TrailRider magazine article

[FastFast]

Never deny an industry publication bike requests. All publicity is good, even the not so good stuff. People keep looking at me confused when I talk about Sherco, or GasGas, or TM, or Beta, but they all know KTM. You need the names out there in print where it matters to get exposure and then get sales. When I started riding dirtbikes, KTM was the test turds in all the west coast bike mags, although the Euro mags found them good. Now look at KTM. Exposure and marketing. Keeping the boutique bikes confined to a small group of enthusiasts does little to promote the brand and generate sales. Send a '14 GasGas and Sherco 2T and this time spend a little time getting the damn bike set up first. The '13 GasGas should have never went to test without that fork sorted first, among a few other things. As distributors and retailers you need to get pressure on the factories to spend some dollars to promote the brand. The latest effort at the 2014 Motorcycle show in my city by GasGas and Sherco was a complete f-ing joke, looked like flea market row. TM rocked it though, probably with even less budget.

 

[Vindicator]

Publications suffer huge pressure from manufacturers because of advertising. It's the same all over the world . I'm yet to read an article where the test rider says, in clear terms, bike X is better than bike Y . They can't . As an example I have no doubt in my mind the new "Husq-KTM-varnas" are way better choice for riding/racing than a KTM, suspension wise. I have not read a single publication where, bottom line, the new Husqvarna is a better pick than a KTM. They can't ! Usually they leave us with "another good option for dirtriders all over the world"... I do not blame them, their earnings come from advertising and they need to keep their jobs. I'm conscious enough not to judge bike A or B just for what's on a magazine but I have no doubts most people take magazine reviews in great consideration. This and the "sound of the bike's plastics" on a full advertising page or showroom floor takes advantage over real world important decision factors . I also agree with Clay, it's not nice when there's such a biased opinion when test riding a bike , I would not wast my time and money too. But I also think some advertising is needed, I'm sad to see that on 3 Portuguese bike magazines there's not a single GG image...since I can remember .

Bormann says "it's a bit heavy innit?" The guy from BMW say " Vot? I yours guys riding bikes or pushing them?"

Bormann and mcgregor then rode the round the world of road where possible. 5 kg doesn't matter to most.
I like a sand cast motor, hd tubes, proper excel rims, big radiators etc etc. so I can continue to throw my bike off cliffs and ride it home.

There's a story going around that they approached KTM but have been refused. KTM claimed the maintenance cost and all the logistics associated with the 950's was not worth it . KTM also doubted Bormann would make it on the Road of Bones... Great bike the BMW

 

[Coop]

There's a story going around that they approached KTM but have been refused. KTM claimed the maintenance cost and all the logistics associated with the 950's was not worth it . KTM also doubted Bormann would make it on the Road of Bones... Great bike the BMW

If you watched the series when it was on TV they talk all about it, it's no story going around. They first thought they were guaranteed the KTM's and were all set for them, then KTM pulled the plug and left them scrambling to BMW. I have a BMW and like them, but they were not their first choice for the first trip.

Send a '14 GasGas and Sherco 2T and this time spend a little time getting the damn bike set up first. The '13 GasGas should have never went to test without that fork sorted first, among a few other things.

I disagree with the statement of "fixing" the bikes before sending them to be tested. If the magazine talks about how great the suspension is but doesn't mention it's been worked on, that is not fair to potential buyers. They will expect something they are not getting off the floor.

 

[bukwheat]

I would not want to see my 11 300 six days on a scale....I have a bunch of "stuff" on it that, I would guess, makes it "porkie". I have the Voyager GPS with the nice anodized case, I have the "AirCell" sub tanks on the forks and I have the "Bulletproof" rear disk guard....jeez all that stuff probably adds 20 pounds to the bike. But the other day when I was out riding, (video in "Pictures and Video" section) I hit a tree and dropped it. I picked it up just like it was a skinny light weight KTM.

 

[bkwdc]

Only thing porky about my gasgas is the rider.

 

[forgiven]

The only thing making me consider swapping rides from my 2010 EC 300 is the Husky 310. Great torque, decent trail chassis, much better fuel economy, and they are very affordable.

