Take this with a grain of salt as I'm no professional and this is only my second 2 stroke . Current ride: 2004 CR 125 with Uptite 167 kit and Rekluse EXP and LHRB ... (Walt has been my Life coach on this bike and all things 2 stroke in general) I love this bike it's light and easy to work on .. but doesn't have the grunt I'm wanting down low (this is my fault as I'm eating myself out of it) Why I bought the Beta : I wanted a 250 or 300 for more bottom end (linear) and with electric start (reliable) . I knew this displacement was what I wanted after riding Xcuvator's well sorted WR 250 2 years ago in Bend.. As far as 2 stroke electric start , after research only 2 make the cut Sherco(Not in the country long enough to find a used one) and Beta.. but I thought I couldn't afford either so I was going to let the electric start thing go and look at used GG or KTM Found out GasGas Electric start was no better than KTM but really have a Mental Block toward the Orange Bike so ruled it out... was looking for a 2011 GG 250/300 due to the lighter weight and electric start and stumbled upon my demo 13 250 for 5999 in Modesto... talked them into making that the final price including tax and then bought a larger tank and Spark arrestor before I took delivery... what I've put on it: Tank Spark arrestor JD kit with Powervalve Shim Hand guards Riding impressions: very linear and it feels as light and flickable as my CR with more power.. tracks well and seems stable.. The suspension is softer than my CR (what isn't ) I spent a long time getting the CR dialed in. I'm not hammering it though and keep in mind I'm slow anyway. I'm still spoding it up without my REKLUSE and LHRB that I have on the CR Maintenance: not as easy to work on as the Husky... with the smaller frame the Spark plug is a pain in the A$$ to access and I'm running a smaller plug to make it easier to get too. The Air filter is just like the KTM setup (Not sure how I feel about that yet) . Jetting was a pain in the Butt too because of the small frame ) The documentation on the bike isn't great either.. believe it or not The Husky Docs win by a small margin. I'm trying not to fall in love with it and keep an open mind.. but it's a really nice bike (plus it's not orange )
Congrats Kevin. It's funny how spoiled the Husky will make us when it comes to doing the simple maintenance things. Sounds like the Beta has the handling and light feel like the Husky and that's huge to me. Enjoy .
Nothing is as easy as working on a Husky 125, so that may not be a fair comparison! I haver never even taken my plug out, although when I do, I will replace it with the shorty. Haven't used my kicker in a few months either. Handling and feel impression is spot on.
Really cool Kevin. I bet you settle in and bond with it. Next time we meet up at CH I'll bring the 250 along and we should go for a good ride and switch off. Can't wait.
Any more current thoughts on this bike??? I am currently considering a lightly used one or a 14 demo at the moment ?????? Or if the Husqvarna WR 250 were shorter. Or regroup and race my like new 144. Just ready for something different.................
If you want different and quality Beta is for you. Good dealer support and parts supply and a rock solid platform. I'm amazed every time I get to ride mine. The seat height is perfect for my 32 inch inseam with my riding boot on. Sometimes I feel like the bike was Taylor made for me.
I have yet to get to even sit on a Beta but I take it it is much shorter then a Husqvarna WR 250 or 144???? I am only 5ft 7in and been fighting with these Husky tall bikes for sometime now. Does it feel light and flickable like your 165? And is it similer in size to a 2011 and prior Gas Gas???
Never sat on a gasser . It feels lighter than my 09 WR300 when I ride it and weighs less by feel when I put it on the stand. Didn't like the low bend stock bars so I put a set of pro taper KX Highs and now feel everything is perfect for me. The seat height is the lowest of any current off road bike out there. When I first got the 2012 cr 125 I tip toed when I sat on it. With beta and shoes on I can palm it with my foot so no need to lower it like the cr. There is more info over at Betarider.org that might answer your questions better. Seems like lots of happy old Gas Gas , KTM and Husky owners there, myself included.
I'm 5'5" with a 29" inseam and I can deal with the seat height just fine. Much easier to deal with than my lowered TC.
