Would you buy another Gas Gas?

[Todd5774]

Yep i would buy another, i had a 08 Rmz450 that was an awesome bike, but the cases cracked around the kickstarter. Stripped the bike took it to my dealer bike was 4 months old, they said not there problem its a race bike no warrenty, wrote to Suzuki Uk, same deal wasnt interested although they did ask for the cases so that they could see what was wrong and then forward it on to Japan.

Ended up having to buy a set of cases (3 month back order) as Suzuki wont sell them seperately and then pay to have the engine rebuilt ended up costing me about 4K in all. I couldnt shift that bike soon enough.

I also had a 97 KTM 360 sx great bike until the starter gears sheared off, couldnt even get the part for that bike, Nobody in the world stocked it and KTM wernt going to make anymore.

(i wonder if im abit hamfisted when it comes to starting bikes?)

My Point is not no manufacturer is brilliant, you have to buy the bike that you enjoy riding the most, i fall into the catajorie of not being able to buy a new bike, so i prop up the used bike market, hopefully my next purchase will be a 2010 gg 250!

 

[lankydoug]

The thread title didn't specify wether you would buy a new or used GasGas but another. I've owned a Husky WR250 (bought new) and a GasGas EC200DE (bought used). IMO The Husky beats the GasGas in every way. I much prefer the Husky ergos but I don't fault the GasGas because I'm tall and prefer the taller Husky. Where the big deal breaker for me is in parts availability, both aftermarket and especially factory parts. It's true you can get what you want if you don't mind shipping costs. I bought 2 cyl head "O" rings and paid $12 shipping. At a later date I bought a special rivet and spring for a shifter tip and paid $12 shipping. Both orders were not rushed shipping and neither made it to my door during the same week I ordered it. These kinds of experiences add up and over time become a deal breaker. I often get Husky aftermarket parts from my local Honda/Yamaha/Kawi dealer because they are more available in aftermarket brands and much more often than Gasser parts are.

I have read on this forum that the 2012 GasGas are taller but until there is a dealer that stocks parts within an hour drive I don't even care to demo one.

 

[GMP]

Shipping from a good stocking dealer or Gofasters is more economical than driving a couple hours each way in a full size truck.

 

[socalgasgas]

You nailed it there Glen

 

[stainlesscycle]

Shipping from a good stocking dealer or Gofasters is more economical than driving a couple hours each way in a full size truck.

i agree, but lankydoug has a point. i've paid $12 shipping on a small gasket that would ship 1st class for $1.00. i'm not a fan of $10-$12 shipping charges, when you just need a $4.00 part. charge real world shipping prices, and i'd be buying stuff regularly, instead of finding alternate solutions....... and i think $70 for a pair of crank seals is highway robbery.

 

[blitz11]

When considering parts shipping, when you're paying for shipping, you're not just paying for postage. You're paying for handling.

Whether you're buying a piston or a base gasket to be shipped, you're also paying for that dealer to package that part, arrange for shipping, and then reconcile the shipping charges with the shipper.

A piston weighs more, but a base gasket has to be packaged to prevent it from being destroyed (i.e., folded) in transit. I would argue that the labor that goes into shipping both are similar, even though the price differs by a factor of 10.

If dealers don't charge for their effort, they won't be in business long.

 

[Mazikeen]

I've followed this for a bit, didn't think to post but now I'm kind of surprised at some of the directions it has gone. The expectations I see splatted throughout really surprise me.

I've been riding since the early '70s, I have been to a "dealer" exactly one time, to purchase some parts for a MR50 I was restoring, I could not source the parts I needed anywhere else.

Beyond that I've maintained my machines perfectly for decades, never needing anything I couldn't pick up at a local hole in the wall or source for the last 15+ years online. Until my gasgas fouled plug last Sunday 5 miles back into the woods,(that won't happen again) I have never had my machine go down on me, ever. I have rebuilt my IT every single winter down to the frame for 20+years, it has literally thousands of uncountable hours on it.

I did not consider parts availability for a gasgas prior to my purchase, it was/is irrelevant. I do know that most all wearing parts are sourced from outside vendors as such I can pick them up from most any supplier when required. I don't consider shipping an issue, most suppliers offer free shipping, if I need a bit more to get enough in the cart I pop a plug, a tube, an oring, something I know I will require as basic maintenance and toss it in my box.

