Beta rev-4t, first impressions......

... a surprise announcement from the Beta factory only a couple of weeks ago has enlivened the trials world in what is traditionaly a quiet time of the year. At the Milan show they had on display a new 4 stroke engined machine, based on the tried and tested rev3 chassis, but with their own motor. Not many people had any idea of the bikes existance, even though Beta have reportedly been developing it for 4 years!!!! ... those of us that had discussed the possibilty of a 4t engine in a Beta were under the opinion that it was going to be a KTM based engine, or even possibly a Suzuki as both had links with engine supply to them in the past.... but it is all their own work we are told.
The photos from the show wetted our apetite, but I have to say... it looks even better in the flesh!! Steve Saunders very kindly organised a meet at a quarry on his way home from work to give me a sneak peak at the bike, and as it turned out a quick ride on it as well. My first view was from the back of his van and I have to say that of all the 4 strokes that have so far been released this one looks the dogs dangly bits. That is half the battle with me, shallow I know but if you don't like the look of it then whatever it rides like will never attract me to wanting one. A case in point is the Montesa 4rt, I am well aware that Honda quality is about the best you can get but I have always thought that it look like a camel..!!! The Mitani specials in Japan look awesome with the flat tank and different colours but the production version leaves me cold... and I couldn't justify spending all that money on the bike and then have to spend the best part of another grand to make it look like something I would want to ride.........

.... But this bike is different, looks alone would tempt me to spend the cash if we had to all have 4t's... and if I had any cash.!!
Steve dragged it out of the van and gave it two lazy kicks and it was away, no fuel tap to remember and no choke required. The sound is very much like a 4rt on tickover but it doesn't suddenly change into that loud bark when given a handfull, sure it gets louder but not into something that anyone within 500metres would be able to write to their MP's about. In the empty quarry when Steve rode it down to meet me I only heard it as it came through the gap in the trees just before getting to me.  The short video I took (bottom of page) gives you the idea of the sound, but bare in mind that i was pointing the camera and microphone directly at it which cancelled out any surrounding sounds and amplified it somewhat.

... Watching Steve playing on the bike it was apparent that the bike is very smooth, engine and ride wise. On a big clmb with a kick step at the top Steve wasn't getting any air like we usually do... he said it seems to ride smoother over things. I have no idea why this would be, perhaps the 4t doesn't require that dramatic burst of power that you get with the 2t's so you just end up riding smoother... who knows.  It was doing all the slippery climbs in first gear and Steve could roll off the throttle to a dead stop half way up and then just gently carry on with no hesitation. The engine sounds lazy when you are watching but when riding it doesn't feel that slow.... I would put it a little like riding the 200 rev3, just that little tamer and more controllable than the 250 rev3. If you want to launch it then you give it a little more, a bit earlier. But it has more low down grunt from nothing, as you would expect from a 4t engine.

Steve handed the bike to me... with the request that I don't break anything!!! Who does he think I am ... Barry!!!! As this is the only bike in the UK, and possibly one of only two so far produced, I may well have been buried in the quarry had I done any damage!!!... and also, by this time, it was almost totally dark. Even so I had a little play, nothing series but a trickle around to get the feel of it and a couple of rides up the little step in the trees in 1st and 2nd gear to see how it felt. And it felt like my Rev3!! Easy to ride and not a huge amount of engine braking that would completely throw a 2 stroke rider like myself. Roll the throttle on and it revs cleanly all the way through, no step or hole in the power. I didn't dare ride any of the big climbs in the lack of light so I never full throttled it but as Steve was doing the damp hills in first and 2nd with hardly any throttle I doubt I would have needed to.....

..... after the ride we sat and chatted about the bike for a while. One of the items I learnt about was the fuel valve, it basically works on a small electric input. If you get half way up something and lose it totally when the engine stops so does the fuel supply. This means that as the bike lies upside down in the ditch or tumbles down the hill the carb is not allowing the engine to fill up with fuel.... most of what is already in the carb will come out of the drain pipes and then nothing else will go in.... I was asked not to test this theory out on the bike!!!!!! Steve and I rode the bike fairly non stop for an hour and he was doing the big clims and steps etc, each time he stopped the bike for a quick chat it started first or second kick.... good news for the people who may have owned a Sherco 4t and are now worried about that sort of thing.

So... my quick ride on the bike was very much an eye opener for me. Having been vocal in my dislike of the idea of going back to 4 strokes for trials I find I have to think again with this bike. If we could forget about the price difference I would say this would be a perfect bike for me to ride in local club trials and open to centre events. It isn't forthe people who like to splat everything from a standing start, but then those people shouldn't be looking at a 4 stroke anyway...  Would I change from a rev3.... perhaps not yet. But it is a very close call and for me the main reason would be the cost. It rides like a rev3 and in traditional flowing types of sections I think the smooth linear engine power would be lovely... and as I am an over 40 now it would of course have to be a choice between this and a TLR250 Honda!!!! No contest, the rev-4 would be in the garage and I would have to put up with a hell of a lot of piss taking for going against my ways and going 4t!!!
In all honesty I think the reason I liked it straight off is because it is so much like my own bike, it was natural for me to ride an didn't require adjustment time. A different approach to my usual "give it some gas" method would be learnt quickly, which probably would be a good thing......

It is a big gamble to put your money down for a bike that you haven't ridden... but to those of you that have I don't think you will be disapointed at all. It is not a rip roaring beast like the 270 but a very smooth, easy bike to ride. Watching Steve and having a little go was enough to alter my views on this 4t. I hate to admit it but I reckon I would do better in club and centre trials on this bike..... hell, I would even ride mud on one!!
The quality is very good and it is obvious that much time has been spent in the design and developement stage... everything fits and doesn't look like a last minute add-on. Of course I love the black colour scheme and even if you don't get the 4t I would definately try to get those plastics for the 2007 rev3, it is just classy.  ... But as with everything it is horses for courses, if you just don't like 4 strokes or want a quick delivery, power packed engine then perhaps look elsewhere.  Untill I saw it in the flesh and rode it I was one of the above.... now I am having to think again.

... A massive thanks to Steve for the invite to watch the bike in action, and even more so for letting me have a play.  Some more photos from the evening ride can be seen Here ... it was very dark so not great quality but what the hell !!