Diff’rent strokes
By Martin Craven on 20th Dec 13
FOR 2014 the Gas Gas factory has split the importership of its trials and enduro models in the UK, with Gas Gas Motos (John Shirt) who, of course, formerly handled all Gas Gas machines now concentrating on the trials side and Clements Moto taking over the Enduro arm and who, as we tested the bikes, are still finalising their dealer network.
Fair play, though, on our request for test bikes they whipped a pair of Gassers straight from the crate – and this was the first batch they have had delivered – fuelled them up and sent them north from their Canterbury base to FatCat in the far north (well, Doncaster).
Thanks to Kevin from Clements (complete with broken ankle) for his considerable effort.
A 250 two-stroke and a 300 four-stroke seemed a fair mix and that's exactly what we got.
And very nice they look in their bright red and white finish. Very bling!
The two-strokes and four-strokes effectively share a common chassis which this year is all-new.
Sticking with their perimeter chrome-molybdenum frame, the redesign has lopped no less than a claimed 2Kg from the weight with no loss in strength - quite an achievement.
The new chassis is completed by an aluminium swinging arm and an ally sub-frame at the rear.
Suspension up front is courtesy of Marzocchi 48mm closed-cartridge forks while at the rear Gas Gas is proud of its fully adjustable, custom-built Reiger shock that operates through a conventional linkage.
You could actually see it doing its stuff during the photography session at the test when rider Martin Craven was putting both machines through their paces on his vertical square-edge climbs and drops.
The six-speed two-stroke motors are GG designed and built and any bugs have long since been ironed-out.
They have been taken for a trip through R&D and emerged with new cylinders and heads plus V-Force4 reed valves and other mods.
A 38mm Keihin carb is as good as it gets for delivering the go-juice. The electric start is highly visible external to the crankcase on the flywheel side.
The electric foot might sound frivolous on a two-stroke but when you find yourself stuck in a perilous position, when you are absolutely knackered towards the end of a three-hour race, you would give ANYTHING to be able to fire the motor up instantly at the push of a button...
Worth its weight in gold!
Other quality kit includes Excel wheel rims, FMF exhaust, galfer discs and Nissin brake calipers. There's also Gas Gas Double Force handlebars and all-new side panels in "unbreakable” plastic.
The four-strokes – fitted with the double-overhead camshaft five-speed 250 Yam motor, the 300 being an over-bored version – share the new chassis and most auxiliary components with their two-stroke siblings.
Gas Gas has a serious and strong 2014 enduro range and has all the angles covered.
It is a wide competition market these days with hare and hounds events particularly strong.
And it is very much a case of horses for courses, each individual out there knows what type of events you are going to ride and a pretty good idea of if you are looking at two-stroke or four-stroke power.
Read on for Martin Craven's impressions of the diverse stroker and thumper...
SPECIFICATIONS
2014 model Gas Gas EC Racing 250E/ EC 300F
ENGINE
Motor: Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder 2-stroke with direct reed valve (VForce 4) intake/ Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder 4-stroke, 5 valve head with double overhead camshaft
Displacement: 249.3 cc/ 290.0 cc
Bore x stroke: 66.4 x 72 mm/ 83 x 53.6 mm
Starter: Electric and kick start
Ignition: Electronic
Gears: 6-speed/ 5-speed
Clutch: Multidisc in oil bath
Carburettor: Keihin PKWS 38 mm/ Keihin FCR-MX37
Fuel: Oil/ fuel pre-mix at 1 : 50 ratio/ High octane petrol
CHASSIS
Frame: Perimeter frame in chrome-molybdenum
Subframe: Tubular aluminum alloy
Swingarm: Aluminium, progressive system with tie rods
SUSPENSION
Front: 48mm diameter inverted Marzocchi Shiver closed cartridge fork with spring preload, rebound & compression adjustment
Travel: 305 mm
Rear: Reiger monoshock (special settings) with spring preload, rebound & compression high/ low speed adjustment
Travel: 298 mm
WHEEL RIMS
Front: 1.6 x 21 Excel Aluminium spoke rim
Rear: 2.15 x 18 Excel Aluminium spoke rim
TYRES
Front: 90/90 - 21 Metzeler Six Days Extreme/ 90/90 - 21 Pirelli Six Days Extreme
Rear: 140/80 - 18 Metzeler Six Days Extreme/ 140/80 - 18 Pirelli Six Days Extreme
BRAKES
Front: 260 mm Galfer wave disc, 2-piston Nissin caliper
Rear: 220 mm Galfer wave disc, 1-piston Nissin caliper
ANCILLARIES
Bodywork: Unbreakable plastic
Handlebar: Gas Gas Double Force
Exhaust muffler: FMF/ Reverse
DIMENSIONS
Length: 2,200 mm
Width: 830 mm
Height: 1,260 mm
Wheelbase: 1,480 mm/ 1,490 mm
Seat height: 950 mm
Fuel Capacity: 9.5 litres/ 8.2 litres
FOR FULL TEST AND PICTURES SEE TMX DEVEMBER 20
