Vancouver Motorcycle Show

[HuskyDude]

Well it's that time of year again. The Vancouver Motorcycle Show is on again. From the Jan. 19th. till the 22nd. Held at the Tradex in Abbotsford BC. Looking forward on seeing what everyone has to offer for 2012.
Anyone else heading that way??

 

[HuskyDude]

Just got back from the show. Thought I'd share a couple of photos with ya.
The drive down was spectacular.
Just pass the Coquihalla Summit (el. 1244 m or 4081 ft)

But on to better pics. Here's a couple of the 2012 Race.
Dave from GasGas Pacific had two 2012 Race 300's and two TXT Pro 250's flown in for the show
Rear Sprocket and rim.

Not sure I like where they put the dual map switch hard to hit on the fly if needed.

Top shot looks nice and nimble. Notice the seat bolts from under neath.

 

[HuskyDude]

Rear brake pedal looks better on the inside of the frame.

Rear Ohlins 888 and the front Marzocchi 48mm look real good.

Fuel capacity is up a bit to 10.5 Lts. Notice the battery box above the air filter hmmm. Takes four bolts to remove before you get to the air filter.

The battery box is part of the seat hold down. Makes it pretty hard for a quick filter change. Modification might be in order.

 

[HuskyDude]

Thought I'd throw this one in too.

Pretty good ride report in the new Enduro Extreme Mag on the 2012 EC 250 and 300.

If you can get your hands on it.

 

[GasGas]

So much for easy access air filter?

Although the battery box is in the way, it should hold all your tools and maybe a tube. Just keep a 8mm tee in your camleback.

Great opportunity for someone to make an after market seat mount.

If they keep this setup they should go back to the access door on side of the airbox like the pre 07 bikes.

 

[Rick]

If you don't have an e start, just get the battery box out of the airbox. With the battery box removed, looks like there is more room. The back of the tank sure covers the sealing lip Looks like filter socks could be you best friend

 

[iajim]

Great photos, just wanted to comment (or rather question) on the switch located on the radiator hose. Was this installed by a KTM double agent? Thanks again for the photos. The motorcycle show in Minneapolis usually doesn't have too many off road bikes but I may have to go this year.

 

[AZRickD]

HDude, thanks for the photos of the real-deal 2012.

You may have saved Clay from Extreme Bannage (but I hope not).

If only Clay were more Canadian. Indeed, if only we were all more Canadian.

 

[AZRickD]

So much for easy access air filter?

They could replace the bolts with a half-turn quick fastener.

 

[noobi]

Great photos, just wanted to comment (or rather question) on the switch located on the radiator hose. Was this installed by a KTM double agent? Thanks again for the photos. The motorcycle show in Minneapolis usually doesn't have too many off road bikes but I may have to go this year.

Map switch, that's where it comes from the factory, because the handlebars aren't attached when its shipped out. Some people leave it there to avoid bumping it, otherwise there's some extra wire looped up around the airbox to untie if you want it on the bars. Well, thats how it was done with the 11's.

Would it really be that big of a deal to not bolt the box in place, it looks like it already gets held down by the seat. Or to use some pins which just locate the box on the holes but they don't lock into anything.

 

[gasgasquebec]

Nice. Thanks for the photo report!

 

[AZRickD]

If those four rubber-grommeted holes on top of the battery box are part of the seat hold-down system, then we'll have to be more creative.

I was happy that GG went away from the combo kickstand/chain roller mechanism. No reason for one point to do double duty. Now we have another thing to fix.

 

[HuskyDude]

We had a pretty long discussion on the battery box. It went from quick release bolts for the B box for the E start bikes. To an aluminum bar attached across the subframe that incorporated the seat hold down wedge needed for the seat which again had a quick release system. Not using the B.box at all. And of coarse parts either on safety wire or something so you don't loose them. The 4 little 8mm bolt that hold the B box to the frame are very finicky and could very easily be dropped down never to be seen again.

As stated above there is a great opportunity for someone to design a better system.
Don't get me wrong here... This bike rocks. Everyone was drooling...Some of the riders that have orders and will be competing are just trying to figure out a quick way to change the air filter.

 

[Clay]

If you don't have an e start, just get the battery box out of the airbox. With the battery box removed, looks like there is more room. The back of the tank sure covers the sealing lip Looks like filter socks could be you best friend

The battery box is a structural part of the subframe and the seat also catches on it (like it use to on the tank) so it can not be left out.

 

[john01]

I think I'm going to convert mine to 4 "D" style 1/4 turn rings. I guess the e-start bikes will have leads long enough to remove the complete box .

 

[GMP]

One ting for sure, even an aftermarket seat hold down will have to be removed to check the filter for proper seating.

Couple quick ideas I have are to first slot the holes, so the bolts do not have to be removed, and possibly dropped. Second, use knurled, thumb screw type fasteners. I have one of these holding the seat on my '07 now. The plastic could be trimmed for easier access and would not be visible with the seat on. Now your back to a no tools filter if fast changes are that important, but you still need to get the seat off. I assume thats bolted from under the fender?

 

[thumperrider1]

I'm hoping they can sort the cartridge filter setup out and hope I can retrofit it to my 2012.

 

[ScottyR]

The bike looks great. Can hardly to wait to ride one in the spring!

 

[GasGas]

Non e start bikes could have the battery box bolted to the seat base instead of the sub frame. May need to install locator pins in the bolt holes to engage the subframe. Or vise versa. Then the box would just remove with the seat, allowing easy access to the filter. The locator pins would maintain the side ways rigidity of the sub frame. Kind of shocked they ended up with a set up like this after designing an entire new bike.

 

[gasgasman]

. Kind of shocked they ended up with a set up like this after designing an entire new bike.

Remember, they originally designed it for the cartridge type air filter. The seat was never intended to be removed for the air filter access.