That being said my 300 is really nice, feels real light while riding and only realize how heavy it is when I am throwing it up on a stand, or pushing it up a hill.

I am at the point I will be putting some cash into it if I am going to keep it for a few more years, or let it go and start all over again.

 

[iamovru]

Publications suffer huge pressure from manufacturers because of advertising. It's the same all over the world . I'm yet to read an article where the test rider says, in clear terms, bike X is better than bike Y . They can't . As an example I have no doubt in my mind the new "Husq-KTM-varnas" are way better choice for riding/racing than a KTM, suspension wise. I have not read a single publication where, bottom line, the new Husqvarna is a better pick than a KTM. They can't ! Usually they leave us with "another good option for dirtriders all over the world"... I do not blame them, their earnings come from advertising and they need to keep their jobs. I'm conscious enough not to judge bike A or B just for what's on a magazine but I have no doubts most people take magazine reviews in great consideration. This and the "sound of the bike's plastics" on a full advertising page or showroom floor takes advantage over real world important decision factors . I also agree with Clay, it's not nice when there's such a biased opinion when test riding a bike , I would not wast my time and money too. But I also think some advertising is needed, I'm sad to see that on 3 Portuguese bike magazines there's not a single GG image...since I can remember .



There's a story going around that they approached KTM but have been refused. KTM claimed the maintenance cost and all the logistics associated with the 950's was not worth it . KTM also doubted Bormann would make it on the Road of Bones... Great bike the BMW

I dont know if it was true, but my understanding is that KTM did not know if their new 950 would be able to make such a trip without having lots of mechanical issues.

 

[nknudsen]

Only thing porky about my gasgas is the rider.

10 four, haha!

 

[Clay]

That's too bad you refused a test bike. Even when they test a bike with their "surf" filters, anyone who is interested in one of the exotic bikes can view the quote up four what it is and gain valuable information about how the bike works.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Are you kidding? Do you have any idea of the damage DR did to GG, the GG dealers and to my business on the 2013 models? I'd rather have no opinion than a horrible opinion.

 

[Clay]

Everyone here is slamming dirtrider cause they didn't like the way the Gasser were presented,however if you carefully listen to the review they did not hate the bike but the weight was a issue and that's a fact!! They did say that orange is not for everyone and for the rider that does not want to conform the gas gas is an option.As for turning them down on sherco i don't agree, If you are that confident in the product than let the riding world know!! Also give em a 14 gasser and let them note the advertised improvements over the 13s!!! BTW its well into the 14 model year and GGOR.US has not been updated in several months !! No info on the 14 models,no race report updates since may, and features of the 11,12 and 13 models?? you wanna sell bikes?? get your shit together,fix you website, stop with the dime store hood attitude on every review you don't like and get your bikes reviewed in as many mags as you can!!

Wow! Do you have any idea what DR did to our business? 2013 model sales absolutely died when that article came out. Dealers are asking me for rebates on '13s on a weekly basis. Dealers aren't ordering '14s because 13's still haven't sold. I don't really give a crap if you agree with my business decisions or not. Are you not smart enough to figure the mags out? When DR gave Beta the BOY but that same bike did not win the 300cc shoutout it should be obvious to everyone that has a brain that it is about advertising money. I can't spend $2000 a month with those guys so I will never win. You have no clue about what goes on behind the scenes that have totally turned me off from those rags. Here's what I am confident of....if you're too f'ing stupid to ride a bike to make up your own adult mine, then buy a KThusavarna. If you have enough confidence in your own ability and aren't effect by peer pressure then ride a GG or Sherco and make your own decision.
Yep you're right I'm behind on the website. I can't do website stuff so I have to pay someone to do it. I don't want to spend the money on that site just now. You have no clue what has gone on behind the scenes with me and GG since 2012. No one has bought a 2014 so there aren't any races to report on.
Dime store hood attitude? Are you serious? Number one I have the guts to be in this business in this economy. Number two I have the guts to take a stand on things that I disagree with. Number three I have been incredibly open with the users on this forum about the things that we deal with when other brands won't even acknowledge your business. There isn't much you could of accuse me of that would offend me more than your comments have. Thanks for your encouragement.

