Which 200

[noobi]

Hi, thought id start my own thread.

im looking to upgrade, i think itll either be a
2007 or nemer Gasgas EC200
or a
2006 or newer KTM 200EXC/XCW

i understand that this is a bit bias starting the thread here but no one replied on thumpertalk so itll have to be here.

What are the pros and cons of each bike, what year is best, which one you prefer?
the local gasgas dealer is a ktm dealer also so that doesnt matter.

any input is appreciated
thanks,
noobi

 

[roostafish]

I think the 2007 and newer KTM is probably pretty good, I'm not sure. I have never liked the KTM 200. I like the bigger bikes, but not the 200 because it just doesn't seem settled to me.

I think the Gas Gas 200 is easier to ride. I think that any year, brand new Gas Gas 200 is better than the KTM 200. If you can get a leftover brand new Gas Gas 200 for $5000 or less, you are going to be way ahead of a brand new KTM. If they're both the same price, both the same year, and both are 2007 or newer, I'd say........ Toss a coin because lots of people really like the KTM 200. Maybe you should just go with your gut.

 

[skid jackson]

I've been going over this same question ...
My answer would be to go with which ever one fits you best.
I almost got an 08 ktm 200 last fall. After riding my buds 08 several times this summer If I get 200 it will be a gas gas. The ktms have a fat bulky feel about them down at the foot pegs that bugs me. My gg 300 and my husky 125 both have a nice slim feel down at the foot pegs. The husky fits me best from an ergonomic stand point but is too damn tall. The gg is a nice bike for short legs but the 300 has too much damn motor. A husky 200 that is about 2 inches lower than my 125 would be perfect .... unfortunately it doesn't exist.

 

[roostafish]

Skid, there are a handful of real believers in that Husky with a "150" kit. I think it's probably a 144, but there are some fans out there. I've never ridden one with the kit, but I can tell you that I really like the WR 125, I'd probably do the squish band mod on it though, and maybe even go for even higher compression. As good as the chassis is, it's still a 125, and coming from a 300, I've gotten lazy!

 

[skid jackson]

If the weather holds ... I 'll find out what the husky 144 is like ...
I squeaked the piston on the 125 about 3 weeks back. I sent the head out of E gorr for a 144 kit .... don't think it will get back in time, but ......

 

[Berkyboy]

I should have a chance to ride a stroked 150 GasGas next week as I'm traveling to Spain to go over some end of the year stuff at the factory.

Officially GasGas is not building one, they've just messed around with it a little in the R&D department and we thought we have a look at what they've come up with. If we like what we see we may develop a US GasGas 150 kit.

We actually have one in the works for "hasslebria," which should be completed sometime during the first of the year. Brian had very good luck on his '09 EC125 GasGas this year where he finished second in the District 23 (AMA) Hare Scrambles 0-200CC "A" class while competing in a sea of orange 200s.

I think his best finish was first in class and 5th overall in a mud race that left most of the four-strokes that were eligible for the overall boiling over and running hot where his 125 was running as strong as ever.

Initial reports are that the 150 kit is like magic as the motor gains just enough low end to help keep you out of trouble in the technical stuff without taking away the over rev which is were the 125 makes its most useable power.

Of course the biggest advantage is the bike is based on the lighter 125 frame while the motor out pulls most stock 200s which are built on heavier 250 style frames.

As far as the EC200 GasGas goes (2007 and newer) the biggest improvement for the motor is to run a 10mm spacer on the stock pipe (where it leaves the exhaust spigot) to let the motor pull more like a 250.

I ran a 200 with this mod most of the summer and couldn't believe how easy this bike was to ride. Hands down one of the easiest off-road motorcycles I've ever ridden with plenty of power on tap with nothing more then a flip of the throttle.

 

[roostafish]

I'm very interested in hearing what the Gas Gas 150 bike is like. Gran Prix Cycle has a brand new MC 125 for a steal. The only thing keeping me from being more interested is how much of a disadvantage a 125 is to 250F's.

I realize the ISDE E-1 class is 80-125cc 2t and up to 250cc 4t, but if one were to buy that bike, qualify and race on it, then bring it home and freshen it up to be a 150, that would be cheap entertainment. Heck, I could get that bike, put my wheels and suspension on it and save myself a lot of dialing in the process. Hmmmmmmm.

 

[Berkyboy]

What makes a 125 shine in the woods is the ability of the bikes suspension, which is influenced by the rotating mass of the crank, to easily forgive too much momentum.

Bigger displacement bikes, 250 or 300 (two-stroke) and 450f's have a tendency to smash through obstacles (roots and rocks) where the 125s suspension easily absorbs the same obstacles.

The key to riding a 125 (or stroked 150) is to keep the motor "singing," or on the pipe, and carry your speed wherever possible. Of course 125s aren't for everybody and aren't for every track but in the hands of the right rider they are easily the bike or choice.

