First ride DE200

[sled_fiend]

I just picked up my first Gas Gas!

I met bondarenko on Saturday and bought his 2005 Gas Gas DE200. I got back to Houston around 4:30am got a few hours sleep and then headed up to SHNF to try it out. I couldn't wait any longer!

My current/previous ride is a 98 250 EXC. Being a novice rider this bike always felt a little intimidating to me. The power is huge and fun in open places but in the tighter single track of the national forest it was a little scary.

Now, this Gas Gas 200... I love this bike. It is the bike I should have started on instead of the 250.

The bike feels so light under me and give me the confidence to place the front tire where I want it. In the tight slow sections with roots, ruts and rocks it was so easy to pick the line and flick the bike back and forth. The slower going technical stuff is were I really was having fun.

The 200 does flame out a lot easier than my 250 but that is something I'll just have to get used to unless I end up going with a Reckluse. Still can't decide about that.

The bike doesn't idle so there were a few times when I bobbled on the trail, pulled in the clutch and basically stopped to get my self squared up again and the bike died if I didn't give it some revs. A little annoying but nothing a little adjustment can't fix.

The hydro clutch is excellent. My 250 has a cable clutch and this is my first bike with a hydo. It feels great and I can cover the clutch with one finger instead of two or three.

The Ohlins fork and shock felt pretty good. I'm no suspension expert, in fact I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a bad setup and a good one but this bike felt pretty good. I actually didn't even adjust the sag yet for me, I'll do that before my next ride though.

To wrap up, I really love this bike and it gives me the confidence to push myself to become a better rider. I also like the fact that chances are no one else will have one anywhere I ride.

Hope you enjoyed my psuedo review/ride report.

[Rick]

The 200 is a great bike...which will do about anything you ask it to. Nice report and welcome to the dark side!

[skid jackson]

whats a sled fiend doing in texas?

[sled_fiend]

sweating mostly.

I'm from Michigan originally, moved down here after college. Trying to work my way back north.

[nhrider]

Watch out! Skid will try to get you to sell your sled!

[sled_fiend]

I don't think I could ever sell my sled. I brought it to TX just so I could keep working on modding it. You get a lot of strange looks when driving through Houston with a sled in the back of your truck. FYI.

[Skidad]

Speaking of sleds...since were a little of track here. A guy I know just bought one of these beauties. Totally sick. 2010 Polaris Rush 600

[sled_fiend]

How did I miss that!! I didn't know Polaris came out with new sled let alone one with a trick rear suspension. I'd like to see one in person and see how that works. I wonder if it will clog up in deep powder like like the "beaver tail" on the skidoo REVs when they first came out.

I can't wait for my SnoWest to start showing up again so I can get back in the loop.

You're right totally off topic. But fun.

[nhrider]

Well, since we are way off topic...

I rode that Rush and the thing is awesome! Not the same thing as the old REVs

[skid jackson]

that looks pretty sweet!! what are they charging for one of those?? 10K!!