2024 GasGas MC 350F Review

With defined 250 and 450 racing classes, the Austrian 350cc machines sometimes get lost in the middle. The KTM group is still the only manufacturer in the 350 biz, and we’re glad they are. I was reminded of the 350’s cult-like following while listening to recent podcasts during my flight to the 2024 GasGas model launch in Italy. I thought back to when I last rode a 350, and, to my surprise, it was a while back. So, when I arrived at the Crossodromo La Trogna MX track located south of San Marino, my sight was firmly fixed on the all-new 2024 GasGas MC 350F.

By Ryan Nitzen

 2024 GasGas MC 350F Review | All-New?

Yes, the 2024 GasGas MC 350F is all-new. It received similar updates that its KTM counterpart got last year, like a new frame, swingarm, engine and bodywork, pretty much the works. It’s the bike’s first significant overhaul since the GasGas name was merged into the KTM Group’s portfolio of brands.

The updated fuel-injected engine is more compact than before and is rotated two degrees rearward in the new frame, which has updated wall thicknesses in strategic areas to improve rider feedback and bump absorption. The aluminum subframe is all-new, too. With the rearward engine placement comes a new location for the countershaft and sprocket, which GasGas says reduces squatting under hard acceleration.

The 350’s well-liked WP Xact fork and shock are back for 2024 but with updated settings to accompany all the chassis and engine changes.

Compared to the GasGas’ higher-priced KTM 350 SX-F and Husqvarna FC 350 Austrian cousins, the GasGas has less bling. For example, the GasGas is fitted with stamped aluminum handlebars (made by Neken), forged (versus fancier CNC milled) aluminum triple clamps, silver (instead of prettier black) wheels and an aluminum subframe compared to the Husqvarna’s composite subframe. The GasGas has no map switch, and you get Braktec brakes versus top-of-the-line Brembo brakes on the KTM. Less bling might be less fun, but it saves you $800 on the GasGas’ purchase price compared to the KTM and $900 to the Husqvarna.

Like last year’s KTM 350, the new GasGas 350 gained weight, seven pounds, says the company. In case you’re wondering, the 350 GasGas is approximately two pounds heavier than its 250cc brother and about a pound lighter and about six horsepower less than its bigger 450 brother.

2024 GasGas MC 350F Review | Track Time

You can call the 350 a racey 250 or a mellow 450, but don’t call it slow. It has a torquey hit off the bottom and pairs nicely with its free-revving character, like a typical 250F motor. The 350’s motor pulls strong from down low, carrying the heart of its five gears for a surprisingly long time, similar to a 450. But the best part? You can still be lazy despite its 14,000 rpm redline! No need to bang its gearbox and fan its hydraulic clutch like a 250; leave it in second or third, and you’ll be golden. GasGas has successfully taken the feel of a 250 and matched it nicely with the personality of a 450, perfect for the vet rider who wants the best of both worlds and anybody who simply wants to have fun on the track.

Even though the GasGas does not come standard with a handlebar map switch, one is available as a GasGas accessory. The bolt-on map switch also gives you access to Launch Control, Traction Control and a Quickshifter function. Luckily, my ride was fitted with a map switch. The steady white light from the switch indicates the standard map (Map 1). The green light (Map 2), the aggressive map. That’s where all the fun is. Map 2 uncorks the motor and gives it a much livelier personality. You absolutely feel the difference between the two maps. In green, the redline feels extended, allowing you to carry gears from bottom to top more easily than in the standard map. I loved it. I left it in the green all day; I favored the extra oomph, especially for the climbs on the hilly Italian track. The $150 asking price for the optional map switch is well worth it.

I doubt you’ll notice the increase in the bike’s overall weight. The bike feels agile and much lighter than the one-pound weight difference between it and the 450 I got to ride back-to-back. The 350 feels much closer to a 250 in maneuverability than a 450 but with more power. It possesses an agile character that encourages you to attack the track instead of making you feel intimidated by it. The 350’s motor is the best of both worlds and shows that sometimes less can be more.

The chassis is slim, and the chromoly frame is an absolute scalpel in the hard-packed conditions that I rode the bike. You can slice through flat turns with noticeable ease and get a precise feel of the ground. The unbranded handlebars, silver wheels and forged clamps might not be as pretty as the pricier stuff, but they don’t hinder performance. If those things make you slower, you might have more significant problems to address.

The GasGas’ Braktec stoppers are middle-of-the-road. They get the job done but don’t have the same bite as higher-end braking components like those on KTM’s motocrossers. Faster riders will likely want more braking power from the GasGas’ brakes.

2024 GasGas MC 350F Review | More To Come

This was just our first taste of the all-new GasGas MC 350F. We’re looking forward to spending more time on it and on more familiar ground, where we will give this excellent middle-of-the-road, do-it-all and vet-friendly motocrosser a thorough test. CN

VIDEO | We Ride New 2024 GasGas Motocross Models

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2024 GasGas MC 350F Specifications

Click here to read the 2024 GasGas MC 350F Review in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.

 

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