2017 GAS GAS CONTACT 250
FIRST TEST
P78
The Contact 250 might
be designed for entry-level
trials riders but it's very
capable in the hands of
experienced riders, too.
our confidence grew and
we began conquering
bigger climbs and trying
more technical lines.
Then Geoff would hop
on and remind us what a
trials bike can really do!
Talk about an ego check!
You Gotta Get One
For off-road riders look-
ing to improve their skill
and have a lot of fun
while doing it, a trials
bike is simply the best
choice. One with a seat
and some extra fuel is
an even better choice
for the off-road rider
who wants to explore a
little farther from a home
base. All top hard enduro
and EnduroCross riders
have a strong back-
ground in trials riding
or have taken it up to
improve their skills. It
teaches amazing throttle
and clutch control and
balance. Keep in mind
trials riding is way more
fun with a few friends.
The message is pretty
simple—get your riding
buddies to buy trials
bikes; believe us, you
(and they) won't regret it.
If you have ever thought
about getting a trials
bike and venturing into
the sport of trials riding,
consider the GasGas
Contact 250, it's a great
way to get started. CN
Riding the Contact
feels like riding a normal
trials bike but with a con-
venient place to sit and
rest your legs in between
sections. The small seat
never got in our way
until we needed to use
it; then it was a welcome
place to take a break as
we recovered from our
lack of trials-riding skill
and stamina. (Yes, trials
riding is exhausting work
and a great way to stay in
shape.)
But for casual riding,
the Contact is a breeze
to operate. The power
out of the 250cc en-
gine is ultra smooth and
impossible to stall; the
brakes work amazing
and the clutch pull has
almost zero resistance,
yet still offers good feel,
a must for slow-going tri-
als riding. And the Con-
tact is extremely light and
easy to throw around.
Claimed dry weight is
a paltry 153.2 pounds!
In comparison, a KTM
250 XC two-stroke
off-road bike weighs
220 pounds, and that is
considered really light for
an off-road bike.
After a few hours of
bopping around the hills
and rocks, we improved
noticeably (wasn't hard
when we started at near
zero trials-riding skill),
