A must read http: http://www.dirtrider.com/features/m...ng-goes-beta-the-weekly-dirt-october-24-2012/ Go down to the bottom Big story on Kurt Cassillie and Factory KTM then the big news BETA GOES FACTORY DESERT RACING with a really big Factory effor Purvines has just about all the top racers even EX fastory racer Nic Burson I like my Husky BUT those Beta look nice and now with a Factory Racing team both on 4 strokes and 2 strokes Husky had Zip Ty Racing Husky had George from uptite now a Beta dealer and the list goes on
Beta the Florentine flyer!! La Bella Toscana!! They are super nice. Wow Nick is now the Italian bike Veteran!!
I know times are tight, but I a incredibly surprised at this move. The Beta is a very nice bike, but it really isn't what you might call race ready. Having tested a contemporary RR model and contemplated desert racing it, I thought it best to keep it away from the desert. Frankly it will take an serious amount to investment to make it make it race ready and it will still be slower and heavier than a stock KX450. Not that it is my intent to bag on Beta, but it will never be a great desert race bike, not what it was designed for. The way the rear shock linkage works, it is super progressive, almost to the point of locking up deep in the stroke. Once that happens the frame starts to flex and things get hairy. I trip through some deep whoops is enough to make you thing twice about your priorities. When I was last testing one, I asked the best Beta desert racer around how he handled that, basically he told me that he just holds on and hopes for the best. They had not made much progress on improving that aspect of the handing. I imagine Stillwell has made some progress, but to me this is a square peg in a round hole scenario. What is the sense in trying to make the bike something it is not. I really can't imagine what Beta is thinking. They have a great hardcore dual sport platform and do almost nothing to really exploit it. Yet they want to throw money at big time racing. When was the last time a Beta, anywhere, won a real motorcycle race? Yes, I know Cody Webb does amazing things on it, but when he goes to the start line of an EX event, his bike is at least 20lbs heavier than all the competition. To my way of thinking they could probably sell more motorcycles by supporting grass roots racers who go out put on a good show in their class every week at local races. As for the two stroke, it is getting fantastic reviews, of course no one has actually ridden it yet.... Okay, flame away....
" not what it was designed for. " very very true. Lots of thoughts and computer modeling go into the flex characteristics, shapes and weld points of these ENDURO designed machines. example: desert racing a TE310......." not what it was designed for. " Chilly, however; from a throw money at it engineering effort it could be a good base to work from, No? Why not? New linkage design and built, thats done all the time, Cf stuff and Ti hardware all over the darn thing, cubic dollars= less weight, better motor, more reliability. How does that level of $$ commitment help Joe average and his beta?? dont know, but I know that if I was the big buck team owner, first thing I would be doing is getting the suspension desert high speed right at any cost (PC or FC is who I'd be on the line with). Hope the riders find a happy place. More brands in mix is good for the sport (noted: seen that Sherco is coming here with its ENDURO line in 2013) This is Cafe Husky there is no flaming here............when talking about other brands (haha) for another thread but did you like the TXC310R???? I'm keepin an eye on Enduro360.com for the MY13 Husky report, see ya in Tecate.
Chilly, Always good to have your input. It's horses for courses and I respect your judgement when it comes to the Dez. Mark Fortner won the WNYOA Hare Scrambles Series on a Beta 350RR this year. It is considered the top series in the Northeast, behind the GNCC. It's where you ride, that makes the bike. You gave a qualified review of the '12 Gas Gas 300, but in the Northeast... Trail Rider Editor Kevin Novello (who absolutely bleeds Orange) gave it a unqualified thumbs up. Jeff Melik is probably going to win the ECEA Enduro Championship on a GG300 and loves it. The ECEA Series goes from total rock runs in PA to all the sand whoops you can stand in NJ ( I know they can't hold a candle to a real Baja whoop) and the off camber roots and slime of NY. Back to Beta.... Maybe their DS platform is a good thing, but outside of Cali, barely legal enduro bikes are still the coin of the realm. All the KTM 2 strokes with clean MSO's, makes KTM more money than all EXC350 and 500's combined.
Hey Robert, 310 first Ride was up a couple of weeks ago http://www.enduro360.com/2012/10/16/products-tested/2013-husqvarna-txc310r-first-ride/ Norm, I am not familiar with your WNYOA series, but it is a perfect example to illustrate my point that grass roots support is a better path for a company like Beta, rather than challenging the top teams and riders. Same for GG, winning at a regional series level probably does the company more good than finishing mid pack at a national level. Let's not forget Beta's disastrous foray into GNCC racing, that just made everyone involved look bad.
Thank God for development, or we'd still all be riding air-cooled, drum-braked, piston-port wheezers with six inches of travel. Who knows, they may even get the bikes to work a little better than they do off the showroom floor. One thing we know for sure is that the Beta team will beat the factory Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki teams next season. As for the two-strokes, there are lots of sites with plenty of footage of guys riding the bikes. The whole world isn't Southern California ... Just sayin'
My thoughts range from good for Beta to put out an effort, it will improve the breed. But, I can tell you that the bike that Cody Webb rides, in EnduroCross, is far from stock. I had the chance to sit on and pick up Cody's #5 Beta when it was at Rekluse, getting the new Core EXP Auto Clutch installed. Nice fit and finish, but still on the heavy side compared to Destry's KXF, Corey's 310 Husky or Taddy's 350 KTM. Yes I have had the chance to "feel" all of the bikes listed at EnduroCross this season and know that Cody is working harder than the other riders. The EX Beta's have a Fox shock fitted to the bike and Alan Stillwell has some good settings for Cody and Max. I think, with the right kind of rider, the Beta can be raced in the desert, but can it win? Stock for Stock I think a Husky 511 would be a better choice than the Beta, but I hope I am wrong for the sake of Beta's effort to bring their bike to the races.
