I do love being Australian a simple wave to a pedestrian on the street or the same to a car driving past always with the thought of g'day And then simply seeing a creek with water and going wow
Great video. I love the sound of the big bore fours. I have a similar combo, a 690 for ADV travel and a Husky FE501 for forest trails and single tracks etc (day trips). I tried the 501 with ADV tyres and taller gearing for light ADV trips but it’s too much of a compromise so I went back to Knobbies and stock gearing in order to get the most out of the bike. Great to try different set ups. Cheers
Hi Gloss Black Yeah agreed taller gearing is a pain as an enduro bike. I prefer to be a bit slower on the open rd as u catch less wind and be geared right for the single trail. Regards Steve
Thanks for sharing. I just priced one up as a build your own Beta program for a 390 RR-S and waiting to get the quote back. I am looking for low weight and maximum capability for an enduro bike and I think this fits for street legal in the US. I ride an 1100 Africa twin and it’s just too heavy for the mud and technical stuff that I am faced with.
Hi Robert sorry for the delayed response. The key is the 690 is just a big heavy dirt bike. The ride and ergonomics are much the same as the 390 but just much heavier. You can influence the 690 with your body weight and move around on the bike looking for traction and moving forward or back on the seat depending on the surface. So sand you can move back and steer with the rear and on steep, snotty hills you can stand up over the handlebars. So the 690 is just a big heavy dirtbike. If you watch a rider on a BMW 1250 GS the bike decides where you are going as it moves over the surface your body weight does not have enough impact to change the direction or impact the traction a great deal. If you get much bigger than a 690 you have to be more selective where you go but of course the BMW make great tourers just don't take them too far off road. The 390 is a next generation 4T dirt bike in that the engine inertia is very minimal. It is very similar to a 2T in there engine inertia area. So it is basically a mountain bike with an engine. The KTM and Husky's 4T's are the same from about 2018 on. The key here is you do not want to be riding big distances on a 390 they are just not comfortable enough and not designed for riding long distances. If you want one bike to do it all a KTM, Husky 500 with some comforts are had to go past. If your not an aggressive rider maybe a DRZ 400. Otherwise it's two bikes :)
@Rev Armstrong That's coincidentally what I am in the market for now. Just waiting for prices to drop. At 100kg I felt like the 390 was doing it a bit harder than it should. Bring on a 480
@@dirtbikeadvInteresting video and great to hear your thoughts about the 690 and the 500. I’ve got a 690R for an adventure bike but I never really feel comfortable on it. I’m leaning towards the Beta 390 or 500 or the KTM500 as a replacement. For single track I ride a 300XCW so the adventure bike is just that. Thanks for some good information and enjoyable video.
Nice ride vid mate. Leaning towards this bike as an upgrade now. How do you find the acceleration on the 390. I’m wondering if it is more immediate like the 450s, or a more gradual feed in like 250(4t). Cheers
Hi Paul thanks for watching and commenting. Yeah they are a great bike. The throttle response is pretty immediate which l would call pretty touchy. It is by design not necessarily engine characteristics. It just the throttle set up so a different cam in the throttle housing or a throttle tamer would fix it. Regards Steve
@@dirtbikeadv thanks Steve. Sounds like it may be what I’m looking for, which is a more spicy 450 like power delivery and throttle response, without the 450 weight
is this 390 a long stroking engine,can you ride it on long road trips?Looking to buy Beta but don't know which one is better 390,430 or 500?I've been riding a lots of hard enduro but looking now something more like ADV.Thank for sharing the video!
Hi Zoran thanks for watching. Yeah the 390 is the longest stroking engine in the Beta range. The 350 and 430 liked to be reved a bit more. They are primarily an enduro bike and are great for ultralight adv work but not for long distance travel and touring. If you plan on doing bigger days buy the 500 but if u are just riding locally the 390 would be better as it is easier to manage in single trail. Your weight also plays into the bike size a bit as well Regards Steve
Nice footage on the vid. Hard to make out what your saying with the music so loud in a lot of it. No real info/detail on the bike. Was hoping to hear more about the bike i.e. motor characteristics...loft front wheel at will ? Vibey? Punchy ? Smooth ? Transmission ? Shift quality ? Suspension ? Ride quality, plush/harsh...off road/on road ? Your weight and spec ? (the 2 are tied together). Trying to decide between the 390 rrs and 430 rrs. It will be more like 60/40 on/off road for me with "super-moto" wheels for the on road but certainly with dirt wheels as well. I read in your comment below about "on off" throttle and needing a tamer ? Most reviews have this as a "mellow'er " acceleration and easy to modulate, you seem to differ. Can you clarify ? Sounds like you had a Beta 500 ? What year ? Comparisons ? Maybe you covered this in some of your other vid's. Will have to check..
