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Hi everyone,
As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.
When he passed, I worked with his kids to gather the necessary credentials to keep this site running. Since then (and for however long they worked with Coffee), Woodschick and Dirtdame have been maintaining the site and covering the costs. Without their hard work and financial support, CafeHusky would have been lost.
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working to migrate the site to a free cloud compute instance so that Woodschick and Dirtdame no longer have to fund it. At the same time, I’ve updated the site to a current version of XenForo (the discussion software it runs on). The previous version was outdated and no longer supported.
Unfortunately, the new software version doesn’t support importing the old site’s styles, so for now, you’ll see the XenForo default style. This may change over time.
Coffee didn’t document the work he did on the site, so I’ve been digging through the old setup to understand how everything was running. There may still be things I’ve missed. One known issue is that email functionality is not yet working on the new site, but I hope to resolve this over time.
Thanks for your patience and support!
Beta, Beta, and more Beta!
- Thread starter water racer
- Start date
water racer
Husqvarna
Pro Class
I recently swapped out with a guy on a KTM 200, the KTM set much higher in the rear. Another thing I have noticed is standing position is very comfortable compared to KTM where I feel like I am leaning over the bars, but then again I am 6'-3"......
As far as turning, just riding out in the open I almost feel the Husqvarna has a better turning feel, but recently rode a very tight section back to back with my Huskies and I felt better on the Beta. I think it is due to the light feel and balance of the Beta.
As far as turning, just riding out in the open I almost feel the Husqvarna has a better turning feel, but recently rode a very tight section back to back with my Huskies and I felt better on the Beta. I think it is due to the light feel and balance of the Beta.
What is difficult here is trying to compare a new Beta 2stroke to a new Husky (XLite). I don't think comparing it to an older WR250 platform would be fair. While the Husky is very nice, its still a 4stroke with the 4stroke planted front end. I rode my brother's TXC310 and liked it, it felt WAY lighter than my '12 GasGas 250, almost like a role reversal, but it still had that planted front end feel that you just don't get with a 2stroke. There is also a lot more power with the Beta and its just about stall proof, but there is no heavy stand up feel because of that power. It feels a lot lighter riding it on and off the throttle in tight terrain than you would think. Its also balanced quite well and why I did not screw around with valving mid season. I spent some time on an MX track and while I'm no MXer it was fun and inspired confidence.
The most surprising thing of all though is the lack of vibration for a 300, even at high revs where the bike is willing to go. There is a sense of precision in the balance and assembly of the engine. If your sensitive to vibes this is a bike to seriously consider.
The most surprising thing of all though is the lack of vibration for a 300, even at high revs where the bike is willing to go. There is a sense of precision in the balance and assembly of the engine. If your sensitive to vibes this is a bike to seriously consider.
typeone
Husqvarna
Pro Class
how do the Beta 250/300s feel weight wise in comparison to the WR 125/144/165s?
i finally ditched my TC250 (which i always loved) because i got tired of the top-heavy 4T feel after riding my WR for a few weekends in a row. swapping back to the 4T eventually became annoying.
i finally ditched my TC250 (which i always loved) because i got tired of the top-heavy 4T feel after riding my WR for a few weekends in a row. swapping back to the 4T eventually became annoying.
hammer
Husqvarna
AA Class
I weighed my 09 wr165 and my Beta 300 and the Beta came in at 9lbs more. The Beta feels and rides lighter than the WR. I truly never thought any bike would make me sell my Wr165 but the Beta did. Now if someone would just buy my 2 TE 630s so I can buy a couple of Beta 450rr I would be a happy man.
Very surprising. Regardless of weight most find the small crank in the 125 class bikes (way less reciprocating mass) are what make 125's feel so light. The huskys are heavy for a 125. I hear "balance" and "low center of gravity" a lot when describing Betas. Nice.
hammer
Husqvarna
AA Class
Very surprising is how I felt when I rode it. Some how Beta got the big bike feel out of a big bike. Glenn and I talked about this quite a bit before he bought his.
To me most big bikes always felt like trying to move a yard stick around in moms morning porridge after I got the wr125. When it came time to buy the Beta I wanted the 250 but it wasn't available in the race version in 13, so I bought the 300 and I'm glad I did.
They have made the bike very stable a speed yet turn so fast and precise. You do have to ride it quite aggressively to really feel how good it is. If you are just going to poke along and site see with, it may not be the best choice.
I truly believe that it is the best bang for your buck so far.
To me most big bikes always felt like trying to move a yard stick around in moms morning porridge after I got the wr125. When it came time to buy the Beta I wanted the 250 but it wasn't available in the race version in 13, so I bought the 300 and I'm glad I did.
They have made the bike very stable a speed yet turn so fast and precise. You do have to ride it quite aggressively to really feel how good it is. If you are just going to poke along and site see with, it may not be the best choice.
I truly believe that it is the best bang for your buck so far.
So many great options these days. I hear great things about the new Sherco 250 as well. Fun times.
