250-500cc Looking for feedback WR250/300 vs '11 Gas Gas XC300/250

[vntgmx]

Still trying to decide for my next purchase of a do all bike and so far I've got the Husky narrowed down between a leftover '10 WR300 & '09 WR250 but I'm intrigued by the new '11 Gas Gas offerings specifically XC250 & XC300 std. or six day model.
Just looking for some feedback from anyone here who has had the opportunity to ride both the Huskys and the Gassers as I'm not so hung up on costs as much as I am on getting the best fit.
I'm a soon to be 52y/o B level vet rider and these days my riding consist of mainly MX practice track days and the occasional trail ride,Hare scramble and a couple of local dual sports.I'm 5'6" 165lbs in gear with a 30" inseam so all of today's bikes are on the tall side.
Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[HuskyDude]

The best way to find out what suits you is to take both for a test ride.
The GG has a smaller fit to it than the Husky. But I find it hard to tell.
It sits a little lower to the ground too.
Both are really good machines with lots to offer. I don't mind having the extra cc from the 300 vs a 250 but again a personal choice. My friend had a WR 250 great machine but I do like the smoothness of the GG engine a bit better. The WR might be a little easier to wrench on but not by much.
Try and get a ride on both to find out for yourself.

 

[krieg]

I owned an '09 WR 300 and now own an '11 GG XC 300. The GG is still being broken in and I'm still messing with jetting so I can't fairly compare the 2 bikes from a motor performance perspective. I can say without a doubt the GG frame ergos do fit a smaller rider better. I could tell the moment I sat on the GG that it's shorter and more compact overall than the Husky. The hydraulic clutch on the GG is the best I've ridden in terms of effort, feel, engagement, and predictability. I've always maintained that GG bikes were some of the best handling woods bikes I've ever ridden. My 2011 only confirms that opinion. The front brake on the GG is incredible. The rear brake pedal is in a weird position (which I will eventually fix) but the actual rear braking feel and effectiveness is excellent as well.

I said I wouldn't pass judgement on the motors till later, but I'm about 99% sure the Husky will win in the overall power department. That motor was a beast. It would not stop making power. Part of the reason why I sold that bike was my inability to handle the motor in the woods. The GG seems more mellow. That coupled with the more compact ergos should make the GG more "old-fat-guy-friendly". The Husky is more of a "younger-larger-guy-rocketship".

 

[Troy F Collins]

What is a Gas Gas



Best thing do is to try both....or at least sit on them to see how the fit is

the Husky has awesome straight line stability.....and the Gasser is like a scalpel in the tight stuff....

Husky has great midrange hit.....Gasser has low end hit thats tractable

both are great bikes

 

[krieg]

What is a Gas Gas



Best thing do is to try both....or at least sit on them to see how the fit is

the Husky has awesome straight line stability.....and the Gasser is like a scalpel in the tight stuff....

Husky has great midrange hit.....Gasser has low end hit thats tractable

both are great bikes

Actually, now that you mention the WR's stability, that was the only bike I didn't put a damper on. It was also very stable and predictable in the rocks and like a plow (in a good way) in sand and coal dirt.

Oh, and Gas Gas is what you put in your tank tank. Or in the case of 2 strokes, Premix Premix. Or... if you're British... Petrol Petrol!

 

[vntgmx]

Thanks guys & yes it'd be great to be able to get a first hand live look at the Gas Gas but the closest dealer is like 6-7hrs away so makes it a bit of a challenge.....
The Husky certainly will be easier to acquire but I want to take a long hard look at the Gas Gas line up before I make my decision,in fact I've actually toyed with taking a look at the Gas Gas 125 6 day as well as the Husky WR150 as I do like small bores for the fun factor....The 200 Gas Gas does not interest me as I've done the Katoom 200 route and for me they feel more like their 250 cousins then they do their tiddler and if I'm going smaller I'm looking for that fun flickable tiddler feel....
If anyone has any more to offer by all means feel free to throw the thoughts out there...

