Just bought the mag.
Title: "What a Gas -- Gas Gas EC300"
The article is a short one but has a two-page pic of a red GG ridden by "Jimmy Lewis" churning through a narrow, muddy stream bordered by some sort of elephant-like grass. The next photo was a top half-page shot of another rider lifting the front wheel in front of an off-camera obstacle in a sparsely wooded area. The caption of that photo reads, "This Gas Gas is light, slim and zappy. Standing is a good plan with the hard seat." They felt it was harder than the infamous KTM seat.
Dirt Rider appears to be a little on the KTM-centric side. Very often bikes being reviewed were compared to "orange."
The last three pics were 2"x2" featuring the pewter-colored pipe; then a close-up of the golden Sachs shock with six grooves machined around the circumferance which made it look something along the lines of a tomato can that would make George Jetson proud. Lastly was a pic of the rear part of the right-side swing arm with a close up of the braking mechanism.
Key points:
1) They were "unfamiliar" with the "bike from a faraway land. This was a good thing, the writer said, since it allowed him to throw out his pre-conceptions of what the bike should be. With a Honda he might have written, "The suspension is very Honda-like." He didn't have that luxury to say, "Hmmm, not very Gas Gas-like." "Jumping on the Gas Gas was like taking a well-needed vcation from everything I've ever been used to."
2) It has a "fairly standard layout" "with everything in all the right places."
3) He liked the narrowness of the frame while still having something to grip onto near the ankles and feet. "MX-bike thin."
4) "If you want a bike built for technical control and precise maneuvering on the pegs, a trials-influenced enduro bike seems to make sense.
5) Build "emphasis on controllability and traction -- "true enduro machine."
6) "Honestly, I preferred the rain cloud setting most of the time as I torqued through technical single-track at a comfortable pace."
7) Stepped down the jetting three sized from stock with needle in leanest position... "Then the machine turned into the sweetest chug-o-matic trail mount ever."
8) "It never loaded up on the bottom..." "...had torque spilling out with the smallest throttle openings."
9) "Scooted along really fast..." without opening the power valve. "When it did open... it was a little blubbery on top." But not bad enough to "force a main jet change."
10) Desert? "You'll love sixth gear..."
11) "...or appreciate the granny-like first gear."
12) Nice hydro clutch
13) See-through gas tank
14) Radiator catch tank in front of the head tube
15) Suspension: 45mm Marzocchi Shiver fork and a Sachs rear shock "a combo not seen on our bikes that often."
16) "...works perfectly for most enduro conditions but really wouldn't enjoy a trip to the motocross track."
17) "...off road-specific bike and an easy bike to like."
18) Suspension took "some break-in time and never really [got] plush."
19) "The bike transmits a fair amount of shock to the rider and will still bottom when pushed."
20) "It can be tuned to do what it needs to off-road but it isn't as universal as other bikes out there."
21) "It seems a grass track specialist as delivered."
22) "The standout trait of the bike is the light feel."
23) "It kills anything four-stroke and is lighter and more nimble than the orange bikes available."
24) "With a better steering feel and light turning that is still planted -- praised by many of our test riders."
25) "In fact, if the suspension were just a little better, we'd outright say the Gas Gas dominates in the handling department- and that is a bold statement."
26) "$6795" on par with other 2-strokes.
27) "With nearly 75 dealers in its network, this Spanish brand is running strong."
Rick
Title: "What a Gas -- Gas Gas EC300"
The article is a short one but has a two-page pic of a red GG ridden by "Jimmy Lewis" churning through a narrow, muddy stream bordered by some sort of elephant-like grass. The next photo was a top half-page shot of another rider lifting the front wheel in front of an off-camera obstacle in a sparsely wooded area. The caption of that photo reads, "This Gas Gas is light, slim and zappy. Standing is a good plan with the hard seat." They felt it was harder than the infamous KTM seat.
Dirt Rider appears to be a little on the KTM-centric side. Very often bikes being reviewed were compared to "orange."
The last three pics were 2"x2" featuring the pewter-colored pipe; then a close-up of the golden Sachs shock with six grooves machined around the circumferance which made it look something along the lines of a tomato can that would make George Jetson proud. Lastly was a pic of the rear part of the right-side swing arm with a close up of the braking mechanism.
Key points:
1) They were "unfamiliar" with the "bike from a faraway land. This was a good thing, the writer said, since it allowed him to throw out his pre-conceptions of what the bike should be. With a Honda he might have written, "The suspension is very Honda-like." He didn't have that luxury to say, "Hmmm, not very Gas Gas-like." "Jumping on the Gas Gas was like taking a well-needed vcation from everything I've ever been used to."
2) It has a "fairly standard layout" "with everything in all the right places."
3) He liked the narrowness of the frame while still having something to grip onto near the ankles and feet. "MX-bike thin."
4) "If you want a bike built for technical control and precise maneuvering on the pegs, a trials-influenced enduro bike seems to make sense.
5) Build "emphasis on controllability and traction -- "true enduro machine."
6) "Honestly, I preferred the rain cloud setting most of the time as I torqued through technical single-track at a comfortable pace."
7) Stepped down the jetting three sized from stock with needle in leanest position... "Then the machine turned into the sweetest chug-o-matic trail mount ever."
8) "It never loaded up on the bottom..." "...had torque spilling out with the smallest throttle openings."
9) "Scooted along really fast..." without opening the power valve. "When it did open... it was a little blubbery on top." But not bad enough to "force a main jet change."
10) Desert? "You'll love sixth gear..."
11) "...or appreciate the granny-like first gear."
12) Nice hydro clutch
13) See-through gas tank
14) Radiator catch tank in front of the head tube
15) Suspension: 45mm Marzocchi Shiver fork and a Sachs rear shock "a combo not seen on our bikes that often."
16) "...works perfectly for most enduro conditions but really wouldn't enjoy a trip to the motocross track."
17) "...off road-specific bike and an easy bike to like."
18) Suspension took "some break-in time and never really [got] plush."
19) "The bike transmits a fair amount of shock to the rider and will still bottom when pushed."
20) "It can be tuned to do what it needs to off-road but it isn't as universal as other bikes out there."
21) "It seems a grass track specialist as delivered."
22) "The standout trait of the bike is the light feel."
23) "It kills anything four-stroke and is lighter and more nimble than the orange bikes available."
24) "With a better steering feel and light turning that is still planted -- praised by many of our test riders."
25) "In fact, if the suspension were just a little better, we'd outright say the Gas Gas dominates in the handling department- and that is a bold statement."
26) "$6795" on par with other 2-strokes.
27) "With nearly 75 dealers in its network, this Spanish brand is running strong."
Rick
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, but not at the cost of hurting the company. I try to do my part in educating some of the ignorant riders who are brand loyal and try in some strategic and subtle way to open there minds to all bikes and on rare occasions it actually works. Lately my dealer has thanked me with some free and discounted goodies for helping bring some business his way and I would have never tried if it wasn't for such a good bike and dealer.