I'm really curious how they compare. Apparently the 300's (2strokes) have arrived in the US. I think Beta gets the nod from me though. So far reliability as been about perfect from what I've read. Clay follows the national enduros with test bikes. Colorado is officially in the tour again
. So I'm going to have to ride the Sherco's in August. I'd be stupid not to take a test ride
I rode a 2013 Beta 300RR yesterday. Liked it but it was not lighter feeling than my 09 125. No way. Will write a quick report now...
How would you compare the 250RR to your TC250? I have an '06 TC and I really like the way it handles and the power is very manageable in the woods, but I have a Rekluse so that makes it easier. This is the first 4stk MX bike I've really ridden in anger though. I'm seriously considering a new 250RR, but I'm curious how different it'll be. I know I'll have to get used to the 2stk power delivery as it's been years since I really rode a 2stk.
My main considerations for the Beta are the low seat height and the simplicity of a 2stk. Been having lots of issues with the TC, but I think they're mostly attributed to the previous owner. I had the bike lowered 1" and it's quite comfortable for me, but I think it's still taller than a Beta. I'm 5'5" and my inseam is about 29", so I need all the help I can get.
I rode a Sherco 300 2stk this weekend for a few minutes and I couldn't really tell how I felt about it. It had a ton of power compared to my TC and the vibrations were much more than I expected. The only other 300 2stk I've ridden is a KTM with a Rekluse which I thought was easier to ride than the Sherco. Felt more 4stk to me.
robertaccio
Husqvarna
Pro Class
Not to be a grumpy/picky old guy....can we stick to apples and apples, or oranges and oranges,,,,
250-300 2T to 250/300 2T comparos (Beta/Husky/KTM/Sherco/TM/YAM etc), mid size 4T to midsized 4T comparos(Husky310/KTM-HUS 350/Beta350-400). " Big" bore 4T , Beta450/498-Ktm450/500-Husky450/501 for many examples.
Comparing a 125/144/165 CR/WRHusky to a 300 beta is not a class comparo. If they bring the Wht Husky 125 in that would be a good comparo to the Red Husky 125/144, the 165 kinda breaches the boundary into the 200cc class(KTM200XC).
250-300 2T to 250/300 2T comparos (Beta/Husky/KTM/Sherco/TM/YAM etc), mid size 4T to midsized 4T comparos(Husky310/KTM-HUS 350/Beta350-400). " Big" bore 4T , Beta450/498-Ktm450/500-Husky450/501 for many examples.
Comparing a 125/144/165 CR/WRHusky to a 300 beta is not a class comparo. If they bring the Wht Husky 125 in that would be a good comparo to the Red Husky 125/144, the 165 kinda breaches the boundary into the 200cc class(KTM200XC).
points well taken but also reference points in class or not that we all have like the husky 125 and X-lights still have merits in comparisons. I think most people understand sizes and strokes make a difference but there is still a feel thing to them all. When someone posts it feels lighter than a 125 than thats a reference point to me. Most of us kinda agree the 08 and up frame has a feel to it regardless if it is a 450, 310 or 125 still has a feel to it. IMHO you just have to say oh, i ridden that bike and if feels like this or not like this. All reference points regardless. People say "turns like a KTM" or " feels like a PDS bike" all the time and some of us understand that. Heck setup alone can make bikes feel totally different. I ride with two guys with KTM350's all the time and riding them back to back you would think they are different manufactures, motor, handling, suspense everything. This why when Tinken and Norm say the new huskys or Bergs don't feel like a KTM as a blanket statement I understand what they are getting at. They are all reference points to me. Just my opinion.
water racer
Husqvarna
Pro Class
I want compare the power differences, just overall feel. First off, my TC is a 2010, so I believe it is quite a bit different than an '07.
The Beta is not necessarily much lighter than a X-Lite TC, but I would say it is lighter than the older ones. It does feel incredibly light and manageable as you ride it. TC feels more like a planted freight train, Beta 250 is light and flickable, power can be tuned to your liking. Arms get more of a workout on the TC.
Low seat height is nice in rough terrain even for me at 6'-3'.
The Beta is not necessarily much lighter than a X-Lite TC, but I would say it is lighter than the older ones. It does feel incredibly light and manageable as you ride it. TC feels more like a planted freight train, Beta 250 is light and flickable, power can be tuned to your liking. Arms get more of a workout on the TC.
Low seat height is nice in rough terrain even for me at 6'-3'.
water racer
Husqvarna
Pro Class
T. Read,
Better yet, just make the drive over to Knoxville and you can try my 250RR to see for yourself!
Better yet, just make the drive over to Knoxville and you can try my 250RR to see for yourself!
I owned a 2010 TC250 and it felt noticeably lighter and more flickable than the Beta 300rr I rode. My TC was totally stock and the Beta had a lot of extras and that might be the difference for me. Both turn and ride great IMHO. Also having spent the last 15 plus years on huskys I'm sure I have developed a feel and trust for them and adds to my like of them. Both bikes handle better than I am pilot enough to fully exploit.