 

[Clay]

Never deny an industry publication bike requests. All publicity is good, even the not so good stuff. People keep looking at me confused when I talk about Sherco, or GasGas, or TM, or Beta, but they all know KTM. You need the names out there in print where it matters to get exposure and then get sales. When I started riding dirtbikes, KTM was the test turds in all the west coast bike mags, although the Euro mags found them good. Now look at KTM. Exposure and marketing. Keeping the boutique bikes confined to a small group of enthusiasts does little to promote the brand and generate sales. Send a '14 GasGas and Sherco 2T and this time spend a little time getting the damn bike set up first. The '13 GasGas should have never went to test without that fork sorted first, among a few other things. As distributors and retailers you need to get pressure on the factories to spend some dollars to promote the brand. The latest effort at the 2014 Motorcycle show in my city by GasGas and Sherco was a complete f-ing joke, looked like flea market row. TM rocked it though, probably with even less budget.

You are 100% wrong. Bad press is BAD when it comes to motorcycle tests. The only thing that influences riders more than mag test is demo rides. If you don't believe me then send my dealers $500 checks to help them sell the 2013 models that are sitting on their floors. Its really easy for some of you arm chair quarterbacks to second guess my decisions but you don't have to come of with the $30,000 IN CASH to rebate the sixty 2013 's on dealership floors. Why worry abut those bikes? Because dealers aren't buying 2014s because they still have 2013s AND because I care what happens to my dealers. When can I tell my dealers to expect the checks from you? Don't have $30k to send them? Neither do I. I sent them $36,000 last year on 2012s that did not sell because GG was 9 months late getting them to me. Did you lie in bed last night worrying about this shit? Probably not but I sure as hell did and last night was not the only night I couldn't sleep because of it.
Here is an email from a dealer of mine from last Friday:
Clay,
Any rebates on 2013 models? I still have 4 in stock. By the way, have I told you how much I hate DR and DB rags? Those guys convinced my guys that the bikes are soooooooo heavy.
JXXX

You and Brad can criticize my magazine tests decisions but I'm the one who has to pay for it when they hurt my dealers and my business. I don't think anyone has ever pissed me off as much as these comments have. You guys are commenting on a small part of a big issue that you don't understand.
Here's something else to consider. My agreement with GE to get them to floor motorcycles says that if a dealer goes out of business and still has motorcycles that I sold still in stock, I have to repurchase those bikes at the full cost of that invoice. The dealer quoted above has 4 bikes in stock. If he closes the doors, I have to figure out how to get four uncrated bikes back here or to another dealer and I have to write GE a check for them, about $29,000. Do you think I can resell them without a loss? What do you think of that "all publicity is good" comment now? The dealer who sent me that email and I do not agree with you!
The funny thing about the fork is that when Adam Booth was in GA he loved the fork because I spent the time showing him how to use the PFP valve. When I sent the same model bike with the same type fork he killed it. Why? I guess because I wasn't there to explain it to him and the other testers and they didn't read the owners manual. I absolutely refuse to send them bikes that you can't buy. The others will do it but I won't because I respect my customers too much.
I don't do bike shows. Dealers do bike shows. After working 6 days in a row at his dealership, a dealer loads up his motorcycles after working all day Friday and Saturday and takes them to a show so that customers can spend their time off walking around a show while having a beer on their time off. Then Sunday night he works till midnight to get everything back to the store so he can be open on Monday. Then you criticize him? Wow!

 

[Clay]

If you watched the series when it was on TV they talk all about it, it's no story going around. They first thought they were guaranteed the KTM's and were all set for them, then KTM pulled the plug and left them scrambling to BMW. I have a BMW and like them, but they were not their first choice for the first trip.



I disagree with the statement of "fixing" the bikes before sending them to be tested. If the magazine talks about how great the suspension is but doesn't mention it's been worked on, that is not fair to potential buyers. They will expect something they are not getting off the floor.

