What a Gas Gas!
Thanks to Mud & Tar i got to ride the gas gas ec 300 six day today. First time ever on an enduro 2 stroke. The conditions were damp and slippery and as usual the lovely red mud/clay of Wauchope was present over the teat loop.
Caution was the word of the moment, still firm in mind was the disclaimer signed, lots to do with you wreck it you pay for it. Started great for me, i ended up on the six day simiply because the guy pull iin beside me as said here take this. Oh okay, had planned to go 250 4t, then 450 4t, then 300ec. I was ln the 300 six day, okay what the hell!
First issue no button, couldnt start it, great what a pussy am I. Finally got it going then off we went. Got to give it stretch on the tar before we hit the dirt. It had heaps of go, and had that vibration that my 450 does not. You could tell this could be a angry beast and i should give it some respect and recognise my ability.
Got on the dirt, wet and greasy. Gave it a bit in a straight line, it was cranky but exciting. It certainly had that fun factor ready if you were. In my mind I heard myself say short shift and keep the revs down. Managed to keep the thing under control. But it was different to the 450, like every one says i did notice the lack of engine breaking but in the wet conditions it was actually better.
Survived the first leg of the tour and all was going well but i was certainly giving this bike plenty of respect. The tour lead us to a single line up a short hill all was good until the guy in front of me had issues on the 250t. When i thought we should be given it to it to get up the slope in the slick condition we had to stop. I watched the guy in front of me restart having all sorts of trouble and trenching out the slope in front of me. I Am thinking crap this is going to be bad, this three hundred 2t is going to be all over the shop when I restart. Okay i am up, clutch out 1st gear low revs and it just pulls like a four stroke, smooth as and easy. Compared to the 250 4t in front of me i was on a cruise ship. Simple strqight to the top easy as, traction was good, didnt get up in the revs, and it just tractored! Not to bad.
Nearly all the way back and we have to pull up and wait. The guys im with start talking about the mapping switch. Oh what’s that, switch the little red button off sunny. Okay give that a go. We take off again, hey this is a different bike, this is whole lot easier. In fact this is fun, wow this is different, give it bit without the anger, mu h more friendly. Great ride, fantastic can i go again, light smooth and easy to ride. Great bike wish i new about that switch earlier.
My son got a crack on it as well. At 17 he loved he, i told him about the switch. He rode both switches and came back with a huge smile on his dial. Can t stop him talking about it. If he has his way there will be a new ec300 six day in the garage for me of course – he mentioned something about fathers day, cant blame him for trying.
Thanks to Rod and Tracy at Mud and Tar. A great day, i only wish i had more time to spend out there, i wanted to try the 450 but had other commitments, which disapointed my son.
I am far from a good rider, but i had a great time on this bike and would recommend you give one a go if you have an opportunity.
Unit
