JonM

Ok, thanks for the responses. Given that there only a limited number of long range/seat & tank kits available the options really are only Sherco, Beta, TRS.

Thanks for the responses. Just to be clear, I don't expect to ride a trials bike like an enduro bike, I'm just looking for advice on the spread of gear ratios. Apart from the 321 TXT, can anybody advise which bikes maybe have 4 section gears rather than three? I believe perhaps the TRS?

Thanks, Konrad. ACU currently aren't keen on electric Enduro or MX bikes- and of course it's the range issue. I want to be able to do a lap (with a seat), come in, refuel, go again.

Thank you for the input. A Beta Alp (or Freeride, or equivalent) is no good to me as I can't use it as a trials bike. I'd keep my Enduro bike, as I do actually do the odd motocross race on it, too, and today was riding quite happily at a motocross practice track. Green laning doesn't appeal to me, I'm looking for a trials bike that I can use at for trials... ..and then put a bigger tank and seat on to do Enduro/hare & hounds practice. I know it's a knife to a gun fight, but at least it does one thing well.

Hi all, for context/back story I have a 300 Sherco trials bike and 300 Sherco 4-stroke enduro bike- and struggle to find time to use either! My trials riding is Novice level and living on the London/Essex border, my 'enduro' riding is the odd enduro practice day or Hare & Hounds practice day. Generally tighter stuff, and again I'm Novice level. I can't justify having both bikes, so am considering a trials bike with long-ride kit. A Honda 4-Ride is the logical option but I'm a little wary, so that leaves TRS, Beta, or Sherco. My Sherco has a biiiiiiig jump between 3rd and 4th, which isn't ideal. How do the TRS and Beta compare?

Thanks for the help. Yes, I think if he's said No once he will take the opinion that I'm chancing my arm/badgering etc... and is inclined to say No again. The journey is 14miles and I'm sure those of you who ride in South East England will know where I'm riding. It won't be the most pleasant 30mins but I HATE the agg of loading my car. The thought of being able to ride there is much more appealing but the only trials bike I'd trust is a Mont. Breaking down 14miles from home isn't an option...

Thanks, Jonny. I don't want to name the area but the owner of the land is very much 'my way or feck orf'. I'm sure that if I asked again it'd be a flat No, but if put one of those velcro Jitsie seats on my Sherco it wouldn't be an issue... I want a 4Ride as I'm a casual wobbler who doesn't have a van and lives on a busy estate with limited parking. Loading my bike onto the Dave Cooper rack is a ball ache which requires shifting cars around and inevitably blocking my cul-de-sac. It's 16miles to where I ride and it'd be so much easier to ride there & back, rather than the PIA of loading my car.

4ride owners, do you ever have issues with your bike being considered an enduro, trail bike or other? I'm considering getting one but where I ride strictly forbids enduro bikes. If the owner/operator considers it an enduro (or believes other might think it is) then it's a non-starter. I asked about a KTM Freeride last year and he said no... and he's not the most patient of men.

Thanks to everybody. I know this is incredibly subjective and what started out as 200 v 300 for a trials novice (albeit familiar with other bike sport) has evolved! Sounds like a 200 is forgiving, great on tricky stuff in the mud but can be frustrating compared to more forgiving larger capacity bikes (especially when grip is there). I understand a bike's behaviour is affected by many variables & gearing, timing, throttle tubes, flywheel weights, low comp heads, thick base gaskets etc can all be used to 'tune' but arguably if this was the solution then we'd all ride 300's- just with bolt on parts. That's not the case and I don't want to force a square peg in a round hole. I would love to experiment and try different bikes, but every change of bike costs money and inevitably whatever you buy needs money invested. I've decided the Beta Evo 200 isn't for me (thanks to help in this thread) and I've fitted new Michelins which are certainly softer, just from squeezing the knobs with my fingers. If I still don't get on with the 300 I'll try a 250, probably TRS from what I'm reading. Tractable power for the muddy South of England!

Great feedback, thank you. I've wondered why there are so few but put it down to fashion. I know the local trials coach advocates 300s and his daughter rides a 300, too. I was close to getting the 200 last week but came to the conclusion that when it's slimy & I'm tired I'd love it, but might miss the instant 'pop' of a 300. Back to the drawing board. I'm reticent to ask about bike brands, models or recommendations but locally TRS and Montesa seem to be the most popular models, often ridden by riders at a level o aspire to. (Good clubman, but not Expert).

Really useful advice, thank you. I'll try new rubber and see if there's an improvement.

Alas my budget doesn't extend to a bike that new, but I'm really interested to hear your thoughts. The Vertigo has FI and I guess you're a fan of the bike and its displacement?

On Sunday I was 7psi front, 4.5psi rear. The tyres were old, however, and until then I'd never looked at the date codes. Mid 2012 front and early 2013 rear. I'll be the first to say that I'm very inexperienced and trials is just a hobby. I'm a keen sportsman in other pursuits and haven't put enough seat time in- I get by more on my experience of MTB racing, cyclo trials and motocross. I've got new Michelins to go on now but I was absolutely awful. God awful. So bad. I'm willing to take drastic measures as my performance on Sunday is enough to make me a summer only rider.

Thanks for the input. Everything I've read about the 200 (from clubmen) is positive and based what conditions are like in the UK, plus the typically tight nature of sections, I thought it might be a winner. I did suspect somebody would suggest the 250 as middle ground...

First, some back story- are you sitting comfortably? Nov '20 I try my first trials bike, a 1971 Bultaco Sherpa 250. It feels really natural, tractable and I decide to get my own bike. Lockdown happens (again) so I don't really start riding until April, but I get a 2001 Gasgas TXT. Love it, but it's tired & needs TLC, so I go newer. Next up is a '13 Sherco ST300. It has a few mechanical niggles but when it works, it's good. I ride through the summer and autumn of this year. But now it's winter and OMG this is a different game. I'm struggling so much I'm failing to even complete easy sections. The 300 made carrying the front wheel over rocks or popping off small ledges easy, but now with my skill level that same character means wheel spin & no confidence. I'm honestly thinking of getting a Beta Evo 200; it'll be a better bike for me in the muddy south east on easy & inter sections, BUT, will I regret in the summer when the plentiful power of the 300 was an asset in the dry?