2014 Beta 450 RS - Long Haul Wrap-Up

Primary Use: Single-track seeker, all-around explorer

Main Mods: BYOB (Build Your Own Beta). All aftermarket goodies came from Beta, mounted and ready to go

Moment of Glory: With a license plate, every trip down a city road is like cheating the law

Forgettable Experience: Needing three people to pull it out of a mud hole in Colorado, one of those being Randy Hawkins

Total Hours: 53

Aftermath: Lots of bald tires, tons of smiles, and some small leakage from the countershaft seal

After riding nearly 400 miles of amazing single-track and off-road in just a few short days at the Colorado 600, the 2014 Beta 450 RS then took a trip to Central California with Dirt Rider tester Ryan Dudek to pound a few hundred more miles at the Cycle World Magazine Trek. When it returned with bald tires (thanks, Ryan) we cleaned it up, changed the engine oil and filter, and installed new rubber. We went through quite a few sets of tires, including the stockers, some Dunlop AT81s, and a few sets from Maxxis. The Beta has since visited all of the Dirt Rider staff's favorite trails and has been piloted by riders varying in girth and height. The general feedback is mainly positive from every rider, thanks to suspension that is plush over small hits and helps it stay planted in rocky and rough terrain. Overall handling of the Beta is predictable and very stable. It isn't twitchy, but it isn't sluggish, and it is plenty nimble to handle the tightest of single-track. The incredibly smooth and fun power delivery out of the 450cc engine also makes it easy to ride, especially combined with the Rekluse Core EXP clutch. Not once did we have to adjust or mess with the Rekluse, and a few riders who spent some time on the bike didn't even know it had an auto clutch in it until we told them (they just figured they were ultra-smooth clutch operators!). The Beta RS is great for bigger riders who appreciate the slightly larger feel of the ergos, and the bike feels nice and roomy for normal-sized riders. With a solid 53 hours of enjoying the Trail Tech Voyager GPS, we now want one on all of our off-road bikes. Our only issue with the 450 RS was a small oil leak from the countershaft seal; oil loss was minimal, but a new seal is in this bike's future for a permanent fix.

Some might turn their injected noses up at the thought of a carburetor, but carbs are reliable and work well. Yes, they have to be re-jetted when heading up into very high altitudes, like those we rode at the Colorado 600, but with stock settings we were totally happy up to about 7,500 feet before having to play with the fuel screw and jetting. Beta makes great dirt bikes, and this one comes with the bonus of being street legal! Sadly, we don’t have the 450 RS anymore; it went back to Beta—and with it, a little piece of each of our dual-sport hearts.

Want More? Check out AmericanBeta.com.