pounds with my 6-foot-1 frame,
so I'm not looking for mega
power, just good, usable power.
For me, anything with more than
400cc of displacement, things
can get a little, well, let's just say
more than I need, especially on
high-performance 450cc-plus
dual sport bikes, like Beta's 500
RS, and KTM and Husqvarna's
big-bore bikes. So, I was eager
to get some seat time on the
390, a motorcycle I had never
ridden before.
What Is It?
The entire RS range is
closely based on Beta's RR
X-Pro racing "single-track"
off-road bikes, which are
slightly tamer versions of
its high-performance, com
-
petition-bred RR Race cousins.
For the 2026 model year (Beta
did not offer the RS range in
2025 due to homologation and
emissions issues), the RS range
features all the updates that the
latest RR X-Pro received. The RS
range comprises four models:
350, 390, 430 and 500. In Beta's
words, "The 350 and 390 are the
most nimble-feeling and offer
a lightweight feel [hmm, right
up my alley]. The 350 has an
engine that likes to be revved up
a little more, while the 390 offers
additional torque [another plus].
The 430 has the same "rev" feel
as the 350 but with more overall
horsepower and torque. The 500
[which Beta says is its best-
selling RS model] offers riders
a very user-friendly engine with
plenty of torque and a lighter-
than-expected riding feel."
The 390, like the other RSs,
has several updates, including
the main frame, which is shared
across the entire RS line. It fea
-
tures a larger, wider backbone
tube that Beta claims reduces
flex and gives the bike a more
stable feel.
P100
RIDE REVIEW I 2026 BETA 390 RS
The Beta 390
RS dual sport is
not a street bike,
but that license
plate on the
back opens the
door to places
like this.
