Beta is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer, specialising in off-road motorcycles but has its origins in 1904 as a bicycle manufacturing company named “Società Giuseppe Bianchi”. Originally the company was based in the town of Via Bellariva and later moved to Florence. The company started making motorcycles in 1948. The name Beta comes from the initials of Bianchi, Enzo and Tosi, Arrigo who ran the company at that time. In recent years they’ve made more contemporary machines, one of which is the 2016 – 2019 Beta 430RR.
Focusing on two stroke street bikes through the 1950s and 1960s, the company began development and production of offroad motorcycles in the 1970s. In 2005, they launched a range of enduro motorcycles using KTM engines. In 2010 they launched the new RR series, with a new engine made in house. Production in 2018 was expected to be in excess of 20,000 motorcycles, ranging in size from 50cc to 480cc.
The 2016 – 2019 Beta 430RR is a nice bike to ride. It rides more like the 350 but still has the get up and go of a 450. The engine is reliable but the electrics can be troublesome. Regular jobs I see are things like starter solenoids or starter buttons. The starter buttons can stick and the starter motor will continuously run or just totally not work at all. The good news is these parts however can be retrofitted with switches from other brands and wired in to work perfectly.
Beta parts are no longer hard to come buy. Parts for Beta’s are now easier to get than ever before with an Australian importer that is doing every bit he can to put Beta dealers in every part of the country. As well as more dealers the Australian Importer now has an online parts website available where you can purchase genuine parts as well as performance parts for your Beta.
When looking at one on the second hand market take a good look over the bike and ask about its service history. Ask for proof of any rebuilds or service work. Take a look in the airbox and see how dirty it is. A filthy air box, especially on the clean air side is a dead giveaway the bike has not been serviced well or looked after.
Look over the frame and bearings for any damage or excess play. Check the suspension for leaks and ride the bike to make sure it selects all gears and the clutch doesn’t slip. A damaged gear while not being very common can get expensive to fix. Check that the bike pulls all the way through the rev range without missing or cutting out and check that the starter motor works well without any crazy noises as a worn starter motor or starter clutch can be expensive to fix.
New
2016 $12,890
2017 $12,890
2018 $13,250
2019 $13,195
Second Hand
2016 $6,000 – $7,150
2017 $6,350 – $7,550
2018 $6,850 – $8,150
2019 $7,300 – $8,700
Market Equivalents
16 – 19 KTM 450 EXC
$7,000 – $10,550
16 – 19 Husqvarna FE 450
$7,400 – $11,650
16 – 19 Sherco SE-R 450
$5,400 – $10,050
16 – 19 Yamaha WR450F
$7,450 – $10,900