Hi Steve this was never meant to be a full review just a ride to see if I reckon this bike could be used for some lite adv work. I will do a full review in the coming weeks. Yeah I owned a 2015 480 for about 2 and half years. So the throttle response is a fair bit quicker than any other bike I have owned. It is not twitchy but it is right there so if you fall on the throttle you know it. Only becomes an issue in tight technical terrain. The engine specs (Bore and stroke) are similar to a DRZ 400 so it is a long stroking slower revving motor. This suits my style as you can be a bit lazier where as the 350 and 430 will need to be revved a bit more and require you to be a bit more active on the bike to keep it in the power zone. The suspension is fairly soft and you would find it limits fairly quickly if you are an aggressive rider. I am about the 100 kg's plus gear so I am really pushing the limits of the spring rates but as long as I don't push the bike too hard it is fine. This is the same for all manufacturers. If you are a better more aggressive rider always buy the upgraded factory or race model. The transmissions in Beta's is one of the best in the market and far better that the KTM's and Husky's. My 2018 690 has a lot of false neutrals. Overall I find the bike to have good manners in all situations and yes you can loft the front wheel pretty easy in most gears. I do not have my wheels balanced as yet so that considered I think it would be a great super motard option. Thanks for watching Regards Steve
@@dirtbikeadv Thanks for the response. I look forward to hearing more detail. Regarding engine vibes.. pretty smooth the 390 ? Or because it's a longer stroke more vibey than the 430 rrs ? I have a CRF 450L and it's a paint mixer unless you are in the sweet spot rev wise.
Hi Thanks for watching Yeah didn't hit reserve and used 7.47 litres. Pretty happy with that. Stay tuned I'll order a rack and possibly a slightly bigger tank and I'll do a bike set up vid with my ultralight luggage set up Regards Steve
Yeah bloody good question my friend. I test rode the 390 and 480 late 2020 and the 480 was my pick. But loved the idea of the 390 being a bit more agile. Mmmmm with a bit of hindsight I would probably go the 480 next time just for the ultralight adv work. That bit more power on the open roads. Very happy with the bike but..... Will be doing a SPR review before Xmas on the 390 so will touch on this then. Thanks for watching Regards Steve
Hi Shorty, it depends on the sprocket combination U have. Mine had standard gearing and would have topped out at probably 120kms but that's wringing its neck. Wouldn't think you could have too much taller gearing it would stall in first too much. Remember these are quite a light bike and if U want to go faster than 100kms they are not super stable and can be affected by wind and trucks on the open road. Thanks for watching Regards Steve
@@normalisntcomingback.Jesusis Yeah very similar bore and stroke to the Drz400 but a bit more higher compression so a bit more snappy engine. Considerably lighter bike so not as planted as the Dr on the open road but as a result more agile in the tight stuff. Unfortunately can't have it all....
@dirtbikeadv I won't be getting rid of my drz400s just looking for something newer fuel injection and 6 gears.. just worried it would be harder on the motor running on highway..I ride mostly gravel roads washed out roads along creeks and rivers and highway would you recommend this bike for that?? I don't carry much gear..
I do love being Australian a simple wave to a pedestrian on the street or the same to a car driving past always with the thought of g'day
And then simply seeing a creek with water and going wow
Thanks for posting. I have a 390, great bike.
Yeah one the best most fun bikes I have had 👍
Beautiful scenery!