If you require additional consistent help to keep your bike running on a regular basis it makes no difference what type of bike you have, these are dirt machines and you are gonna spend a heap keeping it going, as such, you certainly would want a brand that can be serviced darn close to the house.

Some may view it as an a'hole viewpoint, but it is the truth regardless. I bought a gas gas for one single reason, the sum of it's parts. In all my years of riding, racing, fixing I have watched countless people spend crazy money on bikes making them what they "want" most never reach the base level of quality serviceable components that the gasgas is equipped with out of the box.

My ISDE has top tier forks, top tier rear shock, well designed linkage, wide footpegs, galfer rotors, DLC fork tubes, excel rims, quality sprockets/chain, rad guards, skid plate. I could go on, but I'm sure most know what these bikes have.

The sum of what I have done and will do? seat modification cause I'm old and have no butt left, 20 hours of evaluating suspension settings and getting the clickers/sag settled (required no spring change unlike most other imports) and some barkbusters.

I will likely offset bore the carb, eventually I'll wear out my first top end at which point I'll flow the transfers, polish it out and set my BDC and squish only because I like to fiddle.

My bike cost me a total of 350 dollars after purchase to tailor it to my needs/style. There is not another bike on the market I could have purchased and reached this end result for the price point I am at period. No I won't buy another one, by the time I am ready, if ever to purchase another bike (I'm still tickled with my IT but found it better to move my daughter onto that than buy some chunky TTR and upgrade myself ) the USA will have caught on and you won't be able to buy a gasgas for the stupid price I picked my 8 month old used machine for........

 

[stainlesscycle]

When considering parts shipping, when you're paying for shipping, you're not just paying for postage. You're paying for handling.

Whether you're buying a piston or a base gasket to be shipped, you're also paying for that dealer to package that part, arrange for shipping, and then reconcile the shipping charges with the shipper.

A piston weighs more, but a base gasket has to be packaged to prevent it from being destroyed (i.e., folded) in transit. I would argue that the labor that goes into shipping both are similar, even though the price differs by a factor of 10.

If dealers don't charge for their effort, they won't be in business long.

i'm in the mail order business. i know what it costs, and what time it takes to package just about anything. the 45 seconds it took to package the item is not worth the overcharge. i also know what the rates are for ups, fedex, usps, and any other shipping. i know when i'm being gouged. the dealer or for that matter the distributor should profit from the markup of the part, not the shipping.

this of course has no bearing on whether i buy gasgas or not. it just feels sleazy, overcharging for something when the buyer and seller know the actual cost. i do buy from my local independent shop, that carries no bikes, just parts. in there 3 times a week, i am maintaining a lot of bikes. there is no local dealer here for gasgas. i know the profit margins are slim for the dealers, but if you're in it to just to get rich, it may be the wrong business

 

[Jakobi]

i'm in the mail order business. i know what it costs, and what time it takes to package just about anything. the 45 seconds it took to package the item is not worth the overcharge. i also know what the rates are for ups, fedex, usps, and any other shipping. i know when i'm being gouged. the dealer or for that matter the distributor should profit from the markup of the part, not the shipping.

this of course has no bearing on whether i buy gasgas or not. it just feels sleazy, overcharging for something when the buyer and seller know the actual cost. i do buy from my local independent shop, that carries no bikes, just parts. in there 3 times a week, i am maintaining a lot of bikes. there is no local dealer here for gasgas. i know the profit margins are slim for the dealers, but if you're in it to just to get rich, it may be the wrong business

Its hella funny hearing your views on it stainless. I agree that there is often crazy crazy postage charges associated. Here in Australia its cheaper to send a package overnight express than it is to do it the traditional way. Thats saying around $10 minimum just for the bag. It makes very little difference how much you put it in it up to a certain weight.

When we go international I have been quoted $100 to ship a piece of electrical wire. Paid $15 for snail mail. And then to hit the shop in questions, was really surprised that a complete top end from go fasters was only $40 postage. $115 dollars to have my TTX inserts come from the states isn't too bad either I guess. It sometimes feels like people just make up whatever price they want..

 

[lankydoug]

Shipping from a good stocking dealer or Gofasters is more economical than driving a couple hours each way in a full size truck.

