New 2011 EC200 Six Days Owner

[TEricksen]

Picking the bike

 

[john01]

Congrats on your soon to be GasGas. I have the 2010 GG 300 and can say they are extreamly well built, great handling bikes. Power on the 300 is more than I need making me think I should have tried a 200 myself. Please post up a ride report once you have some ride time. Until then enjoy your new bike. BTW welcome to the site!

 

[REVERUP]

Congratulations on a great bike! It will fit in perfect in western Washington. Are you picking that up at Taskeys? I know Jeff had one on the floor for a great deal. He has a nice shop that really supports the sport.
Starting to see lots of Gas Gas' in Washington again. I like it. Keep an eye out for my annual Gas Gas meet n greet thread in the western US section of this site.

Roscoe

 

[moto9]

Budget for suspension work and jetting....but I can only speak for the 08 and 09.
MHO is the GG is whole new bike with proper jetting and good working suspension.
You'll know your first time out.
My 08 has had a weekly pounding since I got it new in 08 and it's still tight..a real testament to the bike's quality and reliability.

 

[lankydoug]

I have an 03 EC200DE and it's set up for the tight woods with the following.

LTR Ohlins front and back.
Tubliis MT43 trials tire on back
13:50 gearing
the usual skid plates, bark busters, rad guards ect.
Small flywheel weight (10oz I think)

If the 200 power is to your liking I don't see how you could get a better woods bike although many say the newer models are better and that's what you have.

Enjoy the bike.

 

[mwright]

My riding buddy has that same bike - he loves it - only fine tuned the jetting and it hauls a$$

 

[Rick]

It's a win......win.....same boat as you back in 2000. Bought a super clean used 200, unsight, unseen, neaver rode one....yaddda....yaddda.. Still have it, the best bike I have ever owned.

If I was going to get a brand NEW BIke, my first choice would be a new 200, or a 300....The only reason a 300 is so I can ride it in one gear all day long...

Enjoy and have fun with it!......Oh...congrads! And I'd take REVERUP on his offer, I've rode with a few of those PNW GasGas guys and they are solid!

 

[john01]

Cool look forward to your ride report.

 

[twowheels]

Well, after adding a fuel filter due to plastic shards from the new tank constantly causing my needle to leak, I have the jetting where I think it's going to work. Stock needle clip middle, 42 pilot, 172 main. Seems to work better than any other combination I can come up with.

I had to shorten the rod on the rear brake master cylinder to lower the pedal to even with my footpeg (seems odd).

I've added a set of hand guards.

Nothing but a few other minor adjustments, and the bike is ready. I've never purchased a bike that is so close to right from the factory.

Now I need a free day to spend a few hours doing laps on my woods circuit to set up the suspension.

I may have to swap tires. I was hoping the 6 Days tires would work ok, but I'm starting to think they are a bit loose for my liking. Scorpion Pro/Metzler Unicross seems to be the best for my riding style and terrain.

So far, I very much like this bike!

Fuel filter is a good idea in any case.

The brake rod mod is to give you something to do and make you feel like you made that bike your own

I've got a good set-up for the Marzocchi 45 forks, but there's a guy from up your way that might be able to help too ... Len, or Leroy, or something

The best thing about the Six Days "rim protectors" are that they are street legal. You may be able to offset the cost of some woods tires by posting these for sale.

If you're like most guys, your love for these bikes will only grow!

 

[Mo.man]

I've been riding a 200 for a couple years now althought mine is a 07. The only mods I've done is the LTR power valve cover and 12T sprocket for Missouri tight woods. I like the low end power it has and it still has a good hit on top. Hope you enjoy and welcome to the GG world.

 

[Jakobi]

Nice ride report, nice bike, and even nicer workshop!

Everyone thinks we're nutty harping on about how nice these GGs are. You really need to ride one to appreciate it.

Within hours of riding mine I had felt like I'd owned it for years. It was love at first site!

 

[john01]

Thanks for the follow up ride reports. You are pushing me twords a new 200 instead of the 250. So tell me more about the midrange please.

