diligaf

I just bought an Evo 290, was wondering whether the coolant still causes problems with the casing like the old betas, and if so should I change it out for another type of coolant such as motul? Or is this no longer a problem?

Yup bought a 290 prefer it for my style of riding

Ive been going through all of the above recently since I sold my 280 pro. If I were you I would ride a 2010 290 Evo its all the gas gas 300 should have been stock IMO. The 300 just too much bike for most stock, the 250's are nice bikes but I also prefer more power. The 290 has a very mild motor and is easy to ride. Dont buy till you rode one, it may be just right. I plan to buy one, all I need to ride is the 2010 gas gas 250 to be 100% sure.

Im going to update this post to help those searching the forum for answers. This is what ive found through riding the relevant bikes. In summary Gas Gas 300, really too much bike, you feel rushed and forced on the bike really a good/expert riders bike. If you buy one it needs work to ride, gearing, base gaskets, flywheel weights ect. Gas Gas 250 very nice bike, the 250's need a lot rider input body english to get over biggish obstacles, will help most riders because of its mild manners but needs to be ridden to get performance on more difficult terrain. IMO the best 250. Beta 250 also good bike but as a 250 feel it needs a bit more oomf. The 250,s are revier and feel less planted than the bigger bikes dispite no real weight diff. More forgiving in a way but not necessarity easier depends on your skills and riding style and terrain. Lastly the Beta Evo 2010 290 the best of the lot IMO. The bike is very easy to ride planted and controlled but with a very mild motor that has enough pop if you need it. Also you dont need to do any work on it stock. This bike my choice

It really seems that a 250 is the way to go esp at sea level.I have had approx 10 to 1 advice to buy a 250. Ive realized its prob my bigger is better mindset that is getting in the way. Ive only owned bigger trials bikes, 270, 280 ect and havent taken the 250 seriously. But all shops and all riders that own them say it was their best decision. Ive now ordered a 250 and think it is a good decision.

Im going to ammend my previous post. I have had a 290 Evo demo for a few days and damn its nice. Carb now 100% and the bike is awesome. Im an intermediate rider and this bike really performs well, very planted and easy to ride. Im going to order a Beta what ive got to figure out if a 250 would be better. The 290 offers a lot of tuning via flywheel weights, throttles and the rest so prob go that way as opposed to being under gunned on a 250 but i need to think about it a while longer at least I figured out that I would like a Beta.

I am in the market for an 2010 evo. I have ridden the 290 and like it but am getting lots of guys telling me to get the 250 instead. I cant get one to ride so must decide unridden. I think the 290 easier to calm down ala gearing, flywheel weight, base gasket and throttle if I find it too much than trying to beef up a 250. I will keep this bike three years or so dont want a bike that is underpowered. Am I seeing this wrong??? any input would be appreciated.

I am in the same boat as you. I have sold my bike now must decide, ive owned both beta and gas gas. Your question doesnt have an answer. Gas gas is more reliable but not as well built as beta. Betas are plagued with little problems, carbs leaking, stator this or that much improved in the evo but not gone. The 280 and 300 gas gas too much bike for most so riders spend time making them ridable, gearing base gaskets, flywheel weights ect while the 290 beta smooth as butter, and so on. In the end ride them all and buy the one you connect with and live with the shortcommings because they both have little problems here and there but neither is better than the other. Good luck

I interested for any opinions regarding why a 250 is a better bike than a 280 or 300. I will have to decide soon on a 2010 and have just come off a 280. Many riders are saying buy a 250 I have ridden both but havent lived with either so am interested in debate on the strengths of the diff bikes.

There were a few probs, rear hubs and bearing too small lead to bearing collapse, swingarms broken even a few frames broken. Not lots of frames but there were breakages, also swingarms but real prob was the hub and rear bearings not good The factory does replace all of the above so if you have problems will be sorted 2010 sorted im told

The Beta 290 very soft power, doesnt feel like a 290 very easy to ride. GasGas 280 or 300 a different kettle of fish they are less friendly shall we say

Good advice,I intend riding a 250 for a day to see how well they go. In fact I'm going to take my 280 and go riding with a friends 300 and anothers 250 and see. The bike I buy now must last the next 5 years so I cant make mistakes I will give detailed feed back of my impressions once Ive done it as this may help someone else in my position.