If I'm going to pay $12 for a 1/2oz part I better get it overnight not in 5 days. If I do decide to drive my 30mpg car to get the part, it's true that I will have spent $12 in fuel and some of my time but I will also have the part in 2 hours. In both cases I asked the GasGas parts supplier to send my part postal @ $1.25 and I would except all the risk if the part was lost or damaged but my request was met with a "we will do our best" and then ignored.

My gripe is not purely economical it is mostly a matter of principal. I built an automotive repair business from scratch in to a successful business by keeping my promises and doing what I said I was going to do even when it was not easy or profitable. I can say from experience that keeping your word under tough circumstances is better advertising than any other method. I'm currently waiting to see if said parts man keeps his word and so far it's been a long wait.

My local Honda/Yamaha/Kawi dealer will match or beat internet pricing on any part that he is a vendor of and while I pay sales tax (that stays in my community) I pay no shipping. He does not try to make a killing on every part and his strategy has earned him a couple thousand of my dollars and he's the 2nd highest volume parts selling dealer in the state of MO and this is in a fairly small town that has to compete with larger St Louis and Springfield dealers.

 

[twowheels]

i'm in the mail order business. i know what it costs, and what time it takes to package just about anything. the 45 seconds it took to package the item is not worth the overcharge. i also know what the rates are for ups, fedex, usps, and any other shipping. i know when i'm being gouged. the dealer or for that matter the distributor should profit from the markup of the part, not the shipping.

this of course has no bearing on whether i buy gasgas or not. it just feels sleazy, overcharging for something when the buyer and seller know the actual cost.

Shipping costs can vary a lot, even with the same company, depending on the contract the business has with the shipper and the volume they ship.

No matter which way you slice it though, it costs (more) money to ship quickly, but usually less than jumping in your truck to retrieve the part. $12 is about three gallons of fuel, or 45 miles for my particular vehicle. That gives me a 22 mile radius, and if I average 30mph in the city, I'm out about an hour and a half, and my time isn't free. Ship it!

 

[lankydoug]

Shipping costs can vary a lot, even with the same company, depending on the contract the business has with the shipper and the volume they ship.

No matter which way you slice it though, it costs (more) money to ship quickly, but usually less than jumping in your truck to retrieve the part. $12 is about three gallons of fuel, or 45 miles for my particular vehicle. That gives me a 22 mile radius, and if I average 30mph in the city, I'm out about an hour and a half, and my time isn't free. Ship it!

Because your time is valuable and fuel prices are high does that make it ok to get gouged?

 

[twowheels]

Because your time is valuable and fuel prices are high does that make it ok to get gouged?

No, it makes me a pragmatist. If I have an order I need right away I buck up to expensive shipping, but if I can wait I fill my cart to get the deal like everybody else.

 

[lankydoug]

No, it makes me a pragmatist. If I have an order I need right away I buck up to expensive shipping, but if I can wait I fill my cart to get the deal like everybody else.

I agree and I do the same thing. As I said before my complaint is not about money alone it's more about service and when options are limited I don't want to be at the mercy of someone who doesn't keep their word.

 

[desertgasser300]

The thread title didn't specify wether you would buy a new or used GasGas but another. I've owned a Husky WR250 (bought new) and a GasGas EC200DE (bought used). IMO The Husky beats the GasGas in every way. I much prefer the Husky ergos but I don't fault the GasGas because I'm tall and prefer the taller Husky. Where the big deal breaker for me is in parts availability, both aftermarket and especially factory parts. It's true you can get what you want if you don't mind shipping costs. I bought 2 cyl head "O" rings and paid $12 shipping. At a later date I bought a special rivet and spring for a shifter tip and paid $12 shipping. Both orders were not rushed shipping and neither made it to my door during the same week I ordered it. These kinds of experiences add up and over time become a deal breaker. I often get Husky aftermarket parts from my local Honda/Yamaha/Kawi dealer because they are more available in aftermarket brands and much more often than Gasser parts are.

I have read on this forum that the 2012 GasGas are taller but until there is a dealer that stocks parts within an hour drive I don't even care to demo one.

So....we probably won't see you at the Gas Gas meet and greet in Moab????

BTW....http://www.cafehusky.com/ You might get more backing over there when slamming GasGas

 

[lankydoug]

So....we probably won't see you at the Gas Gas meet and greet in Moab????

