I recently got a buddy into trials and on a Sherco 200 (BRILLIANT bike, BTW).

He's a good rider and was sponsored by a local KTM dealer to the tune of two bikes a year.

We were out riding and he wanted to try a big climb, "I'll take you to the Widowmaker."

My son and I followed (1.25 and 2.9 Shercos).

We got to the top of a moderate hill when he stopped and said, "I guess it's not such a hill on a trials bike, eh?"

"THAT was the Widowmaker?" my son said.

I've encountered this numerous times.

Why is it that Enduro/Trail bikes are so terrible at climbing hills compared to trials bikes?

Power delivery, height, weight & suspension are the likely reason, depends on the type of hill though

Shhhhh! Clearly trials bikes make people better riders

I agree. I find it alot easier riding my beta than I did my kawa. My guess is its weight. Moves need to be over exaggerated to get a heavy enduro bike to do what you want.

In general I would say the Trials bike would be ones weapon of choice.

Not always though,look at some of the extreme enduros.

You need sheer power and lots of travel to get up things.

Trials suspension doesn't work well at speed.