VOR or GasGas. After watching my dad through the 70's riding Husky's & Bultaco, I noticed his bike had everything and my bike required alot more $$ to bring up to "standards" that alrady existed. Around '80 I switched over to Husky and by and large(other than the KDX) never looked back.
WHY spend that extra time/money/effort to get your bike up to "standards" the euro's already have?????? I think the only exception is mx where the euro's seem to be behind and have been sincew the late '70's.
WHY spend that extra time/money/effort to get your bike up to "standards" the euro's already have?????? I think the only exception is mx where the euro's seem to be behind and have been sincew the late '70's.
1) GasGas EC250
2) I'd been a dedicated Honda rider for many years, with a few stays into Suzukis and Kawasakis. I was getting out of the MX thing and wanted to do more woods riding. It was a hard pill to swallow admitting that the GG was better than my CR, but in the woods, there was no arguing...I could go faster for longer, with less effort,
There is simply no comparison (IMO) in this field with regards to the Japanese machines (in stock form). With lots of mods they (Japanese bikes) can be made to work, but as Enduro Nut said, why bother...I can buy it and race it right off the floor.
Some "different" things (some would call wierd) for sure when it first comes to working on them, but it doesn't take long to figure it out and realise the advantages in many ways.
2) I'd been a dedicated Honda rider for many years, with a few stays into Suzukis and Kawasakis. I was getting out of the MX thing and wanted to do more woods riding. It was a hard pill to swallow admitting that the GG was better than my CR, but in the woods, there was no arguing...I could go faster for longer, with less effort,
There is simply no comparison (IMO) in this field with regards to the Japanese machines (in stock form). With lots of mods they (Japanese bikes) can be made to work, but as Enduro Nut said, why bother...I can buy it and race it right off the floor.
Some "different" things (some would call wierd) for sure when it first comes to working on them, but it doesn't take long to figure it out and realise the advantages in many ways.
Gas Gas 250
euro bikes seem to be more compleat, from the factory, than jap mx'ers -i've spent thousands in converting all 4 jap brands to be more "offroad" suited, usually with less than desired results!! the typical KTM or GG does'nt need much more than handguards,etc... after the purchase- much better value AND these bikes perform better in "trail" type settings than any modified jap mx types(IMO)
euro bikes seem to be more compleat, from the factory, than jap mx'ers -i've spent thousands in converting all 4 jap brands to be more "offroad" suited, usually with less than desired results!! the typical KTM or GG does'nt need much more than handguards,etc... after the purchase- much better value AND these bikes perform better in "trail" type settings than any modified jap mx types(IMO)
Great question. Unlike the other's who have responded thus far, I have only ridden/owned Husky. My experience with the jap/four is from friends, etc. In Hawaii - trails are Brutal, with a capitol "B." I typically rode with buddies on jap-bikes. The Husky shines when the trail gets worse, and worse. She never left me stranded, ever. In four years of riding in the nastiest environment, she still looked incredible - this is because of the extra care in painting all exposed metals, even hubs - top quality rims, shocks, plastic/graphics - my husky even had five zirk fittings for the rear shock linkage and swingarm pivot! Jap bikes, within a couple rides are ruined for the duration(Clay), and rust and breakage are par for the course. Yes, they are lighter, and handle effortlessly when conditions are perfect. But, no thank you. My two cents.
Alooooooha! Mele Kalikmaka A Haole Makahiki Ho!
TrailTramp
Alooooooha! Mele Kalikmaka A Haole Makahiki Ho!
TrailTramp
The euro bikes seem to have a smoother power delivery than the jap bikes, except for a KDX, which after modifying is an excellent woods bike. I love the hard hit jap bikes have for motocross, but it was a real pain in tight woods. My Gas Gas is super smooth (like a strong 4 stroke). It lets me ride more relaxed, faster, and not be totally exhausted when I'm finished.
I've owned 3 KX250s, a CR250, and an RM250. They were all great bikes for motocross. However, (IMO) unless you are an "A" enduro rider, you don't want any of these for technical woods riding.
JCW
I've owned 3 KX250s, a CR250, and an RM250. They were all great bikes for motocross. However, (IMO) unless you are an "A" enduro rider, you don't want any of these for technical woods riding.