Great video. I love the sound of the big bore fours. I have a similar combo, a 690 for ADV travel and a Husky FE501 for forest trails and single tracks etc (day trips). I tried the 501 with ADV tyres and taller gearing for light ADV trips but it’s too much of a compromise so I went back to Knobbies and stock gearing in order to get the most out of the bike. Great to try different set ups. Cheers
Hi Gloss Black
Yeah agreed taller gearing is a pain as an enduro bike. I prefer to be a bit slower on the open rd as u catch less wind and be geared right for the single trail.
Regards Steve
Add in a street bike and you are set!
Thanks for sharing. I just priced one up as a build your own Beta program for a 390 RR-S and waiting to get the quote back. I am looking for low weight and maximum capability for an enduro bike and I think this fits for street legal in the US. I ride an 1100 Africa twin and it’s just too heavy for the mud and technical stuff that I am faced with.
did you buy it? I ask myself if it's not too rough for the engine if you ride it as an adventure bike?
@@michaelmarcic9636 , I ended up buying a Beta 500 RRS. Love it as an adventure bike!
Like to hear more comparisons between the 390 and 690 for ADV riding, both on and off road
Hi Robert sorry for the delayed response. The key is the 690 is just a big heavy dirt bike. The ride and ergonomics are much the same as the 390 but just much heavier. You can influence the 690 with your body weight and move around on the bike looking for traction and moving forward or back on the seat depending on the surface. So sand you can move back and steer with the rear and on steep, snotty hills you can stand up over the handlebars. So the 690 is just a big heavy dirtbike.
If you watch a rider on a BMW 1250 GS the bike decides where you are going as it moves over the surface your body weight does not have enough impact to change the direction or impact the traction a great deal. If you get much bigger than a 690 you have to be more selective where you go but of course the BMW make great tourers just don't take them too far off road.
The 390 is a next generation 4T dirt bike in that the engine inertia is very minimal. It is very similar to a 2T in there engine inertia area. So it is basically a mountain bike with an engine. The KTM and Husky's 4T's are the same from about 2018 on. The key here is you do not want to be riding big distances on a 390 they are just not comfortable enough and not designed for riding long distances.
If you want one bike to do it all a KTM, Husky 500 with some comforts are had to go past. If your not an aggressive rider maybe a DRZ 400. Otherwise it's two bikes :)
@Rev Armstrong That's coincidentally what I am in the market for now. Just waiting for prices to drop. At 100kg I felt like the 390 was doing it a bit harder than it should. Bring on a 480
@Rev Armstrong Yeah cool are u liking the T7? Everyone I know who has one loves them...
@@dirtbikeadvInteresting video and great to hear your thoughts about the 690 and the 500.
I’ve got a 690R for an adventure bike but I never really feel comfortable on it.
I’m leaning towards the Beta 390 or 500 or the KTM500 as a replacement. For single track I ride a 300XCW so the adventure bike is just that.
Thanks for some good information and enjoyable video.
Nice ride vid mate. Leaning towards this bike as an upgrade now. How do you find the acceleration on the 390. I’m wondering if it is more immediate like the 450s, or a more gradual feed in like 250(4t). Cheers
Hi Paul thanks for watching and commenting. Yeah they are a great bike. The throttle response is pretty immediate which l would call pretty touchy. It is by design not necessarily engine characteristics. It just the throttle set up so a different cam in the throttle housing or a throttle tamer would fix it.
Regards Steve
@@dirtbikeadv thanks Steve. Sounds like it may be what I’m looking for, which is a more spicy 450 like power delivery and throttle response, without the 450 weight
is this 390 a long stroking engine,can you ride it on long road trips?Looking to buy Beta but don't know which one is better 390,430 or 500?I've been riding a lots of hard enduro but looking now something more like ADV.Thank for sharing the video!
Hi Zoran thanks for watching. Yeah the 390 is the longest stroking engine in the Beta range. The 350 and 430 liked to be reved a bit more. They are primarily an enduro bike and are great for ultralight adv work but not for long distance travel and touring. If you plan on doing bigger days buy the 500 but if u are just riding locally the 390 would be better as it is easier to manage in single trail. Your weight also plays into the bike size a bit as well
Regards Steve
Give me a yell, I’ll come with you on those kind of runs.
