2026 GASGAS EC 300 GP | TESTED

Every now and then a bike rolls out of the crate and stops people in their tracks. Not because it’s revolutionary. Not because it’s the fastest thing ever built. And not because it comes with some wild new technology nobody understands yet.

Sometimes a bike just looks bloody good.

That’s exactly what happened when the 2026 GASGAS EC 300 GP arrived for testing. Before we’d even fired it up, people were wandering over to have a look. The graphics work. The red frame works. The factory-style touches work. Even parked on the stand, it looks like somebody has already spent thousands of dollars modifying it. In an era where a lot of manufacturers seem determined to make bikes look busier and more complicated every year, the GP manages to look purposeful, premium and race-ready all at once.

Honestly, there’s a strong argument that this is the best-looking stock motorcycle currently available. The timing is significant too because the EC 300 GP now carries a lot more weight in the GASGAS line-up. For 2026, the 300 is the only two-stroke enduro model being imported into Australia. If you want a GASGAS smoker, this is it.

Fortunately, it’s a pretty good one.

WHAT MAKES IT A GP?

It’s easy to dismiss special editions as nothing more than graphics packages and marketing exercises. Sometimes that’s true. The EC 300 GP is a little different.

GASGAS has loaded this thing with a bunch of practical upgrades that riders would probably buy anyway. The list starts with the obvious cosmetic changes, including the unique graphics package and distinctive red frame, but quickly moves into functional territory.

You get the map switch. You get a grippier seat. You get handguards, a bashplate, thermo fan, brake snake, axle puller, solid rear brake disc, floating front brake rotor and a stealth rear sprocket. Individually, none of those items are game changers. Collectively, they create a bike that feels considerably more premium than the standard model.

It’s very similar to the concept behind KTM’s Six Days models. Instead of handing buyers a completely standard motorcycle and expecting them to spend thousands on accessories, the GP arrives already fitted with many of the items riders actually want.

That’s important because bikes aren’t getting any cheaper. At $19,375, this isn’t an inexpensive motorcycle, but when you start adding up the value of everything included, it begins to make a lot more sense.

THE LOOKER OF THE GROUP

Let’s get back to the styling for a minute because it’s impossible to ignore. We’ve tested a lot of motorcycles over the years and most manufacturers claim their latest model is the best-looking bike they’ve ever produced. Usually that’s marketing departments getting carried away.

The GASGAS might actually have a legitimate claim. The red frame instantly changes the appearance of the motorcycle. Combined with the GP graphics, factory-inspired details and premium accessories, the bike genuinely looks like something you’d expect to see lining up at a national enduro.

The beauty is that it doesn’t look overdone. There’s enough going on to make it feel special without crossing into the territory of looking like a graphics company exploded on it. Everything works together and the end result is one of those rare bikes that looks fast even when it’s sitting still.

Several people commented on it throughout the day and none of them were talking about suspension settings or engine maps. They were talking about how good it looked.

MORE RACER THAN HARD ENDURO

Once we got riding, it became pretty obvious where this bike sits in the market. The EC 300 GP is absolutely capable of tackling hard enduro terrain. We spent most of our test day in exactly that environment, climbing nasty hills, threading through tight singletrack and generally abusing the thing in places most riders would avoid if given the choice.

It handled the terrain well enough, but it never felt like that’s what it was specifically built for. Jeremy from the Dirt Bike Burrito podcast summed it up perfectly.

“I like it. I don’t love it in that stuff like I do the KTM 300 EXC, but I really like it.”

The reason was simple. The bike feels more like a race-focused enduro machine than a dedicated hard enduro weapon. Where some modern 300s seem determined to lug their way through almost anything at walking pace, the GASGAS has a noticeably more aggressive personality. The engine is punchier. It likes to accelerate. It rewards attacking the trail rather than crawling through it.

