BETA MOTORCYCLES

Beta has its origins in 1904 as a bicycle manufacturing company named "Società Giuseppe Bianchi", originally based in the town of Via Bellariva and later moved to Florence. The name Beta comes from the initials of Bianchi, Enzo and Tosi, Arrigo who ran the company at that time. Currently the company is run by Lapo Bianchi great grand-son of Giuseppe Bianchi the company founder. The company started making motorcycles in 1948. Focusing on two-stroke street bikes through the 1950s and 1960s, the company began development and production of off-road motorcycles in the late 1960s with the introduction of the 100cc motocross model XC-100 in 1967. The off-road models were initially observed trials bikes. In 2004 Beta entered the 4-stroke enduro market with bikes using KTM motors. By the 2010s they were producing both two-stroke and four-stroke off-road bikes with Beta designed motors.

Notable Beta riders include Jim Pomeroy, Gilbert De Roover, Ivan Bessone and Jeremy Van Horebeek in motocross, and Jordi Tarrés and Dougie Lampkin in observed trials. Beta motorcycle riders Steve Holcombe and Brad Freeman collectively have won the last five (2017 - 2021) EnduroGP Enduro World Championships.