Nice footage on the vid. Hard to make out what your saying with the music so loud in a lot of it. No real info/detail on the bike. Was hoping to hear more about the bike i.e. motor characteristics...loft front wheel at will ? Vibey? Punchy ? Smooth ? Transmission ? Shift quality ? Suspension ? Ride quality, plush/harsh...off road/on road ? Your weight and spec ? (the 2 are tied together). Trying to decide between the 390 rrs and 430 rrs. It will be more like 60/40 on/off road for me with "super-moto" wheels for the on road but certainly with dirt wheels as well. I read in your comment below about "on off" throttle and needing a tamer ? Most reviews have this as a "mellow'er " acceleration and easy to modulate, you seem to differ. Can you clarify ? Sounds like you had a Beta 500 ? What year ? Comparisons ? Maybe you covered this in some of your other vid's. Will have to check..
Hi Steve this was never meant to be a full review just a ride to see if I reckon this bike could be used for some lite adv work. I will do a full review in the coming weeks.
Yeah I owned a 2015 480 for about 2 and half years. So the throttle response is a fair bit quicker than any other bike I have owned. It is not twitchy but it is right there so if you fall on the throttle you know it. Only becomes an issue in tight technical terrain.
The engine specs (Bore and stroke) are similar to a DRZ 400 so it is a long stroking slower revving motor. This suits my style as you can be a bit lazier where as the 350 and 430 will need to be revved a bit more and require you to be a bit more active on the bike to keep it in the power zone.
The suspension is fairly soft and you would find it limits fairly quickly if you are an aggressive rider. I am about the 100 kg's plus gear so I am really pushing the limits of the spring rates but as long as I don't push the bike too hard it is fine. This is the same for all manufacturers. If you are a better more aggressive rider always buy the upgraded factory or race model.
The transmissions in Beta's is one of the best in the market and far better that the KTM's and Husky's. My 2018 690 has a lot of false neutrals.
Overall I find the bike to have good manners in all situations and yes you can loft the front wheel pretty easy in most gears. I do not have my wheels balanced as yet so that considered I think it would be a great super motard option.
Thanks for watching
Regards Steve
@@dirtbikeadv Thanks for the response. I look forward to hearing more detail. Regarding engine vibes.. pretty smooth the 390 ? Or because it's a longer stroke more vibey than the 430 rrs ? I have a CRF 450L and it's a paint mixer unless you are in the sweet spot rev wise.
Music. Why ????
Hi again, how many litres did you use for that 140 km trip please(hit reserve??) Cheers mate.
;-)
Hi Thanks for watching Yeah didn't hit reserve and used 7.47 litres. Pretty happy with that.
Stay tuned I'll order a rack and possibly a slightly bigger tank and I'll do a bike set up vid with my ultralight luggage set up
Regards Steve
Why didnt you go for the 480?
Yeah bloody good question my friend. I test rode the 390 and 480 late 2020 and the 480 was my pick. But loved the idea of the 390 being a bit more agile. Mmmmm with a bit of hindsight I would probably go the 480 next time just for the ultralight adv work. That bit more power on the open roads. Very happy with the bike but.....
Will be doing a SPR review before Xmas on the 390 so will touch on this then.
Thanks for watching
Regards Steve
Didn't really tell us anything lol
We don’t need to see u driving through the woods but conclusion opinion how the bike is ..
Whats top speed on paved roads
Hi Shorty, it depends on the sprocket combination U have. Mine had standard gearing and would have topped out at probably 120kms but that's wringing its neck. Wouldn't think you could have too much taller gearing it would stall in first too much. Remember these are quite a light bike and if U want to go faster than 100kms they are not super stable and can be affected by wind and trucks on the open road.
Thanks for watching
Regards Steve
@dirtbikeadv I have a 2015 drz400s how would this bike compare on highway going 60-70 mph??
@@normalisntcomingback.Jesusis Yeah very similar bore and stroke to the Drz400 but a bit more higher compression so a bit more snappy engine. Considerably lighter bike so not as planted as the Dr on the open road but as a result more agile in the tight stuff. Unfortunately can't have it all....
@dirtbikeadv I won't be getting rid of my drz400s just looking for something newer fuel injection and 6 gears.. just worried it would be harder on the motor running on highway..I ride mostly gravel roads washed out roads along creeks and rivers and highway would you recommend this bike for that?? I don't carry much gear..