The Oset TXP-24 is the most enjoyable way to hone your skills

There was a time that if you wanted to ride trials, you had two routes: zingy little two-strokes or thumping four-strokes. That was until Oset arrived on the scene with its battery-powered trials bikes.

The story starts in 2004, although Oset-branded bikes quickly became a favoured route into the sport for first-time riders. Fast forward to 2025, and Oset has a full and thorough range of bikes, and with big investment from its new owner, Triumph, things are only set to get bigger and better for the brand.

To see how its latest offering, the TXP-24 performs, we’ve borrowed one of the trick machines for a long-term test, and while I’m most definitely not an accomplished trials rider, the beauty of this bike is that you really don’t need to be.

First impressions are important

I tested the previous biggest bike in the Oset range, the 24.0 Racing, a few years ago and loved what it provided. It didn’t, though, look quite as full production as the latest TXP models do. The flimsy-looking plastic side panels of the old bike are now gone, and the spindly trellis frame is replaced by a chunkier-looking (but no doubt lighter and stronger) frame with revised geometry over the previous generation bike.

Everything about the bike now looks much cleaner, neater and more full-factory. What hasn't changed is the quality of the equipment, and while the brakes and suspension have more in common with a downhill mountain bike than a motorbike, there’s a reassuring feel and quality to the components that belie the sub-£4,000 pricetag.

The switchgear and speed controls have also been updated, and instead of changing the power, delivery and top speed via some little dials under a plastic cover on the bike, there's a neat-looking (and totally waterproof) control panel on the top of the frame. You can even lock out the controls to prevent a less experienced rider from whisky-throttling themselves into oblivion. Which is a bonus.

You’ll learn new skills without even knowing it

It’s easy to understand why Osets have become so popular for new trial riders. There’s no clutch, no gears, and you’ll never stall it - just twist and go. That allows you to think about all the other things you should be doing with your hands, body position and head, without the worry that your going to be trying to kickstart a bike with a flooded carb every time you cock it up.

All trial bikes are light, but the TXP-24 take that to a whole new dimension, and from the second you get on it, you feel so at home thanks to 50kg weight. My first taste of the bike is on a mate's field at the back of his house, and in typical “yeah it’s not my first rodeo” fashion, I wind up the power and delivery and quickly find out that if you’re ham-fisted with the throttle, this thing will wheelie - lots! It’s not that the throttle is snatchy, but with such a lit of torque in such a lightweight bike, you have to be careful to begin with. Once you’re up to speed, though, the new motor of the TXP is very predictable. It’ll top out at around 25mph (which is plenty for trial riding), but the best thing is that it does that in almost complete silence.

While a conventional petrol bike would be ring-ding-dinging or thumping about the field, the Oset sounds like an overgrown Scalextric car, meaning if you are riding at home (should you be lucky enough to have a garden that size), you aren’t going to be pissing off any neighbours. It also provides you with much more consistent torque than a petrol bike, meaning you don’t have to be well-versed in the mystical witchcraft of torque curves to make the most of what the motor has got. Again, it’s just another thing you don’t have to worry about when riding around.

As mentioned, I’m not the world’s most accomplished trials rider. I’ve had a few goes over the years (on petrol and electric bikes), although at the end of every single one of those tests, the bike has always had so much more ability than I have. That’s still the case with the TXP. Yes, the geometry has been tweaked for performance and the riding position altered, but for me, what the TXP really does so well is be supremely versatile for a huge number of riders.

From total novices to the world of two wheels, to people like me, to club-level competitors. It feels like a bike that could genuinely be ridden by anyone and thoroughly enjoyed. For novice riders, it’ll provide them with a safe and accessible base to begin learning about throttle application and turning a bike. And for those already able to ride a bike (just maybe not experienced with trials), it’ll help you to learn things about riding that you’ll rarely be able to learn on the road. And then for the more experienced riders out there, who will be able to draw the maximum from the bike. There isn’t really anything these little bikes can't do that a petrol bike can, aside from a pop of the clutch (and another from the exhaust).

The versatility is also boosted by Oset offering an Enduro kit with the TXP, meaning in an hour or so, you can slip on a taller seat and tweak the bike for more long-distance riding. And while it still doesn’t look like a comfy steed, even with the seat fitted, it’s actually surprisingly roomy. The suspension is, as you’d expect, incredibly plush and soft, and the brakes, while stupendously powerful, have a measured and progressive feel that makes stoppies feel almost too easy.

And then back to the wheelies. After my first sketchy (and accidental) mono, I decided to spend a bit more time getting to grips with the art of electric bike wheelies. I’ve never really felt totally comfortable pulling a wheelie on an electric bike. The torque from them is so instant and chunky, you can quickly over-egg the pudding. With the Oset, the trick is to roll into the wheelie, and rely on the torque to hoist the front wheel while you control height with the back brake, which is mounted on the left handlebar. After about an hour of practice you’ll be hoiking the front wheel aloft with all the precision of a stunt rider. And I never managed that on the previous Oset 24.0 Racing.

All this fun does come at a price - battery life. The 50.4 volt, 28Ah lithium battery is said to provide around three hours of playtime, although that is massively dictated by the way in which you ride. I managed about two and a half hours of riding on my friend's field and around the forest that lines it before heading back to stick it on charge. Once you have the bike hooked up, you’ll be waiting for around two hours (up to 80 per cent) before you’ll be heading out to get muddy again.

Verdict

The biggest takeaway from riding the new Oset TXP-24 is how much of a great bike it is for just playing on. As I’ve said, over the years I’ve tested a number of petrol and electric trial bikes, but they always have a serious air to them. And in the case of the Electric Motion EPure, it feels every inch the out-and-out competition machine, built for people who really know how to ride trials. The TXP is different. While it can do the extreme trials stuff, it also allows you to play, to have fun, and to learn, without ever feeling intimidating, or like it's going to launch you into the scenery. I still get off the bike and feel like I’ve had a workout, but with the kind of grin on my face that makes my cheeks ache!

The Oset TXP-24 has an RRP of £4,195, although there is a deal on now (running till 30th June 2025) that can land you one for £3,995 - more info can be found on the official website.

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