2021 GasGas EX 350F Review

Driving the 2021 GasGas EX 350F

In 2021, GasGas launched a completely new line of motorcycles.

Well, sort of; Compared to the KTM 350 XC-F and Husqvarna FX 350, the GasGas EX 350F stands out with its own suspension settings, exhaust system, bodywork and forged triple clamps. The mainframe, subframe, engine, fuel system, electronics, Brembo hydraulic clutch and Brembo brakes are borrowed from KTM, while the swingarm is identical to that of a Husqvarna. The rims are unbranded, but made for GasGas by Excel. The Neken handlebar is the same as KTM's motocross and cross-country models, but it's silver rather than black. The tires are the same on all three Austrian 350cc cross-country bikes, with Dunlop Geomax AT81 front and rear.

GasGas offers a 350cc four-stroke model in its 2021 lineup with the EX 350F. This cross-country race bike is priced $800 less than the 2021 KTM 350 XC-F and 2021 Husqvarna FX 350

Another big difference between the EX 350F and the 350 XC-F and FX 350 is the price; the EX 350F is $800 less than the orange and white cross-country models of the same displacement. Among the options not present on the GasGas but standard equipment on equivalent KTM and Husqvarna include a map/traction control switch, hour meter and hand guards. Silver rims, forged triple clamps and exhaust manifold without resonance chamber are other important parts that helped to reduce costs.

Impressive torque, light response and great over-rev ability are just a few outstanding features of the EX 350F engine

Luckily, if you want to have a GasGas but still want to have features like the map/traction switch of the KTM and Husqvarna, you're in luck. The ECU comes pre-programmed with both maps and traction control, and the wiring harness is ready for it. The part is available from GasGas Technical Accessories.

2021 GasGas EX 350F Engine

The GasGas EX 350F has an exceptional engine with impressive torque, good light response and great over-rev capability. Its powerful torque is easy to ride and very flexible. The way the power builds up makes throttle control very easy. Power is plentiful at mid-range, and just when you think it's going to close out, it continues its revs a few thousand more rpm.

Compared to a KTM, the suspension settings of the GasGas are noticeably different and take some getting used to. The red Austrian machine seems more flexible, especially at the rear.

The six-speed is marketed as wide-ratio, but with this engine's wide powerband, it feels more like short-ratio. First gear isn’t as low as a 300 two-stroke, which means a bit more clutch pressure is needed on tighter trails. Because sixth gear is very tall, it's possible to go up a tooth or two on the rear sprocket if you want good low-rpm first-gear handling.

The biggest advantage of the 350 engine is that it obviously produces a lot more power than a 250F, but has less torque and engine inertia than a 450. It therefore offers a noticeably light feeling compared to a 450 One downside of the 350's extra power over that of a 250F is the heavier engine feel, which affects the chassis by making the whole bike feel heavier than a 250F. At 237 lbs, the EX 350F is only 2 lbs heavier than the GasGas EX 250F, but the feeling of heaviness between the two at the controls is greater.

The WP Xact suspension components track the ground perfectly in low-speed areas, but provide a bouncy feel in higher-speed sections and on bumpy/rough trails.

Having less flywheel effect than a 450 makes the 350 motor a little more free in terms of revs, which is a plus, although the EX 350F seems much more prone to stalling; In our experience, this seems to be specific to GasGas four-stroke cross-country models, as we had the same issues with the EX 250F but not the FX 350 last year.

Suspension GasGas EX 350F 2021

The suspension components of the EX 350F, namely a WP Xact air fork and a WP Xact shock, are the same as those fitted to the Husqvarna FX 350 and KTM 350 XC-F, but with different internal settings . The WP Xact fork offers endless adjustability, with compression and rebound damping controlled by the right fork and air pressure modulating the ride height on the left. The OEM settings are relatively moderate, allowing you to go in whatever direction feels best for your riding conditions. Unsurprisingly, the setting is a little looser than on KTM's 350 SX-F motocrosser.

In its original form, the Moto Rouge offers a slightly springy feel. High speed rolls or heavy load situations require firmer driver input to help control kickback. In low-speed areas, the suspension tracks the ground very well. On small stones, it offers a lot of comfort and stays higher in the race. It also helps cornering in tighter sections. On acceleration, it squats and provides good traction.

 

Overall, the EX 350F is a nice, light bike. It weighs slightly more than a 250 four-stroke and it requires some driver input to change direction, which is mainly due to its longer frame.

For the adjustments, I played on the height of the fork, the air pressure and the external damping adjustments. After going back and forth with the height, I decided to position them on the second line in the fork crowns. For air pressure, 9.8 bar to start the ride worked best, as I saw a 0.5 bar increase over a continuous two-hour ride. For the clickers I adjusted the compression setting to 7 and the rebound setting to 15. With the compression set to 7 I was able to open it up more as the air pressure increased in the fork while driving.

I started with 105mm of sag on the shock and slowly increased the compression adjusters to find the most comfortable ride height. The high-speed compression adjuster is a great tool for this; I ended up setting it to 1.5 turns. I decided to have the low speed compression at 14 and the rebound adjuster at 10.

Chassis/Handlebar GasGas EX 350F 2021

The EX 350F is a nice, light bike with a good balance between cornering and stability. It corners fairly well on single tracks and bumpy trails. The chassis, very narrow between the knees, is very spacious and gives the impression of sitting. The cockpit design of the GasGas is largely 100% KTM. The original handlebar is a little wide, so you have to think about cutting it to the length you prefer.

