I looked around and did a lot of research and opinion asking before I bought a bike to get back to the dirt after many years out. I looked into 4ts and 2ts of all brands and kept hearing things like "These run good after you buy a pipe a silencer and reeds". Or "these handle good after you spend about a grand on the suspension". I was kind of put off by "if you drop a valve or break a piston in a 4t you're out $2000 in parts and $1000 in labor"... Isn't that the price of a good used bike I would ask.(which means your bike is now salvage) Then I discovered GasGas. Some models came with FMF pipes Ohlins shocks and Forks or Marazocci. They all come with a super dependable engine with more mid-range usable power. I thought here is a company that knows what works and are building what works so you don't have too. I liked the fact that they weren't trying to build a brochure for a bike by bragging on peak HP or some other number that means nothing when you are on a single track in the woods. I talked to a Yankee from up north who told me "If you haven't ridden in 20 years you probably don't realize that a modern enduro can go more places than a trials bike could back then". He recommended I buy the EC200 I was looking at and promised it would prove his point. This Yankee wasn't just whistling Dixie . I bought the EC200 and as soon as I got it in the woods I wondered why anyone would buy a different brand. As soon as I get done buying all the riding gear I need I'm going to start putting money back for a new GasGas or maybe two. Who knows maybe a GasGas dealership. If the word gets out on how good these are no other bike will sell again.
Doug
Doug