 

[Motosportz]

I owned an '09 WR 300 and now own an '11 GG XC 300. The GG is still being broken in and I'm still messing with jetting so I can't fairly compare the 2 bikes from a motor performance perspective. I can say without a doubt the GG frame ergos do fit a smaller rider better. I could tell the moment I sat on the GG that it's shorter and more compact overall than the Husky. The hydraulic clutch on the GG is the best I've ridden in terms of effort, feel, engagement, and predictability. I've always maintained that GG bikes were some of the best handling woods bikes I've ever ridden. My 2011 only confirms that opinion. The front brake on the GG is incredible. The rear brake pedal is in a weird position (which I will eventually fix) but the actual rear braking feel and effectiveness is excellent as well.

I said I wouldn't pass judgement on the motors till later, but I'm about 99% sure the Husky will win in the overall power department. That motor was a beast. It would not stop making power. Part of the reason why I sold that bike was my inability to handle the motor in the woods. The GG seems more mellow. That coupled with the more compact ergos should make the GG more "old-fat-guy-friendly". The Husky is more of a "younger-larger-guy-rocketship".

Yep what he said.

I have ridden both and for you the GG might be a better choice as it is lower and smoother (bigger flywheel). BUT as a good friend of mine just went from a sweet WR250, to a GG300 to a KTM 250 he still maintains his WR250 was the best of the three. The WR250 is a hammer and needs little to keep running. The GG is a great bike but he found it required a lot of setup, fiddling and constant jetting. In his words he said the GG to more upkeep than any bike he has owned and as it has all sorts of different fasteners he was pissed it took 6 tools to do something when 2 would do the same job on the husky. I am in no way downing the GG, i have ridden many and liked them all (even though they are to small ergonomically for me) So... from a performance and seat height standpoint i would say the GG. From a $$$/Power/ lack of maintenance standpoint the WR250 is the winner in my book. Food for thought.

 

[krieg]

Yep what he said.

I have ridden both and for you the GG might be a better choice as it is lower and smoother (bigger flywheel). BUT as a good friend of mine just went from a sweet WR250, to a GG300 to a KTM 250 he still maintains his WR250 was the best of the three. The WR250 is a hammer and needs little to keep running. The GG is a great bike but he found it required a lot of setup, fiddling and constant jetting. In his words he said the GG to more upkeep than any bike he has owned and as it has all sorts of different fasteners he was pissed it took 6 tools to do something when 2 would do the same job on the husky. I am in no way downing the GG, i have ridden many and liked them all (even though they are to small ergonomically for me) So... from a performance and seat height standpoint i would say the GG. From a $$$/Power/ lack of maintenance standpoint the WR250 is the winner in my book. Food for thought.

I got a little dose of the... "4 tools when you should only need 1"... last night when I was putzing around the plastic panels and subframe of my GasGas. It's not an Earth-shattering catastrophe, but it is annoying that you have non-welded nuts to deal with in certain areas when you could have a bolt and a welded capture nut. I'll have to agree that simplicity and ease of maintenance are a plus for the Husky and a minus for the GG.

 

[skid]

I just sold my 06 gasser 300, currently have an 08 husky cr 144 and am thinking about adding a yammie wr 250f to the stable. I'm 5'11" and have a 30" inseam. My bike complaint against my husky is it is too damn tall. this is only a real problem in the techy woods stuff when you need to get a foot down. If you are going to be mostly on a mx track then the monster power of hte husky wouldn't be a huge issue and you wouldn't need to get a foot down very often so the husky may be a good choice!! Just would need to be careful in the woods, especially the techy stuff!! You can get a different ignition/rotor set up on hte gasser that turns it into more of a mx'er power delivery. My 06 came that way. I don't know if that is the case with the 11 gassers. Smaller better fit with the same stomping husky power might make it a better overall bike with the mod. oh and the bit a bout the yammie ... like mentioned above ... its all about the fit. they seem to fit me better than other bikes. right now I'm all about small bores and bikes that just fit.

 

[2whlrcr]

Well, I own both a 07 WR250 and a 10 GG 300. I'm 5'11 shrinking, 185 and gaining, at 54 years old. I race the Super Senior A class and am one of the faster old farts around here. My take is...

