Dirt rider tests 2013 250xc

[gasgasman]

There are multiple reasons to buy a GasGas.

The most positive one for me is, the people that associate themselves with GasGas'.
There is not a brand out there that you can have a conversation with the importer and the parts distributors.
The people on these forums are second to none-VERY civilized group.

I have been riding Gas Gas' before they became a one word name.

 

[GMP]

Things should only get better for GG. More $$ is always a good thing. Lets hope it's invested where its needed most.


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[3beejay3]

It always makes me laugh when guys get their panties all knotted up about the perceived 'fit and finish' of GG or (insert boutique Euro brand here).

Jeez, they're dirt bikes fer chrissakes! They're gonna get, scratched, beat and bent, cracked and twisted.

I've come off 2 modern Huskies & the new GG's are way ahead of them in terms of fit & finish. But it doesn't matter anyways, as my 12GG is already carefully modified and adorned with zip ties and gorilla tape, oh and some pretty deep, well placed gouges in the plastic.

 

[GMP]

Its not about us, the hard core GG riders, so much. We tend to live with and re-engineer the warts for the underlying outstanding handling and performance of the bike. While I too get pissed off in the garage at times, I tend to forget about it on the trail. You should see my bikes! Also, like Girard said, the communication here between us, Clay, Mark, and the dealers is unheard of with the other brands. What hurts sales is when a guy comes off a KTM, gets a GG, and has to deal with silly quality issues he shouldn't have to. Even if they are no big deal, and are taken care of(our support is excellent) it doesn't help the reputation. Its pretty obvious that GG had problems with suppliers last year, and most of this comes from that fact that without $$ and clout for advanced orders of adequate quantity, you have to take what you get. That can't happen if the best quality product is to go out the door, from any factory in any business. GG should put their heads down and focus on refinement, quality control, and sensible evolution of the platform. Clay had a great idea of bringing some of the GG Spain guys here to ride or at least see how we ride. This would help a lot IMO.

Huskys? The only "modern" Huskys are the four strokes and to a lesser extent the 125/150. My brother just got a TXC310. Fit and finish, that is mfg. quality control and execution of the design is EXCELLENT. Lets not confuse this. Its the design or concept that I do not prefer. An extremely small and light, highly tuned motor, less than a quart of oil, with a clutch on the small side. The bike just says DISPOSABLE to me, but time will tell. I hope I'm wrong, but my tech sense says I'm right in thinking that you will never see guys riding them ten years from now like GG two strokes.

 

[JCG61]

"you will never see guys riding them ten years from now like GG two strokes."


I think this is true of the current model KTMs also. I really like KTM so I'm not hating here......but they look cheaply built imo. That airbox setup just looks like junk to me. Go back to the mid 2000s and I think they were more durable.Hell I'm still riding a 95 300 which was waaay over built....check out the size of the spokes on those thingsWhen I buy a new/newer bike I want it to last....they cost too much to be disposable!

 

[GMP]

Older KTMs were built better, they just had crappy suspension and steering. My friend just came off a '00 KTM300 for his '12 GG250 and the old pumpkin ran fine! He thinks the GG feels like a 125 in comparison! Its all about engineering compromise.

 

[Hawkeye]

I think someone was referring to me when they posted that I haven't ridden the '12 or '13 Gassers. Sadly, if there were any in Iowa, I would have. I got to ride an '11 250 because the guy was wanting to sell it. I also rode a '10 300 for the same reason. The 250 was owned by a KTM fan who wanted something with a lower seat height. The 300 was owned by a ten-year GG rider that was losing his dealer. Sad as both went back to KTM. I'd love to ride a GG with the new frame, anyone want to meet up in the Midwest and swap bikes?

I can see that I've touched close to a nerve here, but I keep stressing that I'm experienced with both Beta and GG, and not just talking outloud due my panties being too tight. I've probably moved on from GG as I've lost my dealer that's close, and the new Beta dealer has been great to work with giving me a racer discount on parts. American Beta is also been super, sending out emails weekly with new hard parts being introduced for the 2T's, along with setup tips from what they do to prep their pro's bikes.

I've mentioned things that GG should (and I hope will do) once they get some cash flowing. Many of these aren't my ideas, they come from the forum, and this group. They need to focus on the low cost things that bring the most improvements to the machines, so projects like a new direct injection motor would be the last thing to do right now. Look at the Ossa, it's a phantom (pun intended). I'm trying to reach the non GG core and grow the brand. KTM guys laughed at my GG for years, even when I was beating them at the races...

 

[desertgasser300]

Okay, I'll say it since it is conveniently forgotten by the press and others: Beta is not new to 2T dirt bikes and I'm not talking trials. I have a 1979 Beta CR 500 (really a 420 or so). They have a lot of experience with 2T off roaders so it should not be a surprise they work well as they have been doing it for roughly 35 years. Please keep coming with substantive comparisons of the GG to any bike as I enjoy riding any bike in the woods and I like to hear all opinions no matter if someone believes I am a fool for not thinking like him. It really is okay that we all don't think alike!

Just have to chime in with this. Sherco is not new to enduro bikes either. Graham Jarvis was on shercos before he went to Husaberg.

 

[GMP]

Isn't Sherco the remnants of Bultaco, but could not use the name?

 

[Rick]

I thought GasGas was left over Bultaco? Or mfr'ed in the same factory?

