ground when needed . All this comes together to make the bike feel very easy to manage , it ’ s incredibly nimble and easy to ride .
BETA RR430 I ’ ve had the Beta RR430 for a few weeks now , with the intention of testing it out in as many different environments and styles of riding as possible . I want to show you what it ’ s like to live with - not just as a weekend rider . My first outing was a trip to Red Rocks on Wellington ’ s south coast . For a first ride , this was a great way to get to know the bike . The terrain is rocky , with patches of soft sand and loose river rocks . I have never ridden a bike so well balanced and nimble out here . I was riding rings around my riding buddies , going places I have never even attempted before . I hate using the words confidence inspiring , but that ’ s exactly what the 430 is . I came back after riding 35-odd kilometres with a massive smile on my face . Usually I ’ m the slowest rider , and the one ready to turn back first . But on this ride , I wanted to keep going .
FIRST ENDURO A couple of days later , I was entered into round two of the national enduro series at Moonshine . Based near Upper Hutt , the area is known for its slippery mud in the forest sections and even
more slippery rocks . Having never done an enduro before , I didn ’ t know what to expect , but I given a warm welcome with lots of riders keen to share tips and tricks , and guide me through the day . I started stone cold last , and things didn ’ t really get any better from there . I put the bike through hell . I dropped it on the slippery sections , and came close to overheating it on a particularly gnarly hill climb in the middle of T2 . After such a positive first ride , this was a serious reality check . I never actually got to a place where the bike was stuck , I always found it reasonably easy to get it out of the situations I put it into . In the tough stuff , when I was working hard , I was surprised to find the hydraulic clutch was light and beautiful to use , even with arm pump . The brakes are strong and have loads of bite ( too much sometimes ). The bike is good , seriously good . I , however , am not . My lack of fitness let me down and after completing one loop out of the required three , I limped back to the pits with my tail between my legs . An awesome experience , but an enduro rider I am not ... well , not yet anyway .
COMMUTING My third ride was along SH2 , from Upper Hutt to central Wellington . Riding an enduro bike into
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