Master & Cervantes
By Martin Craven on 3rd Aug 12
Traditionally, bike testing in the middle of July isnt usually a problem.
Pick a day, drive up on steaming tarmac in T-shirt weather, nice dry conditions, sunshine, clear blue skies – you get my drift!
But as we all know, this summer has been wetter than Tarzan's loin cloth after a long swim.
So arranging the bike, the track and a fine day at the same time has proved to be near impossible – just remind me, how many race meetings have been cancelled already this year!
And so with more luck than judgement, when Luke ‘Jimmy Savile' Meredith – ace spannerman at John Shirt's Gas Gas
emporium in Buxton – pulled into FatCat Moto Parc carrying the new Cervantes-inspired four-stroke 250 Gas Gas enduro bike, the good old golden sun popped out for the day.
After ten minutes of taking the mickey out of Jimmy Meredith, it was high time to check the bike out, because (A) we were running out of jokes and (B) Luke wasn't laughing any more.
As we all know Gas Gas designs and builds world-class trials and enduro bikes from a top-notch facility right by the airport in Girona, Spain.
So with their pedigree and craftsmanship plus the practical experience of four-times World Champion Ivan Cervantes you have a pretty impressive mix – and a pretty
competitive bike should be the outcome.
I have been testing Gas Gas bikes – both trials and enduro – for years now and they really have come on in leaps and bounds from the early days, to the point where they are
peppering the podiums on a weekly basis in the WEC. It surely won't be long before there's
SPECIFICATIONS
Gas Gas EC250F
Engine: Yamaha 4T
Capacity: 249.6cc
Cylinder-head: Five-valves
Bore x Stroke: 77 mm x 53.6 mm
Start system: Electric
Ignition: Kokusan electronic
Gearbox: Five-speed
Clutch: Multi-disc
Carburettor: Keihin FCR-MX37
Chassis: Crome-Moly perimeter type
Swinging arm: Aluminium
Suspension: Front – Marzocchi Shiver 48mm, travel, 296mm; Rear – Ohlins, travel: 298mm
Tyres: Front – 21' Pirelli Six Days Extreme; Rear – 18' Pirelli Six Days Extreme
Brakes: Front – Galfer Wave disc 260mm, Nissin twin-piston; Rear – Galfer Wave disc 220mm, Nissin single-piston
Fuel tank: 6.3 litres
Weight: 110 kg
