Will the introduction of EFI across the full range improve Beta’s four-stroke offerings?
The main innovation on the 2016 RR Enduro range is the introduction of the electronic fuel injection system on all four-stroke models. Fuel injection was originally introduced on the 2015 350 RR model and proved to be much more efficient than a carburettor mostly thanks to its great reliability.
Since then Beta’s engineers have worked directly with Synerject to create an EFI system that works well across all the range. With its 42mm-diameter throttle body the system ensures precise fuel delivery giving riders spontaneous and linear throttle response insuring a smooth and predictable power delivery that is synonymous with Beta.
A variety of engine mods promise to improve power delivery across the range too while updated suspension and some attention to the chassis promises to sweeten the handling.
The baby in the Beta four-stroke bunch – that’s the RR 350 – is a bike that pretty much everyone could go out and take on the world with. Thanks to the fuel injection system the power is on tap at all times and with a rev happy bike like this there is fun to be had. This bike is fast but at no time does the power become too much.
This bike does exactly as it should with no fuss and has an easy to handle chassis set-up. As with all the 2016 Beta four-strokes the suspension goes through its stroke on the forks quite quickly but with a lot more control than the 2015 bike. The rear shock holds up in the middle of the stroke so to help this I closed the fork rebound five clicks on every bike to address the balance across the chassis. This worked well as I find the forks more supportive with this slight increase in damping force.
With the chassis on all the Betas working well it was the motors and their separate characteristics which made the difference on different parts of the test loop that had varying terrain from flat and cambered special test turns into the wooded and hillside sections. The 390 is a motor which likes to be bossed to get the best results and the extra torque over the 350 allows a level of control when the going gets loose. The smooth power delivery from the motor made exiting uphill off cambered turns particularly easy.
The 430 model does everything incredibly well as you would expect but this was the least controllable motor for me and there was a slightly more aggressive nature just between low and mid-range which would cause some extra work. This would become less noticeable in faster flowing terrain where there was good grip. As with all tests we must report as we find and when your siblings are performing almost perfectly it is easy to find slight imperfections.
The 480 machine has a big motor with fantastic manners. This bike is a great package and dare I say it, the big motor would work for almost everyone. The smooth delivery and the way it not only accelerates but decelerates is very, very friendly to the rider. This bike I chose to do my longest ride on in the sweltering 42 degree heat and it looked after my body, hands and everything else during the ride. There is a smoothness to this bike which will make it a favourite in the hands of any riders who are looking for a bike to get them from A-to-B across any terrain on their weekend rides.
RR 350 Specifications
- Displacement: 349.1cc
- Bore and stroke: 88 x 57.4mm
- Transmission: 6 gears
- Fuel system: Synerject EFI
- Front suspension: 48mm Sachs
- Rear suspension: Sachs monoshock
- Suspension travel front/rear: 290/290mm
- Front/rear brakes: Disc brake 260/240 mm
- Wheel base: 1490mm
- Ground clearance: 320mm
- Seat height: 940mm
- Fuel capacity: 8 litres
- Dry Weight: 111.5kg
RR 390 Specifications
- Displacement: 385.6cc
- Bore and stroke: 88 x 63.4mm
- Transmission: 6 gears
- Fuel system: Synerject EFI
- Front suspension: 48mm Sachs
- Rear suspension: Sachs monoshock
- Suspension travel front/rear: 290/290mm
- Front/rear brakes: Disc brake 260/240 mm
- Wheel base: 1490mm
- Ground clearance: 320mm
- Seat height: 940mm
- Fuel capacity: 8 litres
- Dry Weight: 111.5kg
RR 430 Specifications
- Displacement: 430.9cc
- Bore and stroke: 95 x 60.8mm
- Transmission: 6 gears
- Fuel system: Synerject EFI
- Front suspension: 48mm Sachs
- Rear suspension: Sachs monoshock
- Suspension travel front/rear: 290/290mm
- Front/rear brakes: Disc brake 260/240 mm
- Wheel base: 1490mm
- Ground clearance: 320mm
- Seat height: 940mm
- Fuel capacity: 8 litres
- Dry Weight: 112.5kg
RR 480 Specifications
- Displacement: 477.5cc
- Bore and stroke: 100 x 60.8mm
- Transmission: 6 gears
- Fuel system: Synerject EFI
- Front suspension: 48mm Sachs
- Rear suspension: Sachs monoshock
- Suspension travel front/rear: 290/290mm
- Front/rear brakes: Disc brake 260/240 mm
- Wheel base: 1490mm
- Ground clearance: 320mm
- Seat height: 940mm
- Fuel capacity: 8 litres
- Dry Weight: 112.5kg
