VOLUME ISSUE DECEMBER , P89
and slower riders. The air forks still al-
low riders to fine-tune the "spring," but
we felt riders north of 200 pounds are
likely to blow through and overuse the
softer suspension function.
The engine package on the GasGas
still generally feels like an Austrian bike.
Still, a few things give the bike its own
personality. The MC feels less aggres-
sive off the bottom, which complements
the softer suspension for less-experi-
enced riders. This is also because the
GasGas is stuck in the standard, more
mellow map one. Without the after-
market map switch, the bike lives in
the tamer world of map one, which is
noticeably smoother than the more ag-
gressive map two. In the stock GasGas
map, faster riders will enjoy the mid-to-
top-range pull and push the bike well
into the red zone as they look for the
limiter. The airbox is also shaped differ-
ently than the other Austrian models,
which furthers its smoother character.
With overall smoothness and rider
comfort being on the menu for the Gas-
Gas, it's still hard to rank it over its Euro
relatives. The lack of maps, a three-
pound weight difference, and the Bra-
ketec brakes and clutch systems don't
feel as precise as those on the KTM or
the Husqvarna. That's to be expected
as GasGas is the more budget-friendly
option in the Austrian lineup. It still has
pluses, especially if you can live without
some of the premium features.
