Are you ready to go electric?

And although most factories have unveiled their weapons on sale for next season, at least in pictures if not quite in the flesh, there were still a few surprises.

 

There was a big display from Gas Gas and Beta and Sherco but  one small surprise was an all new Scorpa electric trials bike.

 

Scorpa, which is owned by Sherco boss Marc Tessier (who started Scorpa in his native France, then left to found Sherco in Spain and then bought Scorpa back when it hit difficulties in 2009) has been relatively quiet in 2012 but bounced into Milan with  its Sherco engined two-stroke petrol engined model - and the electric bike.

 

No-one knows what market there currently is for electric trials bikes but there is no doubt that they have now really taken off in the youth market as companies like Mecatecno and Xispa have joined the pioneering OSET revolution.

 

Mecatecno launched a cracking  big wheeled youth bike at The Dirt Bike Show where John Shirt also show-cased a working full sized Gas Gas electric model.

 

If four strokes turn you on then Montesa continues with its several variations of its 4RT which is renowned for its reliability and build quality. 

 

It remains the bike of choice for riders who want to finish events like the Scottish Six Days Trial and in Repsol mode you really can pretend that you are Toni Bou and tweak the electrics to suit yourself on your laptop. If you have any idea what state of tune really does suit your style!

 

Don't forget Beta though, the Italian factory also produces a very nice four-stroke that works considerably differently to the Montesa. The Beta rides more like a conventional two-stroke.

 

Xispa continues to update and to show its two-stroke model although we still await volume production but in 2013 who knows. 

 

Considering the economic climate  it is amazing we still have so many trials brands as in addition to those stated there's also Ossa and Jotagas - and maybe more in the pipeline...