Which 200

[roostafish]

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.QUOTE]


Funny thing is, even when the Gas Gas was based on the 250 chassis, it was a case of "the bike is more than the sum of it's parts" sort of thing. On paper the KTM should be better, but After riding both, and owning a Gas Gas 200, I'd say the GG is much better.

I can't speak to the new ones which are based on the 125.

 

[stainlesscycle]

i hated the ktm200's i've ridden. i didn't mind the suspension, but the motor was so peaky and violent (relatively speaking). perhaps they've tamed the hit down a little on the newer ones. the ktm certainly felt lighter rolling it around. but when riding it, it didn't feel any lighter...

 

[GMP]

Funny thing is, even when the Gas Gas was based on the 250 chassis, it was a case of "the bike is more than the sum of it's parts" sort of thing.

Thats such a good way to describe the bike. I actually said the same thing about my Ducati to someone recently. On paper, nothing special, but the bike has soul.

KTM200s also vibrate a lot, at least mine did and others I've ridden.

While on the subject of smaller bikes, I rode some very nasty, slick, off camper technical stuff in the rain last week with a couple friends on Yamaha 250Fs. We switched off for awhile. The concensious was unanimous. While the GG had way too much snot to use in this terrain, and the 250Fs were eaiser to ride, the GG felt lighter and turned quicker. The Yamaha is taller and more top heavy feeling. The Yamaha is very stable and stock suspension not bad, but the GG is better. The 250F hooks up really well and you can get stupid with the throttle, but not the transmission, as it can't lug out of a botched shift like the 2-stroke. At the end of the day everyone is real interested in the new GG 250F.

 

[noobi]

ibut the motor was so peaky and violent (re hated the ktm200's i've ridden. i didn't mind the suspension, latively speaking). perhaps they've tamed the hit down a little on the newer ones. the ktm certainly felt lighter rolling it around. but when riding it, it didn't feel any lighter...

what year ktm 200s did you ride, the 200excs im looking at are both 06's

since when have the gasgas 200s been using the 125 chassis? 2010?

 

[Berkyboy]

The GasGas EC200 shares the same frame with the 250 and 300.

The new FSR250 frame is a slightly modified EC125 frame.

 

[noobi]

The GasGas EC200 shares the same frame with the 250 and 300.

The new FSR250 frame is a slightly modified EC125 frame.

ok, thats what i thought
and the cradle is the part thats different between the 125 and 200/250/300 chassis?

 

[gasser]

Wheelbase on the GG 125 is 16mm shorter (just over one half inch) than the GG200. Doesn't seem like much difference to me and I bet a GG200 motor in a GG125 frame would be less than 1 pound lighter than a stock GG200.

 

[noobi]

after looking around a bit, theres 2 07' gasgas200s, one with 33 hours, the other with around 60 hours. both are completely standard, and very well looked after, for around 4000 USD

theres also a few 06' ktm 200s around with about 70-80 hours on them, and i can only go off photos, but look pretty good, for around 3700-4000 USD.

Question, would i be better off to wait for an 07' or newer ktm to show up, or would the gasgas still be a better buy?

 

[AZRickD]

Trail Tricks' comments:

Gasgas/ktm 200 comparo: I rode few bikes this weekend ,2 300xc and w ,a 450 xcw and on sunday i rode the gasgas 200 first and the ktm after ,same loop (14 miles) cooler in the morning 42 and warmer on the afternoon 50's, went the gasgas has some more low end power and is more fickcable,the ktm has more mid and top end power .The ktm has a ported and polish motor,blue print cases ,sx cdi,38mm carb with divider plate , the GasGas has a head mod ,divider plate on the carb and mx stator and flywheel.
The diference was 42 seconds faster on the KTM , next time i ride the KTM firt and see.

Going to work on the jetting next weekend on the gasgas to try the make it better or close to the ktm ,because i really like the small chasis on the gasgas compare to the ktm but on the power the ktm is a stronger bike ,i update back next week.

This is the beggining o the gasgas mod bike ,the ktm is been mod for years ,went i done in few weeks i will ride the gasgas modified back to back with the ktm modifieded and see the results ,but been only 42 seconds slower then the ktm with little few mods impress me ,i also very happy because o the chasis been a little small then the ktm fits me better ,and the linkcage works good and is hide away not like the jap bikes the hangs low

 

[noobi]

conclusion seems to be that the gasser would be better suited as a pure enduro, tight slippery gnarly riding type bike. due to the smoother motor and better handling.
and the ktm would be a better cross country type bike with the more aggressive mid to top motor
id prefer the gasgas as i want to start riding enduros and extreme stuff more than xc riding. but ill have to see how it pans out

 

[marjastaja]

The pipe is also quite different between Gasser and Ktm
In Ktm the end of the chamber goes quickly small http://www.bikepics.com/pictures/1266826/

And in Gasser it closes slower http://imgs.segundamano.es/images/281/28153453702.jpg

Usually the slower it closes the more it gives power to low rpm. / the less rpm. machine it is.

 

[eff]

The GasGas EC200 shares the same frame with the 250 and 300.

The new FSR250 frame is a slightly modified EC125 frame.

That's what I thought too, but I recall reading a review somewhere that was changing. I must have misread it or it was a typo.

 

[Skidad]

If you want the KTM I would try to find an 07 or even better an 08 when the shock angle changed on the off road models (07 for the MX models). The 200 KTM motor is VERY tuneable from mild to wild. Pipes, power valve adjustments, flywheel weights, base gaskets, jetting, squish mods and even smaller carbs can get it to do whatever it is you want from the motor. Suspension on the KTM will be more tricky to get correct and will always be a more twitchy bike than the GG which is stable and forgiving yet turns on a dime. Not sure if KTM is still using aluminum drive plates in the clutch but I think so and these should be tossed right away and replaced with steel plates for reliability. I think the GG motor is pretty dam bullet proof, especially in the 200 form.

It would be good if you could get a nice ride in on each of the bikes to help decide but hey, just be different and get the Gasser.

 

[noobi]

It would be good if you could get a nice ride in on each of the bikes to help decide but hey, just be different and get the Gasser.

im trying to talk my mate with an 07 200 into swapping bikes for a bit of a ride. i just want to see if the ktm chassis shape will fit me, as the gasgas fits me pretty damn well, i read about the ktm feeling fat around the pegs, and i noticed that also when i rode my dads 09 250exc.
i want to be different and get the gasgas, as i think itll be a better enduro bike, dad wants me to get the ktm...

 

[gasgasman]

dad wants me to get the ktm...

We never listen to our parents anyway. Right?
Get the Gas Gas.

 

[noobi]

We never listen to our parents anyway. Right?
Get the Gas Gas.

i really dont want too. gg ftw.
theres an 07 200, for 6000NZD = 4300USD which is less than an hour from where i live. its just been serviced for the new season, its done 3025 km, 1900miles. i work that to be around 80-100 hours.
i could probably talk the price down a bit

 

[noobi]

photos of the aforementioned bike

 

[tommie d]

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.

Any updates on this 150?
How did this turn out?
Looking at the 200 but would rather have a 125 then get a 150 kit.

 

[roostafish]

If you rode a 125 with RB-Designs head and carb mods, you may not think you even need a 150 kit.