2016 BETA 500 RS VS 2016 HUSQVARNA FE5 501 S: DUAL-SPORT COMPARISON-CYCLE NEWS - Cycle News

Cycle News compares the Beta 500 RS and the Husqvarna FE 501 S, two amazing dual-sport bikes that are fully capable of tackling any off-road terrain. They both are street legal but where they work best is in the gnarliest of off-road settings, like the Nevada 200 ride. No better place to do it.

[@GiuseppeSimonetti]

Also notice the Beta has a kickstarter which is a huge plus

[@CycleCruza]

Thinking seriously about picking up a 2017 Beta 500 RR-S.

[@brycelowrey5467]

CycleCruza looking at that or the new fz-09

[@CycleCruza]

Bryce Lowrey tough choice! I hear a lot of great things about the Betas.

[@resistthesystem6145]

CycleCruza I just watched your Beta vs FZ 09 video, have you considered a SM? The Husky 701 is a very nice bike and there's a decent dealer in Akron. I know it's a KTM 690 rebadged but it looks a lot sexier than the 690 IMO

[@CycleCruza]

Dino Velvet Yeah I actually was going to buy the KTM 690 but changed my mind because of sketchy reliability, weak dealer support, bike is heavier at 344 lbs, has a poor turning radius and you cannot upgrade to a bigger fuel tank. Not into supermotos because street tires suck in dirt and riding raw in the woods. I like to veer off the beaten patch often.

[@benwilson9658]

hey man, i love ur vids and just got a quick question. Do you thing the wr250 will be a good bike for me to start on? Im almost 15 and want a dual sport, only problem is that im too young to get a licence. Do you think the wr250 would hold up for a year of pure trail riding and then being made into a proper dual sport? Thanks, and keep up the good shit btw.

[@bhenderson7651]

Beta is from Italy, and they have have been making bikes as long as anyone. Also dealers are all over so there are no parts hassels at all. Bulletproof engines and customer support better than any other.

[@dylandarbyshire635]

Thanks for the video man I enjoyed the narration. Hopefully picking up my 501 this week.

[@mikester9er]

The 501 sits over an inch taller than the Beta 500. Could you comment further how the 501 is better for smaller riders?

[@catalyst429]

im fixing to fly from ky to michigan to buy a 2016 FE501s and ride it all the way home on back roads haha So excited to have some good adventures with that bike, ill probably put 30k miles on it

[@snakevale198444]

your guys overall conclusion was quite surprising,... I havent rode either bike yet so thanks for your inputs.. I just assumed the beta would do better in the tight technical stuff and the husky be better at the wide open stuff. thanjs for the video!!

[@raymondnewbill5294]

They said that first, then LITERALLY 60 seconds later said the opposite loo

[@zacatecano1986]

Which one felt quicker ?

[@wickedleeloopy2115]

Is there anyone from honda scratching there head , thinking to themself 🤔 hmm why did we stop making the XR500.

[@jimmygritz9714]

WICKEDLEE LOOPY no they wouldn’t sell any of the overweight and overpriced stuff they pump out now 😢.

[@kimojon9665]

That's like comparing a ballerina to a lumberjack, the XR500 is the lumberjack. That's how far away the XR500 is to these bikes.

[@Ferdp]

Beta the best

[@pisstrooper0075]

Ferdp 18090 nah, not really.

[@dansneyd4646]

do these bikes have the same service intervals as their enduro based cousins?

[@vbadbee9123]

Can we get a beta 390 rrs vs husky/ ktm 350 exc

[@drugo5271]

Beta 390 is more faster

[@mtube620]

what is maintenance schedule comparison?

[@SadHippieMane]

The Beta has the same oil change maintenance as a Grom. Every 1000 miles and valve check every 100 or so hours I forget.

[@thomashalley7258]

So this video says its not good for extended highway, my curiosity is what makes this different from a dr650 that would make one highway ready or not?

[@SmegmaDaddyXL]

biggest differences in this regard is the gearing and engine, DR650 cruising 80 is starting to work, one of these will be screaming. also these bikes are only running with about 1/4th the amount of oil in them so it wears the lubrication out much more quickly, revving these on the highway will require very frequent oil changes while a DR can go thousands of miles without maintenance. the DR is a true all rounder, ride it to work, cruise with some fat harley guys, play catch up to the sport bikes on curvy back roads and then wrestle with it in the woods. a husky or beta can fly on trails the DR can only clunk and stumble through.

