2012 300 Race Pics

[Vindicator]

I rode a TM 300E once, & that was enough for me. it had more power than I want to deal with in the woods. the owner said the same thing & then he sold it. it had WAY more snap than a KTM or GG 300.

TM's new 2011 engine is more mellow, more enduro oriented. Older TM's 300cc engine is pure MX character. TM's are well built bikes and with good quality components only bad rep comes from the italian electrical part. I think they run Kokusan now.

 

[mxfan69]

Not really sure what the question was in the 2nd paragraph but the '13 should be here in October.

Not a question, more joking around. Poking fun at everyone who pouts about their 2012's just now getting here when the year 2012 itself just now got here. I have always got tickled at the next years model showing up earlier and earlier in previous calender year.
I once bought a new 2001 Dodge truck on super-duper discount cause "they've been on the lot 9 months" and it was only January of 2001.......wow!

 

[gasgasman]

2012 GasGas testing day,,,,,,,,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwpwAXizbQw&feature=youtu.be

 

[mxfan69]

2012 GasGas testing day,,,,,,,,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwpwAXizbQw&feature=youtu.be

Cool vid, umm not so nice things to say about the music

 

[john01]

Yep cool video nice to see them in action.

 

[Jakobi]

Cool vid, umm not so nice things to say about the music

I'd have posted it on facebook however the music blows, and it takes too long to get to the action. Just because we all like to have buffet breakfast before we ride doesn't mean the world wants to see it

 

[Clay]

Not a question, more joking around. Poking fun at everyone who pouts about their 2012's just now getting here when the year 2012 itself just now got here. I have always got tickled at the next years model showing up earlier and earlier in previous calender year.
I once bought a new 2001 Dodge truck on super-duper discount cause "they've been on the lot 9 months" and it was only January of 2001.......wow!

Sorry! That one went right over my head!

 

[KTMSwade]

Silly question, but is the seat height roughly the same as prior year models or has the GG gotten taller like the KTM's? The 09 GG I ride was perfect for my 5'9" frame, but I have heard they are taller for 12'...didnt know if this was true or not.

So April for 250's. Clay, who is the closest dealer to KC, Springfield?

 

[Clay]

Silly question, but is the seat height roughly the same as prior year models or has the GG gotten taller like the KTM's? The 09 GG I ride was perfect for my 5'9" frame, but I have heard they are taller for 12'...didnt know if this was true or not.

So April for 250's. Clay, who is the closest dealer to KC, Springfield?

The bikes are taller now. They are pretty close to the KTM but not quite.
South of you is Cannon on Oklahoma City and north would be Hall's in Springfield.

 

[Clay]

So I finally caved and serviced the bike yesterday. I only had a chance to ride it around the parking lot at Castle Powersports but the motor seems really strong, especially down low. It is definitely stronger in the bottom that the '11 Nambotin I have been riding. I am moving all of my stuff over from my '11 to my '12 and as soon as I am done with that I plan to take it to the woods if it isn't raining.
My Nambotin is for sale now if anyone is looking for a good low hour bike!

 

[thumperrider1]

Looking forward to a ride report Clay!

 

[thumperrider1]

Clay, what gearing were you running on your 300? For the tight east coast stuff I'm wondering if I should change the 48T to a 50T when I get the 300? My 2011 250 could have almost used a 51T

 

[djroggen]

I know Clay is partial to the 49t and he is a much faster rider than myself, this is just my $.02

I am not fast by any means, I ride B hare scrambles, but I have ridden quite a few GasGas setups whether it is suspension or gearing or exhausts or bars, due to working with Mark @ GoFasters for a year and a half. I personally believe there is not a perfect sprocket setup for a course, I think a lot of the gearing choices should be made depending on how fast one rides, and it may even go one further and say how fast one rides certain types of terrain, or even the mindset of how one rides. For only $65 for a Renthal sprocket it may be worth owning both a 48t and a 49t.

I personally run a 49t but I am going back to a 48t. Main reason that I went to the 49t I was trying to get better power out of the corners and make it easier on myself in the tight stuff.

I found that sometimes in the tight stuff I really didn't need snappier power which i got with the 49, almost seemed like I got in more trouble with it and I am a 240lb guy without gear and I ride a 2011 300.

An example would be on a course with many sandy corners and all the straights are short, it would seem that bumping up the rear sprocket to combat the loss of power and since you wouldn't need the top speed in that situation.

