2015 Beta enduro and dual sport range

An eight-bike line-up, with the 350 four-stroke enduro bike getting fuel injection, while the 300 two-stroke now features a host of engine improvements

Italian marque Beta has unveiled its 2015 range of enduro bikes, with the four-stoke models receiving updates across the board -- with many features straight from last year’s RR Factory versions -- as well as the introduction of many new technical features.

The 350cc four-stroke – first introduced in 2011 -- has electronic fuel injection, while the 250 and 300 two-strokes haven’t been left behind either, with chassis and engine tweaks and a starter motor “now out of harm’s way”.

The 2015 Beta range is as follows:

350 RR Enduro four-stroke (EFI)
450 RR Enduro four-stroke
498 RR Enduro four-stroke
390 RS Dual Sport
430 RS Dual Sport
500 RS Dual Sport
250 RR Enduro two-stroke
300 RR Enduro two-stroke

FOUR-STROKES
The main innovation of the 2015 RR Enduro four-stroke range is the introduction of electronic fuel injection system to the 350 RR. The system was developed together with Synerject and has a 42mm diameter throttle body. Also, thanks to the adoption of a stepper motor mounted on the throttle body, an accurate minimum rotation speed is always guaranteed, reducing engine braking considerably.

The Beta engineering team has created what they call “the perfect displacements” through many hours of testing different engine bore and stroke combinations. They arrived with four sizes, all with different power characteristics for different riders. The 350's optimal size remains the same while the 400 has been reduced to a 390cc. The 450 and 498 engines have also been reduced to 430cc and 480cc to provide the same horsepower and torque as the 2014 models, yet with more useable power for the rider.

The entire range is equipped with engines that have been completely renewed, both in terms of appearance and performance. The total weight has been reduced by 1kg on the 430 and 480 engines, compared with the previous 2014 models, and by as much as 1.5kg for the 350 (derived directly from the 2014 factory model) and the 390.

Other changes include:

The engine main cases have been completely redesigned, made lighter thanks to new die-castings, and modified internally to house a new oil pump drive system, which is simpler and more effective thanks to elimination of a drive gear. The crankcase chamber has been redesigned in order to minimize pumping losses, and the entire shape has been reworked thanks to the introduction of ribs that stiffen the engine cases while offering a more compact design;
The clutch and flywheel covers have also been modified to reduce weight and increase rigidity;
The crankshafts have new shoulders and are lighter to reduce inertia, reducing gyroscopic effect;
The connecting rods are shorter, lighter, and feature a new design. The redesign is aimed at reducing the rotating masses and the overall size of the engines. The 390-430-480 engines have the entire combustion unit positioned lower down compared to the previous models;
The piston is lighter and more robust, thanks to a structure derived from Formula 1 called “box-in-box”, which enables a reduction in vibrations and an increase in performance;
The piston pin is coated with a Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) treatment to minimize friction and wear;
The camshafts were developed with a new profile to boost performance, especially at low speeds, and to provide an improved power delivery;
The cylinder features a new design for the water jackets to improve the removal of heat and increase the efficiency of the whole cooling system;
The head has been completely redesigned both in terms of the ports and combustion chamber shape;
The starter motor has been significantly improved, and is more powerful and lighter compared to the previous models;
The balancer shaft has been redesigned to work in harmony with the new crankshaft, as well as to reduce weight;
The intake tract has been redesigned for the new engine sizes to guarantee better fuel supply and to improve fuel atomization, particularly at low speeds; and
The silencer has been redesigned with new internal passages and a larger diameter of the manifold connection hose. The new design is matched with the new engine displacements to provide optimum power while retaining its quietness. USA models will contain a spark arrestor as well.

Meanwhile, the Sachs upside-down 48mm fork features numerous innovations. To improve the general smoothness of the fork, particularly on initial impacts, a spring-support release system has been included to eliminate rotational friction. Valving has been improved to increasing precision.

DUAL SPORT FOUR-STROKES
The RS dual sport models are also all new including three different displacements being offered for 2015: 390, 430, or 500.

Voyager GPS units are standard on all RS models and feature a GPS system, tachometer, engine coolant temperature, compass, outside temperature, trip meter, maps, as well as an external SD card for uploading and downloading your adventures.

TWO-STROKES
The 2015 RR Enduro two-stroke range has also evolved. The 300’s engine comes directly from the 2014 RR Race Edition and includes a new cylinder, combustion chamber and CDI. In particular, the reduced width of the exhaust port and better sealing of the power valve provides improved throttle response and excellent linear power without interfering in any way with the maximum power and torque figures.

The 250’s exhaust valve adjustment system has been modified, while a new silencer offers a smaller diameter internal pipe compared to the 300 RR.

The bikes have the same suspension changes as the four-strokes, and there’s also a softer seat (ditto for four-strokes) and updated graphics.

Contact the Australian Beta distributor for more information on what 23015 models will make it Down Under.

2015 Beta enduro and dual sport range

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