Beta off road demo

[Eastmidsbiker]

A kind person (Clare) from a Himalayan chat group I belong to (long story, but they go out Trail riding regularly in Derbyshire) posted this in the chat and I've booked to have a go on the new Xpro. It's only 20 minutes or so, but I'm quite excited to try the Beta. I understand 2 strokes have a friendly power delivery that will flatter my riding.... .

 

[Eastmidsbiker]

An interesting short test of the Beta X-Pro.

I was really interested to try this after trying the X-Trainer in Wales at the Mick Extance experience.

The surface was grass and mud, which is not my favourite and I lost count how many times I stacked it. I probably would have been better on a four stroke but that wasnt the aim of the visit for me, I really wanted to see how I got on with a two stroke.

I found the terrain really slippy and very hard to make any sort of progress without losing the back or front. Fortunately falling off was painless, but muddy. Im sure I would have improved with a bit of tuition and Ade Smith did his best to help me out, but I didnt feel comfortable.

In a way the test ride has been a great success, as I have now binned the idea of any sort of Enduro bike and will be sticking with Adventure or Dual sport bikes. I dont have or want a van (I think I was the only person to ride there).



A quick coffee and Belvita biscuit in Matlock Bath whilst I collected my thoughts, then home to wash everything . Mandatory Matlock Bath pic with current courtesy bike below. I rode home legs akimbo so as to not get too much mud on the Triumph.

 

[mikeyboy]

My two pennies worth.
Don’t discount an enduro bike based on riding on waterlogged mud and grass.
Be honest,how far would a big adv bike get across that ground?
And what tyres were fitted to the bike ridden?
My experience of a ktm 525 with properly set up suspension and top spec rubber ,
It would literally climb a mountain,it seemed to be unstoppable, and made things too easy.
A bike I regret selling but at the time I thought it would be a case of when it would bite me rather than if.
The stuff you regularly do on a big bike may well be very sedate on a proper enduro bike,and may lead you onto more challenging stuff,
Or the challenge of a big bike on the dirt may suit you better.
One thing I will say is a proper off road bike will be substantially cheaper to maintain if used extensively off road than a big adv bike

 

[Eastmidsbiker]

My two pennies worth.
Don’t discount an enduro bike based on riding on waterlogged mud and grass.
Be honest,how far would a big adv bike get across that ground?
And what tyres were fitted to the bike ridden?
My experience of a ktm 525 with properly set up suspension and top spec rubber ,
It would literally climb a mountain,it seemed to be unstoppable, and made things too easy.
A bike I regret selling but at the time I thought it would be a case of when it would bite me rather than if.
The stuff you regularly do on a big bike may well be very sedate on a proper enduro bike,and may lead you onto more challenging stuff,
Or the challenge of a big bike on the dirt may suit you better.
One thing I will say is a proper off road bike will be substantially cheaper to maintain if used extensively off road than a big adv bike

Thanks @mikeyboy , yes the riding conditions were not typical of what I would use it for, so that is a very valid point. I would have struggled to get around the course at all on my bigger bike. I'd loved to have tried it on trails in the peaks that I would normally ride.

The bikes were Ade Smith's that he uses for his enduro experience in Wales, so the tyres looked pretty good, but it was just 'orrible conditions for my limited skillset.

The RFS KTM's seem to have a great following, and I wouldnt rule out a cheaper bike (up to £3K) if I thought it was right for me. I do think a 4 stroke is probably best for me at the moment to allow me to chug around despite my unrealistic desire to be an off road two stroke riding god. I do want something that I can ride 100miles or so to a trail, which starts to push me towards dual sports or light adventure bikes. I am also an immature child and want to be able to spin the back wheel at will so prefer lots of power as well .

The fun is in looking and trying, and whilst I am an accomplished procrastinator I will sort out something lighter for next year, my target being the Hickling meet.

 

[mikeyboy]

As you are well aware ,
Despite the Chinese challenge.
There is no unicorn bike.
But I’d suggest riding a big 500/525 ktm before making a decision.
They really are a pussycat and a lion in the same package.
If I was to go down any off road route,with a good budget,I’d be heading this way.


In fact,rocky burns rally bike would be in my garage right now if I needed a machine like that.

 

[cookie]

From recent but limited experience of riding a friends 250 EXC 2T , it was an easier and more forgiving ride than my FE350 4T.

I can't understand how it felt so light when there's really not much in it according to spec?