It all begins in a small workshop in the centre of Florence. In 1905, driven by a great passion for mechanics, Giuseppe Bianchi founds the ‘Ditta Individuale Bianchi Giuseppe’ and begins to build handmade bicycles. These are the foundations of what will become one of the most important companies in Italian off-road vehicles.

The real turning point comes after the Second World War. Giuseppe’s son, Enzo Bianchi, and his friend and future brother-in-law Arrigo Tosi join forces to industrialise production, moving the focus to motor vehicles to meet new mobility needs. From their initials, Bianchi Enzo and Tosi Arrigo, comes a name destined to go down in history: BETA.

The late 1940s marks Beta’s official entry into the world of motorized two-wheelers. In 1948 the CERVO 48 was born, the first model to feature an auxiliary engine, followed by the ITAL JAP 125, which immediately showcases the brand’s competitive DNA with its first victories.

While the range successfully expands in the 1950s, Giuseppe Bianchi, Enzo’s son, also joins the company. His engineering background and entrepreneurial vision bring a new technical drive, essential for definitively transforming Beta from an artisanal workshop into a modern motorcycle industry, laying the foundations for the successes of the decades to come.

With the arrival of the 1960s, Beta takes a decisive step towards growth: it begins manufacturing its own engines. This strategic decision not only allows total control over the quality and performance of its models, but also marks the beginning of a new era. The first engine designed and built entirely in Florence is a 50cc two-stroke, intended to power the new mopeds that will soon take the market.

The production moves to the new and modern factory in Osmannoro, Florence. During this decade, the company establishes itself as a benchmark in the moped segment, combining attractive design with strong and reliable structure, the result of internally developed know-how.

This decade sees the introduction of models that will become true icons, such as the PONY 50 and the MERCURIO 50. The range expands fast to meet the needs of a young and dynamic audience, with sport, cross and trial versions that lead the Beta brand to major successes in national enduro and gymkhana competitions.

These victories not only consolidated Beta’s sporting reputation, but also demonstrated the exceptional quality and versatility of its in-house engines, a solid foundation on which the company would build its future in the world of off-road motorcycling.

The 1970s marks the greatest transformation in Beta’s history. Faced with an increasingly competitive moped market, the company takes a bold and forward-thinking decision: to leave road vehicle production behind and focus all its energy and technical know-how on developing off-road motorcycles.

Leveraging the experience gained in competitions, Beta immediately specialises in the Cross and Enduro sectors. The first racing models are created, with 125 and 175 two-stroke engines based on those used in competition mopeds, but installed on innovative, dedicated vehicles, marking the beginning of a new era.

In 1974 the company takes a major step forward by moving to its new and current factory in Rignano sull’Arno. This larger, more modern, state-of-the-art facility is designed to support future development and production of the ‘made in Beta’ engines that will arrive in the coming years.

In the 1980s, Beta becomes a major player in the off-road world, especially in trials. The Florentine company invests heavily in developing new tech, coming up with innovative solutions like the first liquid-cooled two-stroke engine and single rear shock suspension.

These technical improvements, together with increasingly high-performance vehicles, allow Beta to create bikes that are ahead of their competitors. The TR34 model, in particular, becomes the benchmark in the sector, a bike capable of dominating competitions and winning the hearts of enthusiasts.

The technical excellence of Beta motorcycles is joined by the talent of a young Spanish rider destined to become a legend: Jordi Tarrés. Riding his Beta, Tarrés begins a never-before-seen winning sequence, conquering three consecutive Trial World Championships (1987, 1988, 1989) and numerous national titles.

These achievements project Beta to the top of the world and transform the brand into the unquestioned leader in the Trial market. At the same time, development continues in the Enduro sector, with the creation of new models and engines that consolidate Beta’s presence in this discipline as well.

The 1990s see the confirmation of leadership in Trial with three consecutive world titles for Dougie Lampkin (1997-1999).

