Three-style!
By TMX Archives on 15th May 03
Gas winning their first world trials title this year (okay, it was indoors but it still counts) since the great Jordi Tarres bagged his last crown in '95, the Spanish manufacturers have got something to shout about for WITH GAS Gas winning their first world trials title this year (okay, it was indoors but it still counts) since the great Jordi Tarres bagged his last crown in '95, the Spanish manufacturers have got something to shout about for '03.Time for a test? Well, UK Gasser importer John Shirt Jnr was up for it, dbr trials tester Clarky was up for it and so was posh photographer Jonty who took leave from overseeing his spawling Welsh estate (Powys we think they call it) to do the snaps.And with the new TXT Pro 250, 280 and 300cc Gassers lined up, we knew it was going to be a busy day in downtown Buxton. Over to you Clarky..."Cosmetically the bikes are much the same as last year with the refinements to the airbox that sorted out the sealing problems by top mounting it retained. And I've got to say that the whole range of Gassers are among the best-looking trials bikes on the market. It also helps that they are so light, feel so small and are so easy to ride."The bikes use the same AJP brakes as last year with twin-pot caliper on the front that works extremely well and a single pot on the back. Everything about the trio just looks so easy to work on and the engines look to me to have slimmed down - they're very, very small."I think the Gassers appeal to the younger end of the market. All the younger schoolies seem to want the 125 model and I think the 250 will prove to be very popular with the A class riders."The 250 is just so easy to ride. It feels very light between my legs and I'm able to throw it around where I want it and that makes it good for getting out of trouble on. After riding it on really loose stuff I've got to admit I'm surprised. It sounds very zippy when you rev it on the flat but you can actually shut the revs off quite low and it just keeps on ticking away. It's very easy to get grips with the bike and it revs cleanly all the way through. Gas Gas seem to have come up with a very clean engine this year."I've found myself doing most of the sections in first gear - I'm not sure if they've changed anything for '03 but it does feel a bit higher than last year's 250. Given today's grippy conditions it's ideal."The suspension is Gas Gas' own and it's hard to find fault with it. The front forks feel perfect, they don't bottom out and if you fire into something hard they absorb the hit instead of pinging back. On some of the trials bikes I've tested the back end has felt a bit dead but this seems to soak everything up - but when you do need it to just kick off stuff nicely it does. I think Gas Gas have put a lot of work into the suspension and got it right."I reckon just about anyone can get on the 250 Gas Gas and ride it easily."Want to know Dan's verdict on the new 280 and 300cc Gassers? Well, you'll have to buy the June issue of DBR on sale now!Words by Dan Clark Photo by Jonty Edmunds