The standard handguards on the ktm and husky are throwaway items. I prefer having a blank canvas to put the things I want, on the bike.

I kind of like the silver rims. If I bought custom I think I would keep the silver rims with red hubs and spoke nips.

All of your recommendations are valid ones. I hope Honda, Yamaha and Kawi never stop producing air cooled singles. These bikes are so underrated.

Would be so awesome if one of the KTM/Husky/GasGas 300s came with a kickstart. Totally agree. That would be a difference maker for me.

Arguably one of your best reviews!

Kyle, I like your ideas about differentiating GasGas from KTM and Husky. Its a far better plan than leaving parts off and using sub-par equipment to lower the price by a mere $700.

I have this exact bike, love riding it. I bought street legal from the dealer, very fun to ride around town.

I could shake your hand for mentioning the seat height. Right on!!!! I agree with your suggestions on the foot pegs and fixes. If they built a 300 or 500 dual sport I would buy one tomorrow.

Brilliant review, it's what I like about your vids, honesty

Thanks Kyle. I bought a '21 GasGas EC250. Wanted to try a TPI bike after my HuskyFE450 and went 250cc based on how much you loved your KTM250 and because they're wayyyy cheaper second hand vs 300s. I agree with your comments eg the weak front brake, and slightly low idle. I think you need to do a fair bit more work vs Husky to set it up nicely. Even the handle bars are oddly positioned and feel cheaper. Here in Australia the Huskies come with great tyres, bars, hand guards, bash plate but Gassers have rubbish stock tyres and need stuff fitted. So buying new there's not much advantage with the Gasser. But second hand (my bike only had 5 hours) is different as Gassers aren't as mainstream yet, and 250s are on the nose so they can be awesome value. With the savings I fitted a TSP head+ECU tune, WP6500 fork inserts, WP Pro Trax Shock (2nd hand). Now this bike is incredible!

Thank you for the complete review, one thought on the brakes, and the lack of power in the front, I suspect its all in the pad compound selection, that gives you the bite, vs the lever feel is almost all from the MC style and ratio of its bore / stroke to the size of the caliper(s) in use. If you plan to keep the bike and want more, try swapping out for some alternate pads, could be that the ones you are using you are not getting up to temp, or they are just too gentle a compound. Happy riding! thanks for the detailed reviews

say Kyle, I have noticed that some KTM dealers are missing the significance of the Husky MX bikes being lowered in 2021. it's being dismissed as only 3/8 inch, but those in the know are saying as a fact, it turns out to be a full inch lower in real life. part of this is the springs are weaker due to less coils. reduced shock travel changes the linkage ratio progression so it runs lower at speed throughout the entire travel range. It is not the same as just changing a sag setting. it has changed everything front and rear. this info really needs to get out there even though it has not been applied to the Enduro bikes yet. shorter MX riders may not know what a big deal it is and go buy a KTM or GasGas, then regret it later. it's also a bummer for tall, heavy or fast guys when they figure it out too late after buying one. they may get hung up in the ruts, or notice their feet dragging on jump landings. perhaps Husqvarna has missed a marketing boost by just saying "10mm lower" without explaining that the overall result is nearly three times as much.

Love your content just blew my bike up lol can’t wait to watch you get some ridding in

I absolutely love my 22 EC300, I do agree with you on the front brake being a little week but the clutch is amazing. I also wish it did have black wheels I think it would look better but honestly if you are riding hard enduro type terrain the silver wheels don't scratch us as easily. I changed my plastic and graphics which I think look better than stock and not sure about the pricing the msrp on my 22 EC300 was $9699. Great content like always though

Enjoyed the Differentiation section the most! great ideas.

AT 12 minutes in- I noticed you used my emailed you the idea of the backside bar pad as the radiator hose guard! Glad you liked the idea😎👍🏻🦾

That's why I like the Beta, they intend on keeping the kickstarter. Sure, it's an optional part, but I'll take a small priced option over no option at all!

