They're all built to look aggressive but the first thing that strikes you about this Gas Gas is not the attitude but the track dimension. It's 1200mm, and the front track is wider than the rear, an unusual trait in sports ATVs, and in this case one that gives the Gas Gas handling characteristics of its own, as we'll explain in a moment. The 300 is expensive, $13,500, but the people who market it here believe that to build any other quad up to this spec with aftermarket parts would produce a parts bill far in excess of that figure. It's hard to argue when you stack up the features on this thing. Just check out the following list on that front!
Dura-Blue axles Douglas rims Boyesen read valve Twin-pot Brembo calipers Adjustable Ohlins shocks Wiseco piston A chrome-moly chassis Fat chrome-moly A-arms Rubber-mounted head-stem Braided lines Twist-throttle A hydraulic clutch Nerf bars large enough to restrain the feet of Ian Thorpe To quad aficionados that list is music to the ears. Put all this together though, says distributor Solo Imports, and you have an out-of-the-crate racer that doesn't need thousands of dollars worth of go-fast parts to make it competitive. You also have a trail blaster that'll give anything out there a run for its money.
SO WHAT'S IT'S LIKE TO RIDE?
Typically, quads are a blast and this one is no exception. There'll be a lot of people who prefer a four-stroke, and I can see why - less fuel consumption, milder power delivery and all that - but this particular two-stroke is a lot easier to live with than many of its highly-strung counterparts. The last two-stroke quad I rode had a powerband narrower than a human hair and was typical of many high performance ringa-dings, or the older-style ones anyway, in that it produced huge amounts of power but in small, violent explosions. There was little continuity to the power delivery and I didn't enjoy the experience much at all. That gizmo was fast alright but it wasn't pleasant to ride unless you were World Skidmark Champ or oblivious to life-threatening situations, and I'm not.
The Gas Gas engine in this ATV comes from the EC300 enduro bike and has been worked to produce torque where you need it and speed everywhere. The thing is fast, to your average trail rider anyway, and I'm your average trail rider, but the power arrives in a predictable rush, not a series of disjointed pulses. As Gas Gas dealer and former road racing champ Graeme Morris so eloquently put it, "You don't have to rev the snot out of this thing to make it go." Indeed.
Having an uncommonly wide track stabilises handling, to the point where the Gas Gas refuses to fling itself into wild oversteer and will barely lift a front wheel unless abused. It feels safe. You don't seem to be leaning into a corner as much as you do on other ATVs. It will slide, but you need a lot of revs, or snot, to make it happen. There's a pronounced tendency for the steering to self-centre and you can feel this as you exit a turn under power. According to Morris, and believe me, he should know, the wide track also prevents the front-end tucking under, not a pleasant sensation at speed on a quad or anything else. This setup also makes the Gas Gas easier to ride fast.
I haven't had a lot to do with ATVs but every time I ride a good one I want more. The WILD 300 is a cool looking machine with plenty of high performance in a refined package, and with a standard of finish that I'm pleased to say is typical of Gas Gas. If you're into two-stroke speed equipment, try this quad before you buy anything else.
WHAT WE LIKED:
- Great looks
- Top notch components
- It's a real hoot
WHAT WE DIDN'T LIKE:
- It's expensive
- You can't register it (unfortunately)
- It might be too fast for some
By Barry Ashenhurst