 

[M357.5]

Dirt Rider just named the Beta 300RR " Bike Of The Year "

Cant be all bad, hell if it's better than my GasGas then thats awesome cause it must be FANTASTIC if it is.
All I know is my EC250 is more bike than I'll ever need, I'm not good enough to push it to its full potential, so I'll stick with her for the forseable future. I feel comfortable and confident on it. Maybe when its time to move on I'll look at alternatives but I can gaurantee a GasGas will be on my short list when I do buy another bike.

 

[fletchman45]

Its not about us, the hard core GG riders, so much. We tend to live with and re-engineer the warts for the underlying outstanding handling and performance of the bike. While I too get pissed off in the garage at times, I tend to forget about it on the trail. You should see my bikes! Also, like Girard said, the communication here between us, Clay, Mark, and the dealers is unheard of with the other brands. What hurts sales is when a guy comes off a KTM, gets a GG, and has to deal with silly quality issues he shouldn't have to. Even if they are no big deal, and are taken care of(our support is excellent) it doesn't help the reputation. Its pretty obvious that GG had problems with suppliers last year, and most of this comes from that fact that without $$ and clout for advanced orders of adequate quantity, you have to take what you get. That can't happen if the best quality product is to go out the door, from any factory in any business. GG should put their heads down and focus on refinement, quality control, and sensible evolution of the platform. Clay had a great idea of bringing some of the GG Spain guys here to ride or at least see how we ride. This would help a lot IMO.

Huskys? The only "modern" Huskys are the four strokes and to a lesser extent the 125/150. My brother just got a TXC310. Fit and finish, that is mfg. quality control and execution of the design is EXCELLENT. Lets not confuse this. Its the design or concept that I do not prefer. An extremely small and light, highly tuned motor, less than a quart of oil, with a clutch on the small side. The bike just says DISPOSABLE to me, but time will tell. I hope I'm wrong, but my tech sense says I'm right in thinking that you will never see guys riding them ten years from now like GG two strokes.

I must say if you are referring to the 125/144 platform Husqvarna have NO FEAR because it will prove to be unbelievable, fast, light Get the job done and be bullet proof at the same time. We shall see if my new Gasser can hold up to my demands like the Husky did. I hope so. I have had 5 or so Gassers and MANY MANY Huskys and both have proven pretty good, with a few less quirks from the Husky's. I do have high hopes for my new Gasser as I have laid out a fistful of cash to find out! The tiddler Husky will only produce a smile and I will assure you a double AA rider can not destroy it! CLUTCH is bullet proof as well and a 150 Husky has served me well to the tune of a 12th and 13th overall out of 120 plus riders. I can only hope I can ride my 250 or so pound Gasser to the same caliper as the smallbore. (I am excited to try!!) But for the record the bike is far from disposable and in my opinion 3 times what the orange machine is!

 

[fletchman45]

I think someone was referring to me when they posted that I haven't ridden the '12 or '13 Gassers. Sadly, if there were any in Iowa, I would have. I got to ride an '11 250 because the guy was wanting to sell it. I also rode a '10 300 for the same reason. The 250 was owned by a KTM fan who wanted something with a lower seat height. The 300 was owned by a ten-year GG rider that was losing his dealer. Sad as both went back to KTM. I'd love to ride a GG with the new frame, anyone want to meet up in the Midwest and swap bikes?

I can see that I've touched close to a nerve here, but I keep stressing that I'm experienced with both Beta and GG, and not just talking outloud due my panties being too tight. I've probably moved on from GG as I've lost my dealer that's close, and the new Beta dealer has been great to work with giving me a racer discount on parts. American Beta is also been super, sending out emails weekly with new hard parts being introduced for the 2T's, along with setup tips from what they do to prep their pro's bikes.

I've mentioned things that GG should (and I hope will do) once they get some cash flowing. Many of these aren't my ideas, they come from the forum, and this group. They need to focus on the low cost things that bring the most improvements to the machines, so projects like a new direct injection motor would be the last thing to do right now. Look at the Ossa, it's a phantom (pun intended). I'm trying to reach the non GG core and grow the brand. KTM guys laughed at my GG for years, even when I was beating them at the races...

One thing I must point out. The 12 and up Gassers feel way way better then a 11 or prior and even looking at a 11 6-day and a 12 side by side there is no comparison. I am only 5 foot 7 and I can tell you one time riding a 12 and I am done with the old ones! IT FEELS SUPER!! Jumped on and comfortable right away. Will give update when the snow melts!!!!

 

[GMP]

My '07 feels like a KDX compared to the '12. Smaller and set up softer. Has its place though and I'm keeping it. Greasy hell rides are where it's at.

Oh, reread my post, not talking about the Husky 125/144. I was talking about the new Xlite 4stroke motor in my bro's 310. A nice bike, easy to ride, but I don't see something that small making that power lasting that long. I like the 125, tried to find a nice used one for my son but no go. Bought a nice KX instead.


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[desertgasser300]

I wanted to post this pic. from my earlier post about the swingarm being smaller on the 97's and ??(not sure when they changed).
Not sure they changed for asthetics are durability? But this Gasser is 14 yrs. old and apparentely I am the 5th owner according to Mike from Hard Rock trials in Phx. I was told this bike has seen alot of racing in it's lifetime.

Note the lack of the "hump" on the current design. I wonder how much weight has been added from this swingarm to the new design?

 

[AZRickD]

I am more interested in the other photos in your PhotoBucket queue.

Bent brake lever. Broken Kicker.

 

[desertgasser300]

I am more interested in the other photos in your PhotoBucket queue.

Bent brake lever. Broken Kicker.

Isn't that awesome....I broke the kicker two weeks ago. First kick...."bink!" is all I heard then my foot slammed to the ground. I've kept my next door neighboor busy since he has a TIG welder and can weld aluminum.