2014 gasgas 200
 

Is gasgas actually making the 200 this year? It is on their website but when you look its actually the images of the 300. If they are does anyone know if they have made any changes?

This is kind of a clean up year here in the US so we won't have any here. There are a small number of 2013 200s still in dealerships. They have a $500 discount and $500 parts credit.

Well that's a real bummer:(

Were you planning on buying one?

Although I can't afford one, I agree with you - tough to know that new models won't be coming into the market. It's similar to when Suzuki didn't bring 2012 models into the US market on the street side (have a track-only 750).

Hopefully, it's just a blip and not a trend. Perception among potential customers is the biggest threat (in my opinion).

Please realize that we have been in a cycle of late models since the 2012 screw up. We got 2012 models in April 2012. We got 2013s in July. Dealers did not order 2013s because they had 2012s. We moved 2013s late to dealers because the 2012s had to go first. Dealers don't want to order 2014s now because they got 2013s late or the ones they had did not sell due to bad mag press. We brought in low 2014 models to clean out the pipe line to be in a better position on the 2015 models.
When I worked for Kawasaki they often would skip a year on a model that had too many in the field. You can look at this as a negative but it is simply business.

200's have always been the odd man out. Media rarely covers them and the average consumer assumes they are for beginners and ladies. Too bad because after owning an EC300 and EC250, I prefer the 200. It's better in the tight woods, less tiring, and just plain more fun to ride.

Funny, here in the NW there are a lot of really good experienced riders who have switched to small 2-strokes the past couple of years. I see tons of KTM 150's, 200's, Husky 150/165's and an occasional Gasgas 200 at our local events.

at the risk of hijacking the thread, can you please expand on this.
what is your height and weight?
riding style and skill level?
thanks

I realize you don't sell alot, but the 200 is the only thing that brought me to GG. With the price I got my 250 for I suspect you and the dealer lost money on it. I will be looking to buy a new 200 at year end. March - April 15 is too late to dial in my race bike.

Well, let me first give a disclaimer. Our Gasgas EC200 is a '99. It's pristine and is set up very nicely. Also, my full time ride is a KTM200 although I ride the gasser a lot (my son's bike).

I am 44, been riding since 10, but most constistantly for the past 10 years. Race a few local enduros, but mostly lots of trail riding. Solid B rider, but can hang with the A pack. 5' 10" 220 lbs. All of my riding is NW woods. Mix of very tight singletrack (see vid, me) and some more flowing quad width (see additional vid, not me). Since it's the NW we have LOTS of rocks and roots and it's often wet. We also have some very steep terrain.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d1wolKqZRy8

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=quW_d2XGsXY

I've owned many bikes: KTM 300, 250, 200; Gasgas 300, 250, 200; Yamaha wr450, wr250f

The 200 is simply easier to go faster on. I know weight is such a subjective matter, especially when talking about dirt bikes, but the 200 feels amazingly light when compared with the larger cc's. It makes riding in the woods a lot less tiring and you can change direction so easy. It makes perfect power for woods riding. They still lug very well and you can ride a gear high all day, but the power won't wear you out. You feel like you can push the bike hard rather than holding it back. The handling is where it really shines and it slices through the woods like a knife. To me, if most of your riding is in 2nd-3rd gear, you'll love a 200. If you ride more open or flowing terrain, then the 250 or 300 is more at home.

I know a lot of people are concerned about the 200's ability to climb. First, if we all had bikes just for hill climbing then we'd all ride CR500's! The 200 has made every nasty, rocky, root infested climb my 250 and 300 made, and it does it with less effort. The power is going straight to the ground with less wheel spin and the light weight makes it easy to maneuver. I ride a ton with my brother who rides an EC250 and I made climbs last year that he did and a few he didn't.

The one drawback is deflection in the rocks and roots. Because they simply are lighter, they tend to deflect a bit more than a larger bike. I have the suspension revalved and set up for me and us a Scott's which help a ton, but there is that aspect to riding a lighter bike.

If money were no object I'd go buy a new Gasgas EC200. Hope they don't stop bringing them here to the US!

Sorry for the hijack and long winded post;)