2014 gasgas 200
- Thread starter gasgas200
- Start date
Clay
Banned
This is kind of a clean up year here in the US so we won't have any here. There are a small number of 2013 200s still in dealerships. They have a $500 discount and $500 parts credit.
Clay
Banned
Well that's a real bummer
Were you planning on buying one?
liv2day
Platinum Level Site Supporter
Well that's a real bummer
Although I can't afford one, I agree with you - tough to know that new models won't be coming into the market. It's similar to when Suzuki didn't bring 2012 models into the US market on the street side (have a track-only 750).
Hopefully, it's just a blip and not a trend. Perception among potential customers is the biggest threat (in my opinion).
Clay
Banned
Please realize that we have been in a cycle of late models since the 2012 screw up. We got 2012 models in April 2012. We got 2013s in July. Dealers did not order 2013s because they had 2012s. We moved 2013s late to dealers because the 2012s had to go first. Dealers don't want to order 2014s now because they got 2013s late or the ones they had did not sell due to bad mag press. We brought in low 2014 models to clean out the pipe line to be in a better position on the 2015 models.
When I worked for Kawasaki they often would skip a year on a model that had too many in the field. You can look at this as a negative but it is simply business.
When I worked for Kawasaki they often would skip a year on a model that had too many in the field. You can look at this as a negative but it is simply business.
firffighter
New member
200's have always been the odd man out. Media rarely covers them and the average consumer assumes they are for beginners and ladies. Too bad because after owning an EC300 and EC250, I prefer the 200. It's better in the tight woods, less tiring, and just plain more fun to ride.
Funny, here in the NW there are a lot of really good experienced riders who have switched to small 2-strokes the past couple of years. I see tons of KTM 150's, 200's, Husky 150/165's and an occasional Gasgas 200 at our local events.
Funny, here in the NW there are a lot of really good experienced riders who have switched to small 2-strokes the past couple of years. I see tons of KTM 150's, 200's, Husky 150/165's and an occasional Gasgas 200 at our local events.
GasGasDreamer
Platinum Level Site Supporter
at the risk of hijacking the thread, can you please expand on this.
what is your height and weight?
riding style and skill level?
thanks
hamilton
Gold Level Site Supporter
I realize you don't sell alot, but the 200 is the only thing that brought me to GG. With the price I got my 250 for I suspect you and the dealer lost money on it. I will be looking to buy a new 200 at year end. March - April 15 is too late to dial in my race bike.
firffighter
New member
Well, let me first give a disclaimer. Our Gasgas EC200 is a '99. It's pristine and is set up very nicely. Also, my full time ride is a KTM200 although I ride the gasser a lot (my son's bike).
I am 44, been riding since 10, but most constistantly for the past 10 years. Race a few local enduros, but mostly lots of trail riding. Solid B rider, but can hang with the A pack. 5' 10" 220 lbs. All of my riding is NW woods. Mix of very tight singletrack (see vid, me) and some more flowing quad width (see additional vid, not me). Since it's the NW we have LOTS of rocks and roots and it's often wet. We also have some very steep terrain.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d1wolKqZRy8
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=quW_d2XGsXY
I've owned many bikes: KTM 300, 250, 200; Gasgas 300, 250, 200; Yamaha wr450, wr250f
The 200 is simply easier to go faster on. I know weight is such a subjective matter, especially when talking about dirt bikes, but the 200 feels amazingly light when compared with the larger cc's. It makes riding in the woods a lot less tiring and you can change direction so easy. It makes perfect power for woods riding. They still lug very well and you can ride a gear high all day, but the power won't wear you out. You feel like you can push the bike hard rather than holding it back. The handling is where it really shines and it slices through the woods like a knife. To me, if most of your riding is in 2nd-3rd gear, you'll love a 200. If you ride more open or flowing terrain, then the 250 or 300 is more at home.
I know a lot of people are concerned about the 200's ability to climb. First, if we all had bikes just for hill climbing then we'd all ride CR500's! The 200 has made every nasty, rocky, root infested climb my 250 and 300 made, and it does it with less effort. The power is going straight to the ground with less wheel spin and the light weight makes it easy to maneuver. I ride a ton with my brother who rides an EC250 and I made climbs last year that he did and a few he didn't.
