Dirt an Trail July 2022

New Dakar-inspired 400cc GasGas prototype
spied…
GasGas have their sights set on the low-capacity
rally raiding top spot, developing a new road-legal
Dakar-inspired 400cc single. It’s apparent that the new
machine is inspired by the desert racer on which Brit
Sam Sunderland won this year’s Dakar Rally. It’s also the
firm’s first new road-legal adventure bike.The new bike
is expected to enter production in 2024 and could form
the basis of other capacity versions ranging from 125
to 700cc.
Spanish brand GasGas started life in 1985 specialising
in trials and enduro machines. Jordi Tarres then Adam
Raga won the world trails championships in 1993-1995
and 2005-2006 respectively while British rider Paul Edmondson,
most recently seen doing the stunt riding in
Bond flick No Time To Die, won the 125cc enduro world
title in 1994 then took the 250cc class win in 1996, too.
Motomate Rivonia:
Motomate Rivonia in the Rivonia Crossing
shopping centre just of Witkoppen road is quite a
shop. It looks small from the outside – but when
you walk in… it’s massive with a huge section
dedicated to road – and separate store just for
the dirt bike crowd. They stock a huge amount
of clobber – all of the popular brands from
service items, to tyres, sprockets, chains, rider
gear helmets, goggles… Go and see for yourself.
There’s a lot.
Upstairs, there’s a clearance store with some of
the older stock severelly marked down. Nothing
wrong with any of it – maybe just last years
colours or styling.
And this month, they celebrate their 9th year in
the trade and tell us that there will be loads of
specials through the month. Pop in and say hello.
www.facebook.com/motom8 sales@motomate.
co.za (011) 234-5274/5
Since then, however, GasGas has struggled. They were
taken over in 2015 and finally sold to Pierer/KTM twoyears-ago.
That KTM link was a factor in Sunderland’s last-minute
GasGas Dakar ride and also, as with other ‘sister’ brand
Husqvarna, explains much of the new bike’s specification.
At its heart is an all-new – likely 399cc – liquid-cooled
single that’s being developed by KTM and has already
been spied in the new 390 Duke expected next year.
The 40bhp lump is also set to power an expected new
Husqvarna Norden 401.
All-new bodywork is inspired by Sunderland’s racer
complete with high, steeply-angled screen and, as is the
case with Husqvarna’s street models, expected to house
bespoke instruments.
Imported by Autocycle. Chat to your dealer.
Photos: R. Schedl, H. Mitterbauer husqvarna-motorcycles.com
Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations!
The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.