Raga to riches
By TMX Archives on 11th Jun 11
If theres one trials bike that has continually set new standards in recent times it is the Gas Gas Raga Replica.
By taking what is already a state-of-the-art standard trials bike and adding extra bling at relatively little extra cost the Gerona firm gave themselves a genuine sales boost. And each year the Raga Rep is now eagerly awaited by trials fans.
The problem is that Gas Gas has now set such a standard with their TXT production bike, it has got progressively harder to make the Raga much different.
Last year they implemented changes (that were then incorporated into the 2011 production machines) and went for a radical colour change, with a gold frame and black plastics which you either loved or hated.
For 2011 there is another new look entirely, with a white-based theme which is rumoured to have come from the MTB world, with Santa Cruz a likely inspiration.
But there's much more to the 2011 Raga than just a pretty new coat.
Gas Gas has been working with specialist suspension manufacturer Reiger and a Reiger rear unit, with very comprehensive adjuster system, is standard fitment on all Raga Replicas. T+MX trials tester, Woody Hole, believes this to be a real and genuine step forward for a production trials bike... read on!
First impressions count and I have to say I like the looks of the 2011 Raga.
I actually liked the 2010 black and gold model too (I bought one!) but think that this is very on-trend without being gaudy and it does follow current MTB styling.
The white forks make the front look very light. Being honest, I wasn't expecting too many changes but there are several obvious ones, and they do a practical job as well as looking good.
You still get the magnesium crank-cases and lots of smaller touches found only on the Raga.
The first is the beautifully machined billet triple clamps, anodised red, and as well as looking the business they actually allow extra steering lock which is a genuine benefit.
Renthal FatBars are now fitted as standard on the Raga. The second major change is the rear suspension which utilises a Reiger shock that operates through a revised linkage system.
The Raga is available, as usual, in 250, 280 and 300 versions.
Personally, I prefer the 250 but I know full well that the majority of sales are the bigger capacity models and it was a 300 that we got first dibs on.
It fired-up and ran bob-on all day, proving mechanically quiet and it was really crisp, as you expect from a modern two-stroke.
We'll post a more detailed test next week in our bike tests section.
