New Guy - GasGas or KTM200

[sneaky98gt]

Hey all! I'm new here, first post actually, and wanted some opinions / pointers.

First off, I'll apologize in advance for being long winded. I'll do my best to keep it short and sweet.

So, background. I've been riding the snot out of a CRF230F for a couple years now, and have progressed to a point where it's starting to hold me back some. I ride almost exclusively tight, snotty, difficult singletrack. The low seat height, E-start, and mellow power is great for that, but I'm to the point that a proper enduro suspension and engine will help me out a lot.

REQUIRING a low seat height or E-start at a minimum (preferably both) and no heavier than my 250 pound CRF230 narrows the list down quite a bit. Personal preference of not wanting a water-cooled 4-stroke narrows it down even more. Not wanting to spend $5000+ on a toy pretty well narrows it down to only a few options.

I had my eyes set on an '05-'07 KTM 200 XC/XC-W. Plenty of power for my riding, low seat height, very light and nimble, decent woods suspension.
They don't have E-start, but it's fairly easy to retrofit on. However, after reading a lot about how unreliable the KTM e-start is, I started having doubts. I think it'd still be a great choice other than that.

Enter GasGas. From my understanding (correct me if wrong), the 2011 and older GasGas's (GasGasii? LoL!) have smaller frames and shorter seat heights. Win.

And then, 2011 onwards 250s/300s at least have the option of an E-start. Double win.

So, if I'm right on all this, a 2011 EC250/300 could be a sweet spot with a lower seat height AND e-start. SUPER WINNING!

All that I am reading about how well the GG turns, and how nice the engine is, how good a starting point the suspension is, and how DROP DEAD SEXY it is, is all icing on the cake. Plus, it looks like I shouldn't have any issue finding one for <$5000.

I don't like the fact that it doesn't appear to be an improvement in weight over my 230, versus the KTM 200 that's a good 20-25 pounds in real world weight lighter. That's significant when you're dragging your bike over a rock. Though that said, I've lived with 250 pounds on my 230 thus far, so I can probably live with a 250 pound GasGas.

Can someone confirm what I'm thinking here about the seat height and e-start? Are the e-starts on these bikes reliable and fairly hassle-free?

Any other advice / tips / words of wisdom here? Any other GG riders come from a smaller bike like a CRF/TTR 230 that can build up or shoot down my dreams that these bikes are the ultimate upgrade without a 4' tall seat?

Thanks in advance!