Beta is best known for its chart-topping trials and enduro motorcycles, but the Italian firm has produced a handful of quirky street legal machines over the years too. Among them are the Beta Alp 4 dual-sport, and its 17-inch-wheeled counterpart, the Beta M4 supermoto.
Before Beta produced its own engines, they used KTM powerplants in most of their bikes. But the Alp 4 and M4 were powered by the less glamorous single-cylinder motor from the steadfast Suzuki DR350. To add insult to injury, the engine was tuned down; these bikes were built to be dependable, frugal, and accessible, rather than wily.

It’s those exact traits that led Emporio Elaborazioni Meccaniche to a 2007-model Beta M4 as the perfect donor for their newest project. The Italian custom shop’s client wanted an easy-going city bike with miles of style, and an emphasis on maneuverability over outright speed. Keeping the bike compliant with Italy’s roadworthy laws (more or less) was also a priority. So Emporio Elaborazioni Meccaniche opted not to mess with the Beta’s chassis too much and focused on its bodywork instead. The goal was to trim it down visually, while shaving off as much weight as possible to make the ride more spirited.

EEM started by stripping off all of the Beta’s plastics. The OEM suspension, brakes, and wheels were refurbished, and the subframe was edited to prep it for the new bodywork.
Next, the crew fabricated a full complement of handmade parts, including a ...