Beta UK importer John Lampkin unveiled two electric powered Beta trials machine this week which will certainly stir up the market in non-fossil powered trials machine market. Designated Minitrial 20’’ and Minitrial 16’’ the listed price for the two models are £1.695 and £1.595. For that modest sum the next expense is boots, hat and gloves and the boy, or girl, is on the road to trialling.
Beta has stuck with handsome red and cream livery which tracks the current petrol fuelled machines. From a distance it is difficult to distinguish little from large. The main frame is alloy on both the 20 inch and 16 inch models. Wheelbase is 965 mm and 895 mm. Rear suspension is adjustable monoshock.
The most important dimension is the seat heights which are 550 mm and 490 mm respectively. Power wattage is 750 watts and a three stage control setting variable for 
different levels of skills can set power delivery.
Suspension travel is 45mm on both models. The 20’’wheel model weighs in at 25.5 kg while the 16” wheel version is exactly one kilogram lighter. The weight aspect is crucial for youngsters who are competing from the age of four upwards. Basically the lighter the overall weight and the bonus is better control. The front forks at 45 mm dimension and are oil damped.
The twelve volt triple battery capacity, series connected, puts out thirty six volts with a duration of nine ampere hours providing a continuous running time of two hours. That should more than exceed the duration time of a small wheels trial. From a safety point the drive chains and sprockets on both machines are totally enclosed in substantial moulded plastic casings.
Images courtesy of Barry Robinson.