iconic558

If you are shopping on a shoestring budget, I would say Beta as well having just been thru the same situation. 'Modern' bike wise I have only had a Montesa 315R to compare, they are not as bombproof (rear end rebuilt can be costly) as many would say but to be fair they are all old now, but I would say they feel, to me, a little lardy and low tech now. I simply adore gassers have had a few EC-200 enduros and NEVER EVER had a single issue with any on them....on competitions and Wales river drowning trips hare and hounds, if you cut my leg off it says Gas Gas Gerona...but sadly the trials bikes don't seem to 'do the miles' too well when getting a bit 'leggy', as we say in the car trade. Fantastic new no doubt, but used, maybe not, there will be a minter out there but you may have to kiss a lot of frogs? .....a cheap Beta Rev 3 still seems to be a good choice, solid built bike, easy and reasonable parts and seem to be in better fettle when shopping at the cheap end....engine and boxes seem to go for ever, even when tired, stator issues are not as common as maybe talked about but fixable, corroded cases, hmm well this can effect a lot of poorly bikes even with ali cases if tap water is used for coolant. One word of caution....I would ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS buy a bike that has been used competively, the rider will be maintaining it, no one likes a DNF after paying for entry fees and travelling miles.....those green lane, fun bike use only bikes are usually shi**ers that have never seen a spanner for years, run on Honmebase lawnmower oil, with zip tied fenders, air filters so dirty they may be of interest to a biologist and gearbox oil like oxtail soup. Ohh, so ask about service history, what's been done and by whom before travelling, if the guy says, "yes full service history, I looks after her better than my baby....she even had a new plug in 2009" you know it ain't worth starting the van and wasting the diesel! Dare I say it a dealer trade in should be a safer way to go also, a good dealer will only sell a 'cheapie' if it's sound and don't want the comebacks on a low margin sale. I have a car sales and the cheapies get the same care as the newer stuff, if not more, as it's liability to my name and I hate phone calls about broken cars! note....theres a few stolen bikes out there, many innocently being sold on, do check numbers are present....and more a few with ground off frame numbers! I always buy a road registered bike, this way I can do a HPI check to ensure the isn't recorded as stolen, has unpaid finance against it etc.

This is going to sound like a proper rookie question, but here goes, ...as I understand it there are only 3 main overall 'bike classes' for trials....if we take out vintage brit stuff? 1/ the modern stuff, where anything goes class. 2/ the twinshock class. 3/ and the evo class, which I think is air-cooled mono pre 1990? But there seems to be a missing class?....some of those so called 'modern', 'hi-tech', 'cutting edge' modern class bikes with mono and liquid cooling are well over 20 years old, and two decades development is, in my experience light years in respect of better design for competition bikes.....I come from a enduro background so I'm assuming a lot here with respect trials bikes ? I'm thinking of all those now 'obsolete' but useable trials irons many of which would be classed as 'field bikes' by some now, barely worth the price of an engine rebuild for many bikes. Those which fall into the trap of being too 'new', but way too old to be seriously competitive in trials by Mr Joe Average rider. The result being they will simply sit in a shed rotting away unloved, but would make a good cheap way to get into trials, what with the prohibative prices of twinshocks and the mega buck evo's. Also, these low tech LC's have a large 'bike park' supply to keep prices down and there are quite a few choices about, Beta's in from 1989, Yamaha TYZ's, Fantic Sections, Aprilia Climber (1st LC mono?) and more. I'm not sure what the class would be called........evo 'plus'...'monkey motors'....'20/20' and 'wet ones'...maybe taken already? Just an idle thought from someone new to the sport....maybe we need to wait another 10 years as these 20 old bikes are possibly still too good, if so why don't see too many being used? I'm only interested as I'm looking at a Beta Zero....my wife loves purple, so maybe able to slip this past her... to go with my Rev 3 and was thinking there would be something like an 'old nail' class, unless I've missed something.....which is very possible

cheers guys, ....I'm still trying to get my head around this corrosion issue...is it part of the actual two crankcase halves or something that be replaced like the Rev 3 clutch case? As I undestand it the Rev 3, if corroded has an inner clutch case that the waterpump is part of and that is replaced...if that makes sense, or am I wrong? many thanks guys tidy video!

There is a Beta Zero (the Purple one!) close to me for sale, very clean from the looks of it, always had a soft spot for them. .....are they worth a punt for a cheapie trials bike? Are parts a pain to find, and wasn't there talk of corroded mag' crank cases, leaking coolant and not being repairable, or was that just pub talk from people who'd never owned one? cheers guys

Gassser have doing fi for a lot longer than Ossa

5 = no forward motion...? ....I have been to trials and watched some real talented riders hop, bounce, twist & wiggle for so long it looks like the M-25 queue for the Dartford crossing building behind them....fantastic to watch though!

+1

Many thanks for help and invites guys

Yes, thought I knew Paul from years back, going to do a few hours with him next week, many thanks for the help

Paul Nash, Nash? Nash?.....now I know that name? Was he the gasser dealer around Essex? If so proper nice guy, handy on bike too!

cheers guys

many thanks

Just bought a 2002 Rev 3 250, she came to me with the flywheel weight removed, but supplied with the larger casing too. She seems to ride fine to me but being a novice I wouldn't really notice good from bad, within reason. Is it worth refitting if it would help me....I'm guessing it would soften the power delivery somewhat? I have read that only UK models came with a flyweight...mud? cheers

Hi guys just bought myself a super clean & very well kept 2002 Rev 3 250, I don't know too much about these bikes to be honest, the only trials bikes I have owned being a white frame Sherpa, an '03 Montesa 315R and a '76 Honda TL125....oodles of enduros though. I did a search for year on year Rev 3 changes and couldn't find what I wanted....and to me they all 'look the same to me' all bar colour schemes....are there certain change over years for parts interchanging for items such as plastics, decals, levers, engine consumables, brake pads etc. I just need a gentle pointer no need for war and peace, although that would be welcome! any help, gratefully received PS I know already prefer the Beta to my 315R, she was a tough old bus but always felt a bit of lump even for a novice as I am, as for Beta owners whinging about sticky cold clutches, try a 315R on a cold frosty morning or a Honda TL125 even when warm....if you want some excitement.

Hi all, I have just bought a Rev 3 to do some trials on, but my trials skills are woefull. I think maybe a few hours of training in the basic techniques will go a long way....anyone know of anything in the Norfolk/Suffolk area, if not, I can travel so any recommendations? I did a trials event 3/4 years ago on my Montesa 315R down in Sidcup before I moved to Norfolk....I think i came 3rd from last....I'm guessing the other 2 guys DNF'd But even that trials taster brought my enduro skills to new heights, bare in mind I have low standards that I fail to live up to! I rode enduro's/hnh's for a few years on a sportsman scale, but I want to get into trials in bigger way now as up here I can 'trial' almost every weekend. I'm lucky in that I have a bit of land so can at least have a little play about, not much but luckier than some. cheers for any help