2015 Beta Lineup Revealed

Beta USA has revealed its 2015 models including updates to its entire four-stroke engine range and minor tweaks to its two-stroke lineup. The biggest changes are smaller displacements for most of the four-stroke lineup and the adoption of features previously offered on the Factory-edition variants.

Apart from the engines, the two-stroke and four-stroke Beta RR models receive the same chassis updates. The 48mm Sachs forks were updated to better absorb violent shocks more progressively. Sachs also updated the rear shocks to improve oil flow and reduce overheating during use.

The seats have also been updated with a new, softer foam.

For 2015, the four-stroke off-road Beta lineup consists of four engine displacement options, including some changes from the 2014 displacements. Only the 350 RR maintains the same engine size as last year, but it now gains a electronic fuel injection system from Synerject, using 42mm throttle bodies.

The 398cc Beta 400 RR has been replaced with the 390 RR, with a smaller cylinder bore and longer stroke to give it a 386cc displacement. The 2014 450 RR and 498 RR are likewise gone, replaced by the 430 RR and 480 RR respectively, both with a shorter stroke. According to Beta, the 430 RR and 480 RR offer the same horsepower and torque as the larger 2014 models, but power should now be more “useable”.

The new engines are lighter, thanks to new die castings. The engines now internally house the oil pump drive system, eliminating the need for a drive gear. The crankcase chamber has been updated to reduce pumping losses while the clutch, flywheel covers are now lighter while increasing rigidity. The crankshafts are also lighter, reducing gyroscopic inertia.

As a result, the 2015 models are lighter than the 2014s. According to Beta, the 430 and 480 models are 2.2 lighter than the 450 and 498 while the 390 RR is 3.3 pounds lighter than the 400 RR. The 350 RR is also 3.3 lighter, thanks to the adoption of features previously offered on the 2014 Factory model.

The exhaust system has also been redesigned to match the updated engines, with new internal passages and a larger-diameter manifold connection hose. Exhausts on  American-spec models also contain a spark arrestor.

Beta’s two-stroke off-road lineup will again consist of the 250 RR and 300 RR.

The 300 receives a new cylinder, combustion chamber and ignition system inherited from the 2014 RR Race Edition. Beta claims the updates offer improved throttle response and linear power delivery without sacrificing peak power or torque.

The 250 RR receives a new exhaust valve adjustment system and a new silencer with a smaller diameter internal pipe than the 300 RR’s exhaust. Beta claims the new silencer offers more precise throttle response and increases peak revs.

The Beta dual sport lineup receives the same engine updates as the RR off-road models. For 2015, Beta will offer three versions, the 390 RS, 430 RS and the 500 RS. The 390 and 430 use the same engines as their RR counterparts while the new 500 RS uses a 480 RR’s shorter-stroke 478cc engine, replacing the 498cc 2014 520 RS as the largest model in the line.

The chassis are otherwise similar to the RR models, with Beta adding mirrors and lights to make the RS models street-legal. The RS models also come standard with a Trail Tech Voyager GPS which also serves as the display for speed, tachometer, engine coolant temperature and ambient temperature.

[Source: Beta]

By Dennis Chung