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2011 Beta 400 RR First Ride Photo Gallery

This year sees a new 50mm Marzocchi fork mated to new triple clamps. The front end deflects on sharp impacts.

Check out photos of the 2011 Beta 400 RR enduro bike in action as MotoUSA tests it on the trails of Southern Oregon. Read the full details in our 2011 Beta 400 RR First Ride.

A 39mm Keihin carburetor dishes out the fuel mixture and we never noticed a single bog or stutter. It’s one of the most consistent and cleanest carbureting machines we’ve ridden lately, especially considering it’s green sticker legal in California.

A Sachs shock works great at soaking up trail garbage.

Being so easy to manage, carrying a smooth flow is effortless and it challenges the rider to conquer taller logs, rockier climbs and more technical trails.

The RR doesn’t plow through things and rewards riders who like to ride the edges of the trail.

Getting to the air filter is very simple thanks to a unique and clever push-button seat latch. This scored major points with us in a long-term relationship with the 400.

The aluminum bash protection keeps the engine and frame rails away from danger and we put it to the test plenty of times.

We particularly liked how narrow the fuel tank and radiator shrouds are. Part of this is due to the small 2.1-gallon fuel capacity.

The exhaust is whisper quiet and the most noticeable noise comes from the cam chain tensioner which runs off hydraulic pressure.

No levers broke, Domino grips barely tore, no plastic creased, small radiators never tweaked and no bolts came loose. It’s a solid machine top to bottom.

Take one look at the swingarm and it’s clear the Italians value sex appeal. This is one of the sharpest dirt bikes we’ve laid eyes on.

Compression ratio jumps on the 398cc machine up to 12.4:1 from 11.95:1.

The 400 gets a 56.2mm stroke compared to the 63.4mm of the 450.

We used the consistent clutch modulation to help balance on the rear wheel across stumps and logs.

Beta measures the footpegs at just over 16 inches and we found that they ride a bit lower than many other motocross and enduro bikes. It takes more care to avoid snagging the rider’s feet on stumps, ruts and debris.

In the
event that a rider screws up, the built-in handholds work great.

The 400 RR prefers to ride low in the rpm range. It makes more than enough power down low and it is ridden best when short-shifted.

Jumping is not the Beta's favorite thing to do. It will hop down the trail but it's too soft for big launches.

The shorter stroke takes away the burly, wheel-spinning snap of a 450 and tames down the midrange surge that wears out riders’ arms.

$This is a machine that constantly seeks and finds traction and can be ridden effectively through nasty terrain with a fraction of the effort required for other bikes.$
This is a machine that constantly seeks, and finds, traction, and can be ridden effectively through nasty terrain with a fraction of the effort required for other bikes.

The air filter is also accessible via a side panel that pops off without any tools.

The 400 simply goes forward effortlessly, changes direction, continues on its way… whatever is necessary.

It’s light in the turns and has a reactive front end.

Beta built its new powerplant with separate clutch and engine oil compartments to help keep contaminants at a minimum.

Controllable power and excellent power had us trying obstacles we normally go around.

A very short first gear is worthy of trials riding while second and third can plod along at slow speeds.

The double-cradle design uses molybdenum steel which has been powder coated bright red – a favorite aesthetic feature of ours.

A six-speed transmission doles out the usable power.