Coop,
Thx for the back up. I sent all of my bikes in crates that have never been opened. They tested the same bike you can buy. I guarantee you that you will not buy the exact same orange bike that the testers get and I have had mag guys confirm this to me. I think this is wrong.
Clay

 

[bkwdc]

Clay,

You are the driver here. I'm a passenger. I think you are doing a fine job and appreciate it. I do not envy what you must deal with on a daily basis trying to juggle all this (Spain, GASGAS, USA, California, Dealers, Finance, Dumbasses, etc). I trust and support your decisions. Please don't stop driving. We (GASGAS riders) need you.

Brad
dime store hood
knoxville, tn

 

[Clay]

Clay,

You are the driver here. I'm a passenger. I think you are doing a fine job and appreciate it. I do not envy what you must deal with on a daily basis trying to juggle all this (Spain, GASGAS, USA, California, Dealers, Finance, Dumbasses, etc). I trust and support your decisions. Please don't stop driving. We (GASGAS riders) need you.

Brad
dime store hood
knoxville, tn

LOL!!! Thx for the laugh!

 

[john r b]

Fine job indeed, Clay needs a vacation....

 

[Fred1956]

Common sense & a basic understanding of economics will bear out the praise/advertising $$ ratio. As someone said earlier they aren't going to bite the hand that feeds them, Beta gets Bike of the Year and then doesn't win the 300 shootout? Appears someone might have upped the ante a bit between those two issues...just sayin'....

For any new brand trying to wedge into the existing market it is an uphill battle, probably helps if you win the lottery before you tackle the mountain but otherwise you have to believe in yourself and your product then multiply that with a boatload of hard work and then it still isn't guaranteed that you can make it.

Bad press is bad press, if you deserve it then so be it, but those of us that ride GasGas know that our brand doesn't get a fair shake in the magazines. It's almost like they weren't riding the same brand during the test that we do. Trail Rider printed a fair test, that alone impressed me, Chilly White has been fair other than that it seems pretty one sided to a dominant brand.

Truth is that as 'everyday' riders none of the bikes will hold us back, we just ain't that good so in the end it becomes a personal choice for the each of us, some go orange, some don't. Yes GG has had their share of set backs, admittedly self induced, but they still make a great off road bike. If you can't ride that well and you know you'll be picking it up a lot during the day then 10-15# might sway you to a different brand. If that's the case then you probably can't appreciate the durability of a well built bike anyway. We know that GG certainly feels lighter on two wheels. All of the brands have their 'goof' points but the small guys get magnified exponentially.

On a more personal note, some of you know that I had the privilege of spending a lot of time with Clay last year working demos at the National Enduros. I challenge any other brand owner to call their importer and have a conversation with him, hell I'll give you points if you can even come up with their phone number. Clay loves this sport, he is passionate about his brands, he is human....he is one of us (although faster than most of us ). He alone will keep me on a GG or a Sherco because I like his kind of people. It isn't my story to tell but dealing with factories in other countries can be very frustrating. I assure you he is very knowledgeable about what we ride & why we ride and understands what we need. Some things are beyond his control but he still gives 'em hell about those things even if it seems to be falling on deaf ears. If I was a betting man I'd bet on Clay-even if he went back to work for KTM..(I'd still ride a GasGas though) for me the 'give the orange guys hell' is more about bench racing and giving them crap than a dig at the bike. As I said after one lap at a mud race- "This ain't fun, I'm going home" - My toys, my decision.

Keep it friendly my friends.......

 

[firffighter]

I definitely trust trail rider over the other 2 popular US mags. The fact is, Cali guys just don't ride the type of terrain that many of us woods riders spend the majority of our time. Yes, they occasionally test bikes in a woods setting for short mileage, but they are not tracking 40+ miles in nasty woods. If that were the case, the Gasgas would receive rave reviews! That is where the bike is at home. The great lowend oriented motor, the amazing handling and ergos are all setup to make a wonderful woods package. The guys at trail rider only ride tight woods, so I trust their opinion on the matter over the Cali guys testing on "singletrack".

As far as weight, I can tell you that the Gasgas is one of the most stable 2-strokes for woods riding. I personally think the extra weight ads to the stability and helps you track better through obstacle laden terrain.

