New U.S. Enduro Importer Q and A

[webmaster]

I sent a summary of the questions from the previous thread about details on GasGas OffRoad US to Clay Stuckey - the head of the new gasgas enduro importer for the U.S. I have responses to those questions from him and they are listed below. He also sent me his resume and I have summarized it below.

Please post up any additional questions you have and I will update this thread with the responses. I will edit this post so that it has an updated summary of all questions with their answers, etc.

An Introduction to Clay Stuckey :

Clay Stuckey brings 30 years of motorcycle sales management experience at the district level and at the national level. He has 20 years experience as a regional sales manager for Kawasaki and another 10 years at KTM/Husaberg where he was a regional sales manager for KTM and a national sales manager for Husaberg.

On a personal level, he is passionate about motorcycling and motorcycle racing. In years past, he has competed in the SETRA series, winning overall A, 200A and Senior A classes. He currently competes in the Senior A class and finished second in 2009.

Q & A with Clay Stuckey - GasGas Offroad US.

1. Someone mentioned a shipment of discounted 2010 models on the way. Can you give us more details on this. What is pricing and availability?

The factory had 67 2010s that were left over and we agreed to buy them. The 250s have a MSRP of $6599 and the 300s have an MSRP of $6699.

2. Does this change have any effect on the operation of Gofasters as the enduro parts importer?

No. Go Fasters still handles parts at this time and we are glad of it. Their knowledge of the Gas Gas line is unbelievable and I feel fortunate that we have them to back up motorcycle sales.

3. Gofasters has been working hard to support racers and a race team, etc. What is your philosophy towards supporting racing to build the brand, etc.? What will be the division of work here now?

I believe in a Regional approach towards racer support. I want riders in as many of the regional series as possible who can answer questions for potential Gas Gas racers and who can show what the bikes are capable of. Supporting a pro like a Lafferty or Fahringer on the national level is out of our reach for the first year. Racer support is a marketing tool and sales and marketing is under our company but we have already gotten a lot of input from Go Fasters about long time Gas Gas riders like Jim Senecal. We want to support Gas Gas riders who have been loyal to the brand through some tough times before we look for other riders. But I do have some other riders in mind, like Robbie Jenks, who I supported while at the other company I worked for and who was dropped when regional race support was all but eliminated.

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If you have any additional questions - please post them here and I will summarize and update this post with Clay's responses. He is quite busy right now communicating with his dealers, etc. So I am doing this to save him some time.Thanks,
Jeff
Webmaster
GasGas Riders Club

 

[REVERUP]

Hey Jeff, I'm really interested in weather or not the 2011 U.S. bikes imported will be DE|XC's as they have been for years, or the EC version. And what other bike options the factory will be putting together. A race model , Six days model, Nambotin, etc... or will you have to option upgraded components on the standard model?

I know its still early in this new ownership but.... how and when can we obtain racer support from Gas Gas again, or is this going to be only for select individuals?

Roscoe

 

[twowheels]

2011 US GasGas Availability

The 2011 model availability chart was released to dealers earlier this week, and it shows electric start versions of the 250 and 300 two-strokes, along with the familiar line-up of Six Days, Race, and Nambotin 300 bikes.

Standard XC models (no ECs, although I have kits to make an XC street-able) should arrive as early as September, followed by eStart and Six Days versions in October, Race a short while later, and Nambotins in the spring. [disclaimer - this schedule is subject to change based on the factory's build plan]

Not excited yet? How about 125 and 200 Six Day and Race versions

Racer support is "under construction", but Clay hinted at his plan in the mini-interview with Jeff that started this thread. Your best bet is to talk to your dealer about what kind of program you want to run, and then submit it to GasGas Offroad. US that way.

 

[SideshowBob]

From another forum-

1. Are the bikes still imported as 'race' bikes?

2. Are the VIN's recognized by the NTSB as road vehicles....IE-will the DMV's allow them be titled?

3. Is Gas-Gas working on a titled 4-stroke to compete with the sales of titled Huskys and KTMs?

 

[REVERUP]

Your best bet is to talk to your dealer about what kind of program you want to run, and then submit it to GasGas Offroad. US that way.

Ya I wish I had a real Gas Gas dealer. Sounds like this should change with the change in importer, and their management.

Its been kind of shaky around here with the brand over the last few years. 2006 was the last time it looked really good here and I got great support from Juan Romero at Gas Gas USA. Also I am really the only Gas Gas points racer in the NMA Off road series and have been since the 06 season. Its gonna take some work to get them back in the public eye. Once in a while I'll see a Gas Gas and its usually ends up being a Canadian that came down for one of are northern races or its a local guy that races once in a while. Even so there aren't many Gas Gas owners in this area.

