Part 2: My next bike will be a ...

[MattR]

A while back, I posted a thread about buying a 4T bike for dual-sporting. Well, I have decided that there's no 4T in my future plans. I love the simplicity of 2T bikes with their low cost, ease of maintenance, and being great singletrack bikes.

For dual-sporting/commuting short distances to work, my current 2001 bike will fit the bill perfectly... it's street legal, reliable, and carrying a bit of premix oil in a bottle is no big deal.

So I have a new dilema for my next bike... will it be a 200 or 300?
Here are some of the thoughts running around my brain:

Option 1) A DE or EC200 would be a blast to ride on tight singletrack. Unfortunately, it does not appear that GasGas will not offer a 200 bike in 2007. Is this true? If yes, then I would have to find either a 2006 or older GG model... or switch to the dark side and buy a pumpkin bike.

Option 2) If I buy a 200, I could also convert my 250 into a 300 which improves dual-sporting and gives me the best of both worlds... a big bike and little bike. Since I plan to redo the topend this winter, now may be a great time to convert my bike into a 300.

Option 3) Scrap the 200 idea and just buy a new 300. Keep my 250 "as-is" and enjoy either a 2006 or 2007 300 bike as my primary ride. A 2006 model would allow for more part swapping if needed in emergencies. However, the 2007's does offer some new advantages... stronger subframe, air filter attachment, seat attachment. However, I really dislike the 2007 graphics (a minor thing).

Option 4) With either the 200 or 300, do I buy another DE or try something new like an EC? An EC sounds nice with the heavier flywheel and better power output for lights. Of course, the DE's are nice with their racier feel and ability to tailor the flywheel weight to suit your needs.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Anyone want to corrupt my mind and offer any suggestions.