Grabbo checks out the AORC course.
Long Term Test Bike | GASGAS EC 350F
The last month has been a very busy one for my long-term GASGAS EC 350F. I put 20 hours on the clock and a shiny new set of red Factory Racing Triple-Clamps on the front from the GASGAS Technical Accessories range.
First up, the reason I have clocked up so many hours is because I have been out mapping loops and clearing tracks as I have the first GasGas VIP Experience ride kicking off in a few weeks, so preparing tracks for that has added a few hours. I also ran a week of Grabbo’s Trail and Track coaching at the famous Chucky Sanders’ family apple ranch at Three Bridges, home of AORC round three and four.
There are endless tracks at this place and I was not going to miss the chance to spin a few laps on the 350. The day before I headed to the Yarra Valley I received the Factory Racing Triple-Clamps so I threw [he means placed them carefully] in the van as Chucky’s backyard of endless tracks would be the perfect place for me to test them out.
I have been more than happy with the standard front end feeling on the 350, so I was a tad concerned that the expensive new triple-clamps might not be an improvement. Apart from getting a bit greasy when preparing the new bearings, fitting the new clamps was very straight forward. They certainly look nice and give the EC350F a better appearance than the standard cast-alloy clamps but, to be honest, I don’t care that much if they look trick, I’m only interested in whether they provide a performance advantage.
ROUGHEST
I headed straight for the roughest track in the Sanders’ orchard and only rode two corners before it became obvious that the Factory Racing Triple-Clamps were a huge step in the direction I like. In basic terms, they smoothed out the front end – pretty much all handlebar harshness was gone or drastically reduced.
It gave the front end a much softer feeling, not a soft-suspension feeling but more of a forgiving chassis feeling. I even found I could go two clicks firmer on the compression to help the fork hold up over rough terrain, while still having me a smoother overall front end feel.
Up until now, the power map switch was my favourite addition to the 350, but now the triple-clamps are my pick. The best thing about them is how they have improved the bike’s overall feel, whether I am trailriding or trying to be Chucky bombing corners in his backyard, I could not be happier with how this 350 is feeling after a few small changes, and the best bit is I still have more to test and try over the next few months.
My next mod will most likely be a thermo fan, as I have boiled the Gasser a few times during my track clearing.
GASGAS EC350F
RRP: $14,490
WARRANTY: One months (31 days)
DISTRIBUTOR: GasGas Australia
SO FAR
TOTAL HOURS: 60
MODS THIS MONTH: GASGAS Factory Racing Triple-Clamps
MODS NEXT MONTH: Thermo fan