Dirt Rider 300 2 stroke shoot out

gasgastrials said:
Likely nobody wants to hear it here, but I love my Beta 300. And will still come back to this site because it's the absolute BEST!!!
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I don't doubt that the Betas are great bikes, probably as good or better than the GG. I apologize if it sounded like I was "doggin" the Beta, just making a point that DR had to save face after naming the Beta BOY. But if you notice, Beta usually has 2 full page adds in every month, one for trials and one for the enduro models.

If I was in the market for a new bike, I'd definitely be looking at the Beta.
 
Sandcast parts are just heavier than die cast ones. That is a big reason why the other bikes came in lighter. I'd like someone to weigh that GG swingarm compared to a KTM's/Husaberg/Beta, as they all three look to be from the same supplier. Probably some weight savings there too.

Don't know why Beta didn't win the best motor? It is amazing at hooking up, yet it revs out strong on top when I take it around a MX track.
 
I don't care what the article said I've ridden and raced orange bikes. I'll take my well set up 2011 race bike over anything out there. It carried me to a 2nd in B 40 class at the Loose Moose National. Love that bike. Thanks MR. Bean .:)
 
Had to look when I saw the cover caption 'Best 300 xc-w yet' on a different rag. They haven't even ridden the bike, just copied the 2014 promo stuff and proclaimed it the best. Can you say biased? Laughably so...
 
Clay said:
Huh? Don't you have to have a motor or a really strong wind to go cross country? :eek:
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That's what I used to think back in 1985 when I started. After palling around with comp pilots, I found that they didn't stick around the mountain. They cored up in a thermal (500 to 100 feet per minute climb on good days), and climbed to cloudbase -- usually between 12,000 and 18,000 above sea level. Then we would head downwind. At 18,000 feet, the upper winds are kickin' it at 50 mph or higher. Add that to our best glide speed and we could be doing 100 mph across the ground. My best flight was 125 miles (six hours), from Flagstaff to Chinle. The state record is 266 from Flag to Albuquerque, New Mexico (9 hours).
 
AZRickD said:
That's what I used to think back in 1985 when I started. After palling around with comp pilots, I found that they didn't stick around the mountain. They cored up in a thermal (500 to 100 feet per minute climb on good days), and climbed to cloudbase -- usually between 12,000 and 18,000 above sea level. Then we would head downwind. At 18,000 feet, the upper winds are kickin' it at 50 mph or higher. Add that to our best glide speed and we could be doing 100 mph across the ground. My best flight was 125 miles (six hours), from Flagstaff to Chinle. The state record is 266 from Flag to Albuquerque, New Mexico (9 hours).
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OK, I'm in awe! That sounds really cool!
 
Measured on my Walmart Sunbeam bathroom scale (certified to +/- 1 pound using uncertified dumb bells). :o

2005 EC250 (prepped for part-out):

Motor (no kicker or shifter) -- 58 pounds

Swing arm -- 10 pounds

Linkage (incl dog bones and bolts) -- 3 pounds

Frame -- 24 pounds

Ohlins 888 Shock -- 8 pounds

45 mm Zokes -- 9 pounds (each for a total of 18)
 
Just read the article, and damn GasGas took a beating. It really is a better bike than they say.
For those of you that care, the description of the Beta was right on the money.
 
gasgastrials said:
Had to look when I saw the cover caption 'Best 300 xc-w yet' on a different rag. They haven't even ridden the bike, just copied the 2014 promo stuff and proclaimed it the best. Can you say biased? Laughably so...
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That was DirtBike Magazine and you are right they haven't ridden it.
 
I suppose we must believe that other bikes are far better "out of the crate" than GasGas. The other manufacturers must tweak their bikes before providing them to the magazines to better match the expectations of American testers.
 
Its nothing more than $$ plain and simple. Not worth the time reading. If the GG airbox was stuffed with cash, the plastic subframe would be the best thing going. Trailrider is the only chance of getting a fair review, send them a bike in a reasonable state of prep. They have tested GGs in the past with favorable results, contrary to the west coast trash.
 
For those of you that care, the description of the Beta was right on the money.
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but not the description of the GG. Hmmm. It's easy say it's all about the money, which it might well be. I doubt it's ALL about the money though.
If the other mfg send their bikes setup. Then why doesn't GG? Don't blame the rag, blame the GG rep for sending in an ill prepared bike.
 
If the mag is representing all bikes as stock, but KTM has a team prepping the bikes differently than they would arrive on the showroom (perhaps even on-site reps), then the magazine review only serves to misrepresent the products to its readers who paid for the subscription, or worse, paid the newstand price. A disservice, wouldn't you agree ?
 
I cancelled my Dirt Rider subscription several months ago. They still send me their crap.
I would not mind if I had a bird, then I would use it in the bottom of the bird cage.

I get more out of Chilly White's bike reviews.
 
GMP said:
Its nothing more than $$ plain and simple. Not worth the time reading. If the GG airbox was stuffed with cash, the plastic subframe would be the best thing going. Trailrider is the only chance of getting a fair review, send them a bike in a reasonable state of prep. They have tested GGs in the past with favorable results, contrary to the west coast trash.
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GMP is right.
 
Shame on whoever sent in a bike that wasn't set up and gone through. We all know what a difference jetting ,gearing and suspension set up makes. Really if gasgas was serious they should have had a rep there as well ,as I have seen magazine tests where a. 5 cent part has rendered a bike to sit he entire test on the sidelines .
 
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