I find exactly the opposite in that situation, with a sandy corner I would rather hook up and lug my 300 without my arms being jerked coming out of a corner. Now if I toned it down, maybe that 49t would be better.

With the tight stuff, I actually prefer the 48t. The main reason for that is that I hate shifting in the tight stuff making either 1st gear taller or 2nd gear wider, again I would rather lug the 300 and maintain traction than to have my arms jerked in the tight trees, especially where I like to maintain stamina to keep a good speed.

One important thing to consider, a 49t will make your gears narrower and on a 300 that is not really what you should be shooting for. With a 250 maybe. I don't think you can go wrong with a 48t or the 49t if most of your riding is done at low rpms the 49t wouldn't be a bad way to go but if you are pushing the bike into the mid range rpms the 48 is very tough to beat in nearly any situation. I also feel like the bike is tougher to bump start with a 49 on as well.

 

[thumperrider1]

Thanks VERY much for the detailed feedback. I will give the 48 a shot.

On my 250 2nd gear was wound out too much and third was a little bit too high for when it was tight so I was always shifting and probably letting the CORE EXP slip too much when in 3rd.........

I'm 150lbs without gear, so I for sure don't want to ride the 300 like a small bore.

 

[KTMSwade]

maybe you guys can help me...I hated my 09 KTM 300. Long story short, i went back to a 11' 250SX and instantly was back at home and could rev the bike plus it had no weird hit. Is the GG 300 along the same lines as the KTM 300 in that it likes to be short shifted? I am thinking the 250 two stroke is just the engine size for me as that is what i was used to years prior. How does the GG 250 run compared to the SX?

 

[Clay]

Clay, what gearing were you running on your 300? For the tight east coast stuff I'm wondering if I should change the 48T to a 50T when I get the 300? My 2011 250 could have almost used a 51T

I really like 13/50. I can short shift the heck out of it and it will pull out of the corners really well.

 

[Clay]

maybe you guys can help me...I hated my 09 KTM 300. Long story short, i went back to a 11' 250SX and instantly was back at home and could rev the bike plus it had no weird hit. Is the GG 300 along the same lines as the KTM 300 in that it likes to be short shifted? I am thinking the 250 two stroke is just the engine size for me as that is what i was used to years prior. How does the GG 250 run compared to the SX?

I think you would like the 250 better. The 300 is more like a 4t.

 

[Cruiser]

The bikes are taller now. They are pretty close to the KTM but not quite.
South of you is Cannon on Oklahoma City and north would be Hall's in Springfield.

That is the first thing I have heard that I didnt like.. cant wait to see how tall they are to see if I'd need to spend money on lowering one..

 

[Jakobi]

Clay, what gearing were you running on your 300? For the tight east coast stuff I'm wondering if I should change the 48T to a 50T when I get the 300? My 2011 250 could have almost used a 51T

Not Clay, but here in Australia we run a lot of tight single linked up with more flowing sections. In general the fun stuff is predomidantly 2nd/3rd gear. I found with the 48 that the bike was very ridable but you had to use first and had to use it often. The bike had a tendancy to drop out of the meat of the power as you got a few clicks up as well. With the 50T 1st gear becomes somewhat reserved for the real snotty sections. 2nd is snappy enough to shoot out of most corners under pace. The bike sings as you keep grabbing gears without hitting that 10K rev range.

I ran the 48T rear until it was shagged, then moved to the 50T. A 48T is 'faster' as you need to ride faster to keep the bike in the revs you require. Needs a bit more clutch abuse when things get really rough. Almost everyone I know here has moved to a 50T also. There is still ample bottom end in 2nd and 3rd to smoothly lugg the engine when you need to avoid the hit.

 

[JP4]

Jakobi quote; I ran the 48T rear until it was shagged, then moved to the 50T. A 48T is 'faster' as you need to ride faster to keep the bike in the revs you require. Needs a bit more clutch abuse when things get really rough. Almost everyone I know here has moved to a 50T also. There is still ample bottom end in 2nd and 3rd to smoothly lugg the engine when you need to avoid the hit.

+1

I like to lug the 300. With the 50t, 2nd gear does the trick in tight single-track. With my jetting set-up it pulls hard off the bottom and you can just keep twisting if you don't want to shift before the next corner - maybe I'm not a complete lugger (lazy) rider - I like to flow into and through corners, but once it's pointed somewhat straight I'd rather twist the throttle than shift. With the 50t, 1st gear is left to nasty sections where it's foot paddle time.

This thread is getting a little off topic from the original post ... sorry ...