GASGAS

Born Wild - GasGas SM 700 and ES 700 presentation

Although GasGas is considered a young brand, in the last three decades, they have already put enough on the table to be considered an equal challenger to much larger manufacturers in certain segments. As a specialist in trial, cross and enduro machines, their models appeal to a narrow but even more fanatical camp, so it is not particularly surprising that two-stroke models still form the core of the range! However, with the fact that KTM acquired majority ownership in the brand in 2019, new opportunities opened up for GasGas.

As in the case of Husqvarna, KTM also applies the principle of the construction kit, which is how the pair of GasGas SM 700 and ES 700 were born, which are the machines with the largest displacement in the history of the brand. Although the red paint looks like a great camouflage at first, the distinctive cross-link frame and huge single-cylinder are strong references to KTM roots. The supermoto SM 700 is based on the KTM 690 SMC R, while the off-road ES 700 is based on the 690 Enduro R. Looking at the pricing, it is clear that the management of the company group does not see GasGas as a discount brand, because the new products cost HUF 4,204,000 just like their orange counterpart.

The SM 700 supermoto is characterized by a wide handlebar and a small digital instrument unit

At first, this amount seems like a lot for machines with such a puritanical design, but if we delve a little deeper into the technical details, the situation will immediately be different. Both the SM and the ES can boast the largest displacement and most powerful single-cylinder block available today, the KTM's 693 cm3 LC4 engine squeezes out 74 horsepower! The double spark plug unit, together with the clutch and the starter, weighs only 43.4 kg on the scale, and the vibrations resulting from the construction are mitigated by two balancing shafts. Reliability was one of the priorities when developing the resource - the constructors also know exactly that these blocks are not only occasionally spun to the maximum of 8,000 rpm. For this reason, the LC4 engine uses a particularly efficient lubrication system, forged piston (with DLC coating) and rocker arm rocker arm, and ball bearings are used on the crankshaft. And compared to the fact that it is a high-performance single-cylinder, the service visit every 10,000 kilometers is downright surprising.

The ES 700 comes off the production line with Continental TKC 80 tires that provide adequate grip on loose terrain. The options list also includes a Remus exhaust system

The suspension fork is made of die-cast aluminum, the frame is a chromium-molybdenum steel alloy

 While the block, frame and Magura clutch are the same for the SM and ES models, there are significant differences in the chassis. On the superbike, the WP Apex telescope with a tube diameter of 48 mm drives the 17-inch front wheel, but in addition, the Continental ContiAttack SM Evo tires as the first installation indicate that GasGas expects that customers will also take the novelty to the race track. As for the ES, the fork here is also 48 mm, but this model uses WP Xplorer suspension elements, the travel of the 21-inch front wheel and the 17-inch rear wheel are both 250 mm. The GasGas pair is undoubtedly aimed at more experienced motorcyclists who prefer high performance, so they also offer modes with which the electronic guardian angels are less alert. In the case of the SM, the Supermoto program, while in the case of the ES the Off road mode, the anti-lock braking system on the rear wheel is deactivated, and the traction control does not stand in the way of even the roughest power slips!

by Miklós-Illés Kálmán