New 2012 GasGas

[Clay]

Watching the news, and wildly fluctuating international currency rates, I'd guess that could be a tricky question.

I won't try to speculate on how timing of orders, payments, shipping, etc. might affect the pricing. But I will guess that timing matters a lot. And that makes it a tricky question.

Just guessing...
Clay, take your time or hurry up!

-Dean

Dean,
You hit the nail on the head! The factory is trying really hard to help us be competetive with the orange brand but it's tough. Honestly, it isn't realistic for a company that builds 8400 units to be able to compete on pricing with a company that builds 10 times that number. They have to be able to buy handlebars cheaper, for example. With that said, it looks like we will be within 5% of them on most models. That means our 300 will be in the $8500 range, I think. We are going to try to lock that in this week and get the price sheet and order form out to our dealers. I have to say that the currency exchange is the biggest single issue we deal with in this business. For example, If the Euro costs $1.40 US, a 300 could be $8500. If a Euro costs $1.35 US, then that same bike could cost $8200. Right now the Euro is just below $1.35 US so we could price the bikes at that rate, right? Nope. What if the Euro gets stronger and goes to $1.45 US. Then we loose money. I've learned the hard way that the big companies suck up a lot of dips and peaks in the exchange rate. Sorry....didn't mean to whine. Just meant this to explain why we are waiting until the last minute to price the bikes.
Clay

 

[Nhuskys]

Dean,
You hit the nail on the head! The factory is trying really hard to help us be competetive with the orange brand but it's tough. Honestly, it isn't realistic for a company that builds 8400 units to be able to compete on pricing with a company that builds 10 times that number. They have to be able to buy handlebars cheaper, for example. With that said, it looks like we will be within 5% of them on most models. That means our 300 will be in the $8500 range, I think. We are going to try to lock that in this week and get the price sheet and order form out to our dealers. I have to say that the currency exchange is the biggest single issue we deal with in this business. For example, If the Euro costs $1.40 US, a 300 could be $8500. If a Euro costs $1.35 US, then that same bike could cost $8200. Right now the Euro is just below $1.35 US so we could price the bikes at that rate, right? Nope. What if the Euro gets stronger and goes to $1.45 US. Then we loose money. I've learned the hard way that the big companies suck up a lot of dips and peaks in the exchange rate. Sorry....didn't mean to whine. Just meant this to explain why we are waiting until the last minute to price the bikes.
Clay

I watched the former Scorpa Distributor, Mike Komer, sitting at his computer sweating bullets, trying to decide if it was the right moment to pay his bike bill to the factory. Hats off to you Clay!

 

[Clay]

I watched the former Scorpa Distributor, Mike Komer, sitting at his computer sweating bullets, trying to decide if it was the right moment to pay his bike bill to the factory. Hats off to you Clay!

I can relate to what he went through, that's for sure! A dime shift in the exchange is an almost $20,000 swing on a container of motorcycles.

 

[Clay]

Hey Clay did you said the "Race" bikes are comming first? As in race with spare parts race or are they XC's? Thanks.

John,
We are only bringing in the Race model this year. No standards, no Six Days. We will have XC Race models and XC Race models with e-start (250 and 300). All, even the 200, will have the 48mm Zoke fork and Ohlins shock. All will be called XC. Even the factory is going to call the non-street legal models (in other countries) XCs this year. We dropped the spares kit to get the price lower.
Clear as mud?
Clay

 

[Clay]

Clay one more question....Will we be able to get a 200 with e-start? If not is it something we can retro fit? I know thats two questions and they won't be the last ones either LOL. BTW I have a Husky rider ready to jump ship for one. Thanks.

The 200 will not come as an e start model but Gas Gas is the only company that makes a 200 that can have an e start kit added to it. The e start kit for the 2011s was around $950 MSRP but I expect the kit for the 2012s will be less, maybe substantially less because there will no longer be the need to add a new subframe. I will ask Mark to get us a price on e start kits for the 12s.
Thanks for converting a rider from another brand. You guys are the best salemen we have and it IS appreciated!

 

[noobi]

Is the 200 in the 125 frame, or the 250 frame?

Unless they redesigned the 200 engine, possible, but we haven't seen pics.
It will be as it was before, in the 250/300 chassis.

 

[GMP]

Its in the 250/300 frame. I'm still on the fence about what displacement to get. I should be able to keep my '07 250 so I may go 300 or even a 200. Or get a new 250 and make my '07 a 300 rock crawler for the real hell rides. The nice thing about this, is that the motors should still swap out, as the cases are the same. Only hitch could be the pipe, if the spigot in different on the new cylinder. I'd bet its the same though. Only thing that really bugs me is the extra 20mm seat height, that will not be an advantage for me.

 

[john01]

Man I was hoping the new 200 would be in the 125 frame; I like light weight. Glenn you sure it's still gonna be in the 250/300 frame?

 

[blitz11]

New bikes are taller? Really? The 2010 rode/fell off of (sorry Steve) was TINY.

Having a higher seat height is appealing to me.

I was going to buy a new chest protector if i won these next two jobs, but maybe a better prize would be a new 300.

Thanks for the insight.

 

[john01]

Yes the new 12's are 20mm taller so....... get the new 300!

 

[Gas]

Yes the new 12's are 20mm taller so....... get the new 300!

