More '07 notes

[GMP]

Rode today in a different area. Very technical, lower speeds. Rocks, roots, off cambers, logs, and some tight loamy stuff. Cased the bike a few times on some downhill rock drop offs. The Hyde does its job well, just some scratches in the plastic. Bike ran great, put it in "rain" mode and it grunted through the crap all day, no problems. The tighter and more technical it gets, the better the bike works.

Weighed it with all the guards and equipment and a FULL tank: 249 lbs.

Similar equipped '03 was 253-256 with 1/4 to 1/2 tank, so it IS lighter for sure, and certainly feels it on the tight off cambers in particular.

[Dave]

Thanks for the weight info - it looks as though Gas Gas has done a good job over the last few years in shedding some pounds. Maybe jr. is ready for the 300....

[GMP]

Not a huge difference but noticable. I had the bike all apart to set it up. I would say most of the weight savings from the '03 is in the motor, wheels, and maybe some in the swingarm, plus a few other small details. More important than the #s are the way the bike feels, more agile than the '03 when the going gets tough and tight.

[Eric K]

Glenn,

What all did you add to your GasGas beside the Hyde guard?

[GMP]

Modified Flatland rad guards with raised/extended rear mounts and custom head stays, 2 sets LTR GP braces and additional 3mm side stiffener

BRP triple clamp with handguard mounts
Scotts damper
EE handguards with evolution deflectors
G2 ergo throttle
Longer Motion Pro throttle cable
LTR impeller (stock was plastic, WTF?)
LTR chain guide
LTR jetting
LTR PV cover
LTR case saver
LTR mud guard
13/52 gearing
Scotts rear calper carrier/sharkfin
14 oz flywheel weight
hour meter
S12s with Moose HD tubes/Motion Pro rimlocks (Mitas ET-01 on spare wheel for rocks)
fork bleeders

The Hyde plate/combo is lighter than alloy but I have a lot of metal around the rads that probably evens things out. BTW, I stand by my need to scrap the louvers, as a baseball size rock clanged hard off the front of my right rad Sunday. Barely noticable bend in the grille of the guard, would have been wasted with CRD guards and louvers.

The '07 may not be much lighter or feel significantly lighter on the trail from an '06, I just don't know.

[Eric K]

Glenn,

Yours sounds similarly armored to my '06 EC300.

249 lbs with a full tank sounds very good!

I get your point about rad guards in front instead of louvers. A baseball size rock at velocity could do a lot of damage to many things. If I was racing like you, I would have front rad guards.

My armor gets most of its abuse from stationary rocks and tree parts at peg/pipe level.

[GMP]

My armor gets most of its abuse from stationary rocks and tree parts at peg/pipe level.

Mine also. Weird things happen though. Just following a buddy down a hill with some loose rocks and "oh s***!", CLANG. No problem, better a rad guard take the hit than a knee.