Trail Rider Magazine

14 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com 2017 Gas Gas TXT 250 Contact Last fall we were given the opportunity to test a bike that's a bit outside of what we're used to here at Trail Rider, the Gas Gas 250 Contact. For those unfamiliar with Gas Gas, the Spanish motorcycle manufacturer emerged from the fi nancial demise of Bultaco and began producing trials bikes in 1985. Gas Gas began building enduro and motocross modes in 1989 and also manufactures quads. Gas Gas markets the 250 Contact as a trials prac ce bike. Upon fi rst glance, it looks like a trials weapon fi ed with a removable seat, along with a slightly larger fuel capacity. The wheel set is more suited for trail riding being fi ed with Pirelli MT43 tube type res instead of wheels designed for tubeless rubber. We view the Contact basically as a full- on trials bike that's been tamed slightly with creature comfort of a seat and more fuel capacity for longer trail rides. When we got a call from Gas Gas Eastern Regional Sales Manager Rod Overstreet with an off er to test the new 250 Contact for a couple weeks, we jumped at the chance with no delay. Jack's Cycles, our local Gas Gas dealer, located just an hour away from Trail Rider headquarters, happened to have a new 250 Contact on the showroom fl oor. Owner and life-long trials afi cionado Stuart Preston off ered up his showroom model to speed up the tes ng process. At fi rst glance, it's very apparent this is a high quality motorcycle — stainless steel exhaust, beau ful welds, along with excep onal fi t and fi nish. Upon throwing a leg over, the featherweight feel is extremely apparent. At 150 pounds, it feels more like a motorized fatbike than a motorcycle. The Contact fi res immediately to life with just a kick or two and was je ed incredibly clean for our sea-level loca on. It's not a loud bike but emits a deep tone that's pleasing to the ears. This is a bike you can sneak around on and won't get the neighbors wound up. I knew right away this was going to be fun, a learning experience and a lot of fun. Although I've owned several trials bikes over the years, I'll admit, trials riding was something that interested me but for which I never had a deep passion. Yes, I'm a woods guy; although who doesn't like trying out new bikes and possibly expanding the horizons? CONTACT se o e duro and duro bike. Upon fi rst glance, Upon fi rst glance, ng with a slightly larger g with a slightly larg eing fi ed with Pirelli M fi ed with Pirelli M ubber. We view the Con bber. We view the Co ly with creature comfor y with creature comfo en we got a call from Ga n we got a call from an off er to test the new ffer to test the ne with no delay. Jack's Cyc no delay. Jack's Cyc Trail Rider headquarter il Rider headqua oor. Owner and life-long oor. Owner and life-lon model to speed up the te del to speed up t glance, it's very appa ance, it's very app , beau ful welds beau ful we eatherwei eatherwe tbik HIGH ta ocal Gas Gas ned to have a ed to have a cionado Stuart Pres nado Stuart Pres cess. cess. is a high quality motor is a high quality moto ith excep onal fi t and fi xcep onal fi t and s extremely apparent. A extremely apparent. torcycle. The Contac torcycle. The Contac edibly clean fo edibly cle sing to t sing to un un

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