questions for EC 300 owners?

[moto9]

Hi everyone,
I am seriously thinking about getting a left over 08 ec 300.
I am a little aprehensive for a few reasons.
1) relibility
2) quality and craftsman of Gas Gas bikes,
3) parts availibility
4) stability of the company
I have never had an exotic bike nor have I even seen a EC 300 in person, so I am in the research process.
Everything I read so far was good, but I'd like to hear from guys that have actual experience with owning and riding them.
Thanks for the input!!

 

[wence]

I have an o7 and it is the best bike I have owned by far.
Parts are not hard to get, just need to order online for a specialty part .
Would thoroughly recommend.
Cheers Mark.

 

[jiauka]

I live in Spain about 80 miles far from the gasgas factory, until 2005 there were no problems at all with the factory, between 2006 and mid 2008 was a kind of pain about parts and so on, since then there are no problems at all and everything is back to what it should be.

The EC bikes are not the best looking bikes in the world, plastics quality are not as good as jap bikes but chasis and engine are probably the best trails/woods/enduro ones you can get today and the 2 strokes gassers are very reliable.

You won't be dissapointed with a EC300, tones of torque, great low end, excellent mid range and more than enough top power. After you ride an ec250 or ec300 half an hour looks like you have been riding it for years.

have fun,

j.

 

[baker]

I had my first gasgas last year 08' mc250. I did less maint than any bike i have ever owned. I have owned over 15. I raced 32 races last year and the bike still felt "tight". I now have 08 EC 300 and love the bike. It is very reliable also. I get parts from GoFasters here to VA usually within 5 days. I always order all the off the wall parts and they have them in stock. My next bike will be GasGas and the bike after that will be GasGas!

 

[biggstr6]

Hey Baker, Where in VA are you? I'm in Richmond and am waiting on a 08 ec300 right now.

 

[baker]

in roanoke where did you order your gasser? You do any VCHSS, VXCS, NCHSA?

 

[biggstr6]

I ordered from a Shop in Herndon (The Trialzone) . I wanted the Six days plastics swaped & that has turned out to be a bit of problem delaying delivery of the bike.

I havent done any VCHSS , but I think it would be fun to do ,just for the fun of it ,not really to win.

 

[Mark Berg - CPD]

White plastics

The white plastics issue is our fault and no fault of your dealers. We had ordered 15 "complete" kits to be shipped via boat and when it arrived in the end of January it was shrouds, fenders only, no headlights or airbox panels...

I do have some coming but when GasGas releases "new" plastics looks on their bikes you have to keep in mind they produce maybe 2 sets, take photo's, release photo's then sit back and wait for feedback so when the ISDE product was shown last July it only became available in limited quantity for the ISDE bikes and then available to importers in December.

We are starting to import different plastic sets and eliminating stock of "graphic" plastics from prior to 06. In the future if a customer wants plastics for a specific year with graphics it will be special order. We will only carry 06 plastic with stickers in the 3 colors. Stocking 3 different colors with graphics for 6 different years has become very difficult and expensive.

As far as parts availability on hard parts (wear items, breakable items). You shouldn't have a problem anymore...unless you have an 03 quad 300 and you want chassis parts, we haven't built our stock up on that....just yet

 

[gasser]

Seems like we should be able to get someone to make us some complete graphics kits in generic colors like black, white, and silver that would look good on blue. red, and yellow bikes. It would only take 3 sets to cover every gasser enduro bike made after 2001. I'm talking about something similar to OEM graphics but affordable.

 

[moto9]

I feel more at ease, thanks!!, I am looking forward to getting the EC... should see it the first week of next month.
I was interested in the 6 day's plastics and graphix as well.

 

[hudson_hollow]

I complained to our Parts Unlimited rep yesterday that their catalog does not have many Gas Gas parts listings. I seem to always have to order stuff for KTM, Honda, etc... for my Gas Gas because I know it's the same part number. Those without this knowledge are at a loss to get brake pads, reed valves, fork seals, etc.... He put the blame on Gas Gas and said they do not supply Parts Unlimited with enough info. Whatever the reason, Gas Gas would be a more attractive brand if aftermarket parts were more easily available.

 

[tm_enduro]

I......Gas Gas would be a more attractive brand if aftermarket parts were more easily available.