Husky is roomier and more stable than the GG. I will call the suspension a wash between the two bikes. Both have Sachs shock and my Husky has a Zoke fork, Sachs on the GG. Husky has as a nice low end and midrange and explodes into a top end rush. It's easy to ride a gear high in the woods and lug the motor around, keeping it off the main jet. But if want top end rush, it's there at an instant. I think it accelerates quicker than the GG 300. Husky is easier to get the jetting right and doesn't require as much rejetting at the GG. But it's harder to change the jetting on the Husky. It requires you pull the shrouds and tank, to do anything. Not hard to do, just more time consuming. The Husky get excellent fuel economy. I prefer my Husky on faster trails and play MX riding over the GG.

GG 300 is more compact than the Husky, but I don't feel cramped on it. I have to raise the bars some on all of my bikes. GG turns better than the Husky. GG feels lighter, although I think they weigh within 5 pounds of each other. GG has a more mellow engine. Very smooth off the bottom and linear through to the top end, which hits very late in the power band. IF THE BIKE IS JETTED CORRECTLY. It is very easy to control this motor in nasty tight conditions, if it's jetted decent. I think the GG is slower to accelerate than the Husky, but has a much higher top speed, because of 6th gear. GG is very finicky on the jetting and I am constantly changing it, based weather conditions. But it is very simple to do with the carb on the bike. No need to remove anything. GG gets shitty mileage. GG has better front brake. Rears are a wash. I prefer the GG over the Husky, on tighter nasty trails.

 

[johnnyBgood]

Just sold my 06 GasGas ec300 . I,m 5,9 ,32 inch inseam , 190lb , 43 year old C-class rider . I loved my Gasser 300one of the best bikes I ever ownd , I had no jetting problems had no problems at all with the GasGas now that I think about it , that said my 09 WR 250 is a great bike , very little set-up and I like it much better it the tight stuff then the gasser . Funny how everybodys riding style is different . Flip a coin both are good . . As for the 54 year old super senior A rider

 

[vntgmx]

Just sold my 06 GasGas ec300 . I,m 5,9 ,32 inch inseam , 190lb , 43 year old C-class rider . I loved my Gasser 300one of the best bikes I ever ownd , I had no jetting problems had no problems at all with the GasGas now that I think about it , that said my 09 WR 250 is a great bike , very little set-up and I like it much better it the tight stuff then the gasser . Funny how everybodys riding style is different . Flip a coin both are good . . As for the 54 year old super senior A rider

True indeed it all depends on what are styles are and also what mood we're in on a given day.Some days I'm craving a screaming tiddler and others it's the torque and grunt so I guess in the end if it's only one bike to fill multiple disciplines it's all about compromise and most brands or CC sizes will get it done.
Had a chance to run the WR250 and WR300 in a field today and while it wasn't a great test or anything it certainly gave me a good impression of the differences in the power delivery between the two.The WR300 is all about torque and rolls up a lot more deliberately but you keep moving forward quickly while the WR250 definitely has a classic 250 2 stroke type of powerband and revs up nicely and a flick of the clutch brings it right up on the pipe.I came away with the impression that I could live with either one and again it comes down to what style you prefer on a given day.

 

[gem]

Had a Husky, bought a Gas Gas sold the Gas Gas bought another Husky, Nuff said....


Seriously, Gas Gas are great bikes and usually those that love them really love them. If ergos are your thing and you like to be able to touch the ground while seated then a Gas Gas may be the bike for you. If I was in the market for a new bike I would consider the Gas Gas but..... then I would buy another Husky.

 

[john01]

Everything Gem said but turn it around and get the GasGas LOL. Until Husky makes changes in the 250/300's like they did with the TC 250 and WR125/144 the GasGas just feels better to me. They are both awesome bikes and it really does come down to what fits and feels better to you. If you are ever in central VA you are more than welcome to ride our 2010 GG 300. BTW these are the only two bikes in the 125-300 class I would even look at so IMHO you are on the right track at least.

