working for it most of the time. I had the suspension revalved for woods riding and sprung for my weight so it feels pretty good to me. But I have no frame of reference since this is the first bike I've had set up for me like that.

    I'd be happy to come out towards Knoxville and check your bike out though. Appreciate the offer!
  3. water racer Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    http://www.knoxenduro.com Knoxville, Tennessee
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2013 Beta 250RR
    Other Motorcycles:
    2009 Husqvarna WR125 1997 Fantic
    With all due respect Mr Motosportz I have to say this! LOL! I am certain you are a better rider than me and you have ridden many more bikes also but... It has been a couple of years and many more bike rides since you owned your TC250, and I am also comparing a 250RR, not a 300. I took both bikes and loaned the TC to a friend that is between bikes and we switched back and forth. I have felt my 2010 TC with Rekluse and 19" trials tire is the best woods bike I have ridden, but the Beta just feels lighter, quicker and more agile to me now, just my opinion. Hard to beat the electric motor feel of the TC though.

    On a side note, my friend not only thought the Beta was much better than his KTM250xcw, he thought the TC250 was also, no surprise to me. He said he never had so much fun riding.
    Now you would think I would be selling him a new Beta, but no, he is ordering a new KTM..... This is a tough business.
  4. Norman Foley Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Trumansburg, NY... The Beautiful, Finger Lakes
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 250WR 86 250WR 93 WXE350 03 TE610
    Other Motorcycles:
    '85 Fantic 300 '12 HUSABERG TE250
    No matter how light and powerful a 250 4T is, a 250 2T bike is going to feel lighter, quicker and more agile.... It's simply a matter of, the additional rotating mass of the 4T's valve train. Whether you are actually quicker on one or the other... that's for the stopwatch to decide!
    twowheels, john01 and Motosportz like this.
  5. justpinit Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Maryland
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2012 wr 300
    Other Motorcycles:
    93 kx 125 with a kdx 200 engine.
    Lol, some "ktm people" are brain washed retards!! Advertiseing controls them like zombies to the point that they can't make a simple decision based on their personal experiences. Me and a guy i ride w constantly get comments from ktm riders who act like our bikes are sub par because they're not Kmart Trail machines !
  6. GMP Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    NJ
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    none
    Other Motorcycles:
    '13 Beta 300RR Racing
    Nothing against their engineering prowess, but their marketing has surely surpassed it.
    twowheels and john01 like this.
  7. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many

    All good man was just my interpretation. Also note I said the TC was stock and the 300 had piles of goodies on it which all add up. 18" rear wheel, damper, skid plate, hand guards, HD tubes, kick stand, E-start and bat (stock), and a bunch of other stuff can add up to 15 plus pounds. Plus as noted and you mentioned a 300 which always feels heavier. AGAIN, not bashing the Beta and I really liked it. Someone posted that it (the Beta) feels lighter than a 125 so I guess we all have our reference points. Also like I have said many times before weight means very little to me personally. I have ridden lighter bikes that suck and heavy ones that are awesome. Weight is but one factor in the experience fore me.

    the same place lists the dry weight here...

    http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/25387/Buyers-Guide-Specifications/2010-Husqvarna-TC250.aspx

    2010 TC250 - 213 pounds

    http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/27602/Buyers-Guide-Specifications/2013-Beta-300-RR-2-Stroke.aspx

    2013 Beta 300rr - 223 pounds

    and as I said the beta had a lot of nice goodies on it.

    So LOL to you my friend :D
  8. T.Read Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    None anymore.
    Other Motorcycles:
    2014 Beta 250, 3 Hondas, 3 Triumphs
    Going to look at a 250RR tomorrow or Friday. Unfortunately just riding it around a parking lot, but hope to get a decent impression of it by just that. Rode a 2011 450 Beta not long ago around the parking area of a huge club owned riding area a few weeks ago and really liked the feel of the bike just in that little bit. My TC is a pretty damn good woods bike. Rekluse, electric start, 18" rear wheel. It's heavier than what they say. A buddy that's on here with a WR300 had some scales once at a ride we did and I think mine weighed in around 240-250, I forget the exact number. It probably had about 10lbs of mud on it at the time too though.
  9. Motosportz CH Sponsor

    Location:
    Vancouver WA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2021 TE250i, 570 Berg, 500 KTM, 790R
    Other Motorcycles:
    many
    sounds about right. Take the 10 pounds of mud off, add the few accessories you probably have on it and your right at the wet wait for those. The numbers above are dry weight which is goofy but was trying to find apples to apples comparison numbers.

