hawaiidirtrider, on 06 June 2012 - 12:57 AM, said:
So what are your thoughts on the comparisons of the different bikes? Power? handling ? etc... Hey not many have the old and new and 450 and big bores all Beta..You are one of the few that know the difference expecially since you've spent lots of time on them.. I sure like the red of the newest Betas. They look cool.
So comparing these bikes is.......well, tough! I line all of them up and then ride them on the same trails from my house all the time--just so i can feel the differece. Im a big-time KTM fan and always will be. ( My wife rides the 250 xcw and I ride a 300 xcw for all the really naughty single track.)Then one day long-ago she broke her hand and had to take it easy for awhile and came home with the 08 525rr cuz she said she could duasport with it while har hand was healing. We both liked the 525 with the ktm motor and the fact that it was shorter than the KTMs. Than....moving down the road.....dealer called and said he had a 10 520rr, come test ride it. We did and took it home that day. It is so much smoother and easier to ride than the 08 525. Smoother from the initial start all the way to the moon. Engine
braking is also way smoother, it does not lurch or send you flying. As for the suspension the 10 is much better at staying on its line and not deflecting off rocks or roots. The 08 seems longer and stiffer in turns and rough sections. Now move on to the 12 450.....The dealer called my wife and said come test ride this new 450 and 350. I was away at work....She came home with the 450! She is using her 525 for winter with a mountain horse kit and said she needed a new dual sport/ bigger bike. However, I like it too! So qwik and easy to ride. It feels like a toy bike. She is way faster on it as well as i am too. It has great
smooth power that doesnt come on too hard. But it also can lug just as easy as the 520. Before she bought it she went and rode one of our friends new 450 KTM and fell in love with it. Super smooth, efi, felt like her 2-stroke KTM. But the dealer gave her a great deal (ha-ha) and the BETA is shorter for her and that is very important! As for it being carb. instead of efi....We have never had any of the BETAS miss a beat. They are all spot on as if they were efi! Long story short, great bikes but definately getting better every year! Now if they could only lose a few pounds. They feel extremely light while riding them, but not so much if you have to lift them....The new ones are at least 10 lbs lighter than the 08 tho...
