2012 ISDE Six Days - 2012 Bike Prep Questions

[Graham]

Hi Steve,

Thank you very much, I will certainly pop over to see you. I think Brad will be the only one of the Team Canada guys on a Gasser this year, but I am not sure. The rental confirmations came very late and a couple went to Ktm/Berg. We've got one final planning session on Thursday night, then it's pack and head out on Saturday.

We only have 6 riders going, three men, three women, so if you happen by our area please do introduce yourself. I'll be doing my level best to make sure I can gather as much information as possible for Brad, and seeing as this is our first time at one of these, we'll need all we can get..! There are some really experienced people involved from our team, and it has been a huge help already, but we're certainly open to whatever advice one can get, especially on the Gasser.

Nice to know about the jetting. How much break in riding do you put the rental bikes through before starting the race?

Thanks again,

g

 

[roostafish]

I think I'm in the minority here, and I have as many mods on my list as most, but frankly, riding these bikes stock is completely doable. If I had made the team, my plan was to rent as well. The only thing I planned to bring were my Flexx bars and hand guards. I am in the 160 pound range as well, and it seems to be the magic weight for riding a bike with bone stock suspension. Fortunately, Saxony should be as close to Oregon, Washington, BC, terrain as it can get without actually riding here (much like NZ in 2006). It is easy to overthink these things. It will be better time spent eating and sleeping properly than screwing with the bike. Just my opinion, but I tend to over stress this type of thing myself, and screw up way more than I fix when I have such a short time to modify a bike. Install the Mousses, start the bike, set the sag and handlebars. Be safe, look ahead, finish and bring home a medal for Canada! Glad you can help your buddy out. Soak up the experience. I know he will appreciate your support.

 

[Berkyboy]

Good luck to the entire US ISDE Team.

I bought my current Gas Gas from Johnny!

The complete GoFasters.com team is Nick Canny, Zach Klamfoth and Johnny. I'm sure Johnny will do us proud as he's a seasoned ISDE veteran now and will take over the leadership roll as Canny and Klamfoth are both newbies.

This makes my 17th Six Days as a journalist. Attended my first Six Days in 1993 and have helped with the US GasGas effort since 2000.

GasGas actually has one of the better ISDE rental programs as they are just small enough that they can give the average club rider a lot of one on one support if needed, where KTM spends a lot of their energies on supporting mostly Trophy Team riders.

I'll set up some ISDE links here on GasGasRider.org for photos and other stuff once I get settled-in in a couple of days. My wife and I fly out tomorrow (Sept. 16th.)

In the mean time you guys can check out my www.EyeOnSixDays.com blog, which is basically a comprehensive starting point for following the US National ISDE team effort.

Steve

 

[Graham]

Hi All,

Just a quick hello from Germany.

We finally got our bike late yesterday, the GG truck was here, but could not get to its assigned spot so we lost almost a day to prep it. Once we got the machine we stripped it down, bolted on skid plate, hand guards, brake snake, and Brad's pegs, in addition to locktiting EVERYTHING, zip tying everything that couldn't be locktited, setting the Sag, prepping mouses, and mounting tires to name but a few of the items on the list.

We got it running this morning, check the jetting with the factory guys and one of the British Pro's, and while we're close, it's on the rich side which for this event is a good thing as there is so much open road and fast double track. After some initial shakedown runs and leak checks we took off to the MX track that is the designated practice facility and Brad got comfortable with it. The motor is very strong, I was quite impressed actually, even given the jetting is not perfect. The bike seems to fly well too, another bonus. I must say, watching Destry Abbot and some of the world's best play on the track was an entirely impressive spectacle.

Anyway, so far, so good. More testing tomorrow, then Impound tomorrow afternoon. Once that's done we've got two days to relax before it all goes off on Monday morning. Now that I'm here I'd give anything to be racing! Lol I suspect after seeing our crew roll in on day 5 of 6, I'll be happy to be a spectator..

Here are a few pix:

Anyway, I'm hoping to end up with a bunch more through the event, but I'll be very busy with time checks and helping out with all six Team Canada riders. I'll do what I can to get things posted.

The bike is really nice, rides well, and as mentioned the motor is very strong. I'm looking forward to getting out on the track to test it tomorrow morning if time permits. There are a few really great design features, and some that have left me shaking my head... More on all that later.

g

 

[ScottyR]

I am surprised that the rental program uses the std bike with the skinny forks. I would have assumed that the rentals would have been Race Models.

 

[myrcrocks]

I am surprised that the rental program uses the std bike with the skinny forks. I would have assumed that the rentals would have been Race Models.

Same here.

 

[Simmo737]

Maybe the new suspension tuning dudes they enlisted have made the bikes worthy even with 45 zokes.

Edit, they look like zokes but are but have DLC sliders so may even be Sachs?

 

[Graham]

It has a Sachs shock on it, yes.

 

[wheelie]

Thanks for the update/pics, wish you guys the best luck.
Why the mirror on the bike?

 

[Todd5774]

Mirror to be road legal in europe.

 

[Graham]

Supposedly we needed the mirrors, so the German Team sold them like hot cakes at 10 Euro each... we got to Tech Inspection today to find nobody, but nobody cared...! Lol

All the riders pass Tech, couple dramas but we got it sorted. Here's some from today, racing starts on Monday.

g

Don't ask... the shit you have to do to get a "race" hub and rotor for your rider these days... sheesh!

 

[Graham]

Couple more: