Beta 520RS p40-44:Layout 1

3/7/12

11:49 AM

Page 2

DUAL-SPORT TEST

40 www.dirtbikemagazine.com

Beta 520RS p40-44:Layout 1

3/8/12

11:40 AM

Page 3

BETA
520 RS
A small fleet of motorcycles in one

n the back of every riders mind is a mythical time when racers rode their bikes to the track, raced them, then rode home. Just for the record, those times never happenednot really. There might have been random instances, but for the most part, race motorcycles have been chauffeured to the track from year one. But if any bike can make the myth a reality, its the Beta 520 RS. Its a dual-sport bike thats capable of, and ready for, offroad racingwithout any modifications. Weve always believed in the fundamental right of every rider to own at least four bikes: a race bike, a trail bike, a motorcycle with a license plate and something exotic that the average rider has never heard of. Thats the Beta, but with more room left over in the garage. Easy questions first. Yes, Beta is its own motorcycle company. The Beta is not made by someone else; it doesnt have a KTM motor, and it isnt owned by BMW. If youre a trials guy, you already knew that. Beta has been making trials bikes in Italy for a long time and started producing off-road bikes about six years ago. The KTM confusion came from a brief period when Beta purchased powerplants from the Austrians. Now, Beta makes almost everything itself. The 520 RS is the companys big dual-sport model, but the line also includes dedicated dirt models in 350 and 450 configurations. And right up front, lets be clear: the Beta is an amazing bike. Theres no fence-sitting or hemming and hawing here. Its a fantastic machine that can hold its own against any bike made by any company, including KTM. We dont know any higher praise.
The Beta is a whole garage full of bikes in one. We rode it across state lines, raced it, then rode home, hitting some tight trails along the way.
MAY 2012 / DIRT BIKE 41

Beta 520RS p40-44:Layout 1

3/7/12

11:53 AM

Page 4

DUAL-SPORT TEST

BETA
520 RS
BUILD YOUR OWN
Beta is a small company that sells bikes one at a time. In these days of mega-marketing and national-sales blitzes, that can be a handicap. Theres no Supercross program with a big rig and no TV commercials featuring Betas, but the guys who run the show here in America have turned that into a strength by diving deeply into the world of customized options in a way that no large corporation could. The Build Your Own Beta program allows you to outfit your bike before you buy it. You can get the bars, handguards, fuel tank, spring rates and just about anything else you want when you order the bike. The parts-swap options are so extensive, you could even respec your bike as a super-moto version. Beta airfreights all its bikes to the U.S. directly from Italy, so theres no
The stock Michelin DOT tires are okeay, but after we installed Maxxis ITs, the Beta moved up on the food chain.

long wait from the time you order until the time it arrives at the dealerno matter what outlandish parts you chose. You probably waited longer for your last iPhone. Our test bike was a fully street-legal 520 RS with a 497cc displacement. It was set up in a fairly basic configuration. The parts that are more or less standard are the steel frame, the Marzocchi fork, the Sachs shock and the Brembo brakes. The single-overhead-cam motor is very straight forward. It has four titanium valves, a Kokusan ignition and electric start. The Betas gearbox is a six-speed, and it comes with 14-45 gearing. If you want lower gearing, you can order that too. The motor is fed by a 39mm Keihin FCR carb with jetting that is fully compliant with EPA standards. The bike is legal without a throttle stop, an electronic governor or impractical jetting. The options you choose when you set up your bike dont compromise the bikes legality. If the accessory that you want affects noise or emissions, Beta gives you that part in addition to the original part. This pertains to things like the FMF Q 4 exhaust system and even the anodized fuel-adjustment screw. Beta cant remove the original parts, but they can sell you new ones and place them in the crate.

NO TRUCK REQUIRED
Like we said, there was never a time when people rode their bikes to the racetrack, but there would have been if more bikes were like the Beta. Just to prove it to ourselves, we rode the bike from Southern California to Primm,

42 www.dirtbikemagazine.com

Beta 520RS p40-44:Layout 1

3/7/12

11:54 AM

Page 5

No one likes having the exact same bike as everyone else. With the Beta, that wont happen.

Nevada, for the second round on the WORCS schedule. Part of the route was old Route 66, part Interstate 15 and part dirt road. Once we got to the race site, we gave the Beta a new set of tires and raced it on the Primm course, which is renowned as a brutal racetrack. Along the way, we learned some interesting things about using the bike for long-distance dirt/street tours. Number one: It can go over 100 mphfor real. That 14-45 gearing is tall enough to make sixth gear a kind of overdrive. You might not need to go that fast, but you sure dont want to be anywhere near redline at freeway speed. That can make for a very miserable trip, which is the problem with most hardcore dual-sport bikes. If the gearing is good enough for the dirt, generally its a screamer on the road. Number two: The gearing is still good for the dirt. Its tall, but the bike has such deep, thick power down low that you can idle down to walking speed without clutch work. If we were going to repurpose the Beta as a full-time trail bike, we might add a few teeth to the rear. But we never felt it was mandatory, either on the tightest sections of our dual-sport ride or on any part of the WORCS course. Number three: The Beta is a comfortable bike at speedwithin reason. One of the problems with road riding is that you get bored and have too much time to think about your personal comfort. You can obsess over a tingle in the bars or the shape of the seat. No dirt bike can match the comfort of a real road burner, but the Beta comes close. It has a very smooth motor that doesnt buzz or vibrate. After a long period of butt time, the seat begins to feel too hard, but we prefer that to the opposite. In the dirt, an overly soft seat locks you in place and keeps you from moving around like you should. Number four: The Beta will crack 100 miles on its 2.1-gallon tankjust barely. The standard tank is a little small, but the bike gets the most out of it. After our ride, we installed a 3.8-gallon Clarke fuel tank ($219). Its one of the Beta options that cant be installed beforehand because of emission requirements, but at least you have two tanks. Number five: The Beta is still mostly a dirt bike. Theres no ignition key; theres no place to pack luggage, and the headlight is a little faint at night. Just so you know, we had someone haul a gear bag to Primm in a truck so we wouldnt have to wear the same clothes all weekend. We consider that legal.

