the unveiled Jgas MK 300 test ( 80 % complete prototype)
GasGas motorcycles was founded by two friends Josep Pibernat and Narcis Casas . They both sold on the firm in the late 2000's and nowadays Pibernat is the boss and owner of JGas , the small Catalan Girona based firm producing select amounts of the tiny and gorgeous alloy framed exotic Trials bikes.
Mr Pibernat kindly offered Retrotrials.com the chance to ride both new JGas Enduro prototypes which he told me were greatly advanced from when I had last seen them. Now, the opportunity to ride some protos is every lads dream and I can assure you I wasn't going to miss this chance. So, in the blink of an eye I'd answered "Yes ! ", appearing not to look to keen :). At the time i was interviewing Pibernat about his years at the helm of GasGas motos and the bikes were only relatively short distance away at the factory. So we went off to collect them . I was particularly interested in riding the Enduro 300 model. When I had ridden it a few months earlier I was very very impressed, but at that time the power valve wasn't set up correctly. Piber now assured me that everything was working well. |
We all know that Trial riding is closely related to Enduro, so I hope you find this interesting. I ride Trials and Enduro and feel that one compliments the other. There are a lot of motocross riders who come and ride enduro who are to throttle happy and get into huge traction problems. Not so for most trials riders, grip is what we live for. Trials riding can really give you an advantage in the woods as well as on tight and technical going. These days with land in short supply the courses tend to be tight, so trials riders have an advantage. After a few weeks on the enduro bike you have to remember to slow down in the sections :).
Currently I have a GasGas 300 Enduro bike. Prior to the GasGas I've had a KXF 450 as well as YZ250 in slight Enduro trim. I don't green lane, I race. Ok, I'm not the fastest by a long way but I'm no slouch.
Currently I have a GasGas 300 Enduro bike. Prior to the GasGas I've had a KXF 450 as well as YZ250 in slight Enduro trim. I don't green lane, I race. Ok, I'm not the fastest by a long way but I'm no slouch.
So here is the new JGas MK 300. This is the latest prototype. The chassis and engine are unlikely to change from this point. Knowing Piber, I'd be very surprised if he and a team weren't making changes to little things on the bike, right know. Piber is that sort of guy. He is always modifying his bikes. This is what he lives for and is so good at.
Remember this - Josep Pibernat owns JGas. He is the man who won 6 ISDE medals, he's a Spanish Enduro Championship, finished in one of the hardest Paris Dakars ever and created GasGas from a twinkle in his eye, running operations growing it to a 60,000,000 euro company.
He's the man who started and entirely owned Hebo and Megamo. His company employed Jordi Tarres and Adam Raga. He's the man who started other flourishing business' as well, all at the same time.
I hope you understand. Firstly he's capable. Secondly he's got accessibility to tech products and experience that would make small countries jealous. He's also an impressive character who is tech obsessed and knows what he is doing. Tech is his speciality. He is a workaholic and tech crazy. Lastly Piber and his team designed the entire GasGas Enduro range including the engines. The engine that GasGas run in their enduro bike is very good. Its so good in fact that it remains the same today as the one that Piber and his team designed in 1995.
So, now you know the creators credentials, you can look at it with a serious eye. I say this because I know how cautious and cynical people can be about a new kid on the block.
I have ridden it a few times and given it a serious blast and let me tell you, it is one serious piece of kit.
This is a prototype. It looks gorgeous. Just imagine it dressed in trick graphics, perhaps different coloured plastic panels and seat. It is a quality peice of kit and entirely their own creation.
Remember this - Josep Pibernat owns JGas. He is the man who won 6 ISDE medals, he's a Spanish Enduro Championship, finished in one of the hardest Paris Dakars ever and created GasGas from a twinkle in his eye, running operations growing it to a 60,000,000 euro company.
He's the man who started and entirely owned Hebo and Megamo. His company employed Jordi Tarres and Adam Raga. He's the man who started other flourishing business' as well, all at the same time.
I hope you understand. Firstly he's capable. Secondly he's got accessibility to tech products and experience that would make small countries jealous. He's also an impressive character who is tech obsessed and knows what he is doing. Tech is his speciality. He is a workaholic and tech crazy. Lastly Piber and his team designed the entire GasGas Enduro range including the engines. The engine that GasGas run in their enduro bike is very good. Its so good in fact that it remains the same today as the one that Piber and his team designed in 1995.
