THE GEAR: Jersey: FXR Clutch, Pants: FXR Clutch, Helmet: 6D ATR-3, Goggles: Factory Ride, Boots: Alpinestars Tech 7s.

Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2025 GASGAS MC85 BETTER THAN THE 2024 MODEL?

A: Yes. The Austrians have been busy the last few years. The big bikes were all new in 2023. The 65s and 50s were new in 2024, and now the KTM, Husky, and GasGas 85s are all new for 2025. They are significantly better than last year’s bikes.

The 2025 GasGas MC85 has a redesigned engine layout, new cylinder head, new ignition, updated Keihin carb settings and a  new exhaust and silencer.

Q: WHAT’S NEW ON THE 2025 GASGAS MC85?

A: Just about everything. This isn’t a BNG (bold new graphics) update—it’s a full-blown overhaul. The 2025 GasGas MC85 gained a new frame with reworked geometry that mimics that of the big bikes, and it works with the new swingarm, updated settings in the WP XACT air forks, and a new shorter shock with an updated linkage ratio and new shock mount. It also has improved cooling with larger radiators, a redesigned engine layout with a new cylinder head, new ignition and a new spark plug. Plus, it has updated Keihin carb settings, a new exhaust and silencer, an integrated hour meter, slimmer bodywork, and a fresh ergonomic package that brings it in line with the full-size MC125 and MC250 two-strokes. From plastics to the piston, this mini racer is a massive revamp when compared to the 2024 model.

Q: IS THE GASGAS MC85 A RED KTM 85SX?

A: In the big-bike realm, GasGas trails slightly behind its orange and white siblings (KTM and Husqvarna) when it comes to updates and features. GasGas’ big-bike models always inherited the new-generation frame a year after KTM and Husqvarna, and the GasGas big-bike two-strokes went to fuel injection a year later than the KTMs and Huskys as well. Plus, GasGas’ big bikes come with different components, such as BrakTec brakes and hydraulic clutch actuation instead of Brembo. They have Maxxis tires instead of Dunlop, and they have softer suspension valving, no map switch and so on. However, in the mini-bike world, this is not the case. The 2025 MC85 wasn’t just redesigned; it was refined and came alongside the KTM and Husky, keeping all the same components, only in red.

The MC85 is available in both 17-/14-inch and 19-/16-inch wheel sizes, but we focused our test on the small-wheel 17/14 variant. Why? Because most serious racers aging out of the 65cc ranks step onto the small-wheel 85 first.

The GasGas MC85 chassis is all new for 2025, following in the footsteps of the Austrian big bikes. It is offered in both 17-/14-inch and 19-/16-inch wheel sizes.

Q: HOW DOES THE 2025 GASGAS MC85 RUN ON THE TRACK?

A: Strong, but not scary. The most noticeable difference between the ’24 and ’25 bikes isn’t horsepower; it’s how the power is delivered. The 2024 MC85 had solid top-end pull, but it was lazy off the bottom. That made it tough for less-experienced riders to get the bike into the meat of the power. In contrast, the 2025 MC85 pulls harder off the bottom and transitions smoothly into the midrange. It still has the same snap on top, but now it’s easier to get there.

The new cylinder head and ignition settings give it a much cleaner low-end feel. Whereas the 2024 model bogged slightly before building revs, the 2025 stays crisp. The revised settings and improved airbox contribute to that, too. It’s a smarter engine, not necessarily a stronger one.

One thing we did notice right away was that the MC85 ran a little rich for our liking (the majority of the 25 hours we logged on the bike for this test were in Southern California). One clue that the MC85 was running rich was that a small stream of oil ran out of the silencer after a day of riding. We also noticed a slight flat spot in the midrange, just before the bike climbed to the top-end. We opened up the MC85 owner’s manual and read that, from the factory, the carb jet settings are a 140 main jet and a 45 pilot jet, with the NRKC needle in the third position from the top.

Rather than chase the infinite number of settings you can create for a carb, we decided to first reach out to our friends at the KTM R&D department (based in Murrieta, California) to fast-track our way to the best carb settings for our area. After consulting with the experts, we stuck with 140 for the main, but went down to a 42 Pilot jet. We also went with the slightly thicker NRJC needle in the third position from the top rather than the narrower NRKC needle. This, coupled with 1-1/2 turns out on the air screw, and boom, no more left-over oil residue on the silencer or flat spot in the midrange. That being said, even with the best carb settings, aggressive riders will still benefit from clutch work to keep the bike in its sweet spot. This is an 85cc two-stroke after all.

Q: HOW IS THE WP XACT SUSPENSION ON THE 2025 GASGAS MC85?

A: Planted and predictable. GasGas ditched the old frame and gave this MC85 the geometry it deserved. The new WP XACT shock mounts in a lower position and has less travel, which helps lower the center of gravity and keeps the rear end more connected to the ground. The result? Way more stability on acceleration bumps and when landing from jumps. One major inconvenience, however, came when adjusting compression, both high- and low-speed, on the rear shock. The new side panels look cool, but they block access to the shock adjusters. You’re faced with two choices: either unbolt the side panel, which is a little bit of a pain since it’s integrated with the subframe bolt, or do what we did and drill a hole to get access to the top part of the shock. Thankfully, GasGas could foresee this issue when living with the Kiska-designed plastic, so they put a mark on the backside of the plastic telling you where to drill.