As a former TM owner, and currently a Husaberg owner. I fully endorse buying OEM parts, or at least aftermarket parts imported by by the brand importer, so that they can generate enough revenue to stay viable. I also endorse buying local as much as possible. The downside can be that you have to plan parts needs and maintain a list of crossover parts, which I am quite accustomed to.

 

[tm_enduro]

The white plastics issue is our fault and no fault of your dealers. We had ordered 15 "complete" kits to be shipped via boat and when it arrived in the end of January it was shrouds, fenders only, no headlights or airbox panels...

I do have some coming but when GasGas releases "new" plastics looks on their bikes you have to keep in mind they produce maybe 2 sets, take photo's, release photo's then sit back and wait for feedback so when the ISDE product was shown last July it only became available in limited quantity for the ISDE bikes and then available to importers in December.

We are starting to import different plastic sets and eliminating stock of "graphic" plastics from prior to 06. In the future if a customer wants plastics for a specific year with graphics it will be special order. We will only carry 06 plastic with stickers in the 3 colors. Stocking 3 different colors with graphics for 6 different years has become very difficult and expensive.

As far as parts availability on hard parts (wear items, breakable items). You shouldn't have a problem anymore...unless you have an 03 quad 300 and you want chassis parts, we haven't built our stock up on that....just yet

Keep up the great work. It is great to see you guys making a push in spite of the economy.

For what it is worth, I think the white/black 2009 WEC bikes look great, although I do prefer the silver rims (which only Nambotin is using). Maybe a 2010 Race Replica is what I need to get.

 

[hasslbri]

If it is a decent deal I would totally go for it. The motors, chassis, and suspension on these bikes are fantastic. Does it look like a honda? No. Is it as tough as a Japan bike? I would argue it is a tougher machine through and through. I made a severe mistake at a 3 hour harescramble last year. It was going to be cold out, so I decided to fatten up the jetting. Apparently I can't read a main jet to save my life. Instead of running a 182 I ran a 115. That bike had almost no top end. I also caught a radiator hose on another bike (different class) while leading my class. Lost all my coolant and had to ride nearly 3 miles with no coolant in the bike. Needless to say, the bike survived with no internal damage. And this was a high speed race = WIDE OPEN! Go for it. They are really good bikes. And don't let anybody tell you how bad the resale is on them. Right now, try selling any bike. They are all worth almost nothing. Try selling a 250F.

Brian

Hi everyone,
I am seriously thinking about getting a left over 08 ec 300.
I am a little aprehensive for a few reasons.
1) relibility
2) quality and craftsman of Gas Gas bikes,
3) parts availibility
4) stability of the company
I have never had an exotic bike nor have I even seen a EC 300 in person, so I am in the research process.
Everything I read so far was good, but I'd like to hear from guys that have actual experience with owning and riding them.
Thanks for the input!!

 

[PEB]

Nice story Brian, though it kind of makes me wonder if I have a crank rebuild in my future.

 

[tm_enduro]

...Right now, try selling any bike. They are all worth almost nothing. Try selling a 250F.

Brian

I bet that is hard to do right now!

 

[Mark Berg - CPD]

oops forgot that part

I forgot to mention we currently have USA version radiator shroud graphics for the blue, and red 06 and older bikes for about half the money of buying the shrouds with graphics OEM.

We are currently working on two different complete sticker kit for all 3 colors with the US sponsors for the 01-06 and the 07-09 bikes...forgot to mention that earlier when discussing plastics.

 

[tm_enduro]

I forgot to mention we currently have USA version radiator shroud graphics for the blue, and red 06 and older bikes for about half the money of buying the shrouds with graphics OEM.

We are currently working on two different complete sticker kit for all 3 colors with the US sponsors for the 01-06 and the 07-09 bikes...forgot to mention that earlier when discussing plastics.

What are the 07-09 colors? Red, Blue, and White? Don't some have black shrouds?

 

[jyellard]

I bought a left over 07 EC 300 in February 08. At the time I was considering a KTM also. It was either the GasGas or the not e-start KTM 300 as I didn't want to pay for the brand new e-start KTM. I chose the GasGas simply for the better suspension vs. the no linkage KTM since I couldn't afford the e-start. I have been very happy, and have had no problems ordering parts. Either call GoFasters or do a little research to find the appropriate crossover. Either way parts are readily available.

 

[Dingo]

If you just do your routine maintenance, the Gasser will reward you with total reliability.

Cant go wrong.