john.b

They seemed to have had a good one as it was, but then again I do not know the full story or both sides of the story.

What I do not understand is Jotagas were supposed to be owned by a multi millionaire and free from financial worries. So what has changed? Has this owner got bored and pulled the plug on the money. I am one of those people that is or was, waiting for a new bike to arrive. I was really impressed with the bike and prepared for the 8 week wait but the recent events with the resignation of Steve as the importer has changed my mind completely. Even if a new importer is found quickly, my confidence in the factory has gone now. Things must be bad when a person like Steve decides enough is enough.

Perhaps a press release would be in order otherwise all sorts of rumours get out of hand very quickly and it does no one any good in the end.

So has this just happened today, and does this mean all bike orders are cancelled?

The parts situation, is this correct or just keyboard rumours? Very interested as ordered a new bike and last thing I would want is not to be able to get spares if I needed them!

May be it has been like this for years, but this is now, and Gasgas through bad management are 26 million in debt, they have no credit to buy parts and can now only buy parts for cash. That cash is soon going to dry up just paying the interest on the outstanding loans. Apart from parts that they have in stock they are going to struggle to build their productts. They have tried to negotiate with the banks for six months and are now facing a supplier taking them to court to put them into liquidation. They have six months to sell the business or find a benefactor wishing to inject huge amounts of cash. Sorry but you are deluded if you think it is normal to run a business like this! Customers, ie us, are not stupid, we are not going to spend £5000-£5500 on a trials bike that might be worth next to nothing if Gasgas goes pop. So Gasgas might have thought they were boxing clever by protecting themselves from bankruptcy, but they have sent a clear message to buying customers that they are knackered, badly listing and about to sink. I have a Gasser and wish and hope Gasgas get out of this mess, but the only way forward is for a complete buyout of the company by a third party investor and then a complete clearout of the management team. A good accounts manager must be a priority as well.

Who is going to risk buying a new Gasgas now tho? Surely new orders are going to dry up due to the uncertainty of the company!

Best thing I ever did to my std 250 pro was fit a low compression head insert. Softens the power and grips so much better. I think in truth the insert takes away the snap of power, when its probably me giving the bike too much throttle. Also fitted an aluminium throttle tube slow to medium.

They do not stay on the newer type rims, chuck it and buy a Michelin X lite. Grip just as well as an Irc.

If the pump reliability is an issue, just replace it as part of a pre-determined service.

I thought the bike looked and sounded great. I suppose the big question now is how much? Around £5500-£6000 would be a good start but if the rumours of £8000 are true, then it might be too much for a clubman bike.

I am sure they have done their calculations and test development rides but the headstock area looks like it could do with some extra webbing plates for support to the frame tubes. Any idea of prices and when the production bikes are due?

Thanks for your post Gasgas249uk, very helpful information, thanks.

Did the factory change the bash plate Telecat? Early ones were a bit thin by all accounts. Hoping to test a 250 next week.

Where does DJ say anything about the brake hose rubbing in his original post? I cannot find it.

Good luck with getting hold of them, I tried a couple of months ago and the black and red ones were sold out and no more were due to be printed.

Many thanks for posting the video's this week, they have been amazing to watch and the shots from the drone have been excellent.

It's no stop, He stopped twice and also went backwards! Got to be a 5

Depends on your weight, the standard spring suits a 75kg rider and the spring height can be adjusted by the adjustable rings on the shock. If that still does n't work and if you are carrying a bit of excess baggage and weigh 85/90 kilo's then an updated spring will be needed to get the correct sag and ride height.

Riders are supposed to complete the whole of the section even if they five at the beginning. Used to state in the regulations about completing a section, not sure if they still do though. Anyone riding out of section and not completing it should be given a five and a note made on "remarks" on the observers pad stating " did not attempt" and I think 50 marks added. Two of these non attempts around the course and a rider is excluded. Our section is a stream and there is no shortcut out of the side so it makes my life easier in that respect.

Change your grips to a softer type and try different gloves.

Found this forum discussing Wullie Pitbladdow, some of these people seem to have fond memories of the area, much like yourself. Might be worth asking on that website as well. Wullie Pitbladdow http://www.ducati-up...r-a-laugh/page3

Only one observer records both the riders number and their score. The other person is purely a number checker who makes a note of the riders numbers as they pass through the section. It's a double check, to make sure riders don't miss sections then later claim to have done them. Number checker is normally at beginning of section and the observer at the end.

You don't want to accidentally knock it in to neutral when riding a section, they are meant to be away from your boot.