Last month, I made a few tweaks to my Beta 300 Racing to see if I could make it even better suited for the gnarly hard enduro terrain that’s just five minutes from my house. The trails are brutal — big rock climbs, sharp edges, and nasty downhills. If there’s ever a place to test a bike’s limits, it’s out there.
First off, I bolted on a 13-tooth front sprocket. My goal was to make the bike more torquey, allowing me to carry 2nd gear where I’d usually be forced to ride in 1st. It’s definitely better than stock — 2nd gear now pulls strong through most sections I’m hitting, but I’m still looking for just a bit more low-end grunt for some of the tighter, technical climbs. So next on the list is experimenting with the rear sprocket, likely going up a tooth or two to lower the gearing even more. I’m expecting that extra change to really let me crawl through the nastiest sections without constantly slipping the clutch.
Another change I made was swapping out the full metal bash plate for a P3 Carbon Pipe guard from the Beta Parts website. Over the years, I’ve found that metal bash plates catch way too much mud and bash the bike around, especially when I’m hammering through rutted sections or over sharp rocks. The metal ones also tend to make this weird vibrating sound that doesn’t sit right with me, especially when they get knocked around.
Carbon guards, on the other hand, have never given me trouble. They’re lighter, don’t catch as much gunk, and don’t make that awkward noise. So far, the pipe guard is doing its job perfectly, keeping the expansion chamber safe without any of the downsides I’ve found with metal plates.
The riding out here is no joke. It’s all hard enduro, with technical rock climbs that demand precision and heaps of torque. The Beta 300 Racing shines in these conditions. The amount of low-end torque this bike has is perfect for crawling up steep, rocky hills where you need to maintain traction without spinning out. The 300’s ability to lug through these sections is one of the reasons I prefer it to some of the other two-strokes I’ve ridden in the past.
On the downhills, the suspension has been a dream. These aren’t your typical smooth descents — there are sharp drop-offs, loose rocks, and off-camber edges that can throw you off balance if your suspension isn’t dialled. The KYB setup soaks up the hits, keeping the bike planted and predictable even when things get hairy. I’ve been able to take some pretty aggressive lines that would have been sketchy on a bike with less forgiving suspension.
It’s definitely a setup that rewards pushing the limits, which is exactly what you want when you’re doing hard enduro. I am going to experiment with pushing the fork legs through the triple clamps for a little more front-end control, so stay tuned.
Overall, the Beta 300 Racing continues to perform flawlessly. Aside from the gearing tweak and the pipe guard addition, I haven’t felt the need to change anything else. The bike handles the abuse I throw at it without any complaints, and the power delivery is still as smooth and strong as ever. The dual spark plug system keeps the engine running crisp, and I’ve never had a moment where I felt the bike wasn’t up to the task.
Mitch Lees
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MY24 Beta 300 Racing
RRP
$18,395 Ride Away
WARRANTY
Three months, parts only
DISTRIBUTOR
Beta Motor Australia
INTERNET
betamotor.com.au
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SO FAR
TOTAL HOURS 38
MODS THIS MONTH: 13-tooth front sprocket, P3 Carbon Pipe Guard
MODS NEXT MONTH: Mitas Terra Force-EX MH Double Greens
