Which one???

[firffighter]

Hill climbing is such a subjective topic. One man's Widowmaker is another man's molehill. If we all chose bikes just on the basis of making 1 or 2 particularly tough hill climbs wouldn't we all be on CR500's with extended swingarms? I guess my point is I see guys on 125's out climb guys on 300's all day and vice versa. I'd rather pick my ride on the terrain I ride 90% of the time and deal with the couple of difficult sections rather than pick a bike that is great at climbing, but wears you out for the rest of the day.

The only climbs that I think cc's are an issue are on long, sandy, horsepower zapping climbs. Not many of those here in Oregon. Ours are always wet, steep, rocky and large fir tree roots to help you out. Oh yeah, fun peg deep ruts are always a nice feature as well.

All of that said, I don't get to ride our Gasgas 200 a lot in the steep terrain, but I do ride my KTM 200 in steep technical Oregon and Washington nasties and it hauls my 220 lard up everything. I do run a Rekluse, so I cheat, but it climbs just fine and I don't have to wring it out.

Have owned the 300, 250 and 200 Gasser. Loved them all. If I had to pick just 1, I would probably go with the 200. The fun factor is huge. The Gasgas 200 is such a fun flowing singletrack bike!

 

[sweeper]

That pretty much sums it up.Its a subjective issue.In the end whateverr bike you choose you will have to give something up.For me gearing down is never an option.Why would you ride a wide ratio revver only to pull its teeth out with a 12 tooth sprocket.

 

[gasser]

.Do other 200 riders agree its either slip hell outta the clutch or gear way down?

Some climbs require anyone no mater how good of a rider they are to go slow. There is 3 ways go slow on a bike whose motor is turning over 4000 rpm: (1) slip the clutch, (2) gear bike really low, or (3) spin the rear tire really fast. While there are some riders that are really good at #1 and #3 I'm not good at either one anymore so I ride a geared down 250 with a recluse. What works for me is not necessarily a good fit for someone else.If you only ride for fun (like I do) then experiment, find out what is most fun for you. Coming on the forum and getting info from others is a great place to start. Good luck. - Ken

 

[sweeper]

Yeah I knew where you were coming from that is why I said slow meaning I assume their is no other way.As firfighter put it the topic is subjective,but I had an idea of the kind of hill you were referring too.So the clutch question was for me an issue.And you pretty much answered what I was thinking originally.If you find you have to gear a 200 quite a bit down to get through some of these sections,then the 250 is the answer.Handicapping the strengths of the 200 to make a few climbs or technical sections is not the answer.Sounds like the bike will take some punishment.I appreciate the input.

 

[spawtydawg]

Apologies spawtydawg if it seems I'm jacking this thread.

No problems sweeper, it's good to hear your opinions. Just as a matter of interest I actually run 12/48 gearing on my 200. I know you said you wouldn't want to pull it's teeth out by using a 12 but you may be pleasantly surprised!

The terrain I usually ride is a mixture of tight technical trails, fire roads, forestry and open moorland going. The bike is more than capable with this gearing to keep up with most bikes and it will fly down the fire roads at an alarming rate, I usually run out of balls before it runs out of puff...!

I'm off out on Monday for a debut ride on my 250 so will let you know how it goes and I'll take a few photo's before I get it dirty. The gearing on that is 13/50 so that too will be an interesting comparison.

The other thing I'm seriously considering is a Rekluse Core clutch and I recon a 200 with one of these on would be an awesome bit of kit. Watch this space.

 

[spawtydawg]

Don't know if this is going to work but here's a photo of my 09/250 six days as requested by sweeper, hopefully...!

 

[adv rider]

200 riders

I have a very good friend who rides a KTM 200. She is an A level rider and she can ride anything anyone else I ride with can. It really depends on where you ride. If you ride mainly desert, I would say no. You give up way to much in HP in the sand. Any other tight single or flowing single you should be fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Her name start with an H?

 

[iamovru]

Nope

Lori Taylor out of Ferndale. I ride with a couple very fast women. By fast I mean I start out with them and then see them again each time they stop and wait for me! Lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sweeper]

Good looking bike.Like the bikes in different colors for years and models.Gas Gas making a big mistake making all later model bikes look the same,imo.Spendin 8k for a bike one thing,looking like every other Gas Gas another.The early ones are cool in that aspect.What do you think when yoi line up or go ride and everybody on an orange bike.That's where they are headed.A lot of people don't wanna ride what everybody else is riding.Im speculating but I would venture that at least 1 out of every 5 potential buyers will walk away for that reason

 

[spawtydawg]

It's all to do with economies of scale I think. It's obviously cheaper to make all the different cc bikes the same colour. That's why you pay a premium if you buy a racing or six days model, all be it that you also get a bit of added bling as well.

I know what you mean though, I don't think I will ever buy a KTM for that reason, apart from the fact that Gassers are better bikes anyway...!

 

[sweeper]

Man you got that right.Over rated.

As far as plastics gnce you engineer and design,build the molds for the plastics.I bet ya there's some room in that 8k price tag to mix a few different colors up.