Is the GasGas ES700 the perfect trail bike?

I had the opportunity to take the GasGas ES700 out for a blast last weekend. Its the same bike as the KTM 690 enduro R and the Husqvarna 701, so i knew what to expect...or so i thought. Does its pretty red dress make that much difference?

[@erkful]

Just because you have an insta360 doesn’t mean you should use every view it has!!!

[@PetterIvarsson]

I also love to sit on the top of the bike. I used to ride enduro and that type of setup is perfect for me.

[@lightweightadv]

@@PetterIvarsson yeah, it's a really nice seating position for sure 👌🏻

[@nfi2799]

Had the 690 and absolutely loved it! Unfortunately the KTM (Keep Throwing Money) let me down a couple times with expensive fixes. Race horse, great performance but highly strung. Sold it and bought a CRF450.

[@lightweightadv]

Ah, that's a shame. What year did you have?

[@701Adventures]

I’ve had my Husqvarna 701 Enduro two years now and it’s awesome. I’ve used it for commuting, tours, off-roading, you name it, it can do it. The best upgrades you can do from day one are installing a better bashplate, I use the AXP version, fit some Barkbuster hand guards or similar and get some wider/larger foot pegs for when you’re stood up. Also fit some Double Take mirrors the standard mirrors are useless. If you use Michelin Trackers on the bike they’re 200% better than the TKC80’s when riding off-road. Map 1 is normal road use, Mode 2 is the off-road mode which I believe adjusts the traction control accordingly for that type of riding whilst also making the engine response more snappy and/or responsive. As for the seat, I still use the standard seat, your arse gets accustomed to it after a while. 👍

[@lightweightadv]

Nice round up dude, thanks.

[@701Adventures]

@@lightweightadv No problems, did you buy it? There was a sold sign on one at the end, was that a subtle clue or a red herring?

[@lightweightadv]

Haha, well spotted. Not so subtle. It's being run in as we speak 👌🏻

[@701Adventures]

@@lightweightadv Excellent, you won’t regret it 👍👍

[@Floridaregular]

Appalling camera and audio, just being honest go back to “your original” format

[@simonh6866]

Hey Mark, been watching your vids for a while now and find them very informative. I have the Husky 701 LR Rally which I love and have done some touring on but am thinking of doing some lanes but terrified of dropping it! I had the CRF 300l and did some lanes on that which was great fun but that wasn't a 10k bike. Enjoy the GasGas and be mindful of that power!

[@lightweightadv]

Thank you. I totally get that, although, to be honest, I'm more than happy to throw the GasGas down. It's been down a few times already. But when I had a T7 I hated dropping it. It's all a state of mind, I like to think that it's a tool for adventure, not an adventure bike, that mindset helps me. Rode safe mate 😎👌🏻

[@HW-kf7hi]

Congrats on the new bike! That fisheye lense is how I imagine it to be going on an acid trip! 🤪

[@lightweightadv]

😂. Yep, it's exactly as you image it

[@NK-dl2nc]

Great bikes and super powerful. I would still rather have the CCM 644 I built for the tet Europe. Modded for travel with a 25ltr tank it weighed 137kg with half tank of fuel. WP suspension and bombproof suzuki motor. Cheap bike and easy to mod. Had to sell it as health issue means I can't really do long trails. My world raid is a good but heavy comprise.

[@lightweightadv]

That sounds like an awesome bike! The WR is an awesome bike, I enjoyed mine, but it's a chunky monkey 😂

[@richardsimpson3792]

You can get accessory parts to convert the handguards to wrap-around. Big advantage over the KTM is you get silver rims rather than the easily-scratched black ones.

[@lightweightadv]

Ah, that's awesome about the handguards 👌🏻

[@richardsimpson3792]

@@lightweightadv Had them put on mine before it was delivered.

[@SupermotoCentral]

Biggest disadvantage of the gasgas is that it comes with ugly silver wheels 😂

[@SteveInskip]

I was thinking the 500 might be better as it’s got plenty of power and is quite a bit lighter?

[@lightweightadv]

The 500 is a beast, but I need it to be able to sit on the road still and not need nurturing every 2000 miles. I'm not knocking the 500 by any stretch, it's just not for me👍🏻

[@mikees60]

Ooooh, not too sure about some of the camera views. Still entertaining mind.

