do know you are in full power - fast is an understatement ! The Rain mode is more mellow and takes away some of the aggressive snap , making it a little easier to tame the beast . It ’ s a real bonus if you ’ re looking for more tractable power . For 2022 , the whole Beta range was given a new look with the red headlight surround and red fork guards . These changes equal a stunning looking bike , where the red really pops . Also , the front fork has a new coating that is more scratch and wear resistant - this is a must as the black fork on my 2021 is scratched to shit . Negatives ? There are a couple , as with any bike . The suspension on the standard edition , runs ZF Sachs units and is too soft - particularly the front - for me anyway [ Luke is probably 20kg heavier than Liam , so their suspension needs are quite different - Jock McLauchlan ]. At any great speed or on a hard hit , it blows through the stroke , unsettling the bike . This is not to say there is anything wrong with the Sachs components , with just a little work they perform just fine . The rear brake pedal could be a little easier to get at , as it ’ s kind of small . I wasn ’ t a fan of the stock tyres , I found they didn ’ t provide a great deal of traction . It is still has a carburettor , which isn ’ t too big a problem , but there is still the need to tune if racing at altitude , and it still has that carb hit of an old-two stroke , plus fuel efficiency is better with injection . Negatives aside though , I love the light playful nature of the bike and how I could ride it anywhere with ease . After a few suspension adjustments I know from experience this bike will be race ready and can go toe-to-toe with any other machine . LUKE NESBIT
KIWI RIDER 57