EC300 08 mortal danger construction problem!!!

[SECRET_AGENT_BOND]

Hi all, I write from central Europe, from Czech Republic-we have here very very dangerous problem with brand new Gas Gases model year 2008. The problem is in the pipes and front wheel-when you push front wheel about 220mm of its suspension, it begins to collide with exhaust pipes-as you can see on the pictures:
suspended 220mm: front wheel begins to collide with pipes:




suspended at maximum: the wheel must be slightly turned, because pipes blockade the wheel. (That´s why it is so dangerous-you land after some jump and it is same felling as you fully breaks with front brake Total hazard!


Same situation but from the other side-you can see that front wheel collide with pipes at about 4cm! (about 2 inches):



The bike is comletely new, and it isn´t only my friend´s problem, I heard about same thing from many many people around central Europe. If you want to complain about this problem to our local dealer he says that you are lier, everything is ok and no one has same problem - only you.
What the #### is doing Gas Gas from us? Fools?

[SpeedyManiac]

I don't have any problems with my 07 EC250.

[SECRET_AGENT_BOND]

Yes, because you have 07... this is only 08 problem and I heard only about EC300 non R versions that have same defect.... R versions are fine, without this problem...

[SpeedyManiac]

Pretty tough to say that since they all have the same steering geometry, wheels and pipe...

[GMP]

Bond,

First thing, watch the language. This site has always been and will continue to be a class act. Language, personal attacts, abuse, etc. will not be tolerated just so you know.

Now, that is an interesting problem. As I see it, it can be one of three things:

1)The rake on the steering head (incorrect fabrication) which is highly unlikely

2)Different triple clamp offset(again unlikely)

3)The pipe. What pipe is on the bike?

I would think 1 and 2 would show up as some interesting handling characteristics immediately. My bet is its the pipe(s).

[SECRET_AGENT_BOND]

The problem is in the pipes - everybody who want to drive safefully must buy pipes from 07 model or some FMF or such. We solved this problem with ordering different pipes. This is only warning that Gas Gas made huge mistake and don´t solves it. As we called to the USA, they knew about this problem, but Europe is maybe smaller market because here was told us, that everything is fine...

And about language, sorry about that :-) I was a little bit angry during writing that post.

[SpeedyManiac]

Is that the really heavy euro pipe that has a catalytic convertor in it? I know that both the stock GasGas (no catalytic convertor) and Messico pipes fit fine.

[SECRET_AGENT_BOND]

I know, that he got with his bike two pipes- one was for stock closed power to 5kW or such? And second one normal for full power... If any of them have a catalyc convertor I don´t know... First one was fine, but second one-normal 08 pipes are in the photos...

[angrytim]

I have an 08 Dealers Edition which has the FMF Gnarly. I'll check the clearance and report back.

[GG27]

My EC250 also had the front wheel touch the exhaust, but just slightly, you could hear a little sqweek on hard landings. Also my front fender would also touch at the front. Now after about 50 hrs the front tire doesn't touch on the exhaust anymore. My agent told me that the 2008 exhausts have a longer strait portion out of the cylinder and that all the exhausts he has ordered for previous years are the same.

At the beginning I also was suprised with this but really didn't have any problems when riding, but as I said above the exhaust gets "run-in" after about 30 hrs. I shouldn't worry, just drive the shit out of it!