CDN Rick
Silver Level Site Supporter
Test riding a 2018 Gasser 300 was a fantastic way to spend my morning!
When a dealer calls you up and says he has a magazine test bike ready and wants you to come and ride it before the magazine shows up, you put down your beer and go freakin ride it!
The bike is just sooooo smooth. So perfect. Observing it on the showroom floor beside a TM300 the build quality was not quite on par but considerably better than most manufactures. Sitting on it outside you immediately notice how narrow it feels. I thought my '12 Gasser was narrow. And it is. But this is a whole new kinda feel. Electric and kick start is great and both work very well. The vibrations are noticeably less than the older model, nearly non-existent actually. The carb was definitely jetted rich which kinda surprised me. Its an easy enough fix and has to be done for most bikes since we all live at varying elevations.
The seat is really grippy and feels like high quality fabric that would be hard to rip.
The stock skidplate is sufficient for most riders and I would see no need to change it out.
Really all it needs from the factory is a set of wrap-around handguards and its good to go.
KYB suspension right out of the box felt really good. I weigh in at about 180 and I'm 5'11. About an Intermediate level racer. It soaked up small bumps and puddles very nicely and cornering felt really solid. Hopping a few small logs I was super impressed and even when I set myself up on a set that was wheelbase apart the bike just complied with every direction. I did struggle a little with the clutch but mainly because it had a different friction point than my '12. I would not need to do anything with the suspension other than fiddle with clickers. Its more than just great right out of the box.
All in I'd say GasGas is back!! Well done Rod and everyone in the company! Your hard work has definitely paid off.
I was really skeptical that the new machine could be that much better than my '12, and thought I wouldn't be interested in paying for an upgrade but I was wrong.
As soon as my house sells I think I'll be picking up a new bike.
When a dealer calls you up and says he has a magazine test bike ready and wants you to come and ride it before the magazine shows up, you put down your beer and go freakin ride it!
The bike is just sooooo smooth. So perfect. Observing it on the showroom floor beside a TM300 the build quality was not quite on par but considerably better than most manufactures. Sitting on it outside you immediately notice how narrow it feels. I thought my '12 Gasser was narrow. And it is. But this is a whole new kinda feel. Electric and kick start is great and both work very well. The vibrations are noticeably less than the older model, nearly non-existent actually. The carb was definitely jetted rich which kinda surprised me. Its an easy enough fix and has to be done for most bikes since we all live at varying elevations.
The seat is really grippy and feels like high quality fabric that would be hard to rip.
The stock skidplate is sufficient for most riders and I would see no need to change it out.
Really all it needs from the factory is a set of wrap-around handguards and its good to go.
KYB suspension right out of the box felt really good. I weigh in at about 180 and I'm 5'11. About an Intermediate level racer. It soaked up small bumps and puddles very nicely and cornering felt really solid. Hopping a few small logs I was super impressed and even when I set myself up on a set that was wheelbase apart the bike just complied with every direction. I did struggle a little with the clutch but mainly because it had a different friction point than my '12. I would not need to do anything with the suspension other than fiddle with clickers. Its more than just great right out of the box.
All in I'd say GasGas is back!! Well done Rod and everyone in the company! Your hard work has definitely paid off.
I was really skeptical that the new machine could be that much better than my '12, and thought I wouldn't be interested in paying for an upgrade but I was wrong.
As soon as my house sells I think I'll be picking up a new bike.