GasGas has strayed into the world of road bikes since it was bought by the Pierer Mobility Group (PMG) in 2019. Now, it is set to expand its on-road range.
At the moment, GasGas’ street bike range is two-strong, with the ES 700 and SM 700 that both use the 693cc single-cylinder motor KTM uses for its 690 SMC R.
Spy shots published by Motorrad indicate that the Spanish brand is set to add to those two with a new twin-cylinder range.
Anticipated to be called the ES 800 and SM 800, the new bikes will use the 790cc parallel-twin engine used in the KTM 790 Duke and 790 Adventure, as well as the new Husqvarna Svartpilen 801.
The GasGas bikes’ use of this engine - which is also used in the CFMoto 800MT and 800 NK, with which the new GasGas bikes also share a headlight - further indicates that KTM has a specific intention for it. Now, the engine is used by both of PMG’s ‘secondary’ subsidiaries (GasGas and Husqvarna), by its major industrial partner, CFMoto, which also builds the engine, and by KTM itself, but only in its second-tier mid-capacity adventure and naked bikes, not the premier 990 Duke and 890 (soon-to-be 990) Adventure. Effectively, the 790 twin is now PMG’s cheap middleweight: made in China, and marketed diversely as a neo-retro scrambler or an affordable adventurer, or, now, as a ‘fun’ model, since this is GasGas’ point.
Exactly how the ES 800, which comes with a 19-inch front wheel, fits into that is uncertain, but for the SM 800 it’s more straightforward, as it will be the first twin-cylinder ‘supermoto’ bike (as in, not a supermoto-touring crossover) to be produced by a PMG brand.
The bikes both come with the kind of chassis setup you would expect. In fact, under its aggressive bodywork and high, motocross-ish front mudguard, the ES 800 is almost identical to the 790 Adventure. Both feature WP suspension, and J.Juan brakes.
Exactly when we might see these bikes launched is to be confirmed. GasGas launched the SM 700 and ES 700 together in 2022, so we should perhaps expect a similar joint launch for the two when they eventually are ready.
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