So, now you know the creators credentials, you can look at it with a serious eye. I say this because I know how cautious and cynical people can be about a new kid on the block.
I have ridden it a few times and given it a serious blast and let me tell you, it is one serious piece of kit.
This is a prototype. It looks gorgeous. Just imagine it dressed in trick graphics, perhaps different coloured plastic panels and seat. It is a quality peice of kit and entirely their own creation.
The first thing I noticed was how nice it looked and how well built it was . To create a bike that looks this tasty, fit and ready for action is no mean feat. The plastic panels all fit well together and are firmly in place with screws not clips.
I asked Piber what the "Real" weight was and he told me 98KG and he working on getting that down. If there was anyone in the entire World of bike building that I would rely on to get the weight down, in a short space of time, it would be Piber. No board rooms, no meetings, just do it.
I then sat on the bike and thought ouch ! The seat is too hard. That will need to change. The suspension was set up reasonably firm front and rear. Piber told me that he hadn't adjusted it at all. It felt good and certainly set up for a quick rider. I then flicked up the carb choke lever and kicked it over. It started 1st kick from cold. There is no mechanical noise at all . Nothing. Just a mild well packed note from the Italian exhaust. Piber mentioned that this exhaust might possibly be another branded item when the bike is unveiled.
The 2 stroke 300 6 speed motor is fitted with a keihin flat side carb which ran perfectly and was set up spot on.
I engaged first gear and was off for a blast ...and it had been raining heavily for 10 minutes. Whilst I'd find the woods still had plenty of grip the driveway, certainly didn't and I nearly high sided it- oops :).
I asked Piber what the "Real" weight was and he told me 98KG and he working on getting that down. If there was anyone in the entire World of bike building that I would rely on to get the weight down, in a short space of time, it would be Piber. No board rooms, no meetings, just do it.
I then sat on the bike and thought ouch ! The seat is too hard. That will need to change. The suspension was set up reasonably firm front and rear. Piber told me that he hadn't adjusted it at all. It felt good and certainly set up for a quick rider. I then flicked up the carb choke lever and kicked it over. It started 1st kick from cold. There is no mechanical noise at all . Nothing. Just a mild well packed note from the Italian exhaust. Piber mentioned that this exhaust might possibly be another branded item when the bike is unveiled.
The 2 stroke 300 6 speed motor is fitted with a keihin flat side carb which ran perfectly and was set up spot on.
I engaged first gear and was off for a blast ...and it had been raining heavily for 10 minutes. Whilst I'd find the woods still had plenty of grip the driveway, certainly didn't and I nearly high sided it- oops :).
The 2 photos of the bare engine were taken earlier in the year. Now the prototype was making huge advances.
The JGas will come fully homologated and fitted with a sump shield as well as chain guards.
The JGas will come fully homologated and fitted with a sump shield as well as chain guards.
You really should get a look around the other land that Piber has here. Its superb for trials and racing as well. The gardens are off at a slight camber but as you go down into the woods it becomes terraced with slopes connecting the levels. First the drops between the levels are fairly easy, then they soon become vertical. There is some huge Trial potential here.
After 30 seconds or so I hit the dirt where the tyres could find some grip. I first went to explore.
These photos were taken another time when it was dry and I was on the trials bike, but at the time of testing the enduro bike, it was raining.
After 30 seconds or so I hit the dirt where the tyres could find some grip. I first went to explore.
These photos were taken another time when it was dry and I was on the trials bike, but at the time of testing the enduro bike, it was raining.
The woods are set at the back of the house and must amount to about 10 acres. In the middle of the woods is the small horse enclosure
You guys know the drill. The photos just don't show the angle. This section is far far steeper than it looks. It is right in the back edge of Piber's land and is very very challenging. So challenging that I didn't even attempt it. This area had specifically been shaped and designed into Trials sections. You can imagine the names that must have practised here !
Despite me avoiding the Tarres sections the climbs that I went up were very very tricky off camber loose slopes. If you stopped, you wouldn't start again, it was so steep and loose. I selected 2nd gear and found the hydraulic clutch simply brilliant in feel and power. The levers and master cylinders were Brembo. The bike held line brilliantly and I kept saying to myself I just couldn't believe how good this bike was. It simply was superb. I found that the lower part of the white panel touched my left boot which I didn't like, so I mentioned that later to Piber later and he looked to see what he could do, with his mechanic, who was also present.