As on the KTM, the longer wheelbase feel is apparent on the handlebars of the EX 350F; it is most evident on tighter trails. The ergonomics seem designed in such a way that both small and large riders are comfortable. This bike also has one of the narrowest center sections of any XC bike on the market, making it very comfortable when standing. The slightly oversized 2.25-gallon fuel tank is not noticeable while driving and has minimal effect on handling when going from full to empty.

How Does the 2021 GasGas EX 350F Run?

I never turn down the opportunity to ride a new 350 four-stroke motorcycle, because the extra torque over a 250 and the light weight over a 450 is an attractive combination. The GasGas EX 350F certainly meets both of these criteria.

Without a resonance chamber in the exhaust manifold like on the four-stroke models from KTM and Husqvarna, the powerband of the EX 350F seems to be even wider than that of the KTM 350 XC-F. Combine that with a well-staged gearbox and you have a bike with a powerband more like an electric. It's smooth to start, develops power evenly throughout the rev range, and revs up as quickly as a KTM 250 XC-F. I had some issues with the bike stalling on corner entry; at first I thought it was just me, but after lowering the rear brake pedal I continued to have the same problem. I wasn't the only one; some other bikers from

Being a competition cross-country model designed for racing events such as the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC), World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) and even GP-style motocross, the EX 350F is perfectly at home. point for this type of ride, brilliant in second-to-third gear trails in reasonable conditions. However, the bike is a little harder to turn in tighter areas in first gear compared to a Honda CRF250RX or Kawasaki KX250X. The chassis feels a little long, and in heavy-load situations or G-outs, there's a hinge-like feel that's exaggerated on deceleration or when the throttle is released. However, the bike is quite stable at high speeds, when accelerating and when the throttle is depressed.

 

The original Neken handlebar is a bit wide but all the rest of the ergonomics are excellent. The bike has one of the narrowest center sections, providing a roomy cockpit, and its 2.25 gallon tank is non-obtrusive and has minimal effect on handling when going full. in the void.

The suspension setup is markedly different than a KTM and takes some getting used to. Overall, I would say the GasGas is smoother, especially on its rear end. This can be due to the shock settings, but also the Husqvarna swingarm, which is known to give the bike a softer rear feel. This gives the bike a bit of a spring, a less planted feel, and also makes it feel heavier. I found that using the rear brake to control the chassis helped me on the EX 350F; I found myself using this technique almost everywhere.

Driving the EX 350F is fun, but it takes a little more energy than expected. Although it feels much lighter than a 450, the weight feel is a little stronger than on a 250F. The feeling of chassis length also requires strong input from the rider to change direction. The bike's acceleration, traction and squat are all unique to the 350 engine. Depending on the shock setting, and because it has significantly less torque than a 450, it's an easier bike to control providing better traction. On the other hand, it has more torque than a 250F, which means it squats slightly less than a 250F depending on the shock setting.

Overall, I liked the characteristics of the engine and the six-speed transmission. It offers the best of both worlds with its fairly close-ratio gears from first to fourth, and fifth and sixth gears are perfect when you want to hit warp speed. The ergonomics are very comfortable and the narrow chassis makes it easy to move around. Its weak point is the stock suspension and its bouncy feel on high-speed trails or rough/rough trails. However, I wouldn't let that stop me from buying a GasGas EX 350F.

With the price of the EX 350F being significantly lower than a KTM 350 XC-F or Husqvarna FX 350, you would have more money to customize your suspension, possibly allowing you to outperform the KTM in maneuverability. The rest of the bike is as good as a KTM. And its red body is superb.

With an $800 price difference between its orange and white 350cc cross-country models, you can use that money to hire a suspension shop to tune the EX 350F's WP Xact components to your liking. The only two other accessories that we recommend you buy to complete the equipment of this off-road competition motorcycle are the hand guards and the skid plate.

Motor:

DOHC, liquid-cooled single cylinder

Bore x Stroke:

88.0 x 57.5mm

Compression ratio:

14.2:1

Cylinder:

350cc

Transmission/End Device:

6-speed/ chain

Dirt Rider Measured Power:

48.9 hp @ 11,800 rpm

Dirt Rider Measured Torque:

25.3 lb.-ft. @ 8,800 rpm

Fuel system:

EFI w/ 44mm throttle body

Clutch:

Wet, Multiplate, Steel Diaphragm (DA); hydraulic control

Frame:

Double central cradle in chromoly steel

Front suspension:

48mm WP Xact fork, adjustable air pressure, compression damping and rebound damping; 12.2 in. travel

Rear suspension:

WP Xact shock, spring preload, high/low speed compression damping and rebound damping adjustable; 11.8 in. travel

Front brakes:

Brembo 2-piston caliper, 260mm disc

Rear brakes:

Brembo 1-piston caliper, 220mm disc

Tyres, front/rear:

Dunlop Geomax AT81; 80/100-21 / 110/100-18

Rake/Trail:

26.1°/NA

Wheelbase:

58.5 in.

Ground clearance:

14.6 in.

Saddle Height Measured by Dirt Rider:

37.7 in.

Fuel Capacity:

2.25 gal.

Dirt Rider Wet Weight Measured:

237 lbs.

Availablity:

Now

Contact:

gasgas.com