I just rented this from RTR Rentals here in AZ and I loved it, the power/handling was great! The only gripe is the silver wheels but that has nothing to do with the performance. I would love to have a gasgas in my garage along side my Yamaha!

a Another excellent review! Makes so much sense . Everything you need to Know !

Thanks for the review. I love my 2021.

My Husky has the Magura brakes and they too also felt soft. Changed the fluid to Motul RBF600 and reverse bleed and it completely solved the issue.

excellent review, hopefully this baby will sits in my garage, fingers crossed , cheers V!

Good review dude 👌👍

Great review Kyle...lost my kick stand spring and all...cost me plenty and i have used thread lock to hopefully help

I trust your reviews because I can vet them given my experience owning many KTMs as far back as 08, you honestly nail every issue. Yes, they used to be good at rear fender design and it sucks now, I used to keep those drive sprocket seals on hand too, that pinched rad hose got me in a race, and the list goes on and on. Good job man, I’m a fan 👍🏽

I agree with making something different. I have had 15 ktm's and husqvarna's and feel that they have been ok bikes but have had lots of issues and quirks that you have mentioned. The worst par is that they have zero warranty or backup for their product and the dealerships have been terrible following the factory support....I stick by my brands but man its getting hard...and my dealer is making it tough

Entered. Thanks again Kyle for the review.

wow thanks for this detailed review. I appreciate the nitpicking

I actually like the red,white, brushed wheel look. The front break issue is disapointing, but i like the linkage also and linkage is more pricey than pds so that $700 price difference is more of a value than 1st glance would suggest. Easier to remedy handguards and wheels than to add linkage if thats important to you. To me linkage is superior. Another awesome review Kyle! I hope i win...lol

Solid review. I don't think any of that was out of line. Brakes are always up for interpretation as well, some people like them, some people don't. I just picked up the 22 GG EX250 and they have Brembos and I bought it because of some of your other reviews on the KTM. Because, if I still have to put $5-600 worth of protective gear on a KTM or a GG, I figured I would use the difference between KTM and GG to pay for it. Thanks for the videos, thanks for answering questions and being a paragon of off-road content!

Great review as always I bought some sweet blue dirt bike channel tie downs and a tow strap that might save my bacon one day and I'm praying!!!!!! I have to buy some red tie downs next month when I win that gas gas haha

Just purchased an EC300. In the south where i am it amounted to a savings of $1100-$1800 over the KTM 300 XCW depending on dealer. MSRP isnt a thing right now with low inventory. Appreciate your videos. Keep up the good work.

I love that red too! Looks like a modern 2T Honda

Great Review!

I weighed all the options and just really wanted the brembo brake. Also I couldn’t help but think that long term the KTM brand would have at least that $700 more in resale value. Bought the ‘22 xc-w. Still hope I win your Gasgas though!

Great review would love to see WR250r and Sherco 250sef vs the 300 like we see on 2t

I absolutely love my 2021 gas gas ec 300 I actually watched a video where they tested and measured everything and the gas gas has more torque. Idk if it’s true but my bike feels better than my buddies 2021 husky

I love their steel frames too! I think there is something to say about the rigidness. I love my 2001 YZ250 steel frame. I have a lot of modern upgrades for it and its amazing.

The Kickstarter...I agree, I don't ever want to be without one. That being said, I have over 72hrs on my 2019 KTM 250 XC-W and I have NEVER used the kickstarter, lmao. I still want it though. I also Love PDS, but I'm pretty sure it's drawback is slightly higher seat height (don't quote me).

Someone is going to win a Great Bike

I like the idea of the manufacturer not including things that are most likely swapped. I prefer having a kickstart to having a kickstand. I would think kickstarts are still metal, but I used to use a stick on my woods bike for a stand. KTM knows how often a kicker gets used on a TPI.

Love the brushed aluminum wheels tbh and don’t worried about the hand guards Kuz I just put my own on.

I agree that KTM should offer as many configurations as possible among the three name plates. Though I'll stick to a carbureted 300 until the injection improves.

