200EC - Adult Beginner Bike?

K

kcampbe

New member
Hi!

I'm new to the board and looking for some advice.

I've been riding street bikes (V-Strom 650) for a couple of years and am looking to buy a bike for trails and off-road, no MX, but light jumping, etc.

I'm 48, 6', 240#.

I've been looking at the KDX220r and the KTM250EXC. I've recently come across a 2004 EC200 in my area for less than $2000.

I'm wondering if it will be enough power to move me around?

Any feedback or recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks - Kevin
 
All of those are good bikes. The KTM 520 is hardly a beginner bike! That might scare you off of riding in the dirt.

The KDX is a true beginner bike, and reliable as a stone tool. I love them, but at 240# you would find yourself taxing the suspension even in the parking lot. Certainly any kind of jumping is out of the question.

The EC 200 for less than $2000 is a good deal as long as it's not totally trashed. It shouldn't be, it seems that the value just drops to $2000 after a while no matter what it is. Strange but true.

What you can expect from the EC 200 is a solid chassis with great turning and good suspension. You still may overcome the suspension at your weight, but it'll be light years better than the KDX. The power will also be far stronger than the KDX, but certainly controllable. I wouldn't let fear of parts availability or reliability bother you, because the Gas Gas is reliable, and parts are readily available, and if you've got a good dealer in your area, he'll probably even stock parts the Kawasaki dealer would have to order (words of experience). The KTM too, should be a well supported machine, but I'd stay away from that beast. If it were a 250 EXC I'd be okay with it, but a 520 is a brutal beast, big, heavy, hard to start and won't turn. Oh, and it's a four stroke, so if it ever does break, it will cost you cubic dollars to fix. Two strokes are inexpensive to maintain.

Bottom line, I think you'd be okay on the EC 200, and if you find you need more power in the future, there are inexpensive ways to get huge gains out of it.
 
get the ec200,it's better than a kdx in every way. i don't have an opinion on the 250exc, i've ridden both the 200 and 300, but not the 250...

at 240# it'll at least need a front and rear spring. should be less than $200....

i'm 190 and am really happy with my 200, smooth controllable power, and enough of it to get you moving. it is not a lazy bike though.. it will keep you busy......i don't mx, just woods stuff.. i like smaller displacement bikes, i've went through most of the big 4t's, and lotsa vintage big bore 2t's.
 
Duh, I'm dyslexic. you did say 250 EXC, not 520!
The KTM 250 EXC is a great bike, at 240 lbs this won't be too much bike for you. Suspension again will be the issue. If that KTM is older than '05, I wouldn't bother, mostly because the rear suspension pretty much is awful, and the chassis is kind of unsettled, at least for me. The did get better after '05, but the Gas Gas has a far better chassis. In fact, any year Gas Gas handles better than any year KTM. Old GG vs new KTM, the GG still handles better. My opinion.
 
Last edited:
I am also looking at purchasing one of these bikes and I am a complete beginner,can anyone tell me the BHP of an EC200?
Also are they easy to drive slowly or do you have to rev the hell out of it?
Oh and one more thing,id have to ride it on the road for 10-15 miles to get to the trails,will it cope ok?

Thanks

(sorry for hijack :) )
 
hp is advertised as 37hp at 9500.

it's not like a 125. you don't need to rev it like crazy. but it is a 2 stroke.


i sometimes ride mine about 7 miles to a trail. top speed is above 60 (13/52 gearing) and it handles ok at that speed. dirt tires don't like pavement..
 
hi im 52 and the best bike for old is gasgas 300 i have ktm exc400 2004 before end husaberg 450 2004 go far from pds. Only from 2008 its start work the pds but its far from linkage bike :eek:
 
Don180 said:
I am also looking at purchasing one of these bikes and I am a complete beginner,can anyone tell me the BHP of an EC200?
Also are they easy to drive slowly or do you have to rev the hell out of it?
Oh and one more thing,id have to ride it on the road for 10-15 miles to get to the trails,will it cope ok?

Thanks

(sorry for hijack :) )
Click to expand...

I had a '99 EC 200. After break in, the shop owner insisted on putting it on the dyno to compare to a KTM 200. The KTM made 33 hp on the dyno, with a street tire (makes a difference). The Gas Gas made 31 hp (with street tire). THis was unacceptable to him and he went in search of enough horsepower to make more than the KTM. We got it, it was easy enough, but bottom line, it didn't need it. Stock, that bike was very friendly and easy to ride, and 31 HP, or 35 HP makes no difference in how you ride, only how fast the bike is.

The bike will easily tolerate a 7 mile road ride, the six speed tranny makes that a breeze. It's still a 2-stroke, tuned for off road, so it won't be exactly like riding a Gold Wing, but totally doable.
 
As a fellow beginner let me give you my experience. I started riding dirt bikes when I was 23. I'm 26 now and didn't really have much opportunity to ride the first couple of years so I'd say my riding ability is that of a newbie with 1 to 2 good seasons under my belt. I'm 6'0" 160lbs.

