2022 GasGas 450

As most of you know I have a long legacy with the Austrian brand spending 2004-2019 as the lead test rider for KTM North America. Over the course of the 15 years, I honestly fell in love with the Austrian brand. We spend many years as the ugly duckling but around 2011 people were starting to see what the KTM group was up to. This where things get funny with me. I have been very outspoken with my love for the 350sxf, but after taking another direction in life and leaving my position with KTM I decided to ride a Yamaha. I really enjoyed my 18 months on the Yamaha and working with KYB on a part time basis. I learned about a new machine and what I really wanted in a 450.  Fast forward to the last year and my family made a big move to Australia where I find myself going back to my comfort zone and got back on a 450 but this time it was red and called a GasGas.

 

We all know these Austrian models share a lot of the same technology but what drove me to the brand is what the marketing message from GasGas is. The brand is fun, and loud with the likes of Prado, and Barcia representing them. The other great thing about the GasGas 450 is I’m not paying for things that I don’t need like traction control, billet clamps and black rims. I just need the base and I can build it from there. You know what the bike can do in stock form but I’m going to tell you how I built up my bike to be one of the best homebuilt GasGas 450’s you can build. Like I tell most people I rode the bike a few times before changing anything. Once I identified what I wanted to change I started with the suspension.


Chassis

 I had Shaun Featherstone at Raceline performance re-valve my suspension. Yes, I said re-valve. I didn’t drop in a spring replacement kit or cone valves. I wanted to take the first step and improve the stock platform before I knew there wasn’t any more, I could do with it. After Shaun re-valved my suspension, it fixed the inconsistency in the fork. I had much more confidence in the fork under breaking and traction. I also knew that I wanted to improve vibration and comfort in my hands, so I went with the split clamps from KTM powerparts coupled with the PDHS bar mounts and Pro Taper Carmichael bend bars. That set up is my go-to and I find it a great set up for comfort and support for the air fork.

 

The stock shock was quite harsh on square edged acceleration so the re-valve on the shock fixed those issues relatively easy. I added the WP pre-load adjuster on the shock for some bling and easy adjustment because balance is so important for me.  A big complaint for me on the Austrian models is the pegs. replaced the stock with some really sharp Ballards titanium pegs

 

Components

The stock GasGas wheels aren’t much to write home about, so I went with bronze Talon hub with DID dirt star rim. This not only gives the bike a factory look, but it also stiffens up the bike with a firmer rim and stiffer hub. The GasGas 450 doesn’t come with a skid plate like the KTM so I added a P3 carbon skid plate, so it doesn’t hurt the flex characteristic of the chassis. The rear chain guide isn’t that good in mud, so I went with the Acerbis chain guide to improve the chain with a possible derail. I’m using stock gearing with Pro Taper sprockets front and rear. To protect the front rotor I used the Acerbis Carbon disc guard. I also used Acerbis frame guards to protect the frame and give me more grip between my legs. With these 450’s having an enormous amount of power I’m using the Guts ribbed seat cover to keep my fat butt from falling off the bike. One of my must do’s is adding the Hinson clutch cover. The KTM doesn’t demand a clutch kit so I stay with the stock clutch components but use the Hinson cover. One of the key things for is tires and I keep this thing on the track with Maxxis ST tires front and rear “same as stock”. Bling who doesn’t like some bling. P3 supplied the carbon fiber reservoir caps to match the skid plate.

 Powerplant

 I don’t need more power that’s for sure. It’s more of the delivery for me. I went with American made FMF 4.1 titanium system. This gave the bike more snap and improved the look, but the stock exhaust isn’t not something you need to change to be honest. The other small thing I changes was the air filter cage. I got rid of the stock air filter cage and went with two-stroke cage without a screen this improves the bottom end response letting the bike breathe.

 

Overall Impression

 That’s it folks this is my personal 2022 GasGas MC450. I really love this bike but since I have built it there is some things that I do want to change now. I feel I have tapped out the air forks and I’m looking for more overall control so I ordered the WP spring conversion kit. I also want a lighter quicker feel in my hand so I need to get a Vortex ignition and get it mapped.  I also want to say that if I don’t talk about it, I didn’t change it. I hope my build helps you build your dream bike.  These builds would not be possible if it wasn’t for MXstore and the support of GasGas so stay tuned for my project bikes.

Moto, Moto - Bike Buildsmike sleeterGasGas 450, FMF, Sleeter, 450, Austrian, Acerbis, Rival, Motorex, pro taper1 Comment