I believe they are differentiating it by leaving the Gasser's 1 year behind in updates from 2023 going forward. The kick start casting is like a kick-tease lol. The rear gaurd does my head in too.

I would say yes you do need a radiator guard on the '22 models. They will bend, and on the left side, they will give you the radiator hose to power valve cover bite, and strand you with a leak. Or at least it has already happened to me 😀!

I have never rode a gas gas much less a new one so i really dont know about the brakes but a bit weaker brake on the front just may be perfect in my situation. We have lots of glazed over slick clay on steep hills that makes ice feel tacky. My yz has a very strong front brake and it is hard to modulate in those situation. My old bikes with drum brakes are easier to use in those places. Of course it needs to be strong enough to haul it down from speed.

I've got an older KTM with the natural coloured wheels & a Sherco with black rims, when black rims start getting scratches on them they can look about 2yrs old after about 2 moths use :) The other thing is, when you go to sell the bike, some buyers can get turned off or ask for a price drop.

I think they hit the ball out of the park with this configuration, but maybe add hand shields! Biggest negative for me is the lack of hand shields. I run hand shields 100%. The black anodizing of the rims add to the manufacturing cost and GasGas would have to decrease customer value on a different bike part. Besides, the silver rims make it look like a vintage Honda. KTM front brakes are overpowered until you get used to them. In the American heyday of motocross, front brake levers needed 2 fingers normally and 4 fingers pulled to the grip to panic stop. (I never thought we'd get to the point in bike evolution where we customers are demanding a front brake lever that can be operated 100% of the time with one finger.) GasGas would RAISE the pegs then lower the frame to suit a shorter person. Love the less abrasive seat cover. I wish they had more foam for comfort, they're too thin GasGas should raise the left radiator and also make the radiators slightly wider. A fan would raise the manufacturing cost and GasGas would have to decrease customer value on a different bike part. I think the tank should be 2.5 gallons. I think the bike is 20 pounds too heavy and 1.50" too tall.

The bolt in the left footpeg is put in from the wrong side. The end with the lock pin is longer and that's why your kick stand bolt gets poked out.

My 3 biggest pet peeves with my 2022 EC300 1. Stalling constantly 2. No spark arrestor…… 3. White plastics in the rear. For me the EC300 made more sense to buy because I bought wrap around hand guards, aluminum skid plate, and fmf silencer. Basically cost me what I saved. Which I would have had to buy for either ktm or husq. I personally didn’t care about some of the bling that comes on the other bikes. Enjoyed the video!

Good review thanks Kyle. I was considering getting the gasgas maybe next year as an upgrade to my TE. Maybe I'll just hold on to the husky! And yes, I think the red is the best looking of the three!

If they really want to cut cost and sell a LOT more bikes, they should make a carbureted version.

I love the look/colour too inc the Red seat. Disagree on the rims, I am digging the Silver rims especially as every other man and his dog has Black. Another reason I bought one is I can at least fit a kick starter once I get towards 100hrs. The 2019 Sherco starter (replaced twice) left me stranded solo twice over the 102hrs I put on it. I disagree on the brake comments, yes you do have to squeeze more but they are more than powerful enough to endo at any time, and are more easily modulated (especially the rear) on tricky downhills without lock ups compared to ANY other modern bike I have ridden over the last handful of years. I always ditch standard hand guards for full wrap around, but do agree they should have something fitted. Overall a silky smooth easy to ride albeit a little flighty, fun bike that can be totally enjoyable ridden slowly in technical situations, yet go full beast mode with a twist of the wrist 😵‍💫. Keep up the good work. Regards GlenMack

Well done sir.

Great review. Agree that more should be done to differentiate the red KTM from the white KTM and the orange KTM. Shorter inseam riders would flock to the Gas Gas if the seat height was a bit lower.