I also pick up a couple European dirt mags from time to time because they too ride a lot of nasty woods. Gasgas always gets amazing reviews from them.

Lastly, I trust the guys who actually ride, and who ride in the same terrain I do. That is why this site is so valuable. When a fellow NW rider gives rave reviews about a bike, I listen up.

 

[Fred1956]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bkwdc
Clay,

You are the driver here. I'm a passenger. I think you are doing a fine job and appreciate it. I do not envy what you must deal with on a daily basis trying to juggle all this (Spain, GASGAS, USA, California, Dealers, Finance, Dumbasses, etc). I trust and support your decisions. Please don't stop driving. We (GASGAS riders) need you.

Brad
dime store hood
knoxville, tn

LOL!!! Thx for the laugh!

You TN guys are all alike !!

 

[Jakobi]

Nice vent Clay. Surprised you took the bait though.. Again, another honest and open post about how the business churns. Life isn't easy as a Gas Gas dealer. I'm pretty certain the only money mine has made is from the 2 bikes he's sold me, which he didn't make a lot on. I doubt it even offset his losses from the 2 x 2011 models which sat on the floor for years.

A bad review hurts big time. How many people trailside spout off what they have read in the mags as if it is gospel.

 

[braddenning]

You are 100% wrong. Bad press is BAD when it comes to motorcycle tests. The only thing that influences riders more than mag test is demo rides. If you don't believe me then send my dealers $500 checks to help them sell the 2013 models that are sitting on their floors. Its really easy for some of you arm chair quarterbacks to second guess my decisions but you don't have to come of with the $30,000 IN CASH to rebate the sixty 2013 's on dealership floors. Why worry abut those bikes? Because dealers aren't buying 2014s because they still have 2013s AND because I care what happens to my dealers. When can I tell my dealers to expect the checks from you? Don't have $30k to send them? Neither do I. I sent them $36,000 last year on 2012s that did not sell because GG was 9 months late getting them to me. Did you lie in bed last night worrying about this shit? Probably not but I sure as hell did and last night was not the only night I couldn't sleep because of it.
Here is an email from a dealer of mine from last Friday:
Clay,
Any rebates on 2013 models? I still have 4 in stock. By the way, have I told you how much I hate DR and DB rags? Those guys convinced my guys that the bikes are soooooooo heavy.
JXXX

You and Brad can criticize my magazine tests decisions but I'm the one who has to pay for it when they hurt my dealers and my business. I don't think anyone has ever pissed me off as much as these comments have. You guys are commenting on a small part of a big issue that you don't understand.
Here's something else to consider. My agreement with GE to get them to floor motorcycles says that if a dealer goes out of business and still has motorcycles that I sold still in stock, I have to repurchase those bikes at the full cost of that invoice. The dealer quoted above has 4 bikes in stock. If he closes the doors, I have to figure out how to get four uncrated bikes back here or to another dealer and I have to write GE a check for them, about $29,000. Do you think I can resell them without a loss? What do you think of that "all publicity is good" comment now? The dealer who sent me that email and I do not agree with you!
The funny thing about the fork is that when Adam Booth was in GA he loved the fork because I spent the time showing him how to use the PFP valve. When I sent the same model bike with the same type fork he killed it. Why? I guess because I wasn't there to explain it to him and the other testers and they didn't read the owners manual. I absolutely refuse to send them bikes that you can't buy. The others will do it but I won't because I respect my customers too much.
I don't do bike shows. Dealers do bike shows. After working 6 days in a row at his dealership, a dealer loads up his motorcycles after working all day Friday and Saturday and takes them to a show so that customers can spend their time off walking around a show while having a beer on their time off. Then Sunday night he works till midnight to get everything back to the store so he can be open on Monday. Then you criticize him? Wow!

I may have a bit harsh in my original post however nothing more would please me and all here for GasGas to thrive, As far as the dirtrider article it stopped me dead in my tracks ( and other small factors)as i was ready to pull the trigger on a Gasser 300. Ill wait and see what the 14s look like,