Gas Gas enduro '08 stroker quartet
Published: 12th March 2008
Author: Words by Geoff Walker Photos by Sutty
Four Por Favor! - Gas Gas weigh in for ’08 with a quartet of stonking Spanish strokers that are all ready to rip…
There is absolutely no doubt that the Spanish have some of the best off-road riding territory in Europe in which to develop their dirt bikes so it’s no surprise that Gas Gas, Spain’s biggest off-road bike manufacturer, is pushing its range of enduro and trials bikes hard throughout the world.
Gas Gas has worked hard on its ’08 range to take another step forwards in build quality for its customers. The bikes all come dressed in red and they look good - clean lines and simple build make the Gassers no-nonsense, ready-to-race enduro machines. These bikes have their own style and although they are not at the cutting edge of fashion they get the job done (and, to be fair, Gas Gas importer Shirty has enough style to go around!).
Talking of Shirty, if you are going to buy a bike and the guy at the top of the tree has dirt pumping through his veins then you can guarantee that the factory are getting good feedback. And JS and his team of riders most certainly have dirt a-pumpin’ - and this means that you feel the full benefit as the bikes improve and extra set-up tips become available. The Gas Gas crew here in the UK have a passion for all things off-road and this can only be good.
For the test we had the EC125, 200, 250 and 300cc two-strokes to ride and rate at a cracking venue in North Wales.
EC125 - Little belter
The 125 is always a bike I look forward to riding on any test and the little Gasser does not disappoint. The motor has to be worked hard to get the best from it but this is to be expected with every 125 off-road bike out there.
With 15 stone on board the EC125 ripped its way up the hills and with minimal clutch work n’all. The power directly off the bottom allowed the bike to work across slippery stuff but a 125 is a 125 - they are made to be ridden hard and this motor is no different.
The chassis still has a little bit of that ‘special’ Gas Gas feel to it. It feels quite jacked up on the rear which is a good way to run the bike for flat grass turns but it upsets the balance across the bike in some situations out on the trails. There is obviously room to adjust this for personal preference and backing the pre-load off one turn on the rear shock would bring a little more balance for my comfort. Like I say this is personal.
The forks work great on the 125 and I am glad to report they are a little soft for me which means anyone buying this bike who is the right size for it will be in for a pleasing front end action.
EC200 - Seriously smooth
The 200cc enduro motor is a perfect capacity for so many trail riders and serious racers. The smooth, reliable power comes from nothing and will having you skipping across roots while providing a seamless transfer through the mid-range and into the top-end.
This smooth transfer of power comes from good carburetion and the motor’s smart interior design. The test bike pulled really well in all situations and the smooth and forgiving characteristic of the motor made for an easy ride whether it was technical or fast going. This is an engine which will not tire you out over a long day and only the most power-sapping of conditions will catch it out.
Like its little brother, the EC200 has that slightly raised feeling from the rear so we were lucky to have a different link to make the rear end squat down a little. As the day went on I went back to try the 200 set-up a couple of times and in the end I got to like the bike with its rear set slightly lower. This was a good mod to try and I’m sure it would work across the range but especially on the 200 and 125 as they are still light enough to chuck around the turns with the rear that bit lower.
Again the forks worked smooth on the 200. They were a little fast on rebound on the small bumps but this is easily fixed. The main plus with this year’s Marzocchis is that the internal set-up is a fantastic starting point for you to tweak your bike for your style of riding.
EC250 - Ready to rip!
The motor on the EC250 rips but in a controllable way and there is an abundance of grunt from the motor which doesn’t peak too quickly. The power is long enough to hold a low gear up a steep hill but if you find yourself hooking a gear too high the thing will still pull you up there with minimal effort.
This 250 motor has the strongest low-end pull of any enduro engine I have tested for ’08. Grip is easily found with this kind of power as long as you don’t pull the trigger too hard. Good positive clutch feel comes on the EC250 as well as from all its stable mates and one-finger action is not a problem.
With a bit more weight being pulled around the chassis seems to settle down. That extra load works both ends of the bike in a more balanced manner and instils confidence to push harder. The bike doesn’t have a super-light feeling but it feels balanced and strong in its tracking and stability. The new slightly softer seat means you don’t feel like you’re being cut in two with your hairy boys becoming estranged from each other which can only be a good thing for us all. There is just simply no good coming from going down that particular road!
Like with the 200 the forks were a bit fast at the top of the stroke but I’m sure if I was pushing harder on slightly softer ground the forks would have been working in the mid to lower part of the stroke where the damping felt spot on.
EC300 - Motor-vation!
What a motor! Swinging a leg over this bike was a pleasure as pretty much everything fell into place. The engine really does make great power and it feels smooth with it.
Don’t get me wrong, this weapon has the capability to get you into some serious shapes but ridden well you will find yourself setting fast times and covering the ground on trails like you didn’t think possible. The motor lures you in with its smoothness and then lets you know what’s going on when you are approaching a turn at warp speed and you have to lay it on thick with the Brembos! It really is just as well the brakes work so well on the Gassers because they are required on the EC300 if you happen to be riding it with a hard-on!
Again the chassis feels controlled and balanced on the 300 and with the forks a little slower and the shock pushing well into its stroke the smile was spread across my comedy Oirish cheeks. Comfortable on the bike and with the seating position providing just a little ‘on top’ feeling, the EC300 was giving great feedback and tracking precisely on the cambers and out of the turns over the choppy going.
Judge Geoffrey - Wakker weckons
To sum up the Gas Gas EC range I would have to say congratulados el amigos on the development of the bikes. This range is becoming stronger by the year and with down to earth technical support coming from the importer directly or through the dealer network they will keep growing and providing serious woods weapons for the weekend warriors and top racers of the world.
Gas Gas ’08 - Much newness
New shape front mudguard
New headlamp
New handguards
New graphics
New Trail Tech speedometer
New softer/taller seat foam
New shape front exhaust pipe
New settings in the front Marzocchi forks.
New crankshaft bearings
New cylinderhead on EC200
New cylinder on EC125
Specs
EC125
Capacity: 124cc
Bore and stroke: 54mm x 54.5mm
Front suspension: 45mm USD Marzocchi (295mm travel)
Rear suspension: Sachs (310mm travel)
Front brake: 260mm disc
Rear brake: 220mm disc
Carburettor: 38mm
Gearbox: Six-speed
Seat height: 945mm
Wheelbase: 1460mm
Dry weight: 92kg
EC200
Capacity: 199.4cc
Bore and stroke: 62.5mm x 65mm
Front suspension: 45mm USD Marzocchi (295mm travel)
Rear suspension: Sachs (310mm travel)
Front brake: 260mm disc
Rear brake: 220mm disc
Carburettor: 38mm
Gearbox: Six-speed
Seat height: 945mm
Wheelbase: 1476mm
Dry weight: 95kg
EC250
Capacity: 249.3cc
Bore and stroke: 66.4mm x 72mm
Front suspension: 45mm USD Marzocchi (295mm travel)
Rear suspension: Sachs (310mm travel)
Front brake: 260mm disc
Rear brake: 220mm disc
Carburettor: 38mm
Gearbox: Six-speed
Seat height: 945mm
Wheelbase: 1476mm
Dry weight: 97kg
EC300
Capacity: 294.7cc
Bore and stroke: 72mm x 72mm
Front suspension: 45mm USD Marzocchi (295mm travel)
Rear suspension: Sachs (310mm travel)
Front brake: 260mm disc
Rear brake: 220mm disc
Carburettor: 38mm
Gearbox: Six-speed
Seat height: 945mm
Wheelbase: 1476mm
Dry weight: 98kg