VOLUME ISSUE FEBRUARY , P103
W
hen you think of trials riding,
what comes to mind? Toni
Bou's Instagram videos? Geoff
Aaron's Red Bull trials demonstrations?
The physics-defying acrobatics at the
elite levels might be enough to make you
dismiss the very idea of even attempt
-
ing to ride a trials bike, but a look at
the ground floor of this highly special-
ized sport is bound to offer a different
perspective. After all, not everyone who
rides motocross needs to be Haiden
Deegan, and you don't need to be a whiz
in a onesie to dive into the trials world.
No matter what kind of motorcycle rid
-
ing you do, the basic elements are at its
core: balance, throttle and brake control,
clutch finesse, strength, coordination
and endurance. When you strip away the
speed factor, these fundamentals are
what remain. Challenging these skills at
the foundational level will not only help
keep you sharp but can sharpen your
abilities and elevate your game in just
about any type of two-wheel activity.
This wasn't the exact sales pitch I re
-
ceived from Beta USA when I was invited
to a Beta-hosted Try Trials event, but af-
ter spending a season with the Beta EVO
Factory 200, it's the conclusion I can
now share with you. I can also say that
there is a whole new flavor of off-road
fun that can open up to you as soon as
you're ready to try something new.
In a challenge
from Beta USA,
I spent a season
with a trials bike.
The Beta EVO
Factory 200 two-
stroke ($8599)
was the mount
of choice.