 

[dartyppyt]

Well, I own both a 07 WR250 and a 10 GG 300. I'm 5'11 shrinking, 185 and gaining, at 54 years old. I race the Super Senior A class and am one of the faster old farts around here. My take is...

Husky is roomier and more stable than the GG. I will call the suspension a wash between the two bikes. Both have Sachs shock and my Husky has a Zoke fork, Sachs on the GG. Husky has as a nice low end and midrange and explodes into a top end rush. It's easy to ride a gear high in the woods and lug the motor around, keeping it off the main jet. But if want top end rush, it's there at an instant. I think it accelerates quicker than the GG 300. Husky is easier to get the jetting right and doesn't require as much rejetting at the GG. But it's harder to change the jetting on the Husky. It requires you pull the shrouds and tank, to do anything. Not hard to do, just more time consuming. The Husky get excellent fuel economy. I prefer my Husky on faster trails and play MX riding over the GG.

GG 300 is more compact than the Husky, but I don't feel cramped on it. I have to raise the bars some on all of my bikes. GG turns better than the Husky. GG feels lighter, although I think they weigh within 5 pounds of each other. GG has a more mellow engine. Very smooth off the bottom and linear through to the top end, which hits very late in the power band. IF THE BIKE IS JETTED CORRECTLY. It is very easy to control this motor in nasty tight conditions, if it's jetted decent. I think the GG is slower to accelerate than the Husky, but has a much higher top speed, because of 6th gear. GG is very finicky on the jetting and I am constantly changing it, based weather conditions. But it is very simple to do with the carb on the bike. No need to remove anything. GG gets shitty mileage. GG has better front brake. Rears are a wash. I prefer the GG over the Husky, on tighter nasty trails.

You need to do something with that dent in your Husky pipe (Sticks out like a sore thumb) and quit fiddling around with the horses and that new Gas Gas! Heck looks like you dented the Gasser pipe as well. Bark Busters are for the trees not your pipes! I would say they both turn well (Into trees that is).

 

[vntgmx]

Everything Gem said but turn it around and get the GasGas LOL. Until Husky makes changes in the 250/300's like they did with the TC 250 and WR125/144 the GasGas just feels better to me. They are both awesome bikes and it really does come down to what fits and feels better to you. If you are ever in central VA you are more than welcome to ride our 2010 GG 300. BTW these are the only two bikes in the 125-300 class I would even look at so IMHO you are on the right track at least.

Yep and that's the thing "what I like might not necessarily be what someone else likes" and without the ability to swing a leg over the Gas Gas I'm a little hesitant on taking a 7k leap of faith lol
I'd say the most interesting thing you get from all these WR250/300 comparo threads to other brands is that it's quite something that a well dated design such as the WRs hasn't been made obsolete and while it may not be the top dog it's quite competent for us weekend warriors in spite of it being an older platform and there's something to be said for that as you look around and see all the threads such as "anyone else having starter issues" "Fuel injection issues" etc. etc.

 

[NWRider]

I like Huskys as much as anybody but at 5'6" I think it would be way too tall. The Gasgas is supposed to fit well for shorter people.

 

[john01]

5' 7" myself and they do!

 

[vntgmx]

I like Huskys as much as anybody but at 5'6" I think it would be way too tall. The Gasgas is supposed to fit well for shorter people.

It's not like my first Husky so I'm well aware of the Husky's seat height. If what I was riding was just slow technical rock gardens I'd agree and in fact my weapon of choice for such would be a no frills XR200 but I'll be mainly motoing it while throwing the occasional scramble or trail ride/dual sport in the Sand and pines of South Jersey in the mix. I want one do all bike that I can use for all things and that's why the Husky and Gas Gas are on my radar and I realize they are not moto bikes but at my skill/age B/50+ they will be just fine at the track and a moto bike just won't cut it for trail/dual sport mount and what is needed for that so the Husky/Gas Gas fits the bill.

 

[vntgmx]

5' 7" myself and they do!

I concur for what my riding consists of.
In fact I made a deal on a leftover 2010 Husky WR300 today at a nice price so I can stop