June 21, 20251 yr 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?
June 21, 20251 yr I have a TRS but have never been more than about 20mph on it. Have you thought about a Beta Alp? You can do long distance trials and green lanes and so on. I keep looking for one but they are hard to find and the new ones are "rally" type to cash in on the adventure bike fad. I have a CRF250L but it would be useless for trials. Great fun though.
June 21, 20251 yr This is a topic near and dear to me. I keep spreadsheets with gear ratios for a variety of bikes. Modern trials bikes will all have the same problem, a wide gap between the "section" ratios and the "loop" ratios. The most even spacing I've measured among trials bikes was my old TXT321. Never had that gearbox apart, but counted motor revs per wheel rev as: 39.25, 33.75, 26.50, 20.75, 13.25, 9.00. Typically, a 6-speed box will offer a slight improvement over your Sherco's 5-speed. FWIW, I've discovered that single-speed electric trials bikes work really well as a technical trail bike.
June 21, 20251 yr Author 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.
June 21, 20251 yr Author 3 hours ago, konrad said: This is a topic near and dear to me. I keep spreadsheets with gear ratios for a variety of bikes. Modern trials bikes will all have the same problem, a wide gap between the "section" ratios and the "loop" ratios. The most even spacing I've measured among trials bikes was my old TXT321. Never had that gearbox apart, but counted motor revs per wheel rev as: 39.25, 33.75, 26.50, 20.75, 13.25, 9.00. Typically, a 6-speed box will offer a slight improvement over your Sherco's 5-speed. FWIW, I've discovered that single-speed electric trials bikes work really well as a technical trail bike. 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.
June 21, 20251 yr I would worry about any 2 stroke trials bike long term doing any sort of enduro. I dont particularly like 4rts, but you will at least know the gearbox and engine will stand the abuse
June 22, 20251 yr Viva Montesa 👍 Competition gearing preference is close ratio gearbox like an MX bike where enduro and dual sport typically used wide ratio gearbox. CR vs WR and once you ride both you will quickly develop a preference.
June 23, 20251 yr Author 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?
June 23, 20251 yr Just now, JonM said: 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? TRS are first three close together & big gaps from 3-4 & 4-5. So big I had to put a 56 on the rear of my 125RR so I could actually use those gears on more open higher speed single & double track.
June 23, 20251 yr I think you want something with a 6-speed. Here are overall ratios for two "obsolete" bikes. OSSA TRi 36.93, 29.99, 24.78, 20.73, 14.2, 8.45 Aprilia Climber 37.81, 29.65, 21.5, 15.45, 12.18, 8.45 Plus, one current bike (but it uses GG's 4/6 system and shifting will be more clunky than a true 6-speed). GagGas Pro (all) 31.77, 27.27, 23.19, 19.91, 11.93, 8.7 Here's the Montesa 4RT for reference 36.36, 30.97, 25.97, 16.53, 10.58
June 24, 20251 yr Author 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.
June 24, 20251 yr Montesa 4-stroke is So much broader in the power band compared to any of the 2 smokes, there would be no keeping with it in the long run. 4T only fire on every other stroke and don't burn oil the entire time.
June 24, 20251 yr Here's my analysis of that dyno comparison: https://www.electricmotiontech.com/home/what-makes-a-good-trials-motor/zero-loss-gearbox-anlaysis
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