I was thinking of maybe selling my warrior and my sled to buy a gasgas 450. Do you guys know anyting positive or negetive about them or just keep my warrior since i already have it paid off. I also most trail ride so its fine for what i use it for.

 

I was reading the atv Sport buyers guide for 2004 and by the looks of it the yfz and pred or the honda 450(cant think of the name right now) is better then the gas gas quad in the catigors they listed (dune, desert, mx, trail riding) I think the 9+k for a quad is insaine unless it is a cdale...then I might be able to understand it because they have crediabiltiy already

 

Hi,

I have had a GG450 for 6 months now and realy dont rate them at all, i have had a load of problems.I have just bought the Yamaha 450.

Tom

 

if your current ride is paid for, it meets your needs, & all you do is trail ride, the GasGas is probly not the ride for you... why go into debt for a quad that won't meet your use as well. they are very wide & thus are not the best trail machines without spending more $$$$ on narrow arms & suspension changes.

something to note... the articles reviewing the GasGas quads in both ATV sport & Dirtwheels was done on 2003 models. the 2004 models have some changes, the most obvious ones are a screw-on Gas cap & radiator guard. i'm not sure what changes the '04 has done to the suspension, but the '03 definitely need tuning & if its for more than casual riding will likely need more... i'm in the middle of that process right now & may end up sending them out.
i believe that the GG450 still has some kinks to work out, but maybe they have solved them for '04. the 300 has a solid and proven motor, GasGas knows how to build a 2-stroke well. the package on these quads includes more add-ons than any other quad on the market, & thus reflects a higher price.... for starters- check into how much a chromoly frame costs for any quad out there. if some of these mods are on your list, give it serious consideration.
I know that Mickey Dunlap believes these quads have a lot of potential on a national level, or he wouldn't be putting a pro rider on one in the GNCC's.

 

i read the engine was great, but the frame, chassis, suspension, handling arent good at all.








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2003 z400-renthal bars, dg nerfs

 

You can buy one with me I am going to buy one in a few years but I think I am going to wait for them to fix all of their problems.

 

where did you hear that? have you looked into the guys that are running ANY factory high performance quads that are being used hard or raced hard... they all have issues and require dialing in. they have all shown something.... be it blown trannies, weak frames, wierd things about the suspension or whatever.

the only real problem the Gasgas' have is that people don't think that a 'race quad' needs maintenance or to be set up properly. yes, they are as close as you can find to being 'race ready' for a factory quad... but they need dialing in & careful maintenace just as any true high performance ride needs.

if you want to know how a gasgas can handle & what they are like when set up properly, talk to Mickey Dunlap, of Four Stroke Tech.

 

Every magazine article I have read has said that motor is great and the handling and suspension is just not what it should be on a quad of that price. Gas Gas wont even give out the front suspension travel numbers because they have so little travel.

 

it's not that it's short travel, its the fact that the springs & shock valving are set up for a 275 lb supercross rider- thus it's a little stiff. i'm having my shocks revalved, resprung & set up as zero preload by MXtech. wheel travel will be about 11" front & rear afterwards. stock is about 9.5-10" travel. handling is on par with the best race bikes out there. If you want an unbiased opinion, read this article

they experienced the same problems i did... it's the shock setup and nothing more.

lets just go over the costs of some of the other mods to get any of the current japanese quads the same mods:

chromoly frame $1800+
fuel injection(4-str) $1000
chromoly anti-vibe steering stem $250-350
+4" chromoly A-arms $700-1000
+4 adjustable axle $250-500
premium shocks $1200(assuming a redone stock rear)-$2100+
HD Aluminum swingarm skid plate $100
aluminum belly skid plate $100
propeg nerfs $200-300
premium brakes, custom rotors- $500
hydralic clutch $180-200
twist throttle $40
pro design killswitch $35

when it comes down to it, all you need to do is have the shocks set up, and change the tires & handlebars to your preferences for whatever type of riding & racing you're doing(which you'd do anyways), unless its tight XC, then you need narrow front A-arms too. maybe change to a thumb throttle if that's what you like...

 

We race with a guy who has both the 450 and 250 gas gas and he said they are not competitive at all he has offered several riders the oppurtunity to race either one and nobody has steped up yet.

This guy has a suzuki 400Z and also a yamaha YZF 450 and the new Honda on order and is not afraid to spend money on something that he feels has potential (has a titanium frame for the Suzuki) but when you ask him about the Gas Gas he is not impressed at all.