EC250F vs EC250 Cami
 

Hi all,

I?m looking for a replacement for my Honda CRF230F and a considering a circa. 2014 Gasser.

As I?m relatively short (5ft 6?) and light, a bike that has a lower seat height and is relatively light is a definite bonus for me.

Initially the Cami seemed ideal for me, but I do get nervous about the Chinese made engine (from what I can tell it is made by a company called Zongshen). Are there any UK based Cami owners on the forum - have you ever needed to order any engine parts and did you experience any difficulties in getting them?

Then I started to look at the EC250F. Again it looked good as it has a Yamaha WR250F engine in it, but it seems that it has slightly longer forks and shocks which takes the seat height to 960mm ? making it one of the tallest greenlaners on the market. However it is much lighter at 108kg.

Any feedback of the Cami vs the EC250F is much appreciated.

One last question; am I right in thinking that the frame, plastics, auxiliaries etc are likely to be the same across the 2014 4s range?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

I'd go with the EC250F

Rather than the Cami you might want to take a close look at the AJP bikes from Portugal. I talked to a former GasGas owner who has one and he loves it.

Thanks for the replies.

Can you explain what you mean by "non-supported" bikes now. Do you mean that the bikes are no longer made? But I'm assuming that you can still get parts for them? Engines, forks n shocks apart, the rest of the bike(s) look interchangeable with other GG 4s. Is that not the case?

Yeah, I've already had a look at an AJP, like you I came to the conclusion that they were tall and the build quality didn't seem up to the standard of a Gasser.

If I went down the route of a low seat height, mellow 2 stroke I think that I just plump for the ready made version - a KTM 250R Freeride :-)

Correct, none of these bikes are made now. But that shouldn't keep you off buying them (at least not the EC250F). While I don't know the Cami (I have never seen one here in my part of the world), the EC250F is, for all practical purposes, a standard Yamaha engine in a standard Gasgas chassis. Getting parts for either should be no problem. Gasgas did change some small details around the Yamaha engine (adding a hydraulic clutch and removing the dry sump oil tank), but that shouldn't make any problems parts-wise.
In your case, I would go with the 250F.

That's why GasGas need a EC200 2T.

+1 I'm with Leo

The KTM Freeride is a weird apple I.M.H.O. The bike is very tall relative to its length(due to way too much ground clearence), no engine power valve, and way too expensive. The Beta Xtrainer is a much better all around bike for most trail riders (freeride is closer to a trials bike).

What about a 2 stroke 200 or 250? You mentioned that you are 5'6" and light. I am 5'7" and 125 lbs. I've had a KTM 250XCFW back in 2008 and didn't like it. It was too heavy and not enough snap in the motor to lift the front wheel when you need to. Before my gasser I've owned two KTM 200's. I was going to get another KTM 200 or 250 when I came across a great deal on an EC250. I lowered it 1.5" front and rear and love it. I can touch the ground flat footed which gives a lot of confidence in the technical sections. The motor is super smooth and added power over my 200 is icing on the cake when climbing hills.


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Forgot to mention: a 2 stroke is much easier and cheaper to maintain. If you are looking at used bikes, purchasing a 4 stroke bike, it could be minutes away from a complete rebuild that would cost a pretty penny. Worst case scenario with a 2 stroke rebuild would probably be half the cost of the 4 stroke rebuild.


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One of the guys I go greenlaning with rides a beta x trainer. He's probably around 5'6" and goes well on it. Electric start and autolube does away with most of the hassle of using a two stroke on the trail and it is plenty fast enough for the trails. Possible downsides are that I think he had to put some work into getting the suspension to work in our British mud and I believe beta spares are costly in the UK.

If a four stroke is more your thing, I would be looking at the ktm exc-f or maybe yamaha wr-f, but would be tempted to look at the bigger capacity models if trail riding only. Unless regularly riding very technical rocky trails, modern enduro bikes are nicer to ride than trail or trials derived bikes on most of the green lanes in the uk.

Disagree. Freeride is close to nothing. Sherco Xride is close to a trials and is a blast to ride.

Thanks all for the replies.

I don?t think that there are many Cami?s in the UK either (just 68 according to the ?how many left? website). I?ve done a bit more research on the Cami and it seems that the shock is a ?R16V? (made by Olle) and used in an assortment of trials bikes including GasGas and Sherco?s. Interesting the shock is also used on a Beta XTrainer. I find it shocking (if you excuse the pun) that a bike that sells for 5500GBP uses the suspension from a trials bike.

The EC250F started to look like a much better proposition, until I looked up and found that there were only circa. 15 sold in the UK! So Im now back to the point where I have concerns over the availability of parts and the ability to resale etc

Having sat on one (abet not ridden one), I wouldn?t say that they are like a ? modern ? trials bike, but I get where your coming from as they are somewhat different in comparison to other green laners on the market. I?m still to decide if they are too expensive or it is the case that other modern greenlaners i.e. Cami, EC250F, XTrainer etc are cheaper because they depreciate too quickly!

I do agree with you that a Freeride is close to nothing but my statement was that it is closer to a trials bike than the Beta xtrainer. I came to that conclusion because the KTM has lower weight, shorter wheelbase, and presumably milder engine. While both are aimed as starter bikes the Beta has much more potential as skills grow because it would be much easier to modify it into a great woods weapon. IMO I also agree with Rod that a lowered 200 or 250 is better than any of these other bikes we've talked about.

Agree ;)