Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126918
The new Beta TR33 now comes stock with a front disc brake, which greatly improves stopping power. Michelin X-1 tires are used. The Beta TR33 By Len Weed Beta's come a long way since marketing its first 239cc trials model, a dual-shocker, in 1983. The TR32 single-shocker followed in 1984. The model was updated in 1985 and this year's version now bears TR33 designation. Overseas, Beta's top pilot is Spanish teen Jordi Tarres, who 22 ranked number II in the world last year. An arena trials whiz, Tarres is tabbed a comer. On this side of the Atlantic, Scott Head captured the AMA/NATC National Championship last year, his second straight, riding a TR32. Head is undefeated since switching to Beta for the 1985 campaign. His record string of nine National wins, no doubt, figured heavily in his selection as the AMA's Amateur Athlete of the Year. While Head swapped brands last year, he remained with the same sponsor, Cosmopolitan Motors. Cosmopolitan, however, was not the original Beta importer. Betaserve, an o[[shootofTMI (which imports Fantic), brought in the initial units duringthespringof 1984. Evidently, Beta reconsidered the concept of one importer handling two di[[erent Italian brands and a new deal was made with Cosmopolitan, the long-time Montesa importer. Beta's trials involvement may be a recent development, but the factory is loaded with two-wheeling credentials. Originally known as Bianchi, the company began building bicycles in 1904. The name was changed to Beta in the 1940s when mopeds started roll-ing 0[[ the production line. Beta was soon producing trend-setting mopeds tha t o[[ered motorcycle elemen ts such as front and rear suspension, drum brakes, and two-stroke motors. Beta's first genuine motorcycles appeared in 1948. Beta formerly used Morini motors, but now manufactures rheir own powerplants, a fact they proclaim on the seat panel: Powered with original ·Beta engine. Today, the factory is one of 'taly's largest. Trials development began in the early 1980s, led by Pedro Olle, a respected rider/technician formerly associated with Ossa. Beta has pursued an aggressive development program since then. This year's model, like the one that preceeded it, includes substantial upgrading. Follo~ing Fantic's lead, Beta switched to a front disc brake. Like Fantic, they use Grimeca caliper and disc. The master cylinder is manufactured by Brembo. The Dell'Orto carburetor was increased in size to 26mm; the original TR32 had a 24mm carbo Last year's model carried a 25mm u'nit. Boyesen dual-stage reed induction replaced the single-reed system found in the 1985 model. Porting was modified to smoothen the power. The redesigned tank/seat assembly was made slimmer. The one-gallon fuel load is now carried lower on the chassis. The swingarm,lengthened slightly in 1985, was fortified for the TR33. The Corte Cosso shock was not neglected. Rebound damping was 'reduced. Pre-load is externally adj ustable, but damping is not. The air box was modified to increase breathing. Access to the box is on the left side of the motorcy.c1e. Two bolts and an elastic band secure the lift-orr tank/seat assembly. • Beta changed the graphics, dropping last year's red-finish/blue-seat/ white-detailing for red-finish/redseatlgold-orange-trim. The fork legs are no longer painted red. And the aluminum swingarm picked up decals reading: Mono-B555. Beta also added a head brace and a folding shift lever while reducing weight to a daimed 187 pounds. The TR33 comes with super-sticky Michelin X-I(W) tires. This switch was made during the 1985 model year. Beta also changed to a rod-operated rear brake last year. Other 1985 changes included repositioning and strengthening the footpegs and repositioning the handlebar mounts. This eliminates the cramped riding position noted by some taller riders trying the original TR32. Scott Hea~'s personal bike is not totally stock, being fitted with a prototype Marzocchi shock which o[[ers externally-adj ustable damping. The unfamiliar bracket 0[[ the rear frame tube is used by Head for rear wheel hop maneuvers in tight sections. The bracket catches his boot as he unloads the rear wh~el and uses leg power to kick it sideways to change The Beta trialer has neW porting specs for smoother power, modified suspension, larger carburetor and weighs 187 (dry) pounds. his direction