2002 XC250 for an old guy?

[wpwarhawk]

I've been riding a Harley and away from dirt bikes since 2001. I'm thinking about getting back into it, and have found a 2002 G-G XC250 that has caught my eye. I'm 48 now, older and wiser (and fatter) but have a bum knee (surgically repaired) and a herniated disk in my neck. So any riding I do now will be strictly play riding, my racing days are over. I've been considering getting an XR250 or KDX200. But now I've run across this Gas Gas XC250.

I'm in north Texas and will probably be riding areas like Red River, Rocky Ridge and maybe some of the stuff up in southern Oklahoma.

My question is, how would this bike do for an old guy playbike? Since my last dirt bike was a Honda CR500 I'm afraid an XR or KDX is going to bore me with the lack of power. I'm also curious about reliability of the Gas Gas, parts availability, etc. How hard are they to kickstart (bum knee)?

Thanks ... Jim

[LAWMAN]

I'm 48 (49 in a month) & I really like my 300. it's easy to ride all day. I'd sure rather have it than an XR or KDX.

it kick starts just fine, but the lack of e-start might be noticeable for that knee.

[Loosenut]

Having spent 10 years in the Dallas area racing cross country events, I know the type of rding you have available. An '01 GasGas XC 250 will be a great bike for you. You can tune the power delivery pretty easily with changing some jetting and carb settings.

[Fred]

I am 52 and just beginning to ride enduros in the "C" Class. My mount is GG 200 EC. Can't say much about the 250 GG because I've never ridden one. However, I can say that I am extremely happy with my 200 GasGas. When this one wears out I will replace it with another GG in a heartbeat. You are on the right track by listing your concerns on this website. There are people here that can disassemble and reassemble GasGas motorcycles blindfolded. Just read some of the threads that they respond to from people like you and I that need help. Fred

[mutanthillbilly]

I am 55 and purchased a gas-gas-300 this year and love it. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the bike. Parts are easily ordered at Go-Fasters. I also own a ktm 250xcw and a kdx 200, both of which are only collecting dust since the gasser arrived.

mutanthillbillyl

[wpwarhawk]

I drove up to Denton today and talked to Brian Storrie at SMS Racing. He has several used KTM and Gas Gas bikes, and suggested that a 2004 xc300 might be the bike for me. He also has a 2002 xc250 but I am leaning toward the 300 for better power delivery and the 04 bike has a better Marzocchi fork than the 02's WP fork. He also shot me a very good price on the 300, my decision now boils down to 2 stroke versus some sort of a 4 stroke.

[Bearman]

I reckon the 300 would probably be better, because you can load it up a gear higher and lug it more then you can the 250. That said, i've only ridden a 200 and a 300 GasGas.

They aren't that hard to kick start, longer kick lever makes it easier. My 200 one is short so its more of a challenge then my uncles new '08 300. I think the YZ 250 kicker is longer and fits