EC300 08 mortal danger construction problem!!!

[SECRET_AGENT_BOND]

Hi all, I write from central Europe, from Czech Republic-we have here very very dangerous problem with brand new Gas Gases model year 2008. The problem is in the pipes and front wheel-when you push front wheel about 220mm of its suspension, it begins to collide with exhaust pipes-as you can see on the pictures:
suspended 220mm: front wheel begins to collide with pipes:

suspended at maximum: the wheel must be slightly turned, because pipes blockade the wheel. (That´s why it is so dangerous-you land after some jump and it is same felling as you fully breaks with front brake Total hazard!

Same situation but from the other side-you can see that front wheel collide with pipes at about 4cm! (about 2 inches):

The bike is comletely new, and it isn´t only my friend´s problem, I heard about same thing from many many people around central Europe. If you want to complain about this problem to our local dealer he says that you are lier, everything is ok and no one has same problem - only you.
What the #### is doing Gas Gas from us? Fools?

 

[SpeedyManiac]

I don't have any problems with my 07 EC250.

 

[SECRET_AGENT_BOND]

Yes, because you have 07... this is only 08 problem and I heard only about EC300 non R versions that have same defect.... R versions are fine, without this problem...

 

[SpeedyManiac]

Pretty tough to say that since they all have the same steering geometry, wheels and pipe...

 

[GMP]

Bond,

First thing, watch the language. This site has always been and will continue to be a class act. Language, personal attacts, abuse, etc. will not be tolerated just so you know.

Now, that is an interesting problem. As I see it, it can be one of three things:

1)The rake on the steering head (incorrect fabrication) which is highly unlikely

2)Different triple clamp offset(again unlikely)

3)The pipe. What pipe is on the bike?

I would think 1 and 2 would show up as some interesting handling characteristics immediately. My bet is its the pipe(s).

 

[SECRET_AGENT_BOND]

The problem is in the pipes - everybody who want to drive safefully must buy pipes from 07 model or some FMF or such. We solved this problem with ordering different pipes. This is only warning that Gas Gas made huge mistake and don´t solves it. As we called to the USA, they knew about this problem, but Europe is maybe smaller market because here was told us, that everything is fine...

And about language, sorry about that I was a little bit angry during writing that post.

 

[SpeedyManiac]

Is that the really heavy euro pipe that has a catalytic convertor in it? I know that both the stock GasGas (no catalytic convertor) and Messico pipes fit fine.

 

[SECRET_AGENT_BOND]

I know, that he got with his bike two pipes- one was for stock closed power to 5kW or such? And second one normal for full power... If any of them have a catalyc convertor I don´t know... First one was fine, but second one-normal 08 pipes are in the photos...

 

[angrytim]

I have an 08 Dealers Edition which has the FMF Gnarly. I'll check the clearance and report back.

 

[GG27]

My EC250 also had the front wheel touch the exhaust, but just slightly, you could hear a little sqweek on hard landings. Also my front fender would also touch at the front. Now after about 50 hrs the front tire doesn't touch on the exhaust anymore. My agent told me that the 2008 exhausts have a longer strait portion out of the cylinder and that all the exhausts he has ordered for previous years are the same.

At the beginning I also was suprised with this but really didn't have any problems when riding, but as I said above the exhaust gets "run-in" after about 30 hrs. I shouldn't worry, just drive the shit out of it!

 

[TooFastTim]

GMP, there is another unknown: the front tyre (yanks, notice correct spelling ). It may have a slightly higher profile.

 

[Ud_luz]

Tim, rumour has it you blokes are a bit of a dag. No educated and cultured people spell "tires", "tyres".

 

[JRDoz]

That'll do, I tire of the tyre talk.

 

[TooFastTim]

Tim, rumour has it you blokes are a bit of a dag. No educated and cultured people spell "tires", "tyres".

That's 'cause we speak the Queens English. You mob speak the Kings English. King George III! English has evolved a little since then.

 

[stay_upright]

Thanks to secret agent for bringing this up and taking the time to make the measurements and I can understand why he was annoyed in his first post.

It does sound like GG have made a big mistake here - I'm sure we will get more information from other users shortly but this is a simple thing to check and they haven't.

Personally I wouldn't ride my bike if the tyre was pressed 4cm into the front pipe on heavy landings as that could either significantly slow me down or lock the front wheel not to mention damage the tyre, front pipe and mudguard and think about when you use that much suspension travel - on heavy landings, landing wheelies etc not a good time to lock the front wheel.

In the UK I think you could return the bike as 'not fit for purpose' though by the sounds of it the dealer could get around this with a swap to a 07 pipe.

I think whoever engineered my 05 300ec rad panels not to fit and designed the screws into the fuel tank has now been given the job of designing the pipe and checking wheel clearances.

 

[Ud_luz]

That's 'cause we speak the Queen's English.

I'm going to be nice and leave that alone.

Someday I would love to visit your country. My parents were there last year and were suitably impressed.

On topic, this pipe issue sounds extremely serious to me. I would think anybody that owns an 08 needs to immediately check this. The mere thought of an endo ripping it up on the trails is appalling.

 

[MattR]

I'm curious in the 1st photo...
How is the suspension being compressed for this photo?
The tire looks strange with it hitting the rear part of the fender compared to a lot of clearance in the front portion. I typically see more uniform gap with the tire more centered in the fender at full compression. Seems a bit odd to me ???

For example, did you brace the front portion of the wheel against a solid object and compressed the fork down with tiedowns. It looks like the fork is being deflected/bent rearward as the fork is being compressed.

 

[SECRET_AGENT_BOND]

These photos were made with removed springs and fork doesn´t look like it is deflected or such... As my friend ordered new pipes in the USA, they already know about this problem. I think, that Gas Gas knows about this problem and change every 08 pipes to 07 in the USA, because it is it´s biggest market and also here are very very high compensation for an injury(especially at court) - In Europe we don´t get so high compensation-for example - the price for killing by misadventure in hospital is in our country only about 20 000 US dollars.

 

[GMP]

Our (US) '08s come with a new FMF pipe. I have never heard of this problem here, and several guys have new '08s and would have noticed. It must be isolated to a new '08 GG pipe or bad run of pipes.

 

[gasser]

Come on guys let's not jump to conclusions without all the information. The picture was taken without the springs being installed and of course the forks will compress further without the springs.