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BETA ALP 4.0 - a trailbike https://www.trf.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=18191 |
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Author: | johnnyboxer [ Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:11 am ] |
Post subject: | BETA ALP 4.0 - a trailbike |
Hugh Cleary asked me to pen my thoughts, so here's a few of my views Latterly I've had a load of XR250's and 400's since 1994, I'm basically a Honda man, but I've had the odd foray with a Serow, a KTM125 EXC and 5 years with a BMW 650 XChallenge. But really i'm a trailbike trail rider and wanting another trailbike or enduro - I'd had ideas of WR250 F and R's, TTR250 or even a CRFX or a KTM300/400 if I wanted to go racy or back to another XR - I really had an open mind A few weeks ago..............this popped up, a Beta Alp 350cc Heard lots about them, but never had much to do with them They had a reputation for great trail bikes and awesome for LDT's Beta are more famed for producing their fabulous range of competition Trials bikes - British champion won on one, this year and at most trials they are one of the most popular bikes out every weekend It was mint with only 1100 pure road miles, over the last 10 years Went over to see it and fell for it Attachment: 1911297_550571401742395_7456315604663239842_o.jpg [ 133.13 KiB | Viewed 30355 times ] It's got a Suzuki DR350 motor, with electric and kick with the Suzook carb and airbox, all wrapped in an Italian chassis I last had a DR350 20 years ago and forget how good the motor is The Alp has a 6 speed box and on 15/48 gearing will happily cruise at 65mph and spin up to 75-80 when asked On the road the bike doesn't feel too small and handles well with great suspension/brakes On the trails, it's not great for high speed - but sub 30 the suspension is great and it will literally climb anything. Very sure footed and nimble I'm 6'1 and weigh 17st and it felt fine to ride, not too small Makes me wonder why we fall for taller enduro and trail bikes, for trailriding Nice thing is the 350cc engine has plenty of grunt, in this package Needs a bashplate, but apart from that it's good to go, out of the box I think I'll like this bike Attachment: DSC02684.jpg [ 183.34 KiB | Viewed 30351 times ] Attachment: Trails Alp 2 Nov 2014 007.jpg [ 131.13 KiB | Viewed 30351 times ] |
Author: | johnnyboxer [ Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:18 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: BETA ALP 4.0 - my trailbike |
Time for some fettling Now, one thing about an offroad bike, it needs some protection and the rear master cylinder on the Alp is a little too exposed for my liking Attachment: IMG_3211.jpg [ 116.91 KiB | Viewed 30351 times ] So I had an idea of how to protect it better............I needed a nice little cover to rest the heel of my boots on and protect the various bits of the master cylinder, if I dropped the bike, when trailriding Voila..... Attachment: IMG_3214.jpg [ 125.38 KiB | Viewed 30351 times ] Attachment: IMG_3215.jpg [ 74.25 KiB | Viewed 30351 times ] It's a rear master cylinder cover from an early BMW 1200GS and fits perfectly with no modifications and looks like it should have been fitted from new by BETA Cost.......only £10.67, New from a local BMW main dealer Who says BMW stuff is all crap Part of the fun is modifying your bike to your needs |
Author: | johnnyboxer [ Wed Dec 03, 2014 12:29 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: BETA ALP 4.0 - my trailbike |
More farkling............ The bike desperately needs a decent bashplate and so I set about sourcing one, there were 2 options from Italy, neither of which I was 100% happy with, so another Google search, yielded this - a CrossPro one http://www.crosspro.pt/index.php?lingua=en&proprios=0 Made in Portugal, Cross Pro and sourced via German ebay for a very reasonable £82 shipped to me (the 2 Italian bashplates were over £140, without the cost of shipping) Attachment: IMG_3245.jpg [ 104.48 KiB | Viewed 30350 times ] Attachment: IMG_3246.jpg [ 103.92 KiB | Viewed 30350 times ] All fittings were included and a nice touch was the strip of closed cell foam to attach to the inside, to aid sound deadening and protect the frame rail paint (thumbs) Attachment: IMG_3248.jpg [ 90.99 KiB | Viewed 30350 times ] Fitting was relatively straightforward, but fiddly and the use of a scissor lift was needed to force the bashplate against the engine frame rails. I also used some longer M6 allen bolts to locate the threads and then removed, one by one with the supplied M6 flanged bolts in the fitting kit Pleased with the results and fit is superb and it covers all the vulnerable areas and looks good too |
