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New to me 450FSE SM, need advice!!!

3K views 3 replies 2 participants last post by  2stroksm 
#1 ·
So i just bought a beat up 04 gas gas 450 SM. It was used by walt disney as a movie bike and has seen better days. It needs a fuel pump, throttle cable, and some plastics right off the bat. For all of you current 04 450 owners, do you guys have any tips, tricks or immediate upgrades that i should make for this bike to be a successful daily driver. Ive heard they have starting issues in regards to flooding easily and tend to run rich throughout the entire RPM range. Whatever issues you guru's think itd be good for me to know please fill me in! Thanks
 
#2 ·
Spend some time over here: http://www.gasgasrider.org/forum/index.php
Ask the forum gurus for advise.
Here for your parts: http://www.gofasters.com/
Or here for a local dealer: http://ggor.us/dealers.html

I hate to pee in your wheeties, but, the pre-2005 4-strokes from GasGas
had quite a few problems. They seem to be hit or miss about engine
failures. Some have +20,000 miles on theirs. A friend of mine had an 03 that
sucked a valve within the first 1,000 miles. The GG importer gave him all new
parts from the cyl base gasket up, Head, Piston Rings etc.... He payed the
labor for a dealer to fix everything..Gentle start up and break in procedure
in progress.... 50 miles later it threw the rod through the case.....
I guess the stress from sucking the valve damaged the rod and no one thought
to check it.
Long story to short... He picked up a new 2005 EC450 and turned it into an SM. Still
has it as far as I know.
Welcome to the GasGas family and good luck.
Jeff EC250SM..
EC300
EC50SM Rookie.
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the reply, i read into the 04 450's before i bought it and i really couldnt resist, i only paid 810$ for it! Im hoping that all or most of the problems have been sorted out, as it was maintained by hopefully competant people. It was used for 4-5 years by walt disney in FL as part of thier "lights, motors, action" stunt show. They sold off all thier bikes when they bought new bikes to replace them. The man i bought it from bought two of them, but only rides one. He threw the other up on ebay after it sat in his garage for 2 years. Hopefully all the sour juice has been squeezed out of this proposed lemon, and i get nothing but a sweet sweet bike.
 
#4 ·
You have the right attitude! Go get em.
I think the stock black plastics might be a little tough
to locate. At least they are for my older model. Mine
is a 1998 EC250SM. E-bay did have a set of well used
black SM plastic a few weeks ago. Might have been from
the same folks you bought your bike from. Some one is also
parting out a 450F on e-bay. Might be some goodies there for you.
Get a hold of the folks on GGRider. I think they are
the best resource, (in English), for the GasGas in the world.
Happy trails. Jeff
 
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