[@thomashalley7258]

Curtis Wood thank you for the input.

[@randybarr8886]

The DR will run forever with clean oil, it is detuned and reliable. The Beta is tuned hot, valves and rings have to be done periodially., what curtis said.

[@bhenderson7651]

My Beta hates sandy areas so bad im going to change brands. No one will talk about it so there hasen't been any info about the problem. In a sand wash it comes to a tank slapping stop and all other bikes seem normal in the same conditions.

[@Renitajune]

Thank you

[@BMWDave43]

Love it!

[@Sertao2013]

Did you say 55 miles was all you can go on a full tank of gas on the Beta ?

[@cw127cw]

Guys if you had to chose between the 2017 FE 501 or the 2017 KTM EXC 450 (SIX DAYS) edition which would you chose and why?

[@lars6929]

+cw127cw Depends on what you are doing with the bike... An EXC isn't ment for the road at all - actually u can get a plate but it isnt legal because of the hp it has .... An Husky FE 501 is a dual Sport: u can ride it on- and off-road but u wont be as fast as a Supermoto on street and u won't be as fast as an exc in the dirt .... It#s like a Jacket for the Autuum- u can wear it in the summer and in the winter, but in the summer it may be to hot and in the winter to cold :D

[@humanempire8199]

great bikes

[@randygrindle5121]

how much are. they

[@goodboyringo9716]

Beta bike will kick kTM's sales down a notch .

[@Belicose777]

I'm assuming the Beta and Husky is tame in comparison to a 450 race bike.

[@e5m956]

Not really. My last 450 was a 2007 KX450f and now have a 2016 FE501s and the 501 rips... just after 3rd the gears feel spread out more.... but it has so much torque it pulls like a freight train without even touching the clutch but giving that little slip of the clutch + full throttle it rips just like a 450... and then not to mention a top speed of 100mph+! Where you really notice the difference between a 450 MX bike is the suspension is much softer. It's too soft for even trail riding IMO and I have my clickers front and rear, rebound and compression all the way at the hardest setting possible and it's just starting to feel like a 450 MX bike but the forks still feel like they blow through the travel too easily. I plan on getting my suspension done at some point because I actually plan on taking it to a MX track here and there. That's what's really cool about this bike over a 450 MXer is that you can switch from MX riding to full on road (I plan on getting a second set of rims with on road tires for quick swaps).

[@Belicose777]

E5m that's EXACTLY what I'm in the process of doing now. Part time dirtbike for the trails and the track and part time supermoto for the road and the concrete track. My crf450 needs a rebuild and still power wheelies. I've heard the 501s are torque monsters that are geared longer but also dont rev as high. Either way the husky fe501 is my dream bike.

[@madcanic9632]

great bikes but i want something more for highway crusin

[@mtube620]

yep, there is still a big void in the 350-600cc true dual sport bikes with updated feature like FI, better speedo, selectable mapping, 6 speed.

[@cowsintheforest9875]

husqvavarna 701

[@roryhassett9581]

It's strange...the whole review starts by stating "Dual sport is no longer synonymous with bulky, heavy or slow. In 2016....etc etc" Wow...KTM has been making world class endure bikes for decades and you're only realizing now, in 2016, that enduros are no longer synonymous with bulky, heavy or slow?!?!?! I owned a 2007 KTM 525EXC that cranked out more power and torque than any mortal would need, and weighed a touch over 230lbs with all fluids and a full tank. Very nice review of these two bikes however, very thorough, I just wish you'd have included the king of the enduro class.

[@afletra]

isn't the "basic" of nowadays husky and KTM are the same? I mean, the engine for instance? I'm not really into this segment, need an explanation, thanks!

[@roryhassett9581]

yeah...pretty much the same.

[@GypsyDaenger]

lol no way a 525 is just over 230

[@Navaho66]

I have a 2007 ktm 525 with full protection and 13L tank. Weighs about 270 dry. About 290 wet and you feel every pound. It rides heavy with a lot of flex in the frame. Still a great dual sport bike. The newer bikes carry their weight a lot better.