An errant internet search turned up the above conversation. I very rarely read anything on any motorcycle forum. I learned long ago the guys who know what they are talking about dont post. But it got me to thinking. Well time will tell, right? I mean thats some strong opinion from a couple guys, and theres nothing wrong with that. But it does seem only fair to take a minute and review how the Purvines/Beta effort has done early on, with a few races under their belts. And it seems they have done very well indeed! Way to go Purvines. Nothing says it like results: -Nick Burson 3rd overall on his Beta at last weeks National Hare and Hound. Congrats! -Top ten finishes at BITD, including some class wins. Congrats. It seems fair to say all bikes have handling/suspension issues that have to be sorted. And it seems fair to say the Beta has been sorted out, and quickly. To write off Beta as a serious desert race bike (and thats what was essentially written above) seemed a bit odd and pre mature to me. Of course im not a suspension engineer, so i dont feel comfortable writing about linkage ratios or related speculation. Maybe But yeah. Im not gonna listen to the nay-sayers. Im gonna go buy a Beta, and im gonna race it in the desert. ------------ While im at it: Congrats to Cody on his brand new out of the box 2 stroke Beta 1st overall KOH! Wow. ------------ Now i want two Betas for the desert. A 450 for the open stuff, and a 2 stroke for the tighter stuff. *please dont mis-read my post. I respect everyone who has their own opinion. But come on, the Betas are kicking butt in open desert (Parker 250), rough desert (Hare and Hound), and super technical (King of the Hammer). Writing them off as desert race bikes was just plain wrong. They are proving themselves fantastic desert race bikes. Way to go Beta/Purvines Racing and Beta rider Cody Webb on the new estart 2 stroke.
MK welcome back, I hope you did not hear me saying anything bad about the Betas, Im a backer. And just because they are "new" over here doesn't mean too much, I think I counted something like 40 models of motorcycles coming out of their Tuscan manufacturing plant from 50cc to 500cc, trials to DS. PS if you really want to get back into the Dez go NB style 498RR version NB657 told me directly that the thing is crazy fast as they are, racing it in OEM stock motor form, yes he said out of the box stock 498 motor. And yes Purvines is doing R&D on the suspension system like any solid high dollar team does. Bravo to Purvines for stepping up to run Betas as their weapon of choice and are all ready competitive with all the other guys out there.
You must relise Nic got a 3 rd last weeken with 2 of the top riders in the world just in front of him Kendal norman and Kurt Cassillie are 2 of the best so for a New Bets to run with them is a good start I still like the 2 stroke Betas better then the 4 stroke Plus wecome back Mr Mike time to come out to the desert
Hello friends It's been a while and sense the split with Husqvarna and riding Kawasaki for a year I was uncomfortable posting. It's true the Beta 450 and 498 are desert racing machines. I know Nick is going faster on the Beta than the Kawasaki last year. The motor is ran stock except an FMF pipe and a thinner base gasket. As always the suspension is set up to suit each rider and our suspension guy, Tuner, at TBT has pleased the fast guys. Nick raves about the motor how good it pulls and with six speeds has plenty of top end. Nick won the first district 37 race of the year, Jack Rabbits, on a 450. Placed 4th at the first national in lucerne on the 450 and placed third at the last national on a 498 with a bad start. He was running 18 at the Bomb. After the first loop he came in 4th a few seconds behind Jake Argubright. At the end of the race he was down a little over four minutes to Kendall and Kurt fimishing third. Sense we are on a european bike again I asume it's ok to post pics and race reports? Next race BITD Laughlin Hare Scrambles and Checkers district 37, 2/23 and 24.
Lots of impressive results on the mighty Betas and its only Feb. I gotz 2 try a 498 down in bajaj one day soon. Ajax i will see you in the dez one day. Im 50 now, watch out!! lol. Roberttaccio its all good as always. I know you are no h8r. Ive always been a fan. Chilly is way to fast for that egg to stick. Plus he's a better baja tour guide. Another vote for some NB pics and write up. Clearly the world needs a cafeBeta.com - Coffee?
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoTfL-gLdVY Seems like the right place to post Max's KOM 2013 race report on the Beta. I love Max's entusiasm and skill - he's looking more buff and less skinny - I stated a year ago that I wish he was on a Husky - he's a great spokesman for the product.
[quote="MikeB, post: 280635, member: 8078" Seems like the right place to post Max's KOM 2013 race report on the Beta. I love Max's entusiasm and skill - he's looking more buff and less skinny - I stated a year ago that I wish he was on a Husky - he's a great spokesman for the product.[/quote] What a great RR! Really made me smile.