I would appreciate any advice. I own an 07 280 and will place an order for an 2010 bike now. I must decide between a 280 and a 300. Does anybody have any advice in this regard, is there much of a diference??. Thanks

No weight yet, just looking at options, The 280 can be a little fiesty, I'm considering what to do. The gaskets are real cheap and easy to fit so thats my first choice.

I want to decrease the compression on a 280 pro. The stock is 0,8 what is a good gasket thickness to use and can you combine 2 gaskets?? I'm trying to tame the 280

If you are still not sure of a gasser vs evo then bear this in mind. I know four riders with evo's, all selling because of starting problems, siezing, rear wheel hub collapse and so on maybe the 2010 would be better but 09 probs galore . Gassers seem to be as reliable as the next not saying much(none are yamaha wr's) but there is no better /more reliable trials bike. The evo 09 I wouldn't touch. But I would wait for the 2010 gassers they almost here and are very pretty bikes.

We forget if it has wheels it can injure and kill end of story. About 10 years ago two trials riders were killed in my area when they collided out of section. So even trials riding can hurt even severly injure you. I have to say less than enduro and MX if you don't try big moves. Get well and good luck.

I have owned a number of different bikes here is my experience. Rev 3 Beta, build quality very good with good components and longevity BUT carb, stator ect junk so not reliable but well built. Beta Evo had great potential I thought BUT no change to stator, carb issues now add lots breakages, frames, wheel bearings, swingarms, looks the part but isn't. GasGas 09 not the same build quality as Beta, spokes rust, bolts rust ,also broken swingarms and don't age as well BUT reliable with no carb issues or electric gremlins. I now own an 07 280 pro which is great never an issue and as it was cheaper than new I have blinged it up for little money i.e stainless steel bolts, anodized spokes, suspension ect. To summarize GASGAS was my choice because of reliability issues with Beta's, I took care of the things I didn't like spokes ect. I think that the 2010 gas gas might be nice with the improved aesthetics I mean why would you make a trials bike red and white, just not smart but black and red nice. Good luck hope it helps

The new gassers may have a few problems (I'm gonna hold onto my 07 280 pro after all the problems with the new bikes) but here in South Africa they are standouts of excellence by comparison to the Evo's. We just completed a national event and the evo owners are hopping mad, rear hubs breaking, swing arms breaking, a few frames broken, a couple of siezures and best of all intermittant electrical faults. It seems that the boundary of weight vs reliability has been crossed by all the bikes. I am really going to wait a while before I buy a new bike again, the pendulum swings and seems too far to the one side at present.

I know it bummed me out aswell. The problems were also random so I couldn't blame the rider. I will look at the 2010's to see if similar probs develop, I hope not.

No filler necks broken but seen and heard of other problems. Wheel bearings collapsing, frame broken, electrical problems. I wanted to buy one but there have been a lot of reports of problems with these bikes in my area. I really like the quality of the fittings ect but they seem to be getting let down by reliability issues. I'm hoping the second generation will be better.

Thanks for the info but all of the above is as it should be. When I finally seated the cover the kick start feels stiff on the return, is it possible that the kickstart mechanism has become displaced and causing the problem?? This doesn't make sense to me at all.

I have just repaired the shift shaft locator on my 280 pro. Here's the problem, I can't get the side cover back on, there is an obstruction which isn't the return spring or the water pump.I am at a loss, any ideas??.

I found that the owners nose is the best tool and it also prevents it happening again somehow.

Have you looked at the bearings on the inside of the clutch "the clutch bearings". There are two of them and being needle bearings when you worked on the spring maybe the bearing was damaged or maybe you only put one back. Have you torqued the clutch hub bolt correctly?. If you have done this then maybe the problem is elsewhere in the engine it has to be there are no more bearings on this side that would be that noisy.