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/680400
HUSQVARNA 501 S VS. BETA 500 RS COMPARISON P102 power bright aftermarket units. It's really nice that the Beta comes with hand guards as standard equipment but they are pretty flimsy. If you plan on hitting them against anything more than the wind, change them out. The Husqvarna hand guards are really good for stockers. The Beta kickstand is pretty terrible, the foot is small and using it requires the perfect ground surface. The Husky kickstand is liveable. If we can make a suggestion, ditch the stock mirrors and go with a foldable mirror that doesn't get in the way when off- road. We are big fans of the Double- Take mirror, if folds away quick and easy. If you aren't familiar with the Beta brand, don't let that detract you from considering a Beta for your next dual-sport purchase. Beta also has a Build Your Own Beta program that lets you customize your Beta before it ever gets to your dealer, making it truly a custom bike for you. You can take the $800 difference in price and add on a Rekluse or some other cool aftermarket hop ups. Hopefully this comparison gives you a better understanding of what dual-sport bikes have to offer and a better understanding of what style of bike might fit your riding and size. In our opinion, the Beta favors higher speed, more open riding while the Husqvarna shines in rougher, more technical terrain. Either way, the differences between the two bikes doesn't detract from the overall big picture that is consumers have never had better choices for riding a dirt bike with a license plate hanging off the back. CN JESSE ZIEGLER (GREY/ORANGE KLIM GEAR) HELMET: BELL MOTO9 FLEX GEAR: KLIM MOJAVE JERSEY/ MOJAVE IN-THE-BOOT PANT GLOVE: KLIM XC GOGGLE: KLIM RADIUS BOOT: SIDI CROSSFIRE2 PACKS: KLIM FUEL HYDRATION PACK, KLIM SCRAMBLE PACK TOOL BELT 2016 BETA 500 RS ENGINE: ................... Single cylinder, 4-valve, 4-stroke DISPLACEMENT: .................... 478cc BORE X STROKE: ........ 100 x 60mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ............ 12.1:1 FUEL SYSTEM: .........42mm throttle body EFI CLUTCH: .....Wet, multi-disc clutch, Brembo hydraulics TRANSMISSION: ..............Six-speed FRAME: ................... Chromoly steel SUBFRAME: ..................... Aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION: ............48mm Sachs USD fork, adjustable compression and rebound, TFX technology REAR SUSPENSION:......... Aluminum body Sachs shock w/adjust- able rebound and hi/low speed compression FRONT BRAKE: ..... 260mm disc w/ 4-piston caliper REAR BRAKE: ........240mm disc w/ 2-piston caliper FRONT TIRE: ........ Michelin Enduro, DOT; 90/90-21" REAR TIRE: .......... Michelin Enduro, DOT; 140/80-18" SEAT HEIGHT: ............... 36.6 inches WHEELBASE: ................. 58.1 inches GROUND CLEARANCE: .. 12.6 inches WEIGHT: ............ 272 (full tank fuel) FUEL CAPACITY: ..................2.0 gal. MSRP: ................................... $9,799 S P E C I F I C A T I O N S 2016 HUSQVARNA FE 501 S ENGINE: ..... Single cylinder, 4-valve, 4-stroke DISPLACEMENT: ......................510cc BORE X STROKE: ............95 x 72mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ............. 11.8:1 FUEL SYSTEM: ........ Keihin EMS w/ 42mm throttle body CLUTCH: ..........Wet, DDS multi-disc clutch, Brembo hydraulics TRANSMISSION: ...............Six-speed FRAME: .................... Chromoly steel SUBFRAME: ...Cross-linked Polyamide FRONT SUSPENSION: ................Fully adjustable 48mm inverted WP 4CS closed cartridge forks; 11.8 inches of travel REAR SUSPENSION: ...Fully adjustable linkage-assisted WP shock; 13.0 inches of travel FRONT BRAKE: ...... 260mm disc w/ 4-piston Brembo caliper REAR BRAKE: ........ 200mm disc w/ 2-piston Brembo caliper FRONT TIRE: .......... Michelin Enduro Competition IV; 90/90-21" REAR TIRE: ............ Michelin Enduro Competition IV; 140/80-18" RAKE: ....................................... 29.5° SEAT HEIGHT: ................ 38.2 inches WHEELBASE: ................. 58.3 inches GROUND CLEARANCE: ...13.6 inches WEIGHT: ............. 273 (full tank fuel) FUEL CAPACITY: ................... 2.4 gal. MSRP: .................................. $10,599 BRENT HARDEN (BLACK MSR GEAR) HELMET: MSR MAV3 MIPS HELMET GEAR: ASCENT JERSEY/PANT GLOVE: MSR IMPACT GOGGLE: X BRAND BACKPACK: OGIO FLIGHT VEST BOOTS: GAERNE SG-10