 

[john01]

Thank you very much for the follow up. I have the 2010 GG 300 but I really don't like lugg riding very much and that bike for me performs better when riding it that way. I don't race just hit some trails with 3-5 gears sections and play on our MX track. I don't know for sure but your 200 sounds like what I'm looking for. Thanks again. BTW the only thing the stock tire on my 300 were good for was wet grass; I gave them away after a few rides.

 

[Rick]

The 200 is a great bike!!!! Sounds like your getting along with yours just fine!

 

[Jakobi]

Thank you very much for the follow up. I have the 2010 GG 300 but I really don't like lugg riding very much and that bike for me performs better when riding it that way. I don't race just hit some trails with 3-5 gears sections and play on our MX track. I don't know for sure but your 200 sounds like what I'm looking for. Thanks again. BTW the only thing the stock tire on my 300 were good for was wet grass; I gave them away after a few rides.

And I'm in this exact same position as well. The 300 is the master lugger. It'll pull off a stand still in 3rd with only a little clutch, however I'm looking for more of a revver. Something I can ride the tits off all day without the fatigue that comes with the big power of the 300 on the pipe.

I'm planning on keeping both bikes. Open for the more open transporty type rides, and the 200 as my single track weapon.

My 2010 came with the Michelin FIM Enduro Comp 3s. They were alright I guess. Now running Dunlop MX31 front and 51 rear with good results. The rear could be a bit better wearing.

 

[GMP]

Good report. Thats why I like the 250s, they will lug fine if you have too, but your not forced to ride that way to manage the power.

My current thinking is to find a 200 motor for my '07 250 and set it up for my son.

 

[Jakobi]

Glenn,

Have you rode a 200?? How much difference is to be expected between a 200 and 250? and then again to the 300? Is there any chance I'll find a 200 under powered coming off a 300? Whats peak HP out of a 200?

 

[GMP]

I rode an '05 200. It was OK, kind of what you would expect it to be, a weaker 250. I had a KTM200 and that pulled harder off the bottom than the GG, but also vibrated BAD, and was twitchy and ill suspended. The GG I rode was basiclly stock, no idea of jetting. One thing for sure you don't ride it like the 300, you get to use more of whats there without spending energy and effort to avouid the rest. More like your 250F. This is true of the 250 also. The lower torque will make the bike feel lighter even though it really isn't.

I think that with the basic mods we all do like the head, jetting, and maybe even more so on this bike the carb, and lighter ignition, it will be a great bike. Since there are fewer 200s lately, no one has really blown one out with proper mods and reported on it. I almost ordered a '12 200, but the 250s work real well everywhee so I go with what I know considering the steep MSRPs nowadays. It will be fun building a 200 and experimenting with it without the pressure of it being your only bike and having to get it right ASAP.

So, I have a KLX/KX hybrid for my son's friend, and few other projects to finish first, not to mention setting up my '12 when it arrives, and then I'll look for a 200 motor to go through. Who knows, maybe I'll like it the best of all when I'm done with it?

 

[Jakobi]

As you know I was swaying towards a 250 but the dealer has now got me considering a 200. Mosty $$ and c driving me at the moment. I can afford to move the 250F, keep the 300 and buy a new 200. I could afford a 250 too but then wonder if it'll be much like having another 300 in the shed.

Here in aus RRP on them are $9999 for a 200, $11700 for a 300, and the 250 is somewhere in the middle. All for kick start only Race models with 48 CC Zokes and Ohlins 888.

I honestly find my 250F a bit under powered since owning the EC300. Not under powered persay, but just lacking excitement. Somewhat the nature of the 4T to blame here.

I just thought as a bonus, if I went with the 250 and wanted my 300 to be in the new 2012 frame it wouldn't be too hard to swap the top ends on them.

 

[GMP]

250/300 top end swap, or 200 complete motor swap.

It all depends on what you ride really. A lot of your videos seem more open and fast, so the big bikes work. When its real slick and gnarly, or bar width trees for 10 - 12 miles straight, where the throttle is opened and closed hundreds of times every mile, less is more. At the end of the day its your body that makes speed. Ever been embarrassed by AAs on 125s?