The one drawback is deflection in the rocks and roots. Because they simply are lighter, they tend to deflect a bit more than a larger bike. I have the suspension revalved and set up for me and us a Scott's which help a ton, but there is that aspect to riding a lighter bike.
If money were no object I'd go buy a new Gasgas EC200. Hope they don't stop bringing them here to the US!
Sorry for the hijack and long winded post
I am 44, been riding since 10, but most constistantly for the past 10 years. Race a few local enduros, but mostly lots of trail riding. Solid B rider, but can hang with the A pack. 5' 10" 220 lbs. All of my riding is NW woods. Mix of very tight singletrack (see vid, me) and some more flowing quad width (see additional vid, not me). Since it's the NW we have LOTS of rocks and roots and it's often wet. We also have some very steep terrain.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d1wolKqZRy8
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=quW_d2XGsXY
I've owned many bikes: KTM 300, 250, 200; Gasgas 300, 250, 200; Yamaha wr450, wr250f
The 200 is simply easier to go faster on. I know weight is such a subjective matter, especially when talking about dirt bikes, but the 200 feels amazingly light when compared with the larger cc's. It makes riding in the woods a lot less tiring and you can change direction so easy. It makes perfect power for woods riding. They still lug very well and you can ride a gear high all day, but the power won't wear you out. You feel like you can push the bike hard rather than holding it back. The handling is where it really shines and it slices through the woods like a knife. To me, if most of your riding is in 2nd-3rd gear, you'll love a 200. If you ride more open or flowing terrain, then the 250 or 300 is more at home.
I know a lot of people are concerned about the 200's ability to climb. First, if we all had bikes just for hill climbing then we'd all ride CR500's! The 200 has made every nasty, rocky, root infested climb my 250 and 300 made, and it does it with less effort. The power is going straight to the ground with less wheel spin and the light weight makes it easy to maneuver. I ride a ton with my brother who rides an EC250 and I made climbs last year that he did and a few he didn't.
The one drawback is deflection in the rocks and roots. Because they simply are lighter, they tend to deflect a bit more than a larger bike. I have the suspension revalved and set up for me and us a Scott's which help a ton, but there is that aspect to riding a lighter bike.
If money were no object I'd go buy a new Gasgas EC200. Hope they don't stop bringing them here to the US!
Sorry for the hijack and long winded post
liv2day
Platinum Level Site Supporter
Sorry for the hijack and long winded post
+1 to everything firffighter detailed in his post; I'm part of this forum and a GG owner thanks to his advice. And I couldn't agree more - my GG200 is easily the best & most fun bike I've ridden.
Clay - don't take my response as a negative, I completely understand the supply and demand situation. The issue I spoke of is when a new customer is considering their options; not a reflection of business practices. Perception is a big deal, which I know you're familiar with from all the stoopid weight discussion from the magazines
Clay
Banned
+1 to everything firffighter detailed in his post; I'm part of this forum and a GG owner thanks to his advice. And I couldn't agree more - my GG200 is easily the best & most fun bike I've ridden.
Clay - don't take my response as a negative, I completely understand the supply and demand situation. The issue I spoke of is when a new customer is considering their options; not a reflection of business practices. Perception is a big deal, which I know you're familiar with from all the stoopid weight discussion from the magazines
No problem. I just like explaining decisions I make.
iamovru
New member
Cant you get a new 200 brought in for him? Or is that out of the question?
fletchman45
New member
Well on Halls Husqvarna websirw it does say preorder your 2014 gas Gas 200!! Come on Gas Gas is so small and unique and cool I would bet you you put your money out there it may take awhile but a 200 would show up with the other bikes......................... money is money and I would think it would not be to hard for them to make and exception on a preorder.