    BTW I love the 300rr I rode. Very nice and very natural, EZ to just get on and go and did nothing funky.
  10. troy deck Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Republic MO
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    87 250wr 12 cr125
    Other Motorcycles:
    kx65 ty80 rm80 kdx250
    IS THE bETA BLOG DOWN OR WHAT IV TRIED 4 DIFFERENT EMAILS USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS FROM 2 COMPUTERS I GET ON THEN OFF THEN TRY TO GET BACK ON AND IT SAYS MY PASSWORD DON'T MATCH WTF ITS GOT ME PO'D
  11. Boogie Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Red head
    the pAsswoRd couLd be case sensitive.. is CAPS on? :D
    john01, Bart, T.Read and 1 other person like this.
  12. troy deck Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Republic MO
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    87 250wr 12 cr125
    Other Motorcycles:
    kx65 ty80 rm80 kdx250
    on off i got that button wired its not that dorkboy2 tried to sign up from his house and cant its gota be on there end but wth do you get a hold of them to tell them i got 11 password codes from them they all work 1 time but i set my own and i get zip notta
  13. T.Read Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    None anymore.
    Other Motorcycles:
    2014 Beta 250, 3 Hondas, 3 Triumphs
    Just worked fine for me. Are you talking about betarider.org?
  14. troy deck Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Republic MO
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    87 250wr 12 cr125
    Other Motorcycles:
    kx65 ty80 rm80 kdx250
    no beta talk
  15. reveille Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Northern Illinois
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2014 FE501
    Other Motorcycles:
    2015 300 XC W
  16. troy deck Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Republic MO
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    87 250wr 12 cr125
    Other Motorcycles:
    kx65 ty80 rm80 kdx250
    yea that one
  17. T.Read Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    None anymore.
    Other Motorcycles:
    2014 Beta 250, 3 Hondas, 3 Triumphs
    Rode a couple of 2stks today. A 2013 300 and a brand new 250 Racing. The dealer's son raced the 300 for awhile and decided to get the new 250 Racing. He said the 300 had about 200 hours on it and had never been taken apart and hasn't had any issues except they just noticed one of the fork seals was leaking. Both felt extremely light and smooth, hardly any vibrations. Especially compared to the Sherco 300 2stk I just rode the week before. Hard to tell much difference between the two really. The 250 was a little smoother, but felt snappier being that it is brand new. Very glad he was nice enough to let me try out his new bike which was prepped to race this weekend.

    I just buzzed around the parking lot and on their mini practice track in the back of the building, but I really liked them. The ergonomics were very similar to my TC which I like a lot. My TC has been lowered and the Betas were about the same height. The dealer told me that Stillwell has a lowering link for the Betas now that apparently doesn't affect the handling. He said he's going to put it on the 300 I rode which is now going to be his daughter's bike. Definitely going to start working towards getting one. Gotta sell a few bikes I've been needing to sell for a while first. But maybe in a few months or so I can get one.
    Motosportz and water racer like this.
  18. GMP Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    NJ
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    none
    Other Motorcycles:
    '13 Beta 300RR Racing
    Yes, very smooth and linear motor, it gets even better in the woods. As far as the link you mention, its a combination link and link skid to protect the shock clevis. I have one, but run it in the stock of four positions. Personally I don't think the bike would respond well to lowering more without balancing the fork, as its light up front anyway. Lowering with the linkage also stiffens up the initial travel as a side effect. While the part is excellent, lowering is best done with the shock length if needed. Here it is on my bike:
    image.jpg
    twowheels likes this.
  19. T.Read Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    None anymore.
    Other Motorcycles:
    2014 Beta 250, 3 Hondas, 3 Triumphs
    Ah, I've seen those, but didn't realize they were also a lowering link. I think the height will be fine for me. I don't have too much worry on the TC in the woods as long as I keep moving. Only an issue when I get stopped in a tricky spot and lose my balance trying to get my feet down. But I do have some midget legs...just have to start practicing slow riding until I can stand on a bike not moving like a trials rider.
  20. hawaiidirtrider Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Oahu , Hawaii
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1982 430 cr
    Other Motorcycles:
    01' cr 250 honda, 01 300ec, Beta 525

    I have an 09 525 RS Beta and like very much that they have the last generation of rfs ktm motors. That's one of the reasons I went with Beta when buying my bike new. The rfs motor is known for being very reliable and a solid motor with great torquey linear power. .. plus there are those with good history of modding these motors if I wanted to change power characteristics..(thumperacing etc) but as it is I don't want to change how that motor works. It's excellent. Maybe at some time in the future I might put the 540 setup..just to upgrade.. depending how long I keep it .There still just might be a time to upgrade in future years . I'd love the newer gen. Beta 498/520 also. The newer motors are supposed to have more mid/top end and still have the smooth Beta feel. I'm just not so sure that the newest are as reliable and solid as the rfs. I bet they may be close but the 525 ktm motors have a great track record.... and it's in a great handling Beta chassis. My Beta handles very well but just not as quick turning as the newest Beta bikes. I've wrestled with getting the new Beta but still just still love my 525 RS Beta so I'm figuring on keeping it for a long long time and the next 2 stroke I get will be a Beta 300. That e-start has been talking to my knees. As it is I still love my cr 250 that's set up just right for me. It's great but just doesn't have a 6th gear or good electric start. Here's when I just got my bike... just a week or 2 old and it was amazing how easy this bike was to ride fast and with not much effort.


    View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjoMGAlIDYw

    ..and a bit later ...
    It still works great and I keep adding little doodads to it.. even though it really doesn't need much at all. It's great stock with gearing and guards.. but I just can't leave things alone.. except the motor.. That works great as is pretty much.


    View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvW889c69uc



    View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDExhXYXWO4 ....and this is the old Beta.. and I still love it.. The new ones ought to be better..


    I change the plastics and setups on the bike.. Here's the black version. It comes with white plastic.


    View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3ezpomFP9Y