That just turned me off. A lot of the appeal of the GASGAS was the fact that they are smaller and have a small feel. If that's not going to be the case then I'll have to rethink this.

 

[GMP]

I can see this, a major appeal to the sub six footers among us was the compact feel. I'm only 5'9" myself. I don't mind lowering it if it will be resprung/revalved anyway, as long as the resulting ground clearance in no less than the current '07-'11 bike.

 

[blitz11]

I'm 6' 4", and the 2010 was diminutive. I am a crappy rider anyway, but i just couldn't get that bike to work. My 02 with a tall seat, Stavish top triple clamp with bars pushed far forward, seems to work OK. I wouldn't want to ride anything smaller.

However, i only rode 3x this year (too busy with work, trying to stay employed), and my enthusiasm for the whole dirtbike thing has really waned. Clinical depression? Maybe if I can win these jobs, i'll have some time to ride, and a new bike might be in order. Maybe a new bike will stoke that missing enthusiasm. Otherwise, it's new goggles and a chest protector as my "reward," and maybe more time on the 02.

 

[john01]

If I'm right 20mm is less than 1" (.78) so even at 5'-7" myself it's not gonna keep me off a 2012. I do like the lower seat heights on the current bikes but I do read that taller guys think it's a little cramped. I think GG just split the difference. I too hope the overall feel and bikes ergos are close to the current bikes and I have a feeling they will be with a slightly taller seat.

 

[Clay]

That just turned me off. A lot of the appeal of the GASGAS was the fact that they are smaller and have a small feel. If that's not going to be the case then I'll have to rethink this.

The whole seat height/ground clearance thing is kind of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" type thing. Gas Gas gets praised by a lot of riders for the low seat height but that feature brings less ground clearance, which others complain about. My '11 Nambo has the new linkage and seems to have more ground clearance but the seat height does not seem to have increased very much. I am 5'11" but I am also 51 so my leg don't swing as high as it use to when I'm getting on/off the bike. The wheel base is still the same and the excellent turning characteristics are still there. I think that you guys will find they've reached a pretty good position. Not as tall as the other brands but a little taller than the older model Gas Gas.

 

[Clay]

2012 XC250 looks delicious.

Any word on getting a rider who can actually win an NEPG/GNCC event on a GasGas? This is the time of year for signing riders, just wondering if there is anything in the works.

We have been sponsoring the Airgroup Team for the last year in the National Enduro series. This year the Airgroup guys plan to step up their program in the NEPG series and they are looking at supporting some AA and fast A guys. Honestly though, it will be difficult for them to get one of the guys who can win an enduro. KTM has had the top five guys sewn up but they are about to lose Russell to Yamaha. We simply aren't in a financial position to step up to the cost of a top level rider in either the NEPG or GNCC series yet. We'll be there one day though!

 

[Bandit9]

We have been sponsoring the Airgroup Team for the last year in the National Enduro series. This year the Airgroup guys plan to step up their program in the NEPG series and they are looking at supporting some AA and fast A guys. Honestly though, it will be difficult for them to get one of the guys who can win an enduro. KTM has had the top five guys sewn up but they are about to lose Russell to Yamaha. We simply aren't in a financial position to step up to the cost of a top level rider in either the NEPG or GNCC series yet. We'll be there one day though!

Fighting KTM is like going against the Yankees. Takes deep pockets when they sign all the top guys. I hate that they do that, but it is good strategy. It pretty much has worked huh?? Who knows, maybe GG will get lucky and have a young up and comer win a race or two. Nothing gives a brand creditability like beating the big boys. I was hoping Cole was going to snag a win for GG.

Bobbitt would have nice to sign. GasGas has a lot going for it now, just like it has done a few times in the past, but they never have been able to get a top rider to win some races to get them over the hump. Seems like the return on the investment would be worth a gamble.

 

[Clay]

We finally finished the arm wrestling with Spain and here are the prices for 2012.

XC200 US Race $7449
XC250 US Race $8299
XC250 US Race with e-start $8499
XC300 US Race $8349
XC300 US Race with e-start $8549

These prices are MSRP. There is also a $300 freight charge on each unit.
Dealers have to place their orders with us for the rest of the 2012 model year by the end of October. If you plan on buying a 2012, it would be helpful to put in an order with your dealer as soon as possible so that he knows how many to order.
Thanks for your business!
Clay

 

[Clay]

No problem doing a comparasion.
GG 200 $7449 ------ KTM 200 $7249
GG 250 $8299 ------ KTM 250 $8149
GG250 E Start $8499 ----- KTM 250 $8149
GG300 $8349 ------ KTM 300 $8249
GG300 E Start $8549 ------ KTM 300 $8249

So KTM is slightly cheaper. However, with a GG, you get a headlight, spartk arrestor and map switch that you don't get on a KTM. KTM does have a odo/computer that we don't have. Honestly, It isn't realistic to expect a company like Gas Gas that builds 8000 units to compete in price with a company that builds 80,000 units.
I am confused as to why KTM's are cheaper in the US than they are in other countries.

 

[gasmonkey]

Ah Clay,to answer your last question would be opening up a large can of filthy worms.
Same as oem kato parts.
Protectionism,dirty deals,price gouging,mutual back scratching abound in the smaller bike markets of the world.
Internet parts purchasing does mitigate this somewhat.
Pity because your honest local dealer can take a flogging.