Smoking allowed...
By TMX Archives on 28th Sep 12
And the big news for two-stroke fans this week (as you can see on this very page) is the exciting new two-stroke enduro models from Beta.
Big news because this isn't just a rehash of an existing model, or existing engine.
The two-smokers are ALL NEW having been under development by Beta for over two years.
Having been brow-beaten by the powers that be in the sport (who in turn just might have been under the influence of other influential sources) that four-stroke was the only way to go Beta has now re-joined the two-stroke club.
At one time KTM was the only major factory to stand out in defence of the two-stroke against those who sought to kill them off.
And make no mistake, that was the ultimate aim.
However, the awkward bike-buying public refused to be bullied into what they would or wouldn't buy and, to the annoyance of certain parties, kept on purchasing two-strokes from whoever would supply them.
This has turned out to be the European factories, headed-up by KTM who still provide the real production volume, with support from the likes of TM and Gas Gas.
Beta has now joined this band of brothers with what promises to be a very tasty offering and I can assure you that they will shortly be joined by another Euro factory launching a new two-stroke enduro model.
This column has said repeatedly that without the small Euro factories knocking-out two stroke trials bikes the trials market, with the exception of Classic and Twin-shock, would rapidly cease to exist.
Motocross has, effectively, been forced into a four-stroke only sport by cynical manipulation of the rules. Which leaves enduro and hare and hounds racing and it is the explosion of interest in the latter that has rejuvenated interest in two-stroke sales.
I'm not knocking the performance of the latest four-bangers, they are awesome motorcycles.
But not everyone wants them, whether because they are too expensive to buy, or maintain, or are not worth rebuilding should they suffer a monumental blow-up.
Or simply because for an awful lot of us Joe Bloggses – who have to buy and run our own machines – a mid-capacity two-stroke is actually the ideal bike for the job.
As the mighty Japanese corporations appear to have washed their hands of the smokers altogether, the smaller Euro factories are all set to cash-in...