I've bought the ec350f and had the rims powder Coated black (my dealer has it as a option) and i put on bash plate, radiator fan, red plastics in the back and handguard. Overall it probably cost as much as a KTM. But Those KTM with that purple look ridicilous and i love the linkage. So in the end it's better to me. In my case the clutch most definitely is a lot easier to pull in comparison to my old husky "18" or my brother his ktm"17". As for the brakes the front isn't to good probably i will replace it for a brembo besides all that i love it

I’d love to see your review a 2022 WR250F from Yamaha. Seeing that it’s supposed to be more of a trail bike/ enduro bike.

Awesome videos, Where do you normally do all your test riding just out of interest

I think the black wheels look better as well. When they're new! My silver gas gas ones still look brand new. I didn't like the front brake either until I swapped out the pads. Now that ktm is going to a half plastic subframe and gas gas isn't changing that will definitely be a selling point!

Love my 2022 ec 300.

Not a lot of talk about this but if you look at the 2023 gas gas EX 300, the bike is coming with a new throttle body that has an adjustable idle. Looks like the idle mod moving forward will not be needed come 2023.

Have you tried different brake pads, like DP or EBC?

Love this bike. Hoping to win and ride

Do a review on the big bore 500cc kit! Please

Thanks for the honest review. Why would I want to buy something with inferior parts and tech that's going backwards!?!

Why do you think it costs $700 less? Because it has those brakes, those rims, without handguards... actually with those 700 you can change more things than install some black rims, a brembo pump and some handguards. The GasGas TPI has better low end and a more linear engine because the ignition rotor weighs 110 grams more than on the KTM and Husqvarna TPI, which gives it a delicious feel. The thing about it going with PDS instead of linkages I also prefer PDS, but most people think not. There they could also save some weight (2.5 kg) and money. Thank you Chris

spot on ,, i am 6,2, but would like a lower seat height for short road and trail rides were i don't need 10 feet of travel shocks , rather than buy a 150 kilo 25 bhp mild steel trail bike ...

You should check out TM, maybe even a Rieju (old gas gas). Mix it up a bit. Rieju is pretty interesting with their ranger model and their racier models with KYB forks. Not sure how the Spanish build quality compares to KTM/Husky though. Shirt, straps, and some random parts in the mail. Fingers crossed. Might even go sacrifice a chicken for that drawing. I need a bike to ride while I rebuild the old Husky.

what system on these Bikes figures out the fuel air mixture for altitude changes, and does that system require a flash tune?

I think the brake issue might be more related to pads that the actual design of the brake itself... My dad got a 2022 FE350s which has the BrakTec brakes and they SUCKED until he changed out the stock pads for a better set... Something to consider if you haven't already.

I am looking to purchase a gasses 250 2 stroke. is there any difference between the ec250 and ex250 in regards to engine, transmission , ignition mapping?

Brushed wheels are a win. Black wheels show all the scratches.

About de front brake, problably you’ll need to chance your down part of the brake, mine came with issues from factory, and they changed for me, maybe they had some bad construction mods, and some brakes came just really bad, now that a I ichanged it, the bracket seems to be more efficient than brembo or magura. Just in love with it.

Hello sir hopefully you receive this message. I have a 2023 gas gas 250EC. There is a strange rattle from the very first startup, the dealership said that it is normal and that these bikes are loud. Do you know the rattle I am talking about? I hear the same rattle on many KZfaq videos from this bike, I just need a second opinion to confirm the rattle is normal. Is there any way to quiet the rattle? I heard Lucas fuel cleaner would dampen the noise. Thank you for your time sir.

Try different composition front brake pads. Good for you with the constructive criticism! Yes. Kickstart please.

How does the 300cc gas or ktm 300 compare to the KX500 or CR500? I'm a 240 pound rider, absolutely loves adrenaline, learned to ride back in 1981 on a old Honda street bike 50. Then Honda scrambler 185, then went on to a Suzuki 185 dirtbike, ect.... Plus many other's

With no battery power, you could kick the bike over all day and it wouldn't start. It seems weird that they let you add the kick as an option. E start is amazing. You wouldn't use the kick anyway

Yamaha WR's come with a radiator fan as well.