Up front, the 43mm WP XACT air fork remains, and it’s well balanced. Small-bump compliance has improved thanks to new valving, but more important, it matches the new chassis feel. The 2024 fork wasn’t bad, but our test riders felt disconnected from the back of the bike. Now the front and rear work together.

Our testers felt the 2025 MC85 was more stable than the previous year’s 85, inspiring confidence to twist the throttle harder.

Q: HOW DOES IT HANDLE?

A: Like a cheetah on rails. The 2025 GasGas MC85 turns with the confidence of a bike twice its size. The new chassis carves into corners with minimal input, and the slimmer shrouds and side panels let riders move more freely. Body position is everything on an 85, and the updated ergos let smaller riders hang off the side without getting hung up on wide plastics.

This bike stayed planted in ruts. It was predictable in flat corners and surprisingly forgiving when the track got rough. On fast straights, the MC85 tracked straight and true thanks to perfected frame stiffness and the revised suspension settings. The Austrians did their due diligence when developing the new KTM, Husky and GasGas 85s. Our test riders were thoroughly impressed. The engine is great, but the improved stability was the aspect that stood out most about the new bike, making it easier for our test riders to use all that the engine has to offer.

A quick pilot jet and needle change dialed in the jetting.

Q: HOW DOES THE 2025 MC85 COMPARE TO THE 2024 MC85?

A: Here is a quick comparison of the two bikes’ main features.

(1) Engine. The 2024 model has mid- to top-end-focused power, and it’s weaker off the bottom, while the 2025 model has more torque and a smoother delivery thanks to better low-end power that doesn’t sacrifice top-end performance.

(2) Suspension. The 2024 model wasn’t bad, but our testers felt the rear end was busy and not as stable at high speeds. Thankfully, the 2025 model solved those complaints. It’s very balanced front to rear, and it inspires little Johnny to keep the gas on longer in the rough stuff.

(3) Frame. The older generation had a twitch when the track got difficult, while the new frame, swingarm and shock improve handling and stability. Our test riders also mentioned that the 2025 model felt slightly smaller and lighter compared to the older version (even though the 2025’s dry weight is more than the 2024 model’s).

(4) Cooling. The new bike has larger, more efficient radiators made by Pankl, which is the same company that makes KTM’s transmissions and Formula 1 transmissions.

(5) Ergonomics. The 2024 model is wider, while the 2025 model is slimmer, with smooth transitions between the plastic components that make it easy to move around on the bike. The rider triangle also mimics the big bike’s now. The handlebars are lower on the new-generation Austrian 85s. This isn’t a bad thing. It helped our test riders get their heads over the bars more, but it took some time for our testers to get used to the lower bars after riding with tall handlebars for years.

The WP XACT air forks require more work than spring forks. You need to set the air pressure every day before you ride.

Q: WHAT DID WE LIKE?

A: The like list.

(1) Engine. Improved low-end power. Finally, an 85 that pulls without clutch abuse.

(2) Slim bodywork. The ergonomics are on point. Kids can move without feeling boxed in.

(3) Chassis. It tracks straight at speed and turns better than before.

(4) Hour meter. Every dirt bike should have one. It’s great for tracking rebuild and maintenance intervals. We’re thankful it comes stock on this bike.

(5) Aesthetics. We love the new look of the MC85 and how it resembles a shrunken-down version of the full-size bikes.

What’s the point of having hand-adjustable shock clickers if the plastic designers at Kiska are going to make them inaccessible?

Q: WHAT DID WE HATE?

A: The hate list.

(1) Rear shock adjustments. The designers at the Kiska Design Studio need to work on bikes before they design anymore side panels, because adjusting compression on the shock is a pain.

(2) Seat. Riders complained that it was hard to stay planted. We want a grippier seat cover.

(3) Price. The improvements come at a cost. At $6449, the MSRP is definitely a significant price increase compared to the Japanese brands. The MSRP of the YZ85 is $4999, and the KX85 is $4949; however, the GasGas MC85 is $200 less than the KTM and $500 less than the Husky. The only differences are the color, the brand name and the bodywork. Everything else is the same.

(4) Rigid plastic. While logging time on our MC85, we went through a couple of front and rear fenders due to them snapping when our mini test riders took a tumble. We wish they had a little more flex in them to keep them from breaking.

The airbox copies the GasGas big bike’s setup.

Q: WHAT DO WE REALLY THINK?

A: The 2025 GasGas MC85 isn’t just a refresh’ it’s a top-to-bottom reinvention of one of the most important bikes in the youth racing scene. From the new frame and suspension geometry to the strong low-end power and modernized ergonomics, GasGas has built a bike that’s not only faster but also easier to ride. Whether your young rider is coming off a 65 or is already racing 85s at a high level, this bike will help him take the next step with confidence. However, if your young rider isn’t proficient at shifting through gears and managing a two-stroke powerband, the KX85 or the YZ85 might be a better introduction to the world of high-performance mini-bikes due to their friendlier price tags.