Ec250f
 

Ok ok, I apologise, I hijacked the Chrsitini thread. So here's a thread for the EC250F.

Anybody off to the factory soon? Can they bribe their escorting goons (Manuels?) and grab pics?

I like the idea that it will be 250/350. Personally a 250 is too small for me (and maintenance intensive) and a 400/450 is too big. But a 350 is just right.

The Sherco 250F looks as sweet as a nut I hope the Gasser is as cute.

I don't like the idea of it using a third party engine as a stop gap, and I bet you that motor isn't a TM.

On the personal front I'm off to Aus soon.

Better a third party motor to get to market than a prematurely released grenade. If Cannondale concentrated on building a first class frame around an established motor, they might still be around today. I would love to see a GG 250 - 350F motor but not finnish the R&D on one. Look at how many revisions the 450 has gone through. They are playing this one smart, I'm willing to wait.

I'd rather they released it, GG motor and all, and got it right first time.

I'd love to see them modify the 4t trials motor (different gearing & more reliability) and put it into the EC frame. That would make the ultimate play bike.
It would also be a win-win situation if Gas Gas did a joint venture with one of the "big 4" and let them do the mods and use the engine in one of their own bikes. They could be required to keep Gas Gas on the clutch covers. The bike would fit nicely in the middle of that big gap between the CRF230 and 250/450 4 strokes. As compact as the engine is a frame could be designed around it that could have a 34 inch seat height for smaller framed riders or easily change to full size with a swap of the sub frame. A bike like this with the reliability and ease of maintenance of the old XRs and a price tag $1000 less than the CRF250 would be an overnight hit.

I like the trials motor idea. I also don't have any heartburn over dropping a third party engine in there. Heck, that's where Gas Gas started. If it gains market share, I'm all for it.

What a small company like GG absolutely can not afford to do is release a POS just to get it out there, especially in todays economy. A major blunder could bury them.

Put the trials motor in there, but make it a 400.:)

If you want a bike to putt around on then buy a trails bike, you can still race them in h/s and enduros and prob do pretty well ( with a seat mod on it). But GAS GAS is looking to make a bike that can win races and compete in WEC events that is reialable and makes power like a race bike, not a tractor. Im guessing the new 250F is going to be simular to its competitors but with a gas gas frame. Hopefully they make a motor that last and doesnt blow up all the time like those KTM 250f's do. Whatever they do I am sure its going to be good.

Totally disagree with you here on this one. The KTM 250F motor is a dam good motor and blows up no more than the Jap 250F motors. Maybe it's the sheer quantity of them out there now compared to the Jap stuff and you hear about more failures. The Dirt Rider shootout rated it the best motor of the bunch and commented about when your doing valves and pistons on the Jap bikes your just doing rings on the KTM. Now KTM's newer 450/530 with the split oiling system you can have. Far to many oil related problems with those motors.

Les told me he has been into them all, mainly for the MXers in WA state, and the Yamaha is the best as far as reliability / durability goes. From what I've seen locally with friends bikes I'd have to agree. The KTM 250F was real fast when it came out, but also stupid loud. Once it had a decent muffler the advantage was nil. Also, if it does go bang and parts are not in Ohio, likely your going to miss a lot of riding. KTM has a great distributor\dealer network, but backorders can be very long.