At the same time, it is also a crucial decade for the company’s governance: Lapo Bianchi, representing the fourth generation of the founding family, enters the company. As future CEO, he will bring a modern and strategic managerial vision, essential for leading Beta through the challenges of the new millennium.

The company shows great vitality by exploring new market segments. To meet new urban mobility needs, Beta decisively enters the scooter sector, presenting models such as the Chrono and Ark, which stand out for their sporty design and the brand’s build quality.

The new range of scooters gets an excellent commercial response, establishing itself throughout Europe and contributing to the company’s growth in a decade of strong competition.

Meanwhile, to further strengthen its dominance in Trial, Beta creates the Beta Trial Single Brand Trophy. This initiative, designed to support the growth of new talent and consolidate the community of enthusiasts, proves to be an extraordinary success, confirming Beta’s commitment not only to top-level competition but also to promoting the sport at its core.

The new millennium opens with a double technical challenge that will mark Beta’s future. In Trial, the company presents its first 4-stroke engine designed and built entirely in-house: a technological gamble that complements the traditional and successful 2-stroke range, demonstrating the brand’s relentless innovative capacity.

At the same time, the company decides to re-enter the strategic Enduro market. Thanks to a historic partnership with KTM, Beta equips its new Enduro RR models with high-performance Austrian 4-stroke engines. This move proves to be a winning one and marks a successful return to the sector, immediately regaining the favour of enthusiasts.

The sports results in Trial keep coming, with champions like Albert Cabestany winning the Indoor World Title. This steady growth, backed by the success of the new Enduro range, means that new, more modern production facilities are needed.

The company takes a fundamental step forward, moving to its new and current factory in Rignano sull’Arno. This larger, more modern, state-of-the-art facility is designed to support future development and production of the “made in Beta” engines that will arrive in the coming years.

The decade kicks off with the Enduro 4-stroke project hitting its full potential. The engines ‘made in Rignano’ become the benchmark for performance and reliability, leading the Beta Factory Team to win two consecutive World Constructors’ Titles in 2010 and 2011. At the same time, the company also resumes its strong investment in 2-stroke engines, presenting a new Enduro RR range that will prove to be a global success.

This strong performance on both technical fronts allows Beta to sign with a young British rider destined to become a legend: Steve Holcombe. And so begins a partnership that will lead to a series of victories without precedent in the history of the brand.

Starting in 2016, Steve Holcombe and Beta become an unbeatable duo, winning three consecutive World Titles in the E3 and EnduroGP Classes. These victories, together with those of Johnny Aubert and Alex Salvini, establish Beta as the brand to beat in the Enduro World Championship.

The winning tradition continues in Trial too. With the new EVO range, Beta keeps topping the World Championship, consolidating its image as a company that can reach excellence and dominate in all the main off-road disciplines.

Recent years consolidates Beta’s position as a leader in the off-road world, continuing a streak of successes while embracing new, ambitious challenges. In Enduro, dominance is absolute: following Steve Holcombe’s triumphs, Brad Freeman takes the mantle, conquering an incredible series of World titles aboard the 300 2T, propelling him into the pantheon of the most successful riders of all time.

Beta is also a key player on all fronts in Trial. While champions like Matteo Grattarola and Andrea Sofia Rabino fly the brand’s flag high in the premier categories, the new generation led by the Hemingway brothers dominates the youth classes, ensuring the continuity of a winning tradition that has lasted for over forty years.

Driven by an incredible level of technical and sporting excellence, Beta is taking a historic step in 2021: its official return to the Motocross World Championship, in the premier MXGP Class. A completely new bike, the RX 450, is developed and a team is created to compete at the highest level. This new adventure represents the brand’s desire to constantly challenge itself and bring its manufacturing philosophy, RideAbility, to a new, prestigious stage.

In 2025, Beta celebrates an extraordinary milestone: 120 years of history. A journey that began in a small Florentine workshop and continued until it became a global benchmark in the off-road sector, always guided by the same passion and the same family. A story that continues, looking ahead to the challenges of the future.