2014 Gas Gas EC300R

n_green

New member
After finally getting the jetting and suspension sorted nicely on the '11 I decided to go have a ride of a newer model just to see what it was like. The short ride of the '13 model was like a dream come true. I gelled with the bike instantly and fell in love. Overall it was a silly idea, I ended up buying this, a 2014 300 :D





Took possession this afternoon and only had time to look at her for a brief moment before being given my 12 week old daughter while the wife went out for the night, so I haven't done anything other then stare at the moment.

One thing I did do was quickly compare the height differences between the '14 and '11. I've always said that if the '11 was one inch higher it'd be perfect, seems they listened because even in stock form with who knows what sags the '14 sits higher by almost that much.

--------------------------------------------2011----2014
To bottom of bash plate:------------------320mm--------320mm
To top of foot peg:-------------------------380mm--------395mm
To top of seat at junction with tank:------925mm-------950mm

The bike was pre-delivered to me with a force bash plate/pipeguard combo and force radiator guards. Over the next few days I'll go over it all and remove all the blinkers, tail extension, horn and other non-essential stuff, replace the handlebar choke with a plunger style one, put on some decent hand guards (I crash a lot onto hard rocks), set the sags (although I know I'll need heavier springs) then hopefully take it for a ride.

In the meantime, isn't she purdy :D :D :D :D





 
12 week old and a new bike :eek:. Way To Go!

No kidding...lol

That's a great looking bike; though I have to admit the taller seat height is a slight bummer for this inseam challenged rider. At least it's not as crazy as my old KTM 300; at 38.8" it was impossible to get a foot down.

I'm curious about the skid plate/pipe guard combo - how easy is it to take off when cleaning the bike? The guard looks like it might catch a whole bunch of muck off the front tire - like a giant mud catcher. I like the concept and it's probably much easier to remove than the 2 pipe clamps typically used on CF guards.

Looking forward to the first ride report :cool:
 
No kidding...lol

That's a great looking bike; though I have to admit the taller seat height is a slight bummer for this inseam challenged rider. At least it's not as crazy as my old KTM 300; at 38.8" it was impossible to get a foot down.

I'm curious about the skid plate/pipe guard combo - how easy is it to take off when cleaning the bike? The guard looks like it might catch a whole bunch of muck off the front tire - like a giant mud catcher. I like the concept and it's probably much easier to remove than the 2 pipe clamps typically used on CF guards.

Looking forward to the first ride report :cool:

Force guard is a 1 bolt affair! They are heavy though (so someones just given up his weight savings), and as suggested can hold their weight again in mud given the right conditions! Does a top job at keeping the frame rails and pipe in tact though!
 
What ?!? You didn't weigh it? :D


My 12 week old weighs about 5kg. The new bike weighs about the same as me I reckon :D

It feels a bit lighter then the '11 to push around although isn't as easy to lift at the rear guard, not so much due to weight as the guard on the '14 doesn't provide as good a handle as the '11.
 
Force guard is a 1 bolt affair! They are heavy though (so someones just given up his weight savings), and as suggested can hold their weight again in mud given the right conditions! Does a top job at keeping the frame rails and pipe in tact though!


That's good then, it was put on for me during pre-delivery. I literally haven't done anything other then drool and take photos of it so have no idea how the guard comes off or if there is oil in the tranny. Jake is right though it's full to the top, just brand new oil so still nice and clear.

I don't care about weight, I didn't buy the bike for its lightness, what do I look like a pumpkin eater :D
 
Woke up early this morning and couldn't sleep so before work I pulled the rear shock out of the new bike. Did some ringing round yesterday and because the reiger is new no tuners have spring listings for it yet.
I really like the '14. I pulled the seat, fuel tank, rad shrouds and silencer off using only an 8mm socket and 4mm Allen key :D
From there I flipped the subframe up, undone the rear dog bone bolts (still 18mm bolt 19mm nut) and removed the shock (14mm bolt top and bottom).

u6emeha3.jpg
 
Took a few measurements of the spring:

Spring length: 267mm

ID: 61.4

OD: 84.0

Coil OD: 11.65mm

No of active coils: 8



hepejabe.jpg


The spring looks to be the same as a KYB spring. This is good because I have a 6.0 spring on the '11. Also the fork springs from the Sachs crossover to the 48mm zokes.

Looks like I'll be putting the stock springs back in the '11 and stealing the heavier springs for the new bike. The 6.0 rear should be on the money, the .50 fork springs were always a bit stiff in the '11 but as they were slightly too long they always had 6-7mm preload on them. Maybe if I have zero preload they'll be ok.
 
Damn, looks like I may be out of luck with the shock spring. I have an Eibach 5.6 spring here and it is perfect, same dimensions as the OEM spring, but obviously too soft a rate. I pulled the 6.0 spring off the Sachs and while it is the correct ID for the spring seat, it is too large at the top end and can flop around a good 5 to 10mm, unless the spring is perfectly centred on the preload collar it doesnt seem to have enough meat resting on the collar. The OEM and Eibach springs definitely don't have as much play.

Maybe I'm being overly cautious but I'm hesitant to use a spring that can (whilst very unlikely due to always being under tension) move around and place uneven pressure on the preload collar.

Thoughts?
 
Have someone machine you up a small collar.


That may be what I do. The springs actually come with one that would do the job perfectly. But the ID of that collar is a bees dick to small and won't quite fit over the preload ring. If I can get the ID of that
Enlarged slightly I'll be I'm business. Now which machine shops are open on Easter? :D
 
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