I started with a 98 KTM 250EXC. This was probably a mistake. Too much power for me starting out. Coming from snowmobiles it took me a while to get used to a twist throttle. Whiskey throttle on a 250 in the woods = bad news. Last year I bought an 05 DE200 w/ Ohlins suspension after reading all the great things about Gas Gas chassis and suspension. My first ride on my 200 and I knew I had found the right bike for me. I wish I had started on a 200. It has plenty of power, especially for the tight woods I ride in, but it doesn't kick your teeth in if you make a mistake either.

I usually ride my bike a gear high and kind of lug it, especially since I installed a rekluse auto clutch. It's got a fair amount of low end power which is improved by the LTR power valve cover, Boysen reeds, and FMF pipe which came with my bike.

I love the bike because I can ride it anyway I want. Lug it out of a rocky gully, or snap it out of a sandy corner on the pipe, it loves it all! It's right in the middle of the 125 and 250/300 power types. Its the Goldilocks bike. Maybe that's why they're yellow. :D
 
I too would like to join the 200 club. I am not a beginner. but at 46, 5'9", 190# I think this would be the perfect bike for me. I would like to do a few enduros and hare scrambles in the 200 C and/or C 45+ class next year. This year I need to get back in shape, find a bike and fit it to my needs, then practice, practice, practice.

Now for my questions: Do they even make a 200 for 2010? Gas Gas USA and the Gas Gas factory in Spain does not show one for 2010 but some of the dealers web sites do. Dreaming about a brand new bike but most likely just dreaming.
So on to a little older bike. What years should I stay away from? so to speak,
I'm thinking more like I should look for a 07-09. Can anyone tell me when big changes were made to the 200 ? from say 2004 to 2009.

Thanks!
 
The EC200 would suit 80%+ of riders as the perfect bike. Just get it, if you need more power one day you can sell it for the same money.
I'll bet you a nice cold beer that you will not regret buying the EC200

Cheers
kim
 
tommie d said:
,
I'm thinking more like I should look for a 07-09. Can anyone tell me when big changes were made to the 200 ? from say 2004 to 2009.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
to the best of my knowledge, the big changes were in 07 with subframe/seat/plastics/rake. the motor has stayed the same since it's inception, aside from head change in 2001.
 
My .02. I've been riding since I was 20, I'm now 31. I've never taken the opportunity to ride as often as many people on here, with school, career, and then children committments. 1-2 times per year I might race a harescramlbe in the C class. I'm trying to say that you can take my advice as advice from a relative beginner who has been riding for a while.

I started on a '97 Honda CR250, then went to an 01' WR150f, and now on a 2007 EC300. The CR hit way too hard for a beginner in the woods. I've never ridden the GG 200, but I suspect that it is relatively pipey and doesn't have much bottom end.

I suggest going with the GG300 or a 250f. The 300 will have more power than you will need, but you can put the dual ignition in "rain" mode and you'll have no troubles. The bottom end and relatively low hit makes the bike very easy to ride. A 250f is also easy to ride w/ manageable power, but doesn't have the extra power of the 300 when you want to spice things up.
 
Thanks all!

Here's the ad text of the EC200 I've been looking at.

For Sale: 2004 EC 200:
Rekluse Auto clutch (still have stock parts to convert back if not wanted)
Marzocchi Shiver forks
Ohlins Rear shock
Over sized IMS tank (also have stock tank)
Iron Man sproket
FMF Pipe and silencer
Bark busters
PG gripz graphics
guts seat
2 spare air filters
Scotts steering stabilizer tower.

Asking price is less than $2k. Pix look good.

I figure if it's not enough power I can hand it off to my 16 year old and step up after I get more seat time.

Yea or Nay?
 
i saw that one - looks decent, and lotsa extras already put into it... and if you don't like the rekluse you can always sell it... don't forget you're gonna end up with cash into revalving depending on how it was setup.

if you're looking cheap - there's a 03 ec250 in iowa for $1200....not a 200, but dirt cheap at that price.
 
I just got a EC200 and took it our yesterday for a ride. I'm 39, grew up on dirtbikes & just recently got back into dirtbiking. My last dirtbike was a KTM 200EXC about 5 years ago. I'm certainly no expert rider - I just ride for the fun of it.

Anyway, after one ride, the Gasser seems to be easier to ride than the KTM. The hit on this bike is much tamer thus making the bike easier to ride. I was much less tired after riding the Gasser. I hope this helps a little.
 
mwike said:
I just got a EC200 and took it our yesterday for a ride. I'm 39, grew up on dirtbikes & just recently got back into dirtbiking. My last dirtbike was a KTM 200EXC about 5 years ago. I'm certainly no expert rider - I just ride for the fun of it.

Anyway, after one ride, the Gasser seems to be easier to ride than the KTM. The hit on this bike is much tamer thus making the bike easier to ride. I was much less tired after riding the Gasser. I hope this helps a little.
Click to expand...

What year is your 200? I'm looking at a 07, well just waiting on the taxman so I can go buy it.
 
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