GasGas has been making waves in the quarter-litre category over the last few seasons and for the new year it has made its intentions clear with the new generation 2024 GasGas MC 250F. In this latest Tested review, MotoOnline travelled to Citta di Castello, Italy, to put the latest model through its paces.

The latest MC 250F has continued its trend of improvements, with upgrades to the engine, a revamped plastics design and more, this bike is the real deal in terms of being a top-level MX2 contender. The power has noticeably increased and straight away I felt that it has better bottom-to-mid-range than the previous model. For a more extensive technical rundown, view Detailed.

I hadn’t had the chance to ride the updated KTM or Husqvarna 250 four-strokes, so I was going into this test interested to find out what GasGas had come up with. First I rode the bike in stock trim, on the soft map, no clickers adjusted, no sag set – nothing. I purely adjusted the handlebars and lever position for personal preference.

Image: Supplied.

Immediately, it was pretty obvious that these bikes have more bottom-end power than previous variants, which I think they needed in stock trim. They’ve always had great mid-to-top, but I feel they lacked that punch down low, and this is welcome step forward.

After being impressed from the outset, even on the soft map, I was eager to give the aggressive map a try. One thing I love about the Austrian bikes is their simplicity… Just a quick press of a button on the handlebars and we’ve got ourselves a different ignition map. Love it.

Changing from the soft map to the aggressive map, the differences were noticeable. The soft map still has great bottom-end and I think it’s still an option for even pros to use. However, professional riders will mostly steer clear of this map because it’s not as ‘aggressive’. But, I think for hard-packed tracks with less undulation, it’s honestly a great option.

The reason I choose the aggressive map in this instance is purely because of the track I rode on. The circuit in Italy at the global press intro had lots of up-hills and I noticed that extra punch instantly from the twist of the throttle, helping with the initial exit of the turns and driving up the steep climbs.

Image: Sebas Romero.

Also located on the handlebar map switch are the quickshift and traction control options, but I’ll admit that these two options aren’t really for me. I just can’t seem to wrap my head around them, but I think for a learner, these two options might be that little security blanket you need while your riding progresses.

Moving onto the suspension. My opinion here is much the same as what I thought on the 2024 MC 450F. These bikes are great standard, but I think there’s a lot to learn in terms of air pressure. That seems to be super-sensitive, so changing five PSI is actually really noticeable, and my suggestion here is to be patient and really give these a try. We see a lot of riders rushing out to buy spring conversion kits and things along those lines, but in my experience, the 48mm WP XACT forks are just fine.

The same goes for the WP XACT rear shock, which the standard setting is more than capable on. Before I speak any more about the shock, I need to make a special mention about how easy it is to make adjustments on the forks and shock this year, since for compression and rebound adjustment, there are no tools needed. You can use your fingers to adjust clickers, which is a huge yes from me.

Image: Supplied.

I found the shock to be extremely good in the acceleration bumps. I could feel it working to get my rear wheel back on the surface, which was a nice feeling, almost reminiscent of the WP Trax shock from a few years ago. Citta di Castello was riddled with choppy bumps on the entries and exits of turns, however, I felt this bike stayed straight into turns and there were never any real surprise kicks sideways.

Touching on the chassis, I couldn’t believe how good this bike can turn. I’m putting this down to the new chassis because we’ve seen the 48mm XACT fork in previous models. Although there’s an updated setting in those, I still believe the frame is the reason for the extraordinary turning capabilities. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, but geometry-wise, the upgrades have made it turn way better without compromising stability.

Equipped with the all-new Braktec brakes and hydraulic clutch, my opinion remains the same as what I said in the 2024 MC 450F review. I can’t tell you any difference between Brembo and Braktec, so I think people need to stop having their minds already made up before they even try these systems, because they’re great!

Overall, I’m a huge fan of the 2024 GasGas MC 250F. It’s amazing to see how much they progress every year and, in my opinion, I’m confident that this new generation could really make waves domestically and internationally in the 250 four-stroke category. Only time will tell!

Specifications

Engine type: 249.9cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke
Bore/stroke: 81×48.5mm
Transmission: Five-speed
Starter: Electric
Clutch: Braktec hydraulic
Traction control: Yes
Launch control: Yes
Front suspension: WP Xact 48mm
Rear suspension: WP Xact shock
Front brake: Braktec 260mm disc
Rear brake: Braktec 220mm disc
Tyres: Maxxis Maxxcross MX-ST
Weight: 101.7kg (without fuel)
Availability: September 2023
Further information: www.gasgas.com