I wish I was a strong character and I believe him when he said no I don't want to work on this, we started with a new frame a different engine from Vila, new tank, new suspension, new angles, new measurements.
Did you actually ride that prototype that have been sitting in your garage?
Yes, of course, many times I take this out and ride it.
What was it like to ride every day?
It was different, it changed from day to day, it had an SWM frame, but it was completely changed with a different angle at the front, new rear suspension, different positions for the feet, at this time Paxau had a good knowledge of the other marks that were available and that this time a direct comparison was taken from another competitive mark at the time, which I don't want you to say right now James, but I will tell you and the measurements for used to make this 2nd Gasgas prototype that Paxau was making Torello.
Did you actually ride that prototype that have been sitting in your garage?
Yes, of course, many times I take this out and ride it.
What was it like to ride every day?
It was different, it changed from day to day, it had an SWM frame, but it was completely changed with a different angle at the front, new rear suspension, different positions for the feet, at this time Paxau had a good knowledge of the other marks that were available and that this time a direct comparison was taken from another competitive mark at the time, which I don't want you to say right now James, but I will tell you and the measurements for used to make this 2nd Gasgas prototype that Paxau was making Torello.
So the rear suspension started from being very similar to this bike and then was develop from there. This was Gas Gas first moto. I think that I was inspired to make the Gas Gas and put maximum effort into making this project because he had been stabbed with a knife when the great motorcycle he had developed for Merlin have been rejected by the factory Merlin. This was a brilliant bike, it was a brilliant bike, I believe, me, I ride so many times on this bike and think wow it is incredible, finally there was no agreement with Merlin and they say no no no we don't want this we are going to produce a new mono shock but we are going to make it here in the factory, so Paxau got nothing from this, I don't really know why this was but you know companies work like this sometimes.
Sharing many components with the Merlin Gallach including the engine, wheels and front suspension, this prototype produced by Paxau was considered to similar and rejected by the Merlin factory and never made it to production.
The relationship between Paxau and Ignacio and Merlin was great, Ignacio is a great person and they have a great relationship but all the companies want to develop inside themselves, the products that they sell. However, sometimes when a product is developed from outside there is a little rejection of it from the factory because it is not developed in the home. I was greatly motivated by the finished product of this motor bike, it really was a great bike at the time but the factory still say no at the very first moment. Paxau says Wow and I was very close with Paxau at the time and I felt the disappointment from him as well, along with him, It was this disappointment that turned the mind of Paxau towards Piber and Narcis’s offer. It was this rejection that made him enthusiastic to go to new offer from the baby GasGas firm that had no bike at this time.
Spanish Motocross and Trials champion Ignacio Bulto pictured below was the public face and joint founder of Merlin motorcycles which was founded almost immediately at the time his fathers company Bultaco closed. The central photo shows the first photo of the New Fius model released in 1986, that Albert was referring to. This was designed by Merlin engineer Manuel Marques, who was Ignacio's cousin. You can make the decision whether Merlin made the correct decision pursuing the Fius and rejecting Paxau's efforts above. The white Fius model continued into 1987. This last photo is from the press release announcing the signing of Eddy Lejeune for the oncoming 1988 season. Eddy was signed with a huge 150,000 peceta salary. Despite good sales in 1988, Merlin threw the towel in at the end of the season due to foreseen future developments costs.
Did either you or Paxau know anyone from GasGas at this time ?
No no no. At this first time I never met Piber. Piber had contacted Paxau several times and tried to convince him to started working with the prototype and develop a real competitive bike, because Piber is a competitive person. Super competitive and focused. I like his character. Sometimes we work together later. I think he is a good person for work. Later when we developing this prototype, Piber and Paxau met for the first time when this prototype was first handed over and then give back complete much later on. I think this is when the new relationship started, at this point.
No no no. At this first time I never met Piber. Piber had contacted Paxau several times and tried to convince him to started working with the prototype and develop a real competitive bike, because Piber is a competitive person. Super competitive and focused. I like his character. Sometimes we work together later. I think he is a good person for work. Later when we developing this prototype, Piber and Paxau met for the first time when this prototype was first handed over and then give back complete much later on. I think this is when the new relationship started, at this point.
The pre production prototype 1988 GasGas aire
How many months did it take the workshop to develop this new Gas Gas?
It was about 6 to 9 months of development work.
It was about 6 to 9 months of development work.
Did the Paxau workshop complete the first fibreglass tank directly themselves or was this contracted out?
The design and sizes of course came from Paxau, but the first prototypes were locally in the same town. It was made by a company who repair the cars.
The design and sizes of course came from Paxau, but the first prototypes were locally in the same town. It was made by a company who repair the cars.
Here is the 1st prototype GasGas Aire petrol tank at the Torello car body repair shop.
The very first ones were made in Torello. Paxau would start with polystyrene and then shape it completely to the design he wanted using a rotoflex tool. In fact, for this first prototype, every component was made there and then afterwards everything was contracted out. I remember even the handlebars was specially made for this by bike up in Torello. He was trying for the right position with the correct angle and height and was welding and breaking them so many times to get the correct set up at this time. I was spending a lot of time at the workshop and also time studying as well. I had to balance the two things or my education would fail. I was passionately following the development of this bike in the workshop. I started working all of the time there at the Paxau workshop when Gabino started.