JCW
I'm with Todd on this one ... started on a Penton in 1971 and am now on KTM, so I don't have a lot to compare to. When you get the best to begin with you tend to stick with it. My Penton was good enough to keep up with anyone and except for my age and general slowness now, my KTMs are everything I could would want.
BTW - I now have a 400MXC and a 200MXC. I still have the Penton, and it sits in the corner with a DKW awaiting restoration.
My experience is that the European brands are more complete, and with the exception of final tweeking to fit individual personalities, they are great right out of the box.
That being said, watching Dr. D ride a bone stock (except for his exhaust) YZ450F at Cooperland gave me a new appreciation for rider ability.
BTW - I now have a 400MXC and a 200MXC. I still have the Penton, and it sits in the corner with a DKW awaiting restoration.
My experience is that the European brands are more complete, and with the exception of final tweeking to fit individual personalities, they are great right out of the box.
That being said, watching Dr. D ride a bone stock (except for his exhaust) YZ450F at Cooperland gave me a new appreciation for rider ability.
02 FX470E Husaberg
I missed the bandwagon in the 70's with all the great Euro bikes. Not this time! Why a Husaberg? Price! I wanted an orange bike really bad (450 exc) was going to settle for a used 400. But either they were to expensive or to clamped out. I went on a club ride (CCC) and there was a vendor selling bergs. After the drawing I stopped buy his camper and was checking out the bike. His son (like 10-yr. old) told me to buy it. I said this bike is really trick, but a bike like this is way out of my reach in price. Wifey said it's a 02 and priced to move, but she didn’t know how much it was. She sent the owner with a couple brewski's to find me. He feed me the beers and we told lies about the prior day’s ride and talked about the bike. The rest is history. I have never had a bike so tricked out from the factory, for so little $4400 from the crate! Shoot I've spent more than on clamped out Jap bikes!
I missed the bandwagon in the 70's with all the great Euro bikes. Not this time! Why a Husaberg? Price! I wanted an orange bike really bad (450 exc) was going to settle for a used 400. But either they were to expensive or to clamped out. I went on a club ride (CCC) and there was a vendor selling bergs. After the drawing I stopped buy his camper and was checking out the bike. His son (like 10-yr. old) told me to buy it. I said this bike is really trick, but a bike like this is way out of my reach in price. Wifey said it's a 02 and priced to move, but she didn’t know how much it was. She sent the owner with a couple brewski's to find me. He feed me the beers and we told lies about the prior day’s ride and talked about the bike. The rest is history. I have never had a bike so tricked out from the factory, for so little $4400 from the crate! Shoot I've spent more than on clamped out Jap bikes!
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I agree. Even with a heavier flywheel, the MX bikes do need to be ridden aggresively in the woods. But once you reach the level where you can ride that aggressively, they can be a lot of fun. From purely a cost perspective, I got a leftover KX for a great price, that I could convert to woods for about the same price as a leftover KTM. Otherwise I don't think I would have done it.
1. I,ve got a Gas-Gas EC 300 dealer edition. 2. I was looking for something that came ready to race and was reliable. From what I read and those I talked to the bike fit the bill. I also was looking for something different. As for the big 4, the " Sardine Can" as the wife calls my metal garrage, currently holds, 4 Honda, 1 Yamaha, 2 Kawasaki, 2 Suzuki, 1 KTM, 1 Ducati, 1 Hodaka, 1 Eaton, And now, 1 Gas-Gas.
#1 01 GG EC 300!
#2 Because I rode it and fell in love!!!!!
Im 46, a good senior level,mildly compettive type rider,and this bike is the best invention since the YOYO!! smooth tractable power,and lots of it when you want,and more importantly smooth easy (but still fast ) torqueability type of power when your getting a bit tired out. noisy,hard hitting power is good if your young & foolish but I'll take my GG on a long hard snarly ride over a mx bike any day.
#2 Because I rode it and fell in love!!!!!
Im 46, a good senior level,mildly compettive type rider,and this bike is the best invention since the YOYO!! smooth tractable power,and lots of it when you want,and more importantly smooth easy (but still fast ) torqueability type of power when your getting a bit tired out. noisy,hard hitting power is good if your young & foolish but I'll take my GG on a long hard snarly ride over a mx bike any day.
