Trials riding is hugely popular
in Europe, not so much in the
U.S., but it does have a small but
strong following here. Why trials
isn't so popular here is some-
what baffling because trials
riding is so much fun and Ameri-
cans love to have fun. Maybe it's
because most Americans haven't
had the opportunity to try it; if
they had, they'd be hooked. Or
perhaps people get intimidated
by all the YouTube videos of
world-class trials riders, like Toni
Bou, doing mind-boggling stunts
on trials bikes. Just know that
you don't have to do what they
do to have fun on a trials bike.
Even motorcyclists like us in
the media don't do a lot of, or
any, trials riding and, we admit,
probably don't promote the sport
as much as we should. That's
why the folks at Beta have for
the last few years been hosting
its "Try Trials Day" for the mem
-
bers of the media to remind us
just how great the sport of trials
is and that we need to get the
word out. It also gives Beta a
chance to showcase its line of
trials bikes, all 13 of them! From
80cc to 300cc. Beta has a trialer
for everyone.
The first half of Try Trials Day is
just to get everyone reacquainted
with the finer art of trials riding
and then, after lunch, the real fun
begins—the Press Challenge.
This year, the Beta crew laid out
five sections (run twice), and
teams of two from each media
outlet battled it out for awards
but, most importantly, bragging
rights. Team Cycle News, made
up of co-owners Sean Finley
and Jesse Ziegler, was a sure
bet to win, right? Luckily, no bets
were made because Team Dirt
Bike came well-prepared with a
pair of ringers: three-time AMA
Trials National Champion Lane
Leavitt, and his wife, trials legend
Debbie Evans. Not surprisingly,
Team DB went 1-2 (they had two
teams), smoking everyone. Next
year, I say, some sort of handicap
system needs to be considered.
How about an automatic five
dabs for every championship on
one's resume? Oh, this could get
interesting.
The bottom line, however, is
that everyone had a great time
and that was Beta's point.
"If you're not okay with being
humbled or are scared of see
-
ing what your skills really are,
trials riding isn't for you," Ziegler
said. "The beat-down by Dirt
Bike magazine's talent (and, yes,
others) might seem like it stings,
but riding trials and 'competing'
is so fun, it's worth the shame
of defeat. Nothing shines a light
on my riding inadequacies like
a trials bike, but nothing is more
fun to try and master, either. Try
Trials is a great name for this
event—everyone really should try
trials, especially if you want to
have fun while becoming a better
motorcycle rider."
Kit Palmer
VOLUME ISSUE MARCH , P51
Challenging yourself and
your friends with a group of
buddies on trials bikes is...
well, it doesn't really get a
whole lot more fun.
Many motocrossers
and off-road racers
use trials to sharpen
their riding skills.
It's also a fun way to
challenge yourself.
