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/127378
GTEST Beta Zero Black Magic :;) ~ ....... 0") 0") ....... 10- ·By Len Weed I s it the singer or the song? How much of Beta's magic rests in its World Champion rider, Jordi Tarres? Tarres, 24, has won three of the last four titles . During the past two seasons he posted 18 wins in 24 starts, including a record string of 12 straight victories. Tarres closed the 1989 season by winning the final 10 events , then opened the '90 season with two more victories. After losing in Arizona, he went on to win six of the final nine rounds. _ This year, Tarres is looking for a record-tying third straight World title that .would allow him to join Yrjo Vesterinen and Eddy Lejeune as trials hat-trickers. Beta's domination isn 't limited to world competition. Here, two riders, Scott Head and Ryan Young, have claimed four of the past six U.S. National Championships riding Betas. Head topped the nation in 1985 and 1986. Young won in 1988 and again last year. . Young will be gunning for his fourth straight National title this year, but he'll be on an Aprilia. Beta importer Cosmopolitan Motors reacted to losing Young by signing the rider who battled him last year, number two , Mark Manniko. Three Beta team veterans return: Ron Commo Jr., Steve McNeal , and Andy Saum. Ron Commo, Sr. again manages the team. So much for the singers. Let's consider the song - the new Beta Zero, tagged Black Magic by its American importer. The new black bike certainly is magic with Tarres aboard. But the Beta is much more than a top rider's bike. It's quite a machine, regardless of who's on the pegs. This year's model lists a number of changes: Stronger swingarrn, forged rear frame, weight trim of 4.4 lbs., a new Paioli fork with separate damping adjustments (an allen bolt on: the left leg controls rebound damping, a screw in the right leg changes compression), new Mikuni carburetor, new forged aluminum cylinder head stay, lighter flywheel. lower third gear transmission ratio, new splined transmission profile to improve smoothness, modified exhaust system, aluminum forged gearshift lever, carbon fiber protection for the exhaust system, new clutch cover with oil level indicator add ed , new lighter coo lant tank, new radiator hose configuration, and new spoke inclination for easier adjustment. Something that isn't new, but worth mentioning for those who missed it last year: the frame design. The 1990 Zero's fram e integrated the gas tank into the left and right aluminum spars that form the top of the frame. A crossover connects the two tanks. The test bike was provided by Steve Hill, a San Diego Senior class rider and event organizer. Hill favors the 260cc version of the Zero. So does Tarres. A 240cc model is also imported. We asked Hill to compare his new bike to his '90 mount. "I haven't noticed a lot of difference in the back yet, but the front suspension is definitely better, more progressive. The suspension is super on the loop. That's good because I probably ride harder on the loop than I do in the sections. "The clutch is improved. Myoid bike used to slip in 5th and 6th gear sometimes, or it wouldn't disengage sometimes in low gears. I haven't had any problems with this one. I like the new shift lever. There's no flex at all. It's very positive." Hill's new bike had some brake glazing problems. This problem Thechamp'sbike seemed isolated to Hill's unit and appeared to be lessening as the bike broke in. A call to Ryan Young revealed he never had any brake problems with any of his Betas. Hill was impressed with the power. "There's gobs of low end and midrange power. It's very tractable. I know they changed the porting and added lighter flywheels. In a way, this year's motor reminds me of the old Bultacos." Overall, Hill is a pleased Beta owner. " I like the little refinements they come up with in the years between major model changes." Three-time National Champion Scott Head, now a Santa Barbara engineer, participated in the testing. Scott won two of his titles on Betas. He currently rides an '89 model for fun outings. Commenting about the '91 version, - - -- - - Continued on page 12