My club (Arizona Trail Riders)
http://www.arizonatrailriders.org/ put on a 70-mile qualifier-style enduro (non-timekeeping) in the mountains of central Arizona two weekends ago. 130+ riders of all skill levels (recession hurt turnout), but they brought family as well, 90+ volunteers, and a very impressed Forest Service team that found we left the area cleaner than when we arrived.
One sort of surprise was to find our new southwestern Gas Gas distributor guy pulling out the stops and letting anyone and everyone test ride a host of bikes (EC250, 300, 450, 515, and a trials bike).
Click here for a pic ---->
Up to a year ago in Arizona, Gas Gas was a figment of the imagination. But then there was one, then two, then three, then four, and now more new Gas Gas bikes riding the trails and competing in local races (from me, the C-guy, to the #1 250A guy in the state). And, by the way -- all of those who bought in 2009 are former KTM owners.
Lots of folks test rode the bikes and enjoyed them, even though they weren't particularly jetted for 6,000 feet and 80F. I didn't talk to everyone who rode them but the 2Ts went over well. I don't know 4Ts enough to be aware of what one would look for. At least two said they were going to buy one.
Safe to say, Gas Gas is now a better-known entity here in AZ.
The real cool things is that all of these bikes are now considered "Demo Bikes" and will go *very* cheap to anyone in Arizona (or elsewhere) who wants a killer deal.
I'm getting my top-end done this summer so I'm good for a year or two.