That doesn’t mean it’s difficult to ride. Far from it. But when the terrain becomes extremely technical, you need to be a little more conscious of clutch control and gear selection than you would on some of the softer, more hard-enduro-focused alternatives.

LET IT RUN

The moment the trail opens up, everything starts making sense. Grass tracks, flowing singletrack, off-road races and traditional enduro terrain are where this motorcycle comes alive. The engine absolutely rips. It’s responsive, lively and eager to build speed. The gearing and power delivery combine to create a motorcycle that feels perfectly suited to racing through trees, charging down fire trails and attacking enduro tests.

Jeremy described it as a weapon in traditional enduro conditions and it’s hard to argue. If your weekends involve sprint races, cross-country events or classic Australian enduro riding, this bike feels right at home. The engine’s more aggressive nature suddenly becomes an advantage rather than something you need to manage.

It wants to be ridden hard. And when you ride it hard, it’s a lot of fun.

SUSPENSION FINALLY DELIVERS

One of the biggest improvements we noticed was at the front of the motorcycle. Previous GASGAS models equipped with the WP Xplor fork often received criticism for diving under braking and feeling unsettled in certain situations. We’ve certainly made those observations ourselves over the years.

The 2026 GP feels significantly better. Coming down some of the bigger descents during testing, the fork stayed up in its stroke far better than previous generations. It resisted diving, held a line nicely and never developed that vague feeling some earlier bikes suffered from.

The front brake package also deserves praise. A few years ago we rode a GASGAS on this same test loop and found the front brake overly soft and lacking confidence. That’s no longer the case. The GP’s braking package performed exceptionally well throughout the day, even on steep descents where strong braking performance is critical.

Combined with the improved fork action, the front end inspires much more confidence than previous versions.

THE TYRE NOBODY TALKS ABOUT

One detail that’s easy to overlook is the tyre package. GASGAS fits the GP with a Michelin Enduro Medium Six Days Extreme rear tyre and honestly, it’s one of the better standard tyre choices we’ve seen.

Too many manufacturers fit tyres that owners immediately replace. This one actually works. Our test loop featured plenty of wet off-camber sections, slippery climbs and awkward terrain where traction was difficult to find. Even running a standard tube and around 12psi, the Michelin consistently found grip.

It sounds like a small thing, but a quality tyre can dramatically improve the riding experience. It’s nice to see a manufacturer spending money on something riders will actually notice.

VALUE FOR MONEY?

At $19,375, the GP sits roughly $2000 less than a KTM 300 EXC Six Days equivalent. It’s also a couple of thousand dollars more than a standard GASGAS EC 300.

So is it worth it? We think it depends entirely on what you’re planning to do with the bike.

If you’re buying a motorcycle primarily for hard enduro riding, you’ll probably still need to spend additional money. There’s no pipe guard. There’s no disc guards. You’ll likely end up adding protection components and other accessories before tackling serious hard enduro events.

However, if your focus is enduro racing, off-road racing or general trail riding, much of the work has already been done for you. The GP package makes a lot more sense in that context. You’re paying extra, but you’re also getting plenty in return.

Where does it fit?

The EC 300 GP occupies an interesting place in the market. It’s not the most hard-enduro-focused 300 available. It’s not the cheapest. It’s not the softest. And it isn’t trying to be.

Instead, GASGAS has built a motorcycle that feels aimed squarely at riders who want to go racing. Riders who spend their weekends charging through the trees, lining up at enduros and generally riding a little harder than average.

The fact it also happens to be one of the best-looking stock motorcycles we’ve seen is almost a bonus. For 2026, the EC 300 GP carries the responsibility of being the only two-stroke enduro model in the Australian GASGASline-up. That’s a lot of pressure for one motorcycle.

Fortunately, it handles the responsibility pretty well. It’s fast, aggressive, well-equipped and undeniably cool looking. Whether it’s the best-looking stock bike of 2026 is ultimately subjective.

But after spending a day staring at it and riding it, we’d struggle to think of many challengers.