Thanks for all the info.

Roscoe

 

[Clay]

Guys,
Sorry for the late reply but I have been on the phone contacting dealers. I have also been filling out EPA/DOT forms out until I'm already sick of it!

Steve is correct on the models. Dealers have, or will have, a model availability sheet. I have ordered every model offroad motorcycle that Gas Gas produces and will receive the first container the end of the month and the last one in February. I have been told that I can increase orders if business is better than expected with 2 month notcie to the factory.

All of the bike will be brought in as closed course competition only motorcycles. That's the only way we can do it. We can't meet EPA/DOT street requirements. The MSOs will state for offroad use only in states that require that statement. There won't be any green sticker legal bikes this year and there won't be a street legal 4T available any time soon. The street legal KTMs are growing roots in the KTM dealerships and KTM has them in stock, too. KTM has been out of stock of 2Ts and bringing those bikes in makes the most business sense for us. In addition, I don't think the factory will stay with the current 450 4T engine for more than a year or two so all of the effort to get that bike street legal will have to be done again.

I have allocate 20 motorcycles for racer support this year. I am looking for guys who have pretty good success in regional series. I want a guy that Joe Average can talk to about his Gas Gas. I'm not always looking for the fastest guy but a personable, respected racer who can wave the GG flag in that series.
What else? Did I miss anything?
Sorry I have to get back on the phone. This is the hardest I have worked in the last year! Let me know if you have questions about anything else. BTW, I will be at the Maine National Enduro. I'm on row 35. Come by and introduce yourself if you are at that event.

Clay

 

[REVERUP]

Wow! Thanks Clay for spending some time answering questions and being a part of this great forum.
Not to mention taking on the task of making Gas Gas what it should be in the U.S.
I really like what I'm hearing, its a long time coming, and well deserved.

Is there any chance there will be a dealer list published on here or somewhere else, so we can figure out who in our area is going to continue to be a dealer, or who is a new dealer? Back in 2004 we had several in Washington, as the years have dropped so has the dealers.
Have a great ride at the National Enduro.

Roscoe

 

[nhrider]

Thanks for the update! Can't wait!

 

[AZRickD]

This is the hardest I have worked in the last year!

Music to my ears.

 

[roostafish]

This all gets me pretty jazzed. I took a chance in late 1998 when my local dealer wanted me to try this bizarre little bike with the same name twice. I was riding a Husky 125 in the local 200A class, so I tried the Gas Gas 200. I loved that bike. I stepped out to a Honda for a couple of seasons when the dealer disappeared, but now I'm on my fourth Gas Gas thanks to an incredibly good dealer, and this forum! I sure hope Gas Gas catches on, it's the best handling bike I've ever ridden, and it's cool.

I do think Gas Gas should adopt my bike's color scheme though for the American market!

http://s577.photobucket.com/albums/ss213/roostafish/Graphics/?action=view&current=IMG_9764.jpg

 

[eff]

A clean MSO is one main reason KTMs sell so well, actually it is the main reason. In the Northeast we need to plate our bikes and if we can't then we need to buy a bike that can be. I'm not going to be in the market for a new bike this year, but if I couldn't plate a new GasGas then I could not buy it because I couldn't ride it anywhere.

I'm sure that with your experience with KTM that you understand how important the MSO is.

 

[Skidad]

Hi Clay,

.....and a BIG welcome to the GG forum. Hopefully you will be a frequent contributor with all kinds of interesting GG info and maybe even some not so interesting stuff. All good!!

You said you have orderd every offroad model that GG produces. Can you give us the exact breakdown #'s of the different models? 125's, 200's, 250's (2 and 4 stroke), 300's, 450's. XC, Racing, Six Day, E-start 250 and 300's, Nambotin Replicas etc. I know you have 67 2010 models coming as well.

Any more info you can provide on the 200 Race version which a bunch of guys seem really interested in?

Please tell us GG has desiged a better and more reliable 2 stroke e-start system than KTM's (and no, I'm not knocking KTM here but it's had more than it's share of problems with the e-start).

Sometime soon the MSO issue is gonna be a huge problem. In the North East to ride enduros, turkey runs, or dual sport rides a plate is needed. Guys are still finding a way around it and sleazing it through the RMV but the noose is closing. It's obviously easier to wing it with a 4 stroke and that's one reason KTM EXC's are not selling when the "W" model can be made "just barely" road worthy quite easily. Most guys are just gonna pull all the EPA stuff off anyway so why buy the EXC? For some guys they still want that fully street legal bike from the factory because it's a breeze to get registerd but apparantly sales of those are not good. It WILL get to that point though.

The 450 GG (515 if they still make it) might make a nice dual sport bike (with a bigger tank) but the engine is already a dated design when compared to almost all it's other competition with new lighter and smaller motors. EPA cert at this point (unless it was REALLY close) probably makes no sense. Perhaps GG should buy the new sweet motors from Beta since they are working on getting those 50 state legal as we speak even without FI.

Something I would like to see happen at the distributor level or really GG Spain is the spending of money to have up to date important accessories made for the existing model year bikes (not 2 years later). Primarily over size tanks, tall seats, pipe guards, radiator guards and skid plates are the biggies. I would say especially the oversize tanks and tall seats. Thank god for Go Fasters for begging and begging to get stuff made for the GG bikes (the list is looooooong). The oversisze tank thing really drives me nuts. GG Spain should be forking out the dough (to Acerbis would be nice) to get nice tanks made (like right away) any time a frame/seat/brackets etc. change requires it. A 2.5 gallon tank (and smaller on the 250 4 stroke) just really doesn't cut it IMO and this is a huge issue not just for US riders.

Finally what is being offered to lure established hardcore dedicated dealers into the GG fold? There will be floor planning available? How many bikes will they be required to carry and what models? Parts? Any financing for customers? How will the bikes be priced model for model vs the obvious Orange bikes? Hopefully cheaper (Nambotin excluded of course) to get a little edge?

Anyway, to many questions I know (it's what I do best) but this is a very very exciting time for GG riders in the US with lots of hope in the air I'm sure you can feel.

Wishing you guys ALL the best

Skidad

 

[Rick]

WOW!!! This great news.....I've been in the basement for the past several weeks....work is kicking my butt!

Clay.....very good news...... I want to hear more about a 200cc rocket!

 

[Cruiser]

I'm excited of the news,, but most likely will have to buy a 4stroke that is plated or plate-able.. so the mso is a big thing as previously mentioned.. Most likely I'll get a 2stroke and a used KTM so I can ride the tighter dual sports and run enduros.. Without a plate,, or at least the MSO leaving off the dreaded "not for highway" my 2 stroke is just for playing or hare scrambles. Keeping a watch on this.. Hoping for the best.. My 97 GG needs a newer GG to keep it company..I think the big KTM is scaring it...

 

[roostafish]

I will second the sentiment on the larger tank. I ran out of fuel at the Idaho ISDE qualifier. Granted it was my fault (broke the cardinal rule of racing), but really the bike should go 60 miles on a tank..... At race pace..... after four inches of rain.

 

[Cruiser]

How about a ds specific bike,, like the 515,, basically the 515's and 450's that dont sell,, keep selling as a 515 ds bike for several years,, just dont dumb down anything like suspension,, but keep the older engine until you run out of old inventory. like clearing out the closets.. didnt GG do that with the hobby 400??

 

[dank]

you mentioned looking for riders in regional circuits, how would one place their name in front of you? im not talking about myself, but if someone were to find a rider that they think fits your bill, how would we put them in contact with you, through the nearest dealer?

 

[Clay]

Is there any chance there will be a dealer list published on here or somewhere else, so we can figure out who in our area is going to continue to be a dealer, or who is a new dealer?

My brother is working on the website now. The website address will be: www.ggor.us
Our site will have a full dealer list on it. It will take a bit to work through this.
To be a offroad dealer, a dealer must give us an order for bikes. As they give us an order, we will add them to the list of offroad dealers. Now that we have flooring, bikes and margin, there is no reason for a dealer to not stock product. This week has been full of the first phone calls to about half of the dealers. Next week I will finish them up and then start taking orders. It's taking a little longer than I expected because I keep getting interrupted with importing issues.

Clay

 

[cyclecat]

Thanks for posting all the info, Clay. To take time out of your busy day is much appreciated.

I already have an order in with Donny Graham for a 2010 250 and 300. I'm chomping at the bit to get them. Do you have an ETA for the bikes?

 

[GMP]

Clay, welcome to the site, thank you for participating, and the best of luck in this venture.

As far as the MSO issue, there may be (is in NJ) more to it than "for offroad only" or "not for highway use" printed on the paperwork. Some states like NJ have a master list of homolagated for road use bikes that is checked, not on list = no plate. This is a tough one to get around and what we do now is get an out of state reg and plate from a state that does not have this restriction. So far it works fine for entering and running events events. I don't see how you would get around this with the full range of bikes, as the only bikes on this list are true dual sports like the KTM EXCs Husky TEs, etc. I, for one, will not ride a lesser bike I do not really want just to get a legit plate in my state.