[@lightweightadv]

Yeah, just experimenting with the 360 👌🏻

[@davidrodenhurst3299]

I remember you testing the second hand 690 from Judd's, then I bought it! Still have it, and enjoying it immensely. Fell off it last October and snapped three ligaments in my shoulder. I lost the front end at low speed on wet grass! Only just back to riding it, on the road at the moment though. Quite a weapon on the tarmac.😮

[@lightweightadv]

Ah, that was you! I flipping loved that bike, you bought a cracker. Yep, that started the spiral that has wound me up here, looking at them again 😂

[@twix1974]

love my ES700. Great on and off road

[@lightweightadv]

Yep, really impressive on both road and trail 👌🏻

[@mattthompson8657]

Loved my 690, first thing to do is get rid of that thermo nuclear exhaust can. Enjoy!

[@lightweightadv]

It's a bit of a beast, isn't it 😂

[@Chris-l6k7t]

Me too that exhaust gets so hot , I’ve had a wings titanium one nowhere near as hot and bout 3odd kilos lighter

[@glennboy66]

Yeah build it u to the specs you get standard with a AJP PR7 and you have the unicorn or buy the AJP PR7 and just ride

[@V111HRD]

Hi mate, I've followed you for a while now and your video on upgrading the crf suspension really helped me do mine. That fucking circlio in the forks was a total bitch and I must have rewound your video 20 times just wondering how the fuck you managed to make it look so easy. I got there in the end though lol. I then watched you with the t7 wr. I almost bought one but ended up getting the es700 about a month ago. You're gonna love it!

[@lightweightadv]

Haha, brilliant. Years of working on aircraft makes you know the tricks of working with circlips I guess 😅. Yep, veeery excited about the ES. What stopped you getting the WR?

[@V111HRD]

Thanks for replying 👍 I made an offer on a wr in January this year at the dealer in folkestone in Kent. They refused and the same bike is still sitting there now. Glad they refused tbh. Love the t7 but I just continued to ride my 300l. I was looking on FB marketplace while walking the dog and a 23 model es700 popped up just up the road from me in as new condition with some nice extras fitted. Seat, bash plate and proper hand guards and practically no miles. When I collected it the bloke couldn't touch the floor. Hence he never used it. Cracking machine. Be good to see how you get on with yours. I'm going to get some trackers on it soon. Great tyres that I've enjoyed on the 300l. Cheers

[@random49stuff]

You should try buying a bike in my budget of £1500 or less, pickings are slim.

[@lightweightadv]

Agreed. Perhaps when I have a spare £1500 I'll try. I like the idea of it 😎

[@jetsathanas5656]

Dr350 is were it's at in that price range

[@kevinstorey9840]

Throw that camera away!

[@nobodyshero200]

Hate the insta footage. Crap! Drives me away from videos.

[@lightweightadv]

Shame. We have 2 of them, so I expect they will feature more

[@motopasky]

@@lightweightadv 360 cameras are great for framing the shot perfectly, but those gimmicky editing tools, like the tiny planet stuff is just tiktok crap. They get so tiring and look terrible.

[@AdamADVSpec]

What's the fate of the T7 World Raid now then?

[@lightweightadv]

What T7....? 👌🏻

[@grenphelps7455]

That's probably the perfect bike for you, it's all good having a crf, but carrying all the weight and you when you go off on your jollies, can't be doing the little bike any favours.... maybe see if gasgas would lend you one for a long weekend trip...

[@lightweightadv]

I'm not sure I entirely agree. The CRF is a little mule, able to carry 2 people, let alone me and my kit. This is a race horse in comparison. They're different tools for different jobs I think. I'm going to get one for a little longer term I think 😎👌🏻

[@grenphelps7455]

​@@lightweightadv I've just sold my crf250l and I was up looking at the husky version and I'd have one, just need to get a test ride, off road, I agree with you, but getting places on the little donkey is slow going and a right pain....

