2012 Beta 450 RR Shootout Photo Gallery

Braking wave-style rotors.

The red frame gets us riled up.

The 350 is based on the 450 platform, and making the jump to the bigger bike really brings to light the genius of the Italian design.

2012 450 Enduro Horsepower

Some testers felt the Beta's brakes aren't as grabby as the KTM's.

A four-valve Single rests at the Beta’s heart and draws its fuel from a 39mm Keihin carburetor.

Front and rear suspension travel is 11.4 inches and the Beta makes good use of it.

The muted exhaust note registers 90 decibels.

Beta gets some new styling cues for ’12 as well, including a new red color and redesigned headlight and front fender support.

2012 450 Enduro Torque

This is a traditional enduro engine with smooth, usable power that propels the Beta to the front of the pack - at least for now.

With an ever-expanding dealer network and the personalized treatment you’ll find from a small business, owning a Beta shouldn’t be intimidating.

This is definitely the bike for tall riders.

We were most comfortable on the Beta in difficult situations.

The Beta gives its rider room to move around and find a comfortable riding position.

The attention to detail, excellent and usable features, unmatched ergonomic comfort and well-rounded drivetrain gave it the edge this time around.

2012 Beta 450 RR Dyno Chart

Beta clawed its way to the top of our shootout with the second-most category wins and strong rider impressions.

We did scrape the RR’s undercarriage several times due to its low 12.6-inch ground clearance.

Our riders were heard comparing it to a trials bike and a flat track bike – so obviously it works in a wide variety of terrain.