The Future of GasGas in the USA

[juice76]

I really like GasGas bikes and have thought about buying one several times. It bothers me that they almost did not have an importer to the US a couple of years ago. Also, I go to a couple of GNCC events a year and you never see a GasGas factory tent set up. They haven't gone after the US market very aggressively. Anyway, I fear I'll buy one, and then they'll do like Husky did a few years back. No US importer - and no way to get parts.

Does anyone out there have a little insight they could shed?

 

[Berkyboy]

Hang onto your hat, you're about to get overwhelmed by responses.

 

[juice76]

Hang onto your hat, you're about to get overwhelmed by responses.

Good - I hope they have some substance and aren't just rants. GasGas looks like the perfect bike to me. I found a great looking 2005 EC300 I wanted to buy for my son, but I backed out when my local mechanic buddy got to talking GasGas parts availability. I would still buy one if it look like they would continue to be around.

I like to be different - my first bike was a Hodaka 100B. All my friends were riding Hondas.

 

[PEB]

I have had owned a GG since 2000. I have always had parts promptly shipped to my door by any number of dealers. One major advantage of the GG bikes is they don't needlessly change stuff every year. Many if not most of parts that fit on my 99 fit on my 02 and now on my 07. This allows dealers to actually have a stock of parts that will have a reasonable chance of being sold. I have found that Jap bikes and the KTM's change so often the dealers don't stock anything for them. I have had much better luck getting parts than my bike than my brother has for his Yamaha WR or his KTM. Just cause your local mechanic buddy doen't know where to get parts doesn't mean they are not available. BUy whatever you like, but I personally would not count GG out because of parts avaialbility or because there was a transition in the importer awhile back.

 

[jhendr3702]

i will admit, when i got my 300 last year, the parts thing scared me.
the go-fasters guys have taken all the scare out of owning such a great bike.
I am a long way from them, amarillo TX, but normally i order stuff on monday and it is on my front porch friday, ground shipping.
they are super nice guys on the phone and very knowledgable...
matter of fact, i just bought my second one this month..

 

[jhendr3702]

and i still have an ace 100b in my shed... 1969 vintage

 

[SpeedyManiac]

When I used to ride Hondas, I had a linkage bushing go south on me. The part was backordered and took over a month for me to get a new one. I've been riding Gassers since 2005 and have never missed a ride nor race due to needing parts. That includes the past 2 seasons riding 3-5 times a week while preparing for the six days. If need be I've had GoFasters overnight me stuff (I live right on the border with WA state so it's easy for me to get stuff shipped here). There's also the fact that these bikes are so reliable they really don't need many parts besides crash damage (and even then, they're really, really durable). My 01 EC200 has over 1000 hours on the top end.

People using parts availability as an excuse to avoid GasGas are ill informed and ignorant. It's easier to get GasGas parts than it is to get parts for most of the big 5. Yes, you may not have a dealer within spitting difference, but these days you don't need one. It's easy to get stuff shipped, and in some cases there's parts crossovers (Honda brake pads fit, for example).

The #1 reason people don't buy GasGas? They're afraid to be different. Instead they act like sheep, buying an orange bike that has worse suspension than a 1980's pogostick and a turning radius similar to the Titanic.

I don't think there's anyone in the world who regretted buying a Gasser.

 

[rpduc]

I live in MN and I get parts from Go Fasters "Next Day Ground" shipping.

I have never had anything back ordered.

 

[Jdub]

I have known the Gas Gas guys for a while now. They are great guys and work real hard. And just recently they have signed me on to be there factory rider for the GNCC and OMA races in the Pro class. I can tell you that they will have a serious presence at those events this year. I have never herd of any parts issues, and after riding the bikes, I am sold.

Justin Williamson
WilliamsonRacing.com

 

[gasser]

I've been on gassers now for 10 years and have never had anything as durable or as easy to get parts for. In the past I've had honda, suzuki, kawasaki, yamaha, ktm, bultaco, sears, harley, bmw, hodaka, and cz motorcycles.

I don't ride gassers because they're different I ride them because for me they're the best.

 

[roostafish]

I'm on my third Gas Gas. Originally I "took a chance" when a local dealer offered me a sponsorship deal. I liked the look of the bike, and I had just come off an unsuccessful run at the ISDE. I wanted to change things up a bit, and he hit me at the right time. I was riding a Husky WR 125, and was enticed into the 200, since I had planned to just ride local events where there was a 200 class, I enjoyed that bike very much, and now a guy here on this board has it, and still loves it.
I then went to a four stroke Honda to make another run at the ISDE in the 250 four stroke class (which was new to ISDE back then). After that, I realized I was indeed a two stroke guy and went back to GG, and now a third, purchased from our webmaster. I've had such an easy time setting this bike up, and getting parts. Truly, it's a blessing to have a dealer in town, but frankly, this site, the people here, and the resulting networking has provided better support and information than for any brand of bike I've ever owned.

Some of the local guys used to call me "Parts Parts," (presumably because they thought I wouldn't be able to get them) but I guess I've had the last laugh, 'cause parts have never been a problem, since 1999 for me.

I admit, I tend to favor European bikes in general, and have a soft spot for Huskies too. I've won a championship on KTM, but the bike that fits me best, and has the handling to keep me smiling is the Gas Gas.