BTW....http://www.cafehusky.com/ You might get more backing over there when slamming GasGas

That's a good one. BTW I've withheld a lot of what I have against the parts supplier and have done so for nearly a year to give him a chance to make good on a promise. I think GasGas is a great bike and Brand, if they started making a taller bike and the parts situation is made good I would and will consider owning another one. Until then I mean what I say about not being interested.

 

[Jakobi]

I hear you Lanky. You've dealt with someone you're not happy with. Source parts elsewhere?? There are pleanty of dealers for other brands who don't stock anything and take their time getting parts in too. I've had 3 week back orders from the local KTM dealer and still had to drive there afterwards to pick the parts up.

Being in whats considered a 'regional' part of Australia everything takes time. FFS international orders get from the US of A to Australia faster than they get from Customs to my door. Such is life. We all live in this we want we need and we want and need it now state of mind.

My approach is just to use a little forward planning. If you need to order head o-rings and postage is going to be $12 then order 2 sets so you will have spares for next time. Heck throw some spare gaskets in too and make it worth your while and save you the head and heart ache. Its not a hard solution and is something I have done with all my bikes regardless of brand.

If its communication issues and false promises from a particular person then thats a topic to take up with them.

 

[Clay]

The parts issue is a dealbreaker for me, my bike has been down for 3 weeks now due to a broken shock part which is on back order...sadly with no knowledge if and when I'll ever get it.
The part that broke clearly was a factory defect, I know this because it broke right on the casting line.
I understand parts break but when you can't get replacement parts that sucks!

But that is exactly why we do not bring in bikes with that brand shock and fork on it. We can get Marzocchi parts. Don't you think other brands have these issues, too?

 

[Clay]

Maybe a bit of perspective on new bikes (any brand) may help.

One issue with buying a new bike is coin. I am a pretty crappy rider. My teenaged daughters can kick my butt. Riding is fun, but i'm fooling myself if i think a new bike is going to make me a significantly better rider, or make riding that much more fun. Am I gonna' spend $10K on a new bike to ride it for 2 years, and sell it for $3-$4K? Depreciation alone costs that customer $3K per year. Am I gonna' get $6K more fun out of a new bike? I can't convince myself that I am.

Guys like me are gonna' wait for someone else to eat depreciation, then buy a used bike. In my case, I might buy a different bike once every 10 years. My guess is that there are quite a few of us who do this.

If i do a race, my goal is to not hour out. I guess I am not really "racing" with that attitude, but simply riding in a race. But, it's fun for me, so what the heck.

I understand your point of view. You want to sell new bikes. That's how you make your living. But, to sell new bikes, the old bikes have to go somewhere. If the old bikes have no place to go, you won't sell as many new bikes. Or, they'll switch to a brand where selling their old bikes is easier.

This site is invaluable as it provides the means where the older bikes still have value to guys like me, and provides rich source of information by which people looking to buy used GG can learn about the brand, or feel confident that they should make the leap. If they can have questions answered, they're more likely to make the jump. If confidence exists, then resale value improves, and the GG brand is even stronger.

I guess my point is to not abandon the older bikes as they can, and likely do, influence the sale of new bikes. I am really glad GoFasters will continue to support the older bikes 'cause there are probably a lot of guys like me who can't/won't drop big dough annually on a new bike.

I totally understand that. Here's my point. Customers buy bikes and pass on complaints about them. We pass on those complaints and, eventually, the factory addresses those issues. We adjust our orders from the factory to bring in bikes that work best here and we ask the factory to make changes to those bikes specifically for our customer's use. But some customers won't buy a new one because their 9 year old bike had issues when we have busted our ass to address those problems? Of all the posts that I have read on this site, this one is frustrating me the most because I feel like some of you are totally ignoring the fact that we have listened to you, the customer.
Just seems wrong to me.

 

[Jakobi]

But that is exactly why we do not bring in bikes with that brand shock and fork on it. We can get Marzocchi parts. Don't you think other brands have these issues, too?

Its very true gas gas weren't the only ones to use the Sachs suspension components. I had to source some sachs internals for my forks after a mishap. It must have taken close to 6 months to get $3 worth of brass. I was very lucky in that I managed to have the damaged part repaired.

If I was you moto I'd scrap that Sachs shock entirely and get yourself a nice TTX and never look back.