I think one thing they should do to help set themselves apart from the ktm and husky bikes is to offer it in a 200cc

Hey Kyle, I enjoy your channel because it is evident that you are sincerely passionate about motorcycles. However, I believe your display of passion for the EC300 showed the bike in a poor light. I feel like any new bike requires a build, or tailoring to one's specific needs. I think I would have preferred a bike build video on your interpretation of what this bike needs right off the show room floor. Here's an idea, why not take this opportunity to build a street legal EC300? Now that would be a cool giveaway bike!

Hello bro. Keep vlogging

Any plans on trying a TM?

Is it a 6 speed or did they skimp on that as well?

Every bike looks brand new. Drop a cleaning vid please

I so need a enduro bike !

I just watched your video and your complaints about the front brake. Two things did you clean the rotors before you rode the bike for the first time? All rotors have oil on them come from the manufactures they need to be cleaned before you ride the bike the first time on all bikes. Secondly when those bikes are in the crate they have tendencies to get air bubbles in there it’s always a good idea to bleed those brakes before you ride them the first time especially if the pull at the bar doesn’t feel that good right from the get-go. Also when you bleed any of those brakes you need to break open and bleed it at every junction on that brake line not just at the bottom anywhere there is a connection all the way through. Just something to think about?

If this bike has the same gas cap as the KTM’s, Husky, etc then that would be the first thing I’d suggest re-designing. I own the 2019 KTM xc-w and that cap is a real pain in the butt getting off. I purchased an aftermarket aluminum cap thinking it would make everything better but alas it used the same guts from the stock cap. Assuming I keep the bike much longer I’ll probably change the fuel tank just to get rid of that fricking cap. My 2 cents.

First thing I do is ditch the hand guards and put full wrap on so no loss

I love the silver aluminium rims.

I can contest a few things here. I don't see any reason for most people to buy the KTM or Husky model over an equivalent GasGas. You will likely install full wrap hand guards rather than flags on a bike like this anyway. You will probably install certain aftermarket components that you'd pull off a KTM anyway, such as a skid plate. The bare rims? I admit I like black more as well, but when you're trying to get out there in today's financial environment, it becomes less of an issue. I'm not looking at the rims when I'm on the trail. The brakes? I did very hard, in some places nearly vertical, rocky riding last weekend on mine. The brakes weren't even close to being a thought I had. I'm glad these bikes are sold in red now. I agree that the engine, clutch, and suspension are a dream in the nasty gnar. Cheers.

very nice video..

Re: the radiator guards, use the Devol brand. They anchor back to the frame behind, giving a triangle. Protect for side to side impacts, and front to back impacts.

I'm going to be completely honest... I didn't even know what that rubber strap was, so I pulled it out, turned it around, and hooked it inside the airbox 😂 I'll put it back next time I walk past my bike. I really don't know anything about these Euro bikes. The KTM 300 I just got is the first one I've ridden, actually it's the first one I've even seen in the wild. I probably should read the owner's manual.

I'd still the gas gas. Black wheels look awesome but quickly look like a dog doo from scraping against rocks and mud. I'm surprised by the big mid with the grab handle and plastic obtrusion for adjusting the rear shock. The handguards are no big deal, I prefer wrap arounds for where I ride. I'd also have to feel the issue with the front brake. I don't 1 finger the brake or clutch. I'm not comfortable with it. I use two fingers to work my clutch and front brake. Maybe it would be a non issue? Either way, when I win this bike, I mean if I win this bike, I'm sure I'll love it.

Il buy it for Motor and suspension!!!

Really good review!! I mean, I'll give you the $700 for it, haha. Keep doing what you're doing, we appreciate it!

What mount you using for the MSR bottle?

I agree with all of this. I hate the aluminium wheels and I don’t get the point of having pretty identical bikes marketed under three different brands either.

Agreed, all red would be sharp. Do they sell aftermarket plastics yet for this? That could be an option. I definitely would re-wrap this with new stickers. Its branding is a little bland.

Wow I could not agree more. Specialy about the kickstarter. And also why not use the gasgas name for something different like more mix of husky and ktm or put some kyb forks or just something