[@alexg8229]

Yamaha Rider im looking to buy one 500exc 2018 it said 106 kilo dry weigth on ktm website thats 233lbs thats good damn its a 500cc bike with all the street legal stuff on it .. Hell my 2014 yz250 2 stroke is 212lbs dry weigth with noting on it and i can lift it up in my arm and carry it around 😂

[@somedude1129]

drz 650?

[@madcanic9632]

lol i caught that too

[@dirtbeard108]

must be fun getting parts for a Beta.. I've never seen one IRL and nobody sells them.

[@woodsrider117]

I get the fastest service from Beta.. parts come super fast.. company backs up it's product with a warranty. I've had since 2009.. now I have 3 of them..

[@marcusbevz6500]

Dirt Beard there's more and more popping up on craiglist, more and more people are buying them :)

[@Alex-ei6qr]

what a clueless cluck, dirt beard!

[@bhenderson7651]

Beta dealers everywhere and the best customer service around, where you hiding?

[@adamrichards2072]

Sooo... not a dual sport then?

[@tdub9899]

Pizza bike for the win! #sbab

[@nomansland4811]

Where is the Beta made?

[@suomiman100]

Nomans land italia?

[@robertwood7357]

Nomans land Italy my man

[@itzFYEB]

Florence

[@Evil_Morty2000]

France

[@andrealeotta_3905]

@@Evil_Morty2000 Is Italian

[@endurotruckererniedesjardins]

both are very fuckin cool. I want one lol

[@thelastrebelshow1627]

I'll take a TM.

[@thanosdanellis4746]

Arent they only for racing purpose ?

[@thanosdanellis4746]

Yeah they can get a license plate but I think they have highter maintenence

[@thelastrebelshow1627]

+thanos danelli you don't know what your talking about TM will blows beta or husky away in all areas!

[@thanosdanellis4746]

Johnny Vegas Yes of course they will thats why I say that they have a highter maintenence , the thing that I want to say is that these two bikes in the video are more of an evryday bike than TM bikes are.

[@thelastrebelshow1627]

+thanos danellis Ya I know what you mean. But if you ride hard and you ride tracks then TM may be more for you. I have a 2016 Kawasaki KX250F and it's a great bike but I'm getting a TM MX 300 Two Stroke because I want a two stroke and I figure why not get the best. Beta and husky as well as KTM are good bikes too. Heck. I want one so bad I'm selling my Harley to afford one. I'm tired of road riding anyway, to dangerous. And boring. Off road is more fun plus you get exercise! I live in Vegas and here and surrounding areas are off road paradise!

[@450hp202turbo]

ktm resell value out ways these bikes , and KTM 500 shits all over a husky in out right power ,poor air box design restricts the huskys mid /top end ,

[@64maxpower]

a 2 gallon tank belongs on a MX bike

[@zachbishop3795]

honestly this was a shitty review. you didn't even review them stock. also the opinions sound biost too me. hot the husky any plus was made to sound like a negative. and why would a taller rider prefer a shorter bike, because the Handel bars come higher? wouldn't they be more concerned about the seat then bars. it's 30 bucks to get your bars higher then 100's to get your seat higher. guys listen to me, if this is your options get the husky. your spending more time in trails and on hills then flying down fire trails and even if you are it's a small difference. oh also husky last longer and is made in Europe and America

[@nomansland4811]

Not sure how valid a review is if you have to do a bunch of mods first.

[@zachbishop3795]

Exactly

[@Cederlof_Ink]

Zach Bishop I own a fe501s bought it new last year the things a bloody tank, I love it. it's powered through everything I've thrown at it and laughed.

[@zachbishop3795]

Yeah it's my choice. I rode the husky and its an animal. to talk for me but still a beast, I'll have to stick to my wr250r (not much shorter). but still handles everything I throw at it. I have 80/20s and a fmf fip and it almost competes with my 2007 crf250r.

[@nomansland4811]

Where are these things made?

[@pirixmartian4457]

that beta sucks compared to husky or ktm is not even in the same level

[@beetleything1864]

Very uneducated comment

[@bhenderson7651]

In what way is it not as good?