 

[skid jackson]

hmm gas gas 150 set up for the techy nasty woods stuff in New England ....
bet that would be popular bike in my neck of the woods

 

[roostafish]

I used to ride 125's back in the '90s, I thought they were great. The problem was when things got really ugly, and you needed a bike to chug through some situations, it was not as fun. I found that I could ride really aggressively for about 3 hours, then the fatigue from listening to it started setting in. It's not like the bikes were loud, they had a 94db sound limit back then too at ISDE qualifiers, but it still got to me.

I'll bet the new bikes are quieter and less tiring on the mind, but all that angry sound is one of the main reasons I went to a bigger bike.

 

[MattR]

If we like what we see we may develop a US GasGas 150 kit..

This would be music to my ears. I would be very interested in a GasGas-developed 150 kit. I know people can cobble up their own version, but it is no replacement for an OE version.

Rumor has it that Husqvarna will be offering a 144cc kit for their WR125. It would be nice for GasGas to offer a similar kit... either installed direct from factory or available for purchase through the dealer.

I'm on the fence right now on a new bike for 2010. I've been debating the pros/cons of the Husky WR125, Yamaha YZ125, KTM 150XC, and GasGas EC125/200. A GasGas EC150 would be perfect for me!!!

Please let GasGas Corporate know that there is a market in the US for the EC150. Thanks!

 

[noobi]

Please let GasGas Corporate know that there is a market in the US for the EC150. Thanks!

If there was such a kit id get one and not worry about upgrading to a 200, or even worse to a KTM....

 

[noobi]

what do the 2007 sixdays gassers come with? apart from the ohlins package.
theres a 250 and a 300 for 4700 USD each. both unknown hours
i know i dont need a 250 as i only weight 132 lbs. but a ISDE gasgas would be very cool....

 

[jiauka]

I'm a GG lover and KTM hater, but the KTM200 is a much better bike than the GG 200, the main reason is that the KTM is based on the 125 chasis and the GG is based on the 250 one. The Kattie is a lot lighter than the GG.

A stroked GG 150 is a good choice too.

have fun,

j.

 

[noobi]

I'm a GG lover and KTM hater, but the KTM200 is a much better bike than the GG 200, the main reason is that the KTM is based on the 125 chasis and the GG is based on the 250 one. The Kattie is a lot lighter than the GG.

wont the 125 base mean the engine has less bottom end, more snappy, and will be more tempermantal?
but the 125 chassis is really the only thing the ktm has going for it

the 2007 ktm200 is listed as 99.8kg, 220 lbs dry
the 2007gasgas200 is listed as 98kg, 216 lbs dry
i know there are advertised weights, but the ktm is advertised as having more mass

so which one is heavier

 

[gasser]

I'm a GG lover and KTM hater, but the KTM200 is a much better bike than the GG 200, the main reason is that the KTM is based on the 125 chasis and the GG is based on the 250 one. The Kattie is a lot lighter than the GG.

A stroked GG 150 is a good choice too.

have fun,

j.

I looked up the 2009 specs on the GasGas and KTM 200s. Both weighed 95 kilos (209lb) without any gas. It is possible that GasGas motors list their weight without any fluids. The other fluids would weigh 8-9 pounds. The KTM is one quarter inch shorter but one half inch taller. I don't understand why everyone thinks the GG 125 and KTM 200 are so much smaller and lighter than a GG 200.

 

[eff]

Going forward I don't think it really is an issue. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think the 2010 200 is built on the 125.

 

[MattR]

Rumor has it that Husqvarna will be offering a 144cc kit for their WR125. It would be nice for GasGas to offer a similar kit... either installed direct from factory or available for purchase through the dealer.

Here is the Husky 144 kit listed in their 2010 parts catalog.

 

[skid jackson]

go to ktm talk look up member trail tricks. Its a suspension tuner named javiar or something like that. His english sux really bad!! He has been riding both ktm and GG 200s this past summer. I think some of his comments regarding hte gg are in a very long thread inthe 2t section title something like ...Is this the best bike ever ....its a thread about how much he likes the ktm 200. 4 or 5 pages in someone asks him for a gg/ktm comparo. The short version ... gg handles better and has more bottom. ktm has a stronger motor and better build quality. he is very impressed with the gg 200 and 300 he has been testing. he is to the ktm crowd what les is to the husky and gg crowd

 

[MattR]

go to ktm talk look up member trail tricks. Its a suspension tuner named javiar or something like that. His english sux really bad!! He has been riding both ktm and GG 200s this past summer. I think some of his comments regarding hte gg are in a very long thread inthe 2t section title something like ...Is this the best bike ever ....its a thread about how much he likes the ktm 200. 4 or 5 pages in someone asks him for a gg/ktm comparo. The short version ... gg handles better and has more bottom. ktm has a stronger motor and better build quality. he is very impressed with the gg 200 and 300 he has been testing. he is to the ktm crowd what les is to the husky and gg crowd

Here you go:
http://ktmtalk.com/index.php?showtopic=362999