by pscook » Sun Jun 07, 2020 8:05 pm
I had a great conversation with a long term Beta owner, and have read many comparisons online to validate the info that I received. Here's what I have learned:
The 350 is "square" so it likes to rev. Not a lot of grunt, but good to great mid to top end.
The 390 is a stroked 350, so it likes to lug a bit more than the 350. Still spins up, but not as "racy" as the 350. The 390 seems to be the stepping off point for 200 two stroke/250 four stroke riders with the single track mind.
The 430 is square (bored 390), so it likes to rev, but with a bit more grunt than the 390, more mid as well. Folks (like me) appreciate the usability of the engine compared to, say, a modern-ish 450 (too much grunt for single track, and too heavy to turn quickly). I picked up a 430 as I wanted something easier than the WR450 I had for light dual sport, but more juice than the WB165 that I just sold (simplifying to a single bike).
The 480/500 is a stroked 430, so it's got the most grunt and heaviest crank/mass. The open trail/desert weapon. LOTS of motor without being overwhelming. Comparable to the 500EXC but "lighter" feeling on the trails.
I have ridden my 2016 430RS exactly 1.7 hours before I ended my season with a trio of broken toes (okay, two months to recover, but still), and I will say that I LOVE the 430 compared to the bikes I have owned and ridden. I owned a consecutive pair of GasGas 300s (2002 and 2011), a WR426, YZ426/444 (with WR transmission, a bit of a mutt), a 2005 WR450 for Dual Sport, a WB165 (Husqvarna WR125 with a big bore), a couple of XR250s. I have ridden a lot of bikes trying to find the Goldilocks bike, and I believe that the 430 is it for my needs.
Note that the four strokes come with a composite/plastic subframe, so you will want to take that into consideration for packing gear on a DS adventure. I haven't purchased a tail rack yet, but there are a couple of decent options (as far as I can tell).