without forward motion. Head had about three months on his bike when he was asked about the new model. "This is the best steering bike I've ever ridden, he said. "It's quicker and more precise. The bike feels shorter. I really notice the ground clearance. I can get over things clean that other bikes scrape. Overall, the bike is more maneuverable, quicker steering and, despite the tall ground clearance, it still feels more stable at slow speeds because they lowered the gas. '" used the new production porting last year in my TR32. , really noticed the difference when I switched. There's better poweroffthe bottom, it comes on smoother, and there's more left to rev off the top. For whatever combination of reasons, since the motor is the same, I'm getting better traction with the new bike. "I've tried the new Corte Cosso shock. They made some changes for the better. Last year's felt a bit stiff to me and the rebound wasn't exactly what' hke. "I love the disc. It didn't take me any time to adjust. I can do much better nose wheelies from slower speeds so it has to have more stopping power. It doesn't feel spongy at all. It is a completely different feel in the hand lever, a harder pull at first but more consistent and over a much shorter range. I really like the quicker response over the shorter range. I definitely plan to have a lot of competitive fun with this new bike." Beta's third single-shock effort reflects continued progress by its developers, The 1984 unit, while competitive, was generally considered a notch below the single-shocker that preceeded it on the American market the Yamaha TY350. Two years later, however, any gap that existed has been closed. The TR33 is a delight to ride. It's light, narrow, and turns on whatever is less diameter than a dime. It's zippy on trails. The motor is so impressive - especially since it is just 239ccs. The engine hasn't been robbed of low end drive. The power comes on smoothly and, surprisingly, the motor keeps revving out. Clutch pull is satisfactory for today's left hand "throttle" technique. There is no sudden engagement jolt. It's obvious Beta's developers understand the stop-and-go demands of modern trials sections. The TR33 has a "small bike" flickit-around feel despite a seat height that's a bit taller than today's nom;!. This seems a satisfactory tradeoff for the tallest ground clearance available today. Operating the disc requires harder initial pressure on the hand lever. The range from just-on to fully-on is shorter than that found with standard drum brakes. In addition to greater stopping power, the disc also offers greater resistance to fade in wet or muddy terrain. Once the rider adjusts to the different feel in the lever and the shorter pull range, he should have no trouble utilizing the brake to its maximum. Beta's continuing improvement is impressive, indicating a commitment to building excellent trials equipment. Cosmopolitan sponsors several national riders in addition to Head. The team includes former national champion Curt Comer (Tennessee), Kip Webb (California), Ryan Young (Pennsylvania), Morgan Kavanaugh (Colorado), and Kerrie Brokaw (Colorado). Cosmpolitan also imports a trailmodified version of the TR33 known as the Trekking which offers a roomier, more comfortable seat, movedback rider pegs, passenger pegs, and an auxiliary gas tank. • Beta TR33 Engine type .... Air-cooled. twostroke single Bore x stroke 72.Bx67.6mm Displacement _ 239cc Compression ratio. __ . _. _.1.0.9:1 Carburetion .... 26mm Dell'Drto Horl8power •... , ... _•. , •. N.A. Starting system •.... Primary kick Ignition. . . .. Motoplat electronic Gear ratios Primary 3.281:1 Final 10/42; 4.2:1 6th 0.64:1 5th _•..........••.....• 0.92:1 4th 1.25:1 3rd 1.71:1 2nd 2.36:1 1st 3.09:1 Frame Chrome-moly steel. single downtube Rake N.A. Trail : N .A. Front suspension type Marzocchi telescopic forks Fork tube diameter _ 36mm Front wheel travel _.••.... 7.1 in. Rear suspension type . . .. Singleshock swingarm Reer wheel travel •..•• , •• 7.1 in. Front brakes .••••.••••••••• Disc Rear brakes •... _. _..•.... Drum Front wheel _. _.. 2.76x21 Rearwheel 4.oox18 Front tire .......•. Michelin X-1 Rear tire ....••.... Michelin X-1 Claimed dry weight. _... 187 Ibs. Wheelbase ..•.......... 51.6 in. Fuel capacity ....•...... 1.0 gel. Ground clearance 13.6 in. Seat height. _ 31.0 in. Colors Red Retail price $2695