The 2025 GasGas MC 350F is a solid bike right out of the crate, but we wanted to find out if a few simple modifications could take it from good to great. The Austrian-built 350 four-stroke has always been one of my favorite engines to ride, but I’ve often wished for a little extra power—especially when I’m being lazy and want to lug it in third gear without shifting. On top of that, I was also looking for more comfort and performance out of the suspension. With that in mind, we handed our 350 over to our friend Luc Santos, owner of Factory Motocross Vacations, to see what he could dial in and how much he could elevate the GasGas MC 350F.

Build List - 2025 Gas Gas MC 350F Build List

• WP Pro Components Suspension (A-Kit, the big ticket item), tuned by Mark Johnson of REP
• Vortex ECU, mapped by Twisted Development Racing
• KTM Powerparts Split Triple Clamps
• FMF 4.1 Exhaust System with 250F spec Megabomb header
• Nacstar USA wheels with DID STX rims
• Renthal grips, bars, and sprockets (one tooth down in the rear from stock)
• Dunlop MX34 tires
• DID chain
• Raptor Titanium footpegs
• Hinson Racing clutch cover (from a factory edition GasGas model)
• Decal Works custom graphics kit
• Moto-Seat seat cover
• Motul 300V 10w-40 engine oil

To see and hear the bike in action, plus our thoughts, click play on this video

First Impression 

After getting the bike built up with all the new parts installed, we linked up with Luc at Fox Raceway to experience the full Factory Motocross Vacations treatment. When I rolled in, everything was already unloaded and set up. Luc had the GasGas ready alongside a few customers from North Carolina who were also there for the day. The bike looked sharp with updated graphics and a handful of fresh components. We went through setup, checking sag, adjusting bars and levers, and with Luc lending a hand it felt like I had my own personal mechanic. We started the day at 105mm sag and never needed to change it. From the first laps, the throttle response was crisp and the power delivery peppy, giving the 350 a playful but controlled character as I eased into the track. The suspension impressed right away too, offering excellent beginning-stroke comfort front and rear, soaking up small bumps effortlessly. The Renthal full-waffle grips with half the waffle cut off felt surprisingly good in my hands, while the Moto-Seat kept me locked forward when driving out of corners. It didn’t take long before I was really enjoying the GasGas MC 350F and knew the day was going to be a blast.

Engine

The Austrian 350F engine has always been one of my favorites in motocross thanks to its unique character—offering the torque and rideability of a 450 while carrying the extended over-rev of a 250F. I’ve always felt the 350 leans closer to a 450 in overall feel, but it still benefits from a touch more low-end grunt, sharper throttle response, and a livelier midrange. That’s where Jamie Ellis’ ECU tuning came in, and he really delivered. With his mapping, the bike had noticeably stronger low-rpm power and crisper throttle pickup, which let me stay in third gear through corners more often while maintaining excellent low-to-mid control. This made tight sections easier and gave me more drive to clear jumps on corner exits. The midrange hit was punchier and more exciting, giving the engine a livelier personality, and it even felt a bit quicker to rev compared to stock, which I liked. In deeper rutted turns, rpm recovery was improved too, and I didn’t have to fan the clutch or worry about carrying as much momentum. Up top, the power carried farther with a smoother, more usable over-rev that felt slightly stronger than stock. Overall, the 350 was more controllable yet more powerful across the range, making it a package I think many riders would prefer over their current 450s, which often deliver more power than they can realistically use. Honestly, it was tough to find a downside here—the mapping was clean, the torque and throttle response were improved, and the overall power spread just worked. Credit to Twisted Development for the ECU tuning and FMF for the exhaust system. We ran pump gas, but with race fuel, this setup would only get better.

Suspension

REP (Research Engineering Performance) handled the setup on this WP Pro Components fork and shock, working off notes from Luc about the feel he was after. They did an excellent job translating those preferences into a package that worked on track. I value comfort in suspension settings, and this setup delivered, especially in the beginning-to-mid stroke range. Both front and rear offered great small-to-medium bump absorption while keeping the bike level and composed. Austrian bikes are already well balanced with minimal pitching, and this tune enhanced that characteristic, giving me the confidence to push harder as the bike stayed calm and predictable. As the pace increased, I could feel the end-stroke performance—very solid overall, though the shock’s damping ramped up a touch quicker from mid-to-end stroke than I’d prefer. If I had a tech trackside, I’d ask to shift a little damping away from the end stroke and into the mid. Instead, I went three clicks stiffer on the rear slow-speed compression and sped up rebound two clicks, which helped in high-load situations and gave the shock a more progressive damping character. After that, the fork felt slightly soft from mid-to-end stroke, which I had noticed even before the rear adjustment, so I added two clicks of compression and slowed the rebound two clicks as well. The result was an impressive balance of comfort at slower speeds and performance when riding aggressively, making the bike equally enjoyable to cruise or push hard. Having recently ridden the Husky 350 in stock trim, it’s not a perfect comparison, but you can clearly feel the higher quality of this REP-tuned setup. A calm, plush feeling character with improved performance—that’s a hard line to walk, and the REP crew nailed it.

Chassis

We didn’t make any chassis changes with engine mounts or other parts, but the improved engine character alone made the bike feel lighter on lean and easier to carve through ruts. Compared to the 450, this chassis carries a calmer, more compliant character with added comfort. The most recent chassis update really paid off, as it brought more comfort and better overall feel, but I still think high-load comfort could be improved, as it isn’t quite as forgiving as an aluminum frame. One part that stood out was the Raptor titanium footpegs. These were a huge upgrade over stock, offering noticeably better grip and helping me keep my toes planted, even though foot position is something I tend to struggle with. On my toes, the pegs felt more secure and slipped far less. The Renthal full-waffle grips with the waffle half cut off were another highlight. I’ve been loyal to Kevlar grips since 2011, but these had me questioning that. The material is different from a standard half-waffle, so trimming them gives a unique feel—more comfort without losing control. Speaking of durability, the Nacstar USA wheels didn’t feel drastically different in performance, especially without a direct back-to-back against stock, but it’s always reassuring to have a tougher wheelset underneath you.

Final Word

After a full day on the bike, I found myself still wanting to spin more laps, questioning whether I should actually call it quits or keep riding. I’m fortunate enough to throw a leg over a lot of bikes these days, so it really takes something special to make me second-guess packing it in when I’m already tired. This 350, with just a handful of simple modifications, quickly became one of my favorite bikes to ride, largely thanks to its playful and enjoyable engine character. At 180 pounds and as an ex-pro who can still twist the throttle when I want to, the power was more than enough to keep me entertained and smiling all day. Those easy mods transformed the MC 350F from “just another test bike” into one I’d gladly choose on my own time for pure fun. On top of that, having Factory Motocross Vacations take care of everything and make me feel like a factory rider was the perfect finishing touch. If you want to experience a day like this yourself, reach out to Luc at FMV to set up your ride day, as he has a fleet of bikes similar to the bike he built for u. You won’t regret it, and best of all, you don’t even have to wash the bike afterward. That’s every rider’s dream. Learn more at FactoryMotocrossVacations.com