How good is your 2018 Gas Gas 300 TXTGP?
Competing, winning and presenting yourself in a professional manner can be very rewarding, and in Dan’s case it most certainly was. JST Gas Gas UK team owner John Shirt Jnr presented Dan with the very first 2018 Gas Gas 300 TXTGP model he received. We ask
Ihave to be honest, I underestimated this Gas Gas. When I first saw the pictures I was obviously blown away with how good it looks, but my next thought was what do you get for your money that is different from the Racing model, other than the colour change? The main things I was drawn to were the Ohlins shock and the carbon fibre airbox. After speaking to a few people at trials these two factors were the main talking points about the model, with concerns about how the Ohlins would compare to the Reiger and was the airbox necessary or just a gimmick? The Tech front forks, although look the business, are essentially the same as I have been using for the last few years but with an additional compression adjuster fitted.
SHIRTY’S IDEA
One of Shirty’s ideas was for me to try the new machine totally standard. Normally I have my new machine set up similar to my previous one but Shirty thinks I don’t really get the benefit from any improvements/progression of the new Gas Gas. This is a fair point, which I appreciate as how many riders do the same – order a new machine but ask to have it setup the same as their old one? I tried the new one after agreeing to give it a try and promised not to alter anything. Instantly it had that almost indescribable new machine feel which made me grin from ear to ear. I could tell it was a ‘Grunty’ compared to my Racing model but it certainly wasn’t unrideable. The carbon fibre reeds were definitely noticeable. After a 20 minute test/run-in it was straight into a trial at Eadons Fields. This place has plenty of hills to go at and this is where I noticed the airbox – it certainly wasn’t a gimmick… It is a slightly bigger volume than the standard two-piece one and this gives it more grunt. Where others were flat-out in 3rd gear burning up a hill, my Gas Gas was pulling easily and actually accelerating up the hill so that I was having to shut off – fantastic. Normally this type of upgrade is only available to factory riders but it really made the 300 TXTGP feel special. Whenever I opened up the throttle I just kept smiling!
A REAR ‘SHOCK’
I have done a bit of testing with Ohlins in the past. Despite appreciating that it was a quality shocker I could never get the setup right. Either good for traditional sections or good for steps but unfortunately not good at both. My initial thought was that the rebound was a little slow but I could tell that it is a completely different shock as it felt stiffer than the older model. I avoided the temptation to change it and gave it a chance. Now the Reiger is a very good shock on the Gas Gas so the standard is high but the Ohlins is definitely equal to it. It has the same planted feel, maybe even more so as it felt a little stiffer, but any steps I pointed it at it simply levelled them. I could even be lazy in the legs and it still got up, which is what I needed it to. I could go as far as to say that it felt better than the Reiger as it didn’t feel like it was hitting the bump-stop like the Reiger sometimes does.
It’s definitely a thumbs-up from me. Every now and again you get a new machine that feels special. This does all that and more. I am really impressed with it and would go as far as saying this is the best bike that I have ridden replacing my 2014 Factory Replica model. New Components: Tech gold colour front suspension with new springs and adjusters; Ohlins shock absorber with adjusters specially developed for the TXT GP; Clutch spring with variable preload; Boyesen carbon fibre reed valves; Double spark CDI and closed core Hidria coils; Cylinder head variable compression insert system; Renthal handlebars and protectors; High strength red silicone cooling hoses; Numbered ‘Special Edition’ with an identification plate; FIM regulation rear disc brake; Titanium front pipe; Carbon fibre airbox and exhaust protector; Lightened fork clamps