Clay
Banned
How do you think one motorcycle gets here? If you have a container coming over and you can stick a 200 on it then no problem. Here are some real world numbers: A full container of 46 motorcycles cost about $7600 just to get them to the US. That is $165 per bike. A small container with 22 bikes costs $6000 to ship. That is $273 per bike. One bike costs about $1700 to air freight. Those are the costs TO GET THEM HERE. Then you add up to another $300 to get them to the dealer. I have no plans to bring in any more bikes here in the US. GG may send more over at their expense but I don't want anymore right now. We have had a container of 300s here since late October and we have sold about half! The 300 out sells everything else by about 2 to 1. Am I getting through to you guys yet? Dirt Rider KILLED us on the 2013 models and there are still a lot of them out there. Dealers WILL NOT order 2014s until those '13s are gone. If you called me and offered me full retail for a 200 right now I couldn't get it for you at a profit due to the freight cost.
I'm being very open and honest with you guys on this subject. I'm explaining things that you probably have never thought about. It's not your job to think about it. It is mine though and it is my money tied up in this. It does not make business sense to bring in 200s in 2014.
I'm being very open and honest with you guys on this subject. I'm explaining things that you probably have never thought about. It's not your job to think about it. It is mine though and it is my money tied up in this. It does not make business sense to bring in 200s in 2014.
iamovru
New member
Clay
I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall, when you told your wife that you were keeping Gas Gas and also taking on Sherco.
firffighter
New member
I take back everything I said, the 300 is the best bike, especially the 2013 300's go buy one now
On a serious note, I find it interesting that Chilly rode the Gasgas in its element and he absolutely loved it. Anyone whose ridden any form of tight woods riding understand full well why the Gasgas is so stinking good there. But, if you grow up in SoCal and have never ridden in REAL woods then you just don't get it! Go take a look at any European dirtbike media and see what they have to say about the Gasgas. Of course they ride nasty terrain.
Its too bad so many are influenced by crummy media. More Gassers at local events gets the word out. When my brother and I go to events the Gassers get lots of looks and attention. Tons of folks wander over to ask about them. Real reviews by real woods riders does make a difference!
Keep on keeping on Clay! We all support you 100% here!
On a serious note, I find it interesting that Chilly rode the Gasgas in its element and he absolutely loved it. Anyone whose ridden any form of tight woods riding understand full well why the Gasgas is so stinking good there. But, if you grow up in SoCal and have never ridden in REAL woods then you just don't get it! Go take a look at any European dirtbike media and see what they have to say about the Gasgas. Of course they ride nasty terrain.
Its too bad so many are influenced by crummy media. More Gassers at local events gets the word out. When my brother and I go to events the Gassers get lots of looks and attention. Tons of folks wander over to ask about them. Real reviews by real woods riders does make a difference!
Keep on keeping on Clay! We all support you 100% here!
iamovru
New member
I take back everything I said, the 300 is the best bike, especially the 2013 300's go buy one now
On a serious note, I find it interesting that Chilly rode the Gasgas in its element and he absolutely loved it. Anyone whose ridden any form of tight woods riding understand full well why the Gasgas is so stinking good there. But, if you grow up in SoCal and have never ridden in REAL woods then you just don't get it! Go take a look at any European dirtbike media and see what they have to say about the Gasgas. Of course they ride nasty terrain.
Its too bad so many are influenced by crummy media. More Gassers at local events gets the word out. When my brother and I go to events the Gassers get lots of looks and attention. Tons of folks wander over to ask about them. Real reviews by real woods riders does make a difference!
Keep on keeping on Clay! We all support you 100% here!
Tom Webb and the others from Dirt Bike, who are real trail riders gave the 13 300XC a really nice write up last year. Didnt anyone see that? I feel the biggest problem with Gas Gas is money and lack there of! KTM was in exactly the same place as Gas Gas in the 90`s as Gas Gas is now. I had a few friends that had them and we all said the same about KTM as people are saying about Gas Gas now. KTM is a juggernaut now with several different models and the money behind them. I cant even imagine the stress of dealing with a European Company the way Clay has to deal with Gas Gas or even Sherco for that matter. They have a very different way of doing business. I am self employed and have to deal with China and India every now and then and it sucks!! Just keep doing what you are doing and it will turn around. Hell! It better, I own one
Clay
Banned
Clay
I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall, when you told your wife that you were keeping Gas Gas and also taking on Sherco.
LOL! That eek face is exactly what her face looked like when I told her!
