Move from KDX to 300ec?

[DirtBaller]

Hi Guys,

I just got back into dirt biking after a 15 year hiatus (I'm 35 now). I bought a KDX 220 last year, did a lot of trail riding and entered my first ever harescramble last week - best time of my life!! I finished 7 ot of 21 in my class and felt great about it. The stock (properly jetted) KDX really surprised me, it was awesome in the tight stuff - the short wheel base was really easy to thread through trees, the engine and gear ratio allowed me to tractor without stalling, and it always started up on the first kick when I needed it to.

The suspension on the fast sections is what let me down though, and from what I've read, there really isn't really much that can be done outside of throwing a lot of money at it and still winding up mediocre at best. I also could use more top end.

A guy locally has a 2001 GasGas 300ec for sale for $2000. It is pretty much stock except for the bars and a revalve by Powerband Racing. He raced it in a few enduros. I'm thinking of putting my KDX up for sale and buying the GasGas so I can be more competive in harescramble and enduros, WITHOUT spending a lot more money.

So my questions are:

Is it easy to get parts for a 2001?
What are the differences between the old and new 300's?
Any weaknesses of the model/year I should know about?


Thanks,
Mark

[jhendr3702]

I own an 01 300 also. Best bike I have ever owned. I had a kdx like yours also, you will absolutly love the 300.
so far in a year of ownership, I have needed nothing other than normal stuff.
go-fasters is where I have gotten almost everything and I am in texas, a long way from them, and I have my parts inside a week.
I now own 2 ggs and would have more if the wife unit would let me.
Alot of the stuff on gg bikes are the same.

[AZRickD]

I used to own a "Dangerously Modified" (tm) KDX220R (RB-Designs head squish mod, carb mod, Pro Circuit torque pipe and an FMF rev pipe, VF3 reeds, etc) up until last spring. Great bike. I even put a set of 1998 KX250 forks on the front end and upped the shock spring as well.

I raced it in several enduros and it did me just fine. The only thing it lacked was that oomph explosion of power when I'd turn a corner and see a line of whoops that I needed speed to skip over but instead had to suffice with rolling the first couple.

When I got my 2005 DE250, I found that it was actually easier to ride (and that was before I recently got it resprung for my weight). The compactness of the GG and the extra ponies helped in most situations. The GG turned waaaay faster, and I used far less energy during difficult rides.

The KDX did have some low-end, slow-speed prowess that I miss a bit, but the 300 (vs the 250) should make up for that.

Lastly, be prepared -- I still miss my KDX. Get over it. Move forward (and try to bum rides off of any KDX you might bump into over the next few years).

I sold it to a guy in California who bought it for his "girl friend" (sure he did). He sent some pics a couple of weeks ago. Here he is riding it in some nasty stuff near Lake Piru in California. He said the rains washed out the trail so they had to be creative in this section.



He added blinkers. Kalifornia is crazy.

Rick

[roostafish]

KDX to Gas Gas is an easy transition. Just more of everything good about a KDX, less of everything bad.

[DirtBaller]

Thanks for the advice, I'll go take a closer look at the 300. Hopefully it hasn't been raced too hard.
That is a one of the best pictures I've ever seen of a KDX!

[AZRickD]

I wouldn't worry about it being "raced too much" as long as the owner took care of it.