BVM Test day... 2008 Models.

Heath's Views... (still waiting for reports from the other lads..!!)

I will try and be objective but it has to be pointed out that I am a Beta rider who will be getting another one soon. We rode the bikes as they were presented with no adjustments done for either ride position or carb adjustments etc. And most of all, these are personnel views of someone who has ridden for 35 years but is by no means very good at it!!!

A very cold and misty start up in the Breakheart Quarry near Dursley. But all the bikes were lined up ready for the off my all the importers. My first port of call was John Lampkin to have my first go for 2 year on a 270 Beta. Luckily I had signed on for a ride time of 10.00am but when I arrived at Johns stand it appeared that no-one had booked it for the earlier times... bargain, I got to for 30 minutes!! I had been told that the 270 has always been an animal only needed by those that ride the British Championships so was ready to be dragged around the quarry with no control on my part what so ever!! How wrong could I be. True it is a hell of a pokey beast, but not so much that it will just take you away as soon as you look at it. This bike had the original flywheel weight fitted which just took the edge off the raw power enough to make it easy to get on with straight away. But be warned, if you crack the throttle open it will fly, and continue to fly until you get back in control or hit something very hard!! I personally like a quick response from the bottom end and would remove the weight but it is brilliant that the option is there from standard.
I had a 2008 Rev3 250 for a full play recently and loved it, basically the best bike I have ever ridden. I ordered a 250 on the spot... well I changed my order today. A 270 is now on the way!! There are several reasons for this. I haven't had a new trials bike since i was 16 and certainly won't be getting another one for some years to come. There is absolutely no chance of me wearing out this engine!! Another reason is that as I get older, well over 40 now, I am getting lazy with my riding and the idea of being able to stick this in a gear and stay in it without having to play with the clutch to get it to launch is very nice, not that the 250 requires this much but in my mind the big powerful engine will pull me up or out of anything... and possibly into loads of trouble that remains to be seen!!

The ride is perfect for me, I have been riding Beta for the last 2 years and this felt familier but better. For some reason the 08 feels lighter to ride than just about any other bike I have tried. And it balances easier. The new carb has improved the running all the way through the rev range, but this could also be down to the changes inside the engine. The supension feels that little bit better again, but no doubt that is because my bike was 2 years old (although to be fair I did have a new shock a year ago after breaking mine!) The rear suspension, always famous for it's grippy feel, is even better. I have tried to find anything to moan about... only 2 things I can think of are the front mudguard, I think it would be better in white, and the rear shock mud flap. When the bike is new and the rear tyre is close you will find that it wears through quickly. But they are cheap and this problem gradually fades as you adjust the rear wheel back. .... basically I can't wait to be fit again and get mine!!

... My tennis elbow is causing great problems for riding and after about 10 minutes it started to ache again so it was ideal that I had a good break in between riding the 4 bikes that I managed throughout the day! My next bike was the Scorpa 250 sy.
It does feel a little large when you first stand over it, the engine is visible when you stand up on the pegs and look down. And as you ride away the whole thing does feel slightly "older". By that I mean neutral, no steep head angle or super light front end. It rides very nicley over the rocks and up and down the banks. The engine is very smooth but just doesn't have that kick that I like when I wanted it. For a very good reason I can see why this bike is popular with the clubman and over 40's riders.... Just does the job. The finish is very nice and the new colours help it to look more modern. I thought the darker colour schemes of the past have made the bike look even bigger than it feels.
The weight seems to be a little more towards the top as it didn't balance as easy for me as say the Beta. But if ridden more traditionally, without using the clutch and stopping and hopping, it tracked lovely through the little rocky section that I tried all the bikes through. I did seem to catch the sumpguard on the rocks more when riding off things. No idea what the clearence is but if you owned one it would be a case of knowing that it may catch easier and pushing the front out a little more.
All in all a nice feel to ride, but for me just felt a little old fashioned in the motor department.

My next ride was on the 290 Sherco. In previous years I have loved this bike and it has been a close run thing between these and the Beta for what felt good straight out of the bay. Perhaps it is because I have now become so used to the ride of the beta, or just that something has changed on the bike. I just didn't click with it this year. The most surprising thing was the feel of the front end. It just wanted to go straight. The bike felt shorter than the others and I couldn't turn it nicely on the tight gravel turns. I did think it may have been the bar position but Ben was riding the Beta at the same time and when we sat side by side they were about the same angle. The engine is still very nice with loads of power but not overly agressive like the 270 Beta may be without the flywheel weight on. The rear suspension was a little hard for me but I do have the Beta's set very soft and obviously am used to that. The new colours once again look very nice... this years craze for white background on several of the bikes have freshened them up a bit.
After 10 minutes on the bike I had to stop as the front end just made my arm hurt like hell as I tried to get it to turn how I like. It was just harder work for me on turns and on the larger rocky bits to place the front where I wanted it. It was a shame as I have always said that if I had ever wanted to change from the Beta I would go for a sherco, but on this first ride I wouldn't. No doubt if the bars were moved and I rode it for longer that may have changed but we were in the same boat with all the bikes.... ride it how it arrived.

... After a nice break watching Jarvis, Danby, Haslam and Craig Robinson play on the quarry face it was time for my final ride of the day. The Beta Rev 4t. When I went to the hut to book another ride everyone else had beaten me too the GasGas and Montesa 4rt and the only slot left was on the Rev 4t. I have ridden one for the best part of a day recently so this was just a nice little play to finish the day off and keep my hands and feet warm!! I like the Rev 4t because it feels like the Rev3 to ride, a little bit less revs to play with and a small amount of engine breaking. The ideal bike for the club riders and those that like 4 strokes. Unfortunately I am one who doesn't want to go 4 stroke for Trials. I have had enough years trying to ride the 2 strokes to any standard!! I certainly don't want to learn to ride differently now and I still am not convinced that we need it all. The 2 strokes are meeting the latest emission levels and they don't have to have all those extra moving parts manufactured, plus extra oil swooshing around. But what is nice is that Beta, Sherco and at the moment Scorpa give you the choice. If 4 stroke is your thing then take your pick. Ben had a ride on all the 4 strokes I think so I will wait to see what his thoughts are.

I think that between us we rode all the bikes available on the day and will update here when i get the input from the others. It has to be remembered that aprt from Patrick we are all presently Beta riders and I think will all remain so for this coming year... to be joined by a couple of the others it would seem!!

With the news that Dougie Lampkin is to return to his rightfull home at Beta (see no bias here!!) I reckon it would be a good idea to get an order in for one soon as John always sells what he brings in and the news is that the next batch of bikes are going very quickly. Just hop my 270 appears in December when the money is going to be waiting!!

Cheers to all at BVM for organising another spot on day. If you wish to visit them for bikes or spares etc go to their web site.... HERE