 

[mountain thumper]

im on my first gasser, had her about a year. i was worried about parts untill i found i could order from gofasters without my dealers markup. i havent needed anything stock wise yet, but they ship fast, accurately and they keep in touch.
theres a honda/ktm shop here in town, and they never had parts for my xrs, the gasser dealer always did, its part of how i ended up on my gasser!
no complaints and unless a ktm 950 se or atk 700 drops in my lap for free my next bike will be a gasser too. and id be too chicken to ride the atk!!!

 

[Boomhauer]

I've had better luck getting parts for my gasser than I did when I had my KTM. The gassers are pretty much bullet proof and are very reliable. We tortured an MC 250 at last years Perry Mountain 24 hour race and it finished the race running unlike some of the "Other" brands that we saw.

They are great bikes and I will continue to own them.

 

[juice76]

I have known the Gas Gas guys for a while now. They are great guys and work real hard. And just recently they have signed me on to be there factory rider for the GNCC and OMA races in the Pro class. I can tell you that they will have a serious presence at those events this year. I have never herd of any parts issues, and after riding the bikes, I am sold.

Justin Williamson
WilliamsonRacing.com

Thanks for the response. I'll be cheering you on at Steele Creek, Big Buck and Yadkin Stomp. I'm really glad GasGas has got a top notch rider to represent them this year. This is the kind of presence they need in order to get people wanting their bikes.

 

[biggstr6]

I dont know about parts availability ,but it doesnt sound like a problem .
I hope it isn't , I'm waiting on a 08 ec300 now ( Joined the gasgas revolution).

Great that they are sponsoring a pro rider,its always been a great way to market bikes or cars.

 

[Eric K]

Parts are easier and faster to get for my GasGas by mail order than they are for the kids Honda or Kawasaki at the local shops.

Both of my GasGas 300's have been very durable and reliable. Even though they have had a few issues, they always got me back at the end of the ride.

My '01 XC300 has 441 hours and 5620 miles. Most of those miles are on technical trails in the woods. I rode it hard until I got my ’06 EC300. Now it is my second bike that I let my brothers, sons and friends ride. I have put new pistons and rings in. It still is running on the original bottom end. I run a Rekluse and it gets lots of abuse. It still has the original clutch plates.

There is not another motorcycle I would rather own & ride than my '06 EC300 (other than a newer EC300 with a plate).

 

[Rick]

The bikes are great, parts are easy to get and you have a network of info right here on this board. We now have a GNCC racer, to several ISDE racers, to club racers from all over the world and the wealth of info is better than any dealer down the street.

I am just like many other guys here, rode Yamaha, Honda, Hodaka, Husky and Zundapp and I have been riding my 99 EC200 that I bought from roostafish in 2000. Still loving every minute of it! I would buy another in a heartbeat.

 

[cal_tony]

Don't know about the future of GasGas in the USA. The future of so many
vehicles in the US is unclear. Right now, I wouldn't even want to venture an opinion about the future of General Motors or Chrysler.

The biggest negative I see is that they don't have a plateable bike like Husky, Beta or KTM, but they could change that whenever they wanted to. To overcome that problem you see many older GGs still in use.

However, GG has done a lot of things that I like.
They've kept their 2 strokes going and when they did begin to include a 4 stroke in their line, they modeled the motor after the most popular and reliable 4 stroke available the DRZ 400. So many mfrs still don't have a reliable 4 stroke in their line.

I remember that when the 450-500cc Huskys and KTMs were first 50 state plateable, Their spec sheets referred to that plateability as a big deal. Now, they don't mention it and the spec sheets no longer show them with mirrors or plate brackets. Maybe they know something about the 'street' reliability of their motors that they don't want to share.

I haven't used GoFasters for anything yet. My plated 2004 FSE with 6k miles on it, like my DRZ with 16k miles on it has so far only needed generic parts. But it is comforting to know that when I do need something they will be there.

However, if you compare the GasGas with the Beta enduros , you'll see a different picture. In spite of Betas 50 state plateability, the Beta has no forum and has no central location for purchasing parts. On the plus side they do use the older more reliable KTM motor, but even that motor is not GG 4 stroke reliable. Compared to GGs, I'd say it's the one with the iffy future.

Tony

 

[MattR]

Welcome to GasGas Anonymous:

Hi, my name is Matt... {long pause with uncomfortable silence}
I have a gasgas problem...
I have had gas since 2002.
It all started with a trials bike, then developed into an enduro thing.
Over the past 7 years, I had different types of gas (3 to be exact).
There was a brief period when I took Gas-X and was on an orange bike.
After suspending that medication, I accepted the fact that I enjoyed having gas better.
I admit... Gas feels wonderful, sounds good, gets attention, etc..

So my loyal brothers of gas, I ask you today... would you rather have a life without gas? Or accept your addiction and become one with it?
I am happy with my gas!

Thank you for listening.

{crowd applauds... a few cheers are heard too}

 

[Skidad]

On the plus side they do use the older more reliable KTM motor, but even that motor is not GG 4 stroke reliable.

Tony

Lot of good points Tony but have to disagree with you on this one. That KTM RFS motor that Beta still uses is a great motor with excellent reliability. Many KTM people wish they still used it as there are issues with their new dual oil system motors. Consider how many of those RFS motor bikes are running around out there and it's huge. The Beta is a VERY nice motorcycle with that Italian beautiful attention to detail and I personally would love to own one. I believe GG is working on a 50 state legal bike for the US market as well which is important IMO.