[@lightweightadv]

Yeah, you know, I think I enjoy that aspect when I'm travelling. Less so when I'm out for a weekend of riding. Ride either the 690/700/701, they're all virtually identical and will let you know if they suit you 👌🏻

[@iangriffiths9930]

I tried a 690 at the ABR, I really didn’t like the engine, was really lumpy and I found it difficult as low speed, also having no fuel taking in front of me felt wrong somehow but I could have gotten used to it, it’s just that engine, reminded me of a tractor 😁

[@lightweightadv]

That's interesting 🤔. The engine really was the jewel in the crown for me. It's a bit peaky at low speeds for sure, but once it's wound up, it's a treat. Shows that it's not for everyone I guess! They're a little bit marmite for sure

[@iangriffiths9930]

I’m thinking the new CFMoto 450mt twin might be a good bet 👍

[@lightweightadv]

It's going to be an interesting proposition for sure. Much like the Himi450 is (albeit a bit lighter). I'm looking forward to trying one. I'm not exactly sure who it's aimed at to be honest. It's not weekend/green lane riders and possibly not adv riders either. Like I say, excited to try one.

[@iangriffiths9930]

Agreed but I was looking at a T7 but I’ll hold off until I’ve seen and ridden the 450 as the T7 is tall and about 4K more expensive. From what I’ve seen of the 450 it looks capable of the type of trails I’d take an adventure bike down so it’s got my interest.

[@PotatoeJoe69]

The worst thing about these bikes is also the best thing - it's low end torque that comes in gobs right off idle. I know, you may be asking but how ia that bad? Simple... this bike likes to wheelie when you don't want it to wheelie. If you are trail riding and end up going up a hill, this bike wants to flip over because it simply refuses to keep the front wheel down. 😂

[@lightweightadv]

I found this out at my peril 😂. It's amazing, but only when it's under control

[@WadeMade]

I've found that the 500 has more low end torque but the 700 has far superior mid range torque. Honestly I haven't been happy with my ES 700. It's not the motor but more the transmission ratios and ergos. The seat height is 1" taller than the KTM and the bar to seat height is very minuscule even with bar risers. I didn't realize it had a different seat height when I bought it. I would of got the KTM had I known. The gearing ratios are spaced too close IMO. Too tall for singletrack and too low for highway. It's a odd choice because if you change your gearing more towards one or the other it really impacts the other. So it's best to just leave the stock gearing unless you only ride singletrack. Then that would beg the question if you've bought the wrong bike if you only ride singletrack because a 300 2 stroke is far better in that regard. Regardless, I own one and wish I opted to go a different direction with my purchase.

[@PotatoeJoe69]

@@WadeMade Change the sprocket out. Get a sprocket with 6 less teeth. That's a good starting point.

[@PetterIvarsson]

Interesting. I tried the bike for an hour and think there was too little torque down. I compare it with my heavily modded Yamaha XT660Z which insanely strong from 4000 to 6000 rpm. Can cruise at 3000 without hickups at all. But I think you can fix the GasGas with some tuning.

[@WadeMade]

Not exactly the same. The ES700 has a 1" higher seat height and also a 1" shorter seat to bar height.

[@lightweightadv]

Oh, that's interesting. I was aware of the seat height, but didn't consider the seat to bar position as a result. Thanks man 😎

[@johnwillem9697]

Camera settings are 🤢🤮

[@jimstewardson3362]

Awful video....not you or content. The picture...soz mate

[@lightweightadv]

That's cool, just experimenting 👍🏻

[@gazgilfhunter]

No ! Worst bike I’ve ever had

[@lightweightadv]

Why?

[@gazgilfhunter]

You got to spend £1k + to get it off road capable . You’ve already noticed it needs bar risers. Then you’ll need dongles,exhaust because it melts the plastics, tougher rear break lever,because it will break,proper hand guards , rear rack , better petrol cap,because the key is known to break inside.. List goes on! My Speedo broke changing the time. Abs on/off is annoying. Clutch broke. Clutch fluid rots O rings . Doesn’t come with rim locks . Just an all round bad bike .

[@SupermotoCentral]

​@@gazgilfhuntersounds like normal mods for any bike😂 Love my 701, it's the 🦄

[@gazgilfhunter]

@@SupermotoCentral we did uk north tet 2 lads on 690’s both needed clutches . It was only a weeks riding . Glad you’re happy with yours . I’m glad I got rid of