Author: | johnnyboxer [ Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:05 am ] |
Post subject: | BETA ALP 4.0 - my trailbike |
Any other Beta owners, chip in with your thoughts, as I'm just getting to know it |
Author: | jonpaul1st [ Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:51 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: BETA ALP 4.0 - my trailbike |
Nice bike |
Author: | Hugh Cleary [ Wed Dec 03, 2014 10:17 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: BETA ALP 4.0 - a trailbike |
Johnny, Thanks for that, great looking bike and I think even more now that I might like one as a step up from my Serow, simply for longer run outs in to say Wales or across Yorkshire. The Suzuki engine/transmission have always been a favourite drawing me towards a Suzuki DR400 or similar, the height and weight have been the concerns putting me off. I do so like my little Serow though as it seems to want to go anywhere, even without me sometimes If anybody out there has either one for sale then please let me know (but not the wife ). TTFN Hugh. |
Author: | johnnyboxer [ Wed Dec 03, 2014 3:01 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: BETA ALP 4.0 - a trailbike |
Hugh Cleary wrote: Johnny, Thanks for that, great looking bike and I think even more now that I might like one as a step up from my Serow, simply for longer run outs in to say Wales or across Yorkshire. The Suzuki engine/transmission have always been a favourite drawing me towards a Suzuki DR400 or similar, the height and weight have been the concerns putting me off. I do so like my little Serow though as it seems to want to go anywhere, even without me sometimes If anybody out there has either one for sale then please let me know (but not the wife ). TTFN Hugh. Hugh, The weight on paper is about 130kgs, which sounds a lot However in reality it carries it so low down so it isn't really noticeable to me and doesn't feel any heavier on the trail than the XR's The bike finds traction well, like a Serow (had one of those too) I find it like an 'old school' trailbike of yesteryear, with 8-9" of suspension travel and a low centre of gravity that seems to work - compared to modern enduro bikes with 12" of suspension, which are lofty and that makes them a bit unwieldy in tight, nadgery going or rock steps, when you need a 'dab' Seat height was exactly the same as my BMW XCountry or the HD MT350 I was out with on Sunday, around 33-34" at rest, before sitting on it It will happily sit at 65-70mph on A roads and there's even a bit spare for a well planned overtake, unlike the Serow, which gasps above 60mph on the road |
Author: | inc [ Thu Dec 04, 2014 11:21 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: BETA ALP 4.0 - a trailbike |
Coming back to trail riding after a long time away I looked at lots of bikes and thought the Beta looked perfect, that was until I tried to lift it, I couldn't lift the rear off the ground. That was in a nice dry showroom not knackered out on a trail somewhere. They give the weight as 133kg dry but it seemed a lot heavier than my old CRM250 which are around 127Kg. I think it is the 200 Beta Alp that is popular with the LDT crowd. |
Author: | Kevin Coates [ Thu Dec 04, 2014 12:11 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: BETA ALP 4.0 - a trailbike |
The Alp 4.0 has a dry weight of 133kgs Add 10 kgs of fuel, then oil and coolant and it pretty much weights the same as a crf250l which I know is a heavy unit! |
Author: | johnnyboxer [ Thu Dec 04, 2014 8:49 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: BETA ALP 4.0 - a trailbike |
Kevin Coates wrote: The Alp 4.0 has a dry weight of 133kgs Add 10 kgs of fuel, then oil and coolant and it pretty much weights the same as a crf250l which I know is a heavy unit! It's aircooled I agree on paper, it seems to weigh a lot, but in reality I don't find it that heavy Perhaps I'm used to heavier bikes, I've had the last 7 years on a 650cc trail/enduro bike I managed to lift it up ok, but I know they're not for everyone Not everybody's cup of tea, for sure |
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