BETA EVO 4T 250
By TMX Archives on 22nd Apr 09
When the Beta 4T was originally launched in the REV3 chassis, in limited production, there was just one model, the 250, although a 300cc kit could be purchased separately.
It's been normal practise for years with two-strokes to have the 250 as your base model with variations of either smaller or larger capacity. Maybe John (Lampkin) would disagree but to me, the 300 4T is now THE model with the softer 250 as a useful variation.
I hate using the term Clubman but there's no doubt that the 250 4T is a great bike for club and centre riders. In fact Johnboy, with his legendary gentle throttle control prefers the 250 - but no-one would call John Lampkin a Clubman. You can tell that the engine is softer straight away just by the exhaust note which is more mellow. The motor still delivers the power in the same seamless way though. There is no sudden surge anywhere in the range, just a lovely smooth build-up. The engine is mechanically very quiet and as you would expect it handles exactly the same as the 300. The extra capacity is simply achieved by a bigger cylinder bore.
For some reason the 250 4T was high-geared which didn't do it any favours for low-speed manoeuvres and John did say that he prefers to drop a tooth on the gearbox sprocket - which is quite a drop. A small point but it would make a big difference.
Conclusion
The EVO 4T is where the Beta four-stroke trials story really begins. Go try one and see if you don't agree!
Two-stroke v Four-stroke
The four-stroke revival on the trials front, certainly as far as sales are concerned, appears to have hit something of a wall. And the main problem is a very simple one. Cost.
Taking the Beta EVO range on list price, the bottom line is there is more or less an £800 premium to be paid for the four-stroke option. Now, given that the EVO 4T is a VERY capable trials bike, with tester Woody Hole happy to state that he thinks it is the best production four-stroke he has yet ridden, the cost may be of no consequence to some riders. They want one - they buy one, the fact that a two-stroke is a cheaper option does not come into it. But to many other riders, the simple fact that they have to find another £800 rules it out straight away, even if it is a model they would otherwise consider.
Trials is a totally different ballgame to motocross. In MX the classes have been deliberately skewed by the authorities to make a two-stroke uncompetitive. In trials, you can actually ride exactly what you feel is the most competitive machine for you.
That Beta has moved four-stroke development forward is undeniable - whether it will move four-stroke sales forward we are about to find out.
Specification:
