Questions for Brett Saunders...

[Cruiser]

Brett,
Welcome aboard, its great to see you on these boards. My question,, Is there any plans on a 4s dual sport, not just a street leagal 4s but a true ds bike? I've heard rumors before about a 500cc+ bike on the same platform as the 450 in the works as a ds bike. I'm in the market for a road worthy light ds bike. I'd love to keep my garage all GG.
Thanks,,

 

[fattfreddie]

Dual Sport

I'm not as up on the rumor mill as some people, but I'm sure we'll learn more soon. Personally, I think that a reliable dual-sport model would be great for the brand.

Cheers,

Brett Saunders

 

[Mark Tracy]

HI Brett,

When can we expect the 2007 2 stokes to be in the states?

Thansk!

 

[fattfreddie]

HI Brett,

When can we expect the 2007 2 stokes to be in the states?

Thansk!

Well....we have been covering the non-conforming VIN issue with the factory, in order to be certain that we don't have any licensing problems here. There should be absolutely no problem resolving this issue, in my opinion. And as soon as it's settled, we should get half a dozen bikes in by air as samples (my best guess is six weeks from now), and a container following them closely by sea.

Cheers,

Brett Saunders

 

[MattR]

Brett,

Can you tell the corporate folks at GasGas to get their marketing strategies focused? The KTM hardparts catalog is a thing of beauty... 58 pages of everything from clothes, novelties, OEM bikes parts, and aftermarket accessories.
http://www.ktmcyclehutt.com/2006_pdf/2006_KTM_HEQ.pdf

 

[Hawkeye]

Matt,

Great point, could not agree with you more, GG riders would love to have a place to browse for aftermarket parts, clothing, casual wear.

You can buy a KTM dog bowl...

There is a joke in there somewhere.

Hawkeye

 

[Dave]

How about a spec sheet for US (i.e. DE) models?
What about an addendum to the owner's manual covering the different ignition and wiring?

 

[eff]

Well....we have been covering the non-conforming VIN issue with the factory, in order to be certain that we don't have any licensing problems here. There should be absolutely no problem resolving this issue, in my opinion. And as soon as it's settled, we should get half a dozen bikes in by air as samples (my best guess is six weeks from now), and a container following them closely by sea.

Cheers,

Brett Saunders

Any update on the status?

Arrival dates?
Technical configuration, i.e. rear shock?

 

[GMP]

Brett,

Have you inquired to GG Spain about whether a 250F is in development or not?

I recently rode a Yamaha that was set up nice and have a renewed interest in the 250Fs. I was amazed at the low end it had and how easy it was to ride in some real nasty conditions. The new KTM is said to be very good, Husky has the TE, so it would be nice for GG to get a piece of the market as well.

 

[barkeater]

Can you tell the corporate folks at GasGas to get their marketing strategies focused? The KTM hardparts catalog is a thing of beauty... 58 pages of everything from clothes, novelties, OEM bikes parts, and aftermarket accessories.

Matt, you mean something like this catalog Gas Gas France has put together.
The products are there, someone just needs to get them to the US and put together the catalog.

 

[MattR]

Matt, you mean something like this catalog Gas Gas France has put together.
The products are there, someone just needs to get them to the US and put together the catalog.

Yes, it is a shame the US folks don't have the same thing. Something like this shows that GasGas can compete against KTM in the market place. If non-GG owners seen this, I'm sure others would start to convert. One of the biggest complaints I always hear is the "lack of aftermarket parts". It's true that many parts exist, but a catalog such as would end this debate for good.

 

[tm_enduro]

I like to see a catalog like that as well. TM France has done the same thing for TM's. This is kind of what FBF tried to do for Husky in the USA.

 

[gasgasman]

Nice.
Check out the aluminum fuel tanks.

 

[fattfreddie]

Any update on the status?

Arrival dates?
Technical configuration, i.e. rear shock?

VIN issue is all good, we have some 2007's here now for our dealer meeting, first container lands in three weeks.

Rear shock is Ohlins, standard front suspension is Marzocchi, Ohlins available by special order for additional price.

 

[fattfreddie]

Brett,

Have you inquired to GG Spain about whether a 250F is in development or not?

No, but we have inquired about whether a 450F is

 

[flybars]

Questions for Brett Saunders

Hi Brett. Speaking of the 450, I have a new '05 FSE 450 and am having a hard time finding protection for this bike. Are there plans to support the FSE's in aftermarket parts?

 

[fattfreddie]

Hi Brett. Speaking of the 450, I have a new '05 FSE 450 and am having a hard time finding protection for this bike. Are there plans to support the FSE's in aftermarket parts?

That's a question for the aftermarket I believe.

 

[MattR]

That's a question for the aftermarket I believe.

True, it is ultimately the decision of aftermarket companies to produce a part. However, BMG should be taking an "active role" in soliciting aftermarket companies to produce the various parts. Up to now, it has been through efforts of several dealers and enthusiasts to contact these companies (such as Moose, LTR, Flatland, etc.) and get product availablility.

IMHO, BMG should now take the primary role to push for aftermarket exposure. The aftermarket companies will need design details (such as dimensional layouts) to fit their products to both the 2T and 4T GasGas models. This type of information is available from GG corporate and should be communicated to these aftermarket companies by BMG... not somebody working out of his garage looking for a one-off part.

The key to success for GasGas is not on how many more bikes you can sell in a given year, but to make sure there is an infrastructure and aftermarket ready to support new/existing GasGas riders. To borrow a quote from the movie - Field of Dreams... "Build it and they will come".

Here is another hint... look at the multitude of aftermarket parts available for the new Jap bikes even before these models hit the dealers' floors. It is not dealers and riders doing this, it is the bike manufacturers working with aftermarket companies to ensure product is ready in the pipeline.

Sorry for the rant, but this is something that GasGas has missed from the get-go. I'm hoping BMG will make an honest effort and get good product availability for our awesome bikes.

 

[tm_enduro]

True, it is ultimately the decision of aftermarket companies to produce a part. However, BMG should be taking an "active role" in soliciting aftermarket companies to produce the various parts. Up to now, it has been through efforts of several dealers and enthusiasts to contact these companies (such as Moose, LTR, Flatland, etc.) and get product availablility.

IMHO, BMG should now take the primary role to push for aftermarket exposure. The aftermarket companies will need design details (such as dimensional layouts) to fit their products to both the 2T and 4T GasGas models. This type of information is available from GG corporate and should be communicated to these aftermarket companies by BMG... not somebody working out of his garage looking for a one-off part.

The key to success for GasGas is not on how many more bikes you can sell in a given year, but to make sure there is an infrastructure and aftermarket ready to support new/existing GasGas riders. To borrow a quote from the movie - Field of Dreams... "Build it and they will come".

I'm hoping BMG will make an honest effort and get good product availability for our awesome bikes.

I disagree with you here. I think that BMG needs to concentrate it's efforts on gaining dealer and customer confidence in the product (bike and parts avaiability) first. GasGas France offers the catelog because it sells alot of GasGas bikes in France. I suspect that BMG will run in the red as it is for a couple of years building infrastructure, so fronting money to aftermarket companies will be difficult. Once unp and going, I hope that they can then begin to form an aftermarket registry (similar to GYT, KTM Hardparts, Husaberg Force Parts, etc). Offering (aftermarket catelog) options to build facotry race replicas is a great idea.

 

[flybars]

Questions for Brett Saunders

Well then how about just the basics: skidplate and radiator guard? GasGas purchasers are not all affiliated with racing, sponsers and garages full of metal fabricating and wrenching tools. Or the knowledge to go with it.
When I buy a brand new bike, I want to ride the damn thing, not spend my time on the internet all over the world getting nothing but no's.
Three simple items I needed to install on my '05 FSE when I got it home: Good bark busters, skidplate and good radiator guard and gp braces. The only thing BMG would need to concentrate on wood be the skidplate and radiator guards because they need to be fit to each specific model; 2t or 4t. What's so difficult about working with the aftermarket guys to let them know measurements and that they need to be available at a certain time to coincide with new sales?