It would have been very easy for Gas Gas to remain mired in motorcycling obscurity. After all, it's a small manufacturer in Spain that started out by making observed trials motorcycles. Granted, the company quickly became quite successful in that field, but success doesn't guarantee tons of press coverage, especially in the United States. It's just a step above being the most-successful manufacturer of speedway racing bikes.
But Gas Gas apparently harbored much bigger plans. It expanded its range of bikes to include enduros and MXers, and those steadily improved to the point that the company is a contender on the world enduro championship circuit.
To further bolster its offerings, Gas Gas became the first European manufacturer in several years to introduce sport ATVs, and it's clear the company hopes to partake in the current feeding frenzy of those machines due to their sudden--and most welcome--proliferation.
Gas Gas offers two flavors of its Wild H.P.: the 300 two-stroke ($8245) and the 450 four-stroke ($9195). The same basic rolling chassis is used in both, so it depends on whether you prefer the aromatic bliss of premix or the lusty roar of thumper power. (Oh, the 450 is easier to start by virtue of its wonderful little button.)
Gas Gas unveiled its blue ATVs to U.S. dealers at the 2003-model introduction, and interestingly, these latest machines--while considered to be '04 models--are actually refined versions of those first products, according to Gas Gas Motors of America CEO Juan Romero. "Since they came out, updates have been ongoing instead of waiting until the next model year," he says. "Every month something is new, improved, modified.
"That's the advantage of being a small factory."
Thus, the latest shipment of Wild H.P. machines that we had the opportunity to study and take out for photos may not have the exact same specs as the ones delivered to your dealer at midyear. But among the most-recent updates are the 450's new head gasket, designed to harness more compression for better output off the bottom. (Gas Gas recommends running a 50-50 mix of premium pump gas and race fuel because of this.) The starter motor is beefed up to cope with its revised chores, and the factory also simplified the wiring harness, making it a two-fuse, two-loop system that racers (and others paring weight where possible) will appreciate. As the Wild H.P. models share powerplants with the EC enduro bikes, they get the same '04 upgrades in that area. For example, the 300 boasts a lighter piston, a stronger (steel) centrifugal gear in the power valve and revised transfer ports. The 450's fuel-injection software has been updated (plus there's now a PDA-compatible diagnostic version); the sump access, clutch and ignition sidecovers are lightweight magnesium; the gearbox's secondary shaft rides on needle bearings; and there's a lighter, more-responsive Ducati Energia alternator and regulator. When it came time to
finally ride the machines, we had enough sunlight for a few hot laps solely on the 450 before it was time to leave. But just that taste of what the factory in Girona has done made us hungry to get both Wild H.P. quads for more-extensive testing in the near future. Stay tuned! It looks as if Gas Gas is no longer satisfied with being a small Spanish company known for building trials bikes.
Above: Tester Phil Oveland...
Above: Tester Phil Oveland appreciated the front end's wide stance and stability on off-cambers.Below: Gas Gas has apparently listened to criticism and improved its Wild H.P. 450 sport ATV, though the factory actually has been updating it steadily and without fanfare since its initial introduction in 2002, and that isn't expected to change during '04. It (and its two-stroke sibling, the 300) has a large grin factor.