Who makes the Beta motor? Beta does. At one time they used KTM motors, but those days are gone.

One of the most amazing parts of the package is the six-speed gearbox, which is good for tight trails as well as 100-mph dirt roads.

WORCS FITMENT
By the time we reached Primm, the stock Michelin dual-sport tires were a little used. They didnt chunk or lose knobs, but the pavement had taken a predictable toll. That remains the biggest problem with dual-sport riding; knobbies dont last on pavement. We arranged to have a set of Maxxis IT intermediate-terrain tires waiting for

You can get the large tank through Beta or through Clarke. Its 1.7 gallons larger than stock and not very obtrusive.

MAY 2012 / DIRT BIKE 43

Beta 520RS p40-44:Layout 1

3/7/12

11:55 AM

Page 6

DUAL-SPORT TEST

BETA
520 RS

The Brembo brakes are excellent, even at freeway speed.

Even with the tall dual-sport gearing, the 520 is a rock hound.

us at the track and refitted the bike as soon as we arrived. The only additional cheating was to remove the mirrors and the license plate. Then we went to the line and learned more. Number one: The Beta is a powerful motorcycle. It pulled a second-gear start in the deep sand and was right up front. Its not a fast-revving, quick-hit type of motor. It has a long, long powerband and works best when you shift early. It makes good power on top at high rpm, but it has a good nature and satisfying pull down low. It needs to be pointed out that the stock muffler is quiet. With a full-race exhaust system, theres no doubt that the 520 could become an outright missile. Number two: There are no issues with lean jetting. At first we noticed a little popping on deceleration, but that was cured with a half turn of the fuel screw. Weve never ridden a dual-sport bike that carbureted this cleanly. Number three: The suspension is soft and cushy. That would have been great for most off-road races, but not this one. Primm has sand whoops that could make a Supercross bike feel soft. Luckily, the race was the first of the day, and there were still some outside lines that were unmolested during the early laps. But as the race developed, the course became less and less friendly. Frankly, we wouldnt want it any other way. If the bike were stiff enough for Primm, it would have been miserable everywhere else. Number four: The 520 isnt especially light, but you would never know it. The bike handles tight stuff well. Its no Ginsu, but there are 450 motocross bikes that dont turn this well. In the rough straights, it did have some headshake, but most of that was probably because of the soft fork. A Scotts steering stabilizer is one option in the BYOB program. One of the issues with owning an offbeat motorcycle is the availability of mounting kits for various aftermarket parts, but thats no issue here.

BETA 520 RS
Engine type ........Four-valve, OHC 4-stroke Displacement ....................................497cc Bore & stroke ..............100.0mm x 63.4mm Fuel delivery ..................39mm Keihin FCR Fuel tank capacity ..................2.1 gal. (7.9l) Lighting coil ..........................................Yes Spark arrester........................................Yes EPA legal ..............................................Yes Running weight, no fuel ..................258 lb. Wheelbase ........................58.1" (1476mm) Ground clearance ................12.6" (320mm) Seat height ..........................36.6" (930mm) Tire size & type: Front ..................80/100-21 Michelin DOT Rear ................110/100-18 Michelin DOT Suspension/travel: Front....Marzocchi inverted cartridge, adj. reb./comp./11.4" (290mm) Rear ......Sachs aluminum piggyback, adj. prld, hi & lo comp., reb./11.4" (290mm) Country of origin ..................................Italy Suggested retail price ......................$9399 Distributor/manufacturer ............................ www.americanbeta.com

THE AFTERMATH
After 600 miles on the pavement and 65 minutes on the racetrack, the casualty list was short. Nothing broke, nothing gave us problems and nothing went wrong. The 2.1-gallon tank was big enough, and the motor didnt even burn any oil. Throughout the test, the only chronic issue we had with the bike was a low battery, which generally struggled to start the motor. Either the stock battery or the charging system is overstressed, but the kickstarter always works. We wouldnt say the Beta is the perfect bike for a race like Primm, and we wouldnt say its the perfect highway burner; it can do both, which is something that still stuns us. If you wanted to make the bike into a full-time race bike, it wouldnt be difficult. And if you really want to make a habit of riding your bike to the track, the Beta can do it. But for the record, it seems like a waste of a great motorcycle. From now on, well give the Beta the chauffeur treatment it deserves. J
44 www.dirtbikemagazine.com

GOOD STUFF
Broad powerband Super stable Excellent clutch Strong brakes Fully legal

NOT-SO-GREAT STUFF
Starter struggles Not cheap Softish suspension No ignition key