Since the Pierer Mobility Group acquired the Spanish GASGAS brand in 2019, it’s fair to say that they haven’t had the easiest ride, due to a whole host of difficulties thrown up by the global pandemic. But even so, GASGAS have been punching above their weight, taking the overall victory at the Dakar Rally with British racer Sam Sunderland, alongside winning races in the prestigious AMA Supercross Championship too, beating their sibling brands of KTM and Husqvarna along the way. But to get a good idea of what the GASGAS is all about for the ordinary rider, we decided to grab one over winter, and spend some serious time to see how they hold up, and how good they are.
GASGAS share a lot of the same DNA as the KTMs and Husqvarnas of this world, but as the cheapest of the trio. At £8599 the EC 300 we tested is £600 cheaper than its KTM equivalent and £800 less than the Husqvarna 300 TE. But is the GASGAS simply a budget option?
First and foremost, I’d have to say no. Having never really been a big fan of two-strokes, I opted for one to try and finally find some love for them, which led me to the EC 300 – a beast, by no uncertain terms. Having only previously ridden the old-school two dingers, I was excited to try a fuel injected machine, and at first glance, all the signs were positive. Although our test GASGAS had quite a few hours on it still looked like new, with an impressive finish and neat attention to detail. Even the buttons and dash layout were exactly where I expected, and the wiring was nicely hidden too. The silver spoked wheels were a nice touch and a nod to the old school, and that red paintwork really does look as striking up close as it does from afar. On top of that, the greatest thing about the EC 300 is the lack of kick start, and the addition of an electric start. Having little legs, the thought of no button start is absolute dealbreaker for me. I’d also note that even after a few weeks of inaction, it always burbled instantly into life. It even started incredibly easily in the freezing cold, with a just touch of choke to help it out.
Having ridden a few big two-strokes in my time, they’ve all been utterly brutal in terms of the engine characteristics, thanks to a throttle that feels more like an on/off switch than it does a progressive unit for opening the taps. Yet instantly, the EC 300 felt very different; more like a docile puppy, or indeed a modern four-stroke, than the aggressive and brutal attack hound that comes to mind when I think of a big two dinger. It really did surprise me just how easily the power came in, but when it started singing? My god, it has some go. As soon as the revs creep up that 300cc motor fires forward with an insane amount of urgency, spinning up with every gear I throw its way.
Even considering the big power (GASGAS don’t give official power figures, but you’re looking at around 50bhp in a 106kg package) it’s mightily impressive in terms of the feel from the chassis and suspension setup. Although the GASGAS brand is marketed to be more of the ‘budget’ brand compared to KTM and Husqvarna, it doesn’t feel like it in terms of its handling, feeling softer than I was anticipating. There are some small differences between the specs of the three brands and, although the components are largely the same, the suspension set up is reportedly different on the GASGAS. There’s a really nice feeling through that WP suspension, especially cutting through ruts and bumps – although I think that if it was mine, I would’ve spent a bit of time setting up a bit harder, for a bit more support as the weather dries out. The brakes were impressively strong too and although it doesn’t have the same level of electronic goodies as its more expensive stablemates, I didn’t feel like I missed them too much. Especially with the soundtrack, smell and savagery of that motor when it’s pinging towards the top of the rev limiter.
Conclusion
Although the GASGAS EC300 is a weapon, it wasn’t the extreme weapon I was expecting it to be. In my head I was expecting a stiff, savage 300cc beast, yet the reality is that it’s way more manageable and controllable than I was ever expecting. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still an absolute monster when it’s unleashed, but it’s far more than just a fire-breathing two-stroke.
Although principally an off-roader, our EC 300 was road registered, making it fully legal to ride on roads and on public byways and green lanes. With its electric start and impressive setup, it really is an incredibly usable enduro bike, capable of taking whatever is thrown its way even if, like me, you aren’t an off-roading legend.
