Beta Alp 4.0

Alp looks great in red :thumb2

Did it come with trials tyres out of the box? MT43s I assume :thumb2

Good to see you're getting the little glitches sorted out and a few sensible mods. I found the same with my Alp (£/smile the best bike I've ever owned) - underneath the plastic is a very solid machine.

My team manager is about to change her Serow for a new 200 Alp (her second one), that you'll see on the Land's End.

One tip - if it's got the same speedo as my old one, it's worth sealing it as the speedo on mine had a habit of misbehaving when it rained. I used duct tape, but silicon might be a neater solution.

Cheers.
 
Congrats on the new bike Tufty. :thumb2

I'm busy most of February but am keen to get out in March on the new bikes, Andres is already pencilled in for a spin, I presume you'll be joining us?
 
JB, sorry to be unhelpful but I don't have a clue. The pack the pegs came in has a ripped label but I can tell you they were £45. If you speak to Amir at Colin Appleyard's, I'm sure he'll be able to find out for you, similarly with the gaitors.

Today I had a longer ride, to see Mikeyboy of Overland and Classic fame.

Mike was able to fit me some heated grip films and rewire the USB ports so that they weren't constantly on. Usually I leave my bike with Mike and return to pick it up when the work is done. I had a free afternoon so was able to watch him at work. I pretended to be useful by holding stuff and making coffee.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tuftywhite/16258732127" title="Untitled by tuftywhite, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8680/16258732127_4075a343d8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Untitled"></a>

What was nice to see is Mike's almost OCD attention to detail and doing the job properly. I always knew he was good by the work done on my other bikes, but to actually see him at work was great.

When I've spent a bit more time on the bike, I shall return to see Mike to get some lights fitted to the bike, I've gone for a pair of Clearwater Darlas. As it happens, returning home from Mike's it seems I'll need better lights as the headlight on the Alp isn't that good. The mainbeam is okay but the dipped is too low and not that bright. I'll see if I can raise it up, but with the Darla lights as running lights, I can just turn them up when I need extra.

What we found with the Alp undressed from the usual cheap plastic of modern bikes is a pretty solid well set up bike on the whole.

The only downside is that the petrol pipe supplied on the bike is not as strong as well sucked liquorice from a sherbet fountain, as I found out on the way back from Mike's the first time, when the bike stopped down a dark lane.

If you fold the pipe 4 or 5 times it breaks in two. Softer than butter. Again, Mike came to the rescue, fixed it enough to get back his workshop and fitted some proper pipe.

Overall, I'm really pleased with the bike and the little fettles will make it more mine as time goes on. I just need to get and ride it a bit to get used to it.

Thanks again to Mike for sorting the bike out at short notice. Tomorrow I'll be out for a longer ride.

Cheers for the write up

I'll change the petrol pipe, methinks

The pegs look like Apico steel ones to me

One tip - change the alloy Beta gear lever, as it's too strong & if you clout it you'll bend the gear shaft :(

I swapped to a genuine DR350 steel one, with a folding tip ~ £19 new from any Suzuki dealer, mine came from Appleyards

How are finding the ride now
 
Did it come with trials tyres out of the box? MT43s I assume :thumb2

Good to see you're getting the little glitches sorted out and a few sensible mods. I found the same with my Alp (£/smile the best bike I've ever owned) - underneath the plastic is a very solid machine.

My team manager is about to change her Serow for a new 200 Alp (her second one), that you'll see on the Land's End.

One tip - if it's got the same speedo as my old one, it's worth sealing it as the speedo on mine had a habit of misbehaving when it rained. I used duct tape, but silicon might be a neater solution.

Cheers.

Thanks for the comments and advice Ian. I'll get on the silicon sealing thing. I'll have a look, although it is a different speedo on these ones. Looking forward to seeing the 200 and after a few trips out, doing the trial. Jonathan's joining us from Cirencester.

You're right about £ per smile, it's not run in yet and I'm really enjoying it. I've been out again today and am planning a quick trip out tomorrow too.

By the way, Appleyards didn't have MT 43's so I've gone for Dunlop D803's which are similar.
 
Congrats on the new bike Tufty. :thumb2

I'm busy most of February but am keen to get out in March on the new bikes, Andres is already pencilled in for a spin, I presume you'll be joining us?

I'm there. Just let me know where and when. I'm up for loads in March. Perhaps we can chat on the 21st, unless you're working or having a romantic weekend.
 
Cheers for the write up

I'll change the petrol pipe, methinks

The pegs look like Apico steel ones to me

One tip - change the alloy Beta gear lever, as it's too strong & if you clout it you'll bend the gear shaft :(

I swapped to a genuine DR350 steel one, with a folding tip ~ £19 new from any Suzuki dealer, mine came from Appleyards

How are finding the ride now


I'm loving the bike, although the saddle and or the suspension gives me a kick up the arse on bumpy roads. Definitely change the petrol pipe. Thanks for the gear lever tip. I'll get one (maybe 2) in the week. I reckon that's a job even I can do!

I've not ridden it off road. I was due to visit SkyGod today for an off road day, but it was called off due to icy conditions. I'll try a couple of the local byways tomorrow.
 
I'm there. Just let me know where and when. I'm up for loads in March. Perhaps we can chat on the 21st, unless you're working or having a romantic weekend.

Away. :blast
See what you can sort with The Hippy & I'll do my best to tag along. :D
 
Your eyesight is very good Ian. I've cleaned my bike today after doing a few lanes at lunchtime and noticed that the tyres are indeed MT43's not the Dunlops I thought they'd put on.

The bike is loads of fun, although I've a lot of work to do to become a competent pilot off road. Still, everyone starts somewhere.
 
I've had a day out with the bike under Skygod's tutelage in Derbyshire. The bike performed far better than the arse on top of it.

Mikeyboy has fitted the lights (yet to be tried in anger) amongst other bits and pieces and I now have an excellent custom built sump guard thanks to Mistacat.

I shall be giving it as much of my spare time as I can before the Lands End Trial at Easter so that I become as acquainted as I can with the bike before making an arse of myself in the West Country.

The bike is great, the only thing that will let it down is me!
 
No need to mount the roadbook to the bike as I can navigate, but a good idea to still bring it with you in case of splitting up, breaking down etc..

That said if you want to mount the roadbook so you can read it that's fine as well as it's good to have someone checking (or give me a rest :eek:).

Don't forget ACU and MCC cards, timecard etc. :rob

An X-bike surrounded by Alps....
 
Thanks Ian,

You'll have an XT 600 with you too as Jonathan is no. 88.

Really looking forward to it. I just hope it's not as cold as 2013, the last time I did it.

I'll need the roadbook to catch up with you when I've failed a section and have to go the long way round. :hide
 
What are your thoughts on a Beta 350 RR Factory ??

Any good ?
 
What are your thoughts on a Beta 350 RR Factory ??

Any good ?

Didn't know there was one until you posted and I did a quick search. I'm sure someone will be along who knows about them. If they do their job as well as the Alp does its job, I'm sure it will be superb.
 
Hi Tufty,

Love the look and everything about the Alp 4.0 but then saw the 350RR !
Still, I would not dismiss a tidy, looked after 4.0
 
So Tuffywhite, after your 700 mile first outing on the LE, how was it it?

Any good or bad points of note?
 


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