Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/694092
2016 Beta X-Trainer Review About a week after Kevin Novello handed over the controls at Trail Rider last month, I got a call from Jim Myrick of Maine Cycle in Auburn, Maine asking if we would be interested in testing the new Beta X-Trainer 300 woods bike. Having read quite a bit myself about this interesting looking ride, I leapt at the chance and headed on over to Auburn to check it out. Being a fan of technical/snotty terrain, I've felt these fairly new trials inspired rides such as the KTM Fre- eride and Ossa's Explorer might be just the answer for New England rocks, roots and mud work. Light weight, low seat height, woods friendly 2-stroke power and a bit smaller in size could make for just the right tool for the job. Once we got the handsome little bike back to Trail Rider headquarters, we read the Beta brochure care- fully to familiarize ourselves a bit more with the X-Trainer. Beta markets the X-Trainer as their Entry Level offering, designed with fun in mind. We like to have fun and suited up for an afternoon of single track exploring. First impressions were noteworthy. The X-Trainer motor has been designed for electric start only and is shipped with no kicker. With the slightest touch of the button, it fires to life immediately. Beta offers an optional kick start package priced at $399.99 for those who feel a kicker would be missed. Myrick reports not one electric start issue to date and really feels a kicker is just not needed on the Beta's. Jet- ting for our location of just a few hundred feet above sea level was spot-on. It idles very clean, with no burble through the rpm range with zero spooge out 18 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com