The Minitrial is Beta’s trials bike for children, built since 2003 for riders of six to nine years old. Its chassis follows the competition range, while its 50 cc engine is closer to the firm’s enduro and off-road machinery. Beta also lists a family of Minicross models for young riders.
Beta Minitrial at a glance
| Maker | Betamotor, Rignano sull’Arno, Florence |
|---|---|
| Production | from 2003 |
| Type | youth trials and minicross |
| Riders | children of about six to nine years |
| Engine | 50 cc single |
| Chassis | trial geometry close to the competition range |
| Engine character | close to Beta’s enduro and off-road bikes |
| Minicross models | R 10, R 12, R 150, RR 50, RR 125 Mini, RR 125 Racing |
The Minitrial is described in a short Italian Wikipedia article and in the model lists of the Italian and English articles on Beta; the material is thin, so this page is based mainly on those three (based on one source).
History of the Beta Minitrial
A bike for the youngest riders
Beta introduced the Minitrial in 2003 as an entry into trials for children of six to nine. Trials had been the company’s speciality since the early 1980s, and the Minitrial was the smallest machine in that line.
Competition chassis, road-bike engine
The frame and the riding position of the Minitrial are very close to those of the competition range, so that a child learns the same stance as on a full-size trials bike. The engine, however, is only offered in 50 cc and is much closer in character and performance to Beta’s enduro and off-road street models than to a pure trials motor.
Minitrial and Minicross
Beta’s model list places the 50 cc Minitrial with the Evo trials range, while a separate group of Minicross models covers the youngest off-road riders: the two-stroke R 10 and R 12, the four-stroke R 150, the RR 50 two-stroke and the four-stroke RR 125 Mini and RR 125 Racing. Together they form the bottom of a range that runs from a child’s first bike to 300 cc trials and enduro machines.
Design and features
- Trials geometry for children: frame and riding position taken from the competition bikes.
- 50 cc engine: the only capacity offered, tuned for beginners.
- Enduro-like character: the motor behaves more like Beta’s off-road street bikes than like a trials engine.
- Place in the range: the smallest model in Beta’s trials line, listed with the Evo.
Beta Minitrial versions
- Minitrial 50: the standard children’s trials bike, built since 2003.
- Minicross R 10 and R 12: small two-stroke minicross models.
- Minicross R 150: a four-stroke minicross model.
- Minicross RR 50 and RR 125 Mini: two-stroke and four-stroke minicross bikes.
- Minicross RR 125 Racing: the racing version of the four-stroke mini.
The Minitrial is the entry point to the range that continues with the Beta Evo and Beta Rev-3; the road-legal small bikes are the Beta RR 50 and 125. More machines are in the Beta collection.
Video: Nils on Beta Minitrial
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Beta Minitrial, Italian Wikipedia: introduction, chassis, engine
- Beta Motor, Italian Wikipedia: Minicross models, place in the range
- Beta (motorcycle manufacturer), English Wikipedia: trials range background
