The great debate?

12Bravo

12Bravo

New member
For those of you that have followed my post. I got a new to me 99 EC200, seems ok, but for how long who knows.

I have an extra motor, with much research I am starting to see it is missing a lot of parts!
All the PV
No clutch, like none of it.
No ignition, 2k2 or 2k3
No water pump
Missing washers bearings and hardware.

So to sum it up, I have a split case with nothing use able. I think, what is in my motor now, is the parts from this motor.

Great debate; spend who knows how much to piece this together and fight to find parts.

Or, just deal with this bike for the next year or till it goes south and get a new KTM 300. I'm hooked on riding now, but can't afford a basket case that I will have to piece together.

Ho Hummm, just don't know.
 
It runs, ride it, fix it with the parts you have (but you will find out not much will go south) what ever you do DO NOT BUY A PUMPKIN
 
memphis2857 said:
Their suspension is garbage and you have to spend a small fortune to make one handle halfway decent. And they are just flat out FUGLY!!


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:eek:Fugly! Can't have that, so I would be a fat guy on a Fugly bike......bwhahaha:D
 
I've been following some and I'm a bit confused.It sounds like you have a complete running 99 gas gas ec 200 and a spare parts engine that is missing some parts.

So wats the problem.Sounds great to me.
 
Haven't really followed along too closely, but I can tell you without hesitation that the '99 Gasgas EC200 is a fantastic woods machine. Ours has the perfect mix of low end luggability and snap to be very effective in the woods. The handling is really nice for tight woods riding with the ability to slice and dice suspension is good for the average rider.



I do get worried about parts availability, but she's been very reliable and durable.

I've owned tons of bikes including 4 Gasgas and 7 KTM's . The Gasgas 200 is better than the KTM 200 (owned 3 of them). The 250's and 300's are great too, just different.
 
12Bravo said:
:p:cool:
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I looked at KTM as many do and have many friends with late model versions of all the popular bikes KTM and Husky (150, 250, 300, 350, 450) 2 and 4 stroke, I have rode them all.

2 bikes that stand out and shine are the 300 2 stroke and the 350 4 stroke. BUT and that is a big BUT, the suspension blows and needs over $1000 of work. So figure $9200 for the new bike, $1000 in suspension and you are over $10k. My 2014 Gas 300 suspension is amazing and some of the best stock suspension I have ever felt. KTM 300 motor though is a BEAST, which could be good or bad...

The 300 2 stroke hasn't changed much in recent years, so maybe try to find a used one. Its a 2 stroke so motor rebuilds are no big deal.

Just some food for thought. I am fortunate to have a group of 20-30 guys with different bikes that I ride with on a continuous basis.
 
95jersey said:
I looked at KTM as many do and have many friends with late model versions of all the popular bikes KTM and Husky (150, 250, 300, 350, 450) 2 and 4 stroke, I have rode them all.



2 bikes that stand out and shine are the 300 2 stroke and the 350 4 stroke. BUT and that is a big BUT, the suspension blows and needs over $1000 of work. So figure $9200 for the new bike, $1000 in suspension and you are over $10k. My 2014 Gas 300 suspension is amazing and some of the best stock suspension I have ever felt. KTM 300 motor though is a BEAST, which could be good or bad...



The 300 2 stroke hasn't changed much in recent years, so maybe try to find a used one. Its a 2 stroke so motor rebuilds are no big deal.



Just some food for thought. I am fortunate to have a group of 20-30 guys with different bikes that I ride with on a continuous basis.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. I have made my 300 engine feel very similar to the KTM with just exhaust, and a S3 head and jetting but it still signs off earlier than the KTM. I have rode the 15 350xcf and that thing is an absolute missile! But as stated above the suspension is so harsh. My opinion is just that an opinion but I will give it to you anyway. Take the bike you have that sounds like it's pretty clapped out and use it as a tool to get your riding up to par. Don't let it nickel and dime you to death because before you know it you will have 2 or 3k in it and you could have bought a lot nicer bike. For example there was a 2012 300 that sold on here recently for $2200!!! Throw that "spare" engine in a box and forget about it. Then get out and ride that bike and do some drills to improve your riding. Before you know it you will be ready for a bigger/better bike and when it comes time to sell your current one you will be glad you didn't spend a bunch of money on it because the value will never increase no matter how much time and money you sink into it.



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memphis2857 said:
My thoughts exactly. I have made my 300 engine feel very similar to the KTM with just exhaust, and a S3 head and jetting but it still signs off earlier than the KTM. I have rode the 15 350xcf and that thing is an absolute missile! But as stated above the suspension is so harsh. My opinion is just that an opinion but I will give it to you anyway. Take the bike you have that sounds like it's pretty clapped out and use it as a tool to get your riding up to par. Don't let it nickel and dime you to death because before you know it you will have 2 or 3k in it and you could have bought a lot nicer bike. For example there was a 2012 300 that sold on here recently for $2200!!! Throw that "spare" engine in a box and forget about it. Then get out and ride that bike and do some drills to improve your riding. Before you know it you will be ready for a bigger/better bike and when it comes time to sell your current one you will be glad you didn't spend a bunch of money on it because the value will never increase no matter how much time and money you sink into it.



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Good advise. Me and my wife was just talking about this the other night.

I'm going to ride this one till it won't go anymore. The motor is so far gone, in the sense I am not putting the money into it, that I am going to box it up or sell it as parts, not yet though.

When you say KTM is suspension is harsh. Would a larger rider feel different on it? I'm fat, so I would have to get a stiffer spring and re-valve anyways. Unless I lose 65 lbs over night, not likely....but I am working on that, which is one of the reason I wanted a bike. Quads don't give me a workout, bikes make me sweat and I feel like left the gym after riding.
 
No matter what you weigh the WP suspension on a KTM just doesn't work. Most of the pros are running Huck valves or some other kind of high tech internals in the WP suspension.


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memphis2857 said:
No matter what you weigh the WP suspension on a KTM just doesn't work. Most of the pros are running Huck valves or some other kind of high tech internals in the WP suspension.


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That was kind of my point, no matter what I get I'm going to have to have a suspension job done to make it right. So that cost is already part of it, new or used bikes included.
 
Yeah but you can get a lot better setup for less money with other brands. Look at the new yamahas for example. Their suspension is amazing right out of the box and can be adjusted to your weight for minimal cost. You will spend 3x as much on WP forks and still not have as good of a setup. I really wonder why KTM hasn't fixed the problem?


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memphis2857 said:
Yeah but you can get a lot better setup for less money with other brands. Look at the new yamahas for example. Their suspension is amazing right out of the box and can be adjusted to your weight for minimal cost. You will spend 3x as much on WP forks and still not have as good of a setup. I really wonder why KTM hasn't fixed the problem?


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I didn't know that, I have always liked YZ 250's. Rode a couple when younger and was happy!

Maybe GasGas will still be around and I will just get one of them or a Husky....lol
 
memphis2857 said:
Look at the new yamahas for example. Their suspension is amazing right out of the box and can be adjusted to your weight for minimal cost.


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Yeah to the point that some people are test riding on Sunday and buying on Monday;)!
 
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