Despite me avoiding the Tarres sections the climbs that I went up were very very tricky off camber loose slopes. If you stopped, you wouldn't start again, it was so steep and loose. I selected 2nd gear and found the hydraulic clutch simply brilliant in feel and power. The levers and master cylinders were Brembo. The bike held line brilliantly and I kept saying to myself I just couldn't believe how good this bike was. It simply was superb. I found that the lower part of the white panel touched my left boot which I didn't like, so I mentioned that later to Piber later and he looked to see what he could do, with his mechanic, who was also present.
Once I took the chicken route past the steps, stair case and vertical banking I made my way towards the orchard. The approach was all on green grass which is always slippery. Now out in the open the rain was hammering down, but this was no time to be a softy. It was now time to find out what this bike was made of.
I came out of the woods onto the grass and as my speed increased I lined up for the gaps between the Apple trees in the orchard and gunned it. 2nd flat out, up into 3rd with no clutch and then 4th as the hedge appeared in front of me, very very quickly.
The speed this bike can deliver is incredible. It really really surprised me. It is a very quick bike indeed. I have a GasGas 300 Enduro bike and this JGas 300 is significantly stronger and faster on the bottom and mid range. The transition from the mid to the top end is smooth and NOT snappy. I would say the JGas doesn't rev out quite as high as the GasGas and this encourages you to short shift. The engine sounds very very strong and I revved the hell out of it up those straights, looking for problems. I dragged the bike around at slow speed in 3rd and 4th and the clutch was superb. No slip or drag with consistent lever feel. There weren't any problems. As I'd got the bike hot I had it on tick over and revving it as I leant down listening with my critical ear for anything mechanical and just anything at all. There was nothing. This engine really really impressed me. An electric start will come with his bike with the motor hidden under the engine. It can be removed if required. The chassis was spot on. It had the correct rake and steer well. The lock was the same as my GasGas.
What needs improving ? - Ditch the hard seat - move the lower left white panel in 10mm.
The biggest pleasant surprise ? The engine and the whole package. This bike is very very good right now. As good as anything ive ridden.
You can see the rain on the lense here. I spent 10 minutes riding around in a huge flat loop digging in a small berm and loosening up the dirt, getting faster and faster. This things grips and grips. I was very impressed. The JGas makes you quicker. Immediately the JGas is competitive.
As you can see, I've had far to much fun and its getting late. That shouldn't read "Ramp" on my trousers, it should say "Damp". I was soaked and I had 10 minutes to get ready as we were off out.
I came out of the woods onto the grass and as my speed increased I lined up for the gaps between the Apple trees in the orchard and gunned it. 2nd flat out, up into 3rd with no clutch and then 4th as the hedge appeared in front of me, very very quickly.
The speed this bike can deliver is incredible. It really really surprised me. It is a very quick bike indeed. I have a GasGas 300 Enduro bike and this JGas 300 is significantly stronger and faster on the bottom and mid range. The transition from the mid to the top end is smooth and NOT snappy. I would say the JGas doesn't rev out quite as high as the GasGas and this encourages you to short shift. The engine sounds very very strong and I revved the hell out of it up those straights, looking for problems. I dragged the bike around at slow speed in 3rd and 4th and the clutch was superb. No slip or drag with consistent lever feel. There weren't any problems. As I'd got the bike hot I had it on tick over and revving it as I leant down listening with my critical ear for anything mechanical and just anything at all. There was nothing. This engine really really impressed me. An electric start will come with his bike with the motor hidden under the engine. It can be removed if required. The chassis was spot on. It had the correct rake and steer well. The lock was the same as my GasGas.
What needs improving ? - Ditch the hard seat - move the lower left white panel in 10mm.
The biggest pleasant surprise ? The engine and the whole package. This bike is very very good right now. As good as anything ive ridden.
You can see the rain on the lense here. I spent 10 minutes riding around in a huge flat loop digging in a small berm and loosening up the dirt, getting faster and faster. This things grips and grips. I was very impressed. The JGas makes you quicker. Immediately the JGas is competitive.
As you can see, I've had far to much fun and its getting late. That shouldn't read "Ramp" on my trousers, it should say "Damp". I was soaked and I had 10 minutes to get ready as we were off out.