Listen up, moto heads—we’ve got the Gas Gas ECC6 today. Out of all the bikes I’ve ridden, this one has drawn more attention to itself out on the trails. The new Gas Gas ebike is big, red and apparently has some serious appeal to those with a dirtbike background. If you’re a mountain biker, though, don’t tune out just yet. Gas Gas did their research — they didn’t just slap junk components on a crummy frame — this is a legit eMTB.
I have some really quick details before we go riding. The ECC6 is a brawler of an eMTB designed for enduro riding. Our model has top-of-the-line components and Sram’s Powertrain drivesystem. The 630Wh battery is swappable, but the cover is a little fiddly and difficult to remove and install. The suspension is a DVO and WP collaboration. Apparently, WP means something to the dirt bike crowd—I got a lot of questions about it while out riding. This is a DVO setup with WP’s cone valve technology. With that out of the way, let’s go ride.
Gas Gas ECC6 Ride Review
Uphill
Let’s dive right in and talk about the ECC6 on the climbs. I’ve got a few praises and a couple of gripes. First up, we have the drivesystem. The Sram Powertrain system is really nice. It’s got all the power, the integrations, and a simple interface. I personally don’t mind only having two power settings — I really only need one anyway. I like the power delivery as well — it’s not too abrupt or lurchy. While on flatter terrain it doesn’t seem to give as much power as some of the other platforms, on really steep climbs in low-end gears, it starts pulling away from the competition. When climbs get really steep, the motor just keeps on chugging. And, personally, that’s one of my favorite uses for the eMTB — climbing ridiculous trails you wouldn’t deem worth the effort on a pedal bike. So Sram Powertrain gets a win in my book. As for capacity on the ECC6, we have a 630Wh battery — which isn’t huge for a full-power ebike. It’s enough for big rides, but don’t plan on any 6,000-foot days without swapping in a fresh battery.
One quick note on the auto-shift feature before we move on to suspension and geometry. I haven’t been able to mesh with it. I prefer manually controlling my shifting. That said, I know it’s a big selling point for some folks who just want to worry about turning the pedals and letting the bike pick the appropriate gear. That said, I like that I can shift while coasting. It’s pretty cool to hit a couple of gears right before a punch climbs or in a corner right before you’re going to get on the gas and pedal hard.
The geometry on the Gas Gas ECC6 is loooong. The HTA is slack; the reach is mostly moderate if you’re on the XL side of the large frame. It would be on the long side for someone under or right around six feet. Pair all of that with 461mm chainstays, and you’ve got a big bicycle. There are pros and cons to that. Let’s start with my favorite pro. Like I said earlier, I like climbing ridiculous trails on the eMTB. The Sram motor helps quite a bit here, but so does that long wheelbase, especially those long chainstays. Normally, on the eMTB you’re limited on what you can climb by how difficult it gets to keep that front end down and tracking straight. The long chainstays help keep your weight further toward the front of the bike and consequently keep you from wheelieing off into the weeds. The ECC6 is on the better end of bikes for steep climbs.
On the flip side, you get in tight and twisty terrain, and you’re going to have to work harder to get the bike around a corner. It can be a bit of a wrestling match at times. Luckily, the suspension platform isn’t ultra-gooey, so you’re not fighting wallow and bob at the same time. I can only imagine if the suspension were as soft as other bikes in the category, the ECC6 would be pretty unwieldy. The suspension holds you up relatively well for a 160mm bike equipped with a coil shock. Yeah, there’s some bob, but it’s probably right we’re I’d want it for an eMTB. The traction you get from a more active platform helps on tough climbs.
Downhill
The standout feature on the ECC6 while descending is how big and stable the bike is. That long wheelbase comes into play, offering a ton of “plowability.” All of that stability does come at the expense of agility, however. This bike is for the point-and-shoot type of rider. It’s extremely adept at running over every rock, root, and squirrel in its way. You’ll feel all those rocks and roots through the suspension, but the bike won’t get bent out of shape — it will keep on trucking.
The suspension isn’t overly plush and gooey. I typically prefer my eMTBs in the 140-150mm range because of what I like to call the ebike effect. Because of the sprung to unsprung weight ratios, ebikes can feel plusher and deeper than their pedal bike counterparts. The ECC6 is light on the ebike effect. It feels very much like a normal 160mm bike — I’d argue that’s a good thing. If you combined deep and gooey suspension with the ECC6’s wheelbase and rear center, you may as well be trying to ride an oversized, faux leather La-Z-Boy down the mountain.
The ECC6 definitely prefers steeper descents and higher speeds. It’s not too happy farting around on flat, mellow terrain. You’ll feel overbiked and you’ll likely find the handling cumbersome. Pumping and jumping are not this bike’s forte. Give it a little speed and slope, however, and it feels right at home. The handling gets better, the weight of the bike diminishes, and it’s easier to maneuver. It reminds me a bit of the Giant Trance X E+ in that regard, which probably makes sense, given their chainstays are both on the long side.
I do have one bone to pick, and it’s an uncommon bone for me to pick. I don’t usually care too much about a little noise from my bike. In fact, most of my personal bikes sound like shopping carts — but I don’t care. The ECC6 is on the noisy side. Between the cable management, plastic frame covers, and the battery itself, it gets a bit noisy. Let’s just say you won’t be sneaking up on any unsuspecting bears shitting in the woods. I think it could all be addressed and fixed with a little ingenuity and DIY-ability. Just wanted you to be aware.
Gas Gas ECC6 Comparisons
Giant Trance X E+ vs Gas Gas ECC6
I think a lot of the handling characteristics on the ECC6 are similar to those on the Trance X E+. The Trance has a wildly different suspension feel, however. It’s plush, deep, and more forgiving. The ECC6 has a similar amount of stability and length, but the suspension is more racy and ready for business.
Transition Repeater vs Gas Gas ECC6
The Original Transition Repeater comes to mind when talking about the ECC6. They have a similar suspension feel, but the geo ends up changing how they tackle the trails. The Repeater is more nimble and maneuverable, while the ECC6 likes going straight and running into everything in sight.
Who is the Gas Gas ECC6 for?
I see this as an excellent bike for four groups of riders. Let’s start with the big, obvious one. There’s a certain degree of appeal to this bike for those with a moto background. There’s something comfortable about a household name in unfamiliar territory. Folks who ride motos and want to start dabbling in the world of mountain biking will feel less like a fish out of water on the Gas gas. Think of it this way. If you’ve never ridden dirt bikes, but you wanted to start dabbling, and Santa Cruz made a moto, you’d probably be pretty stoked about that. You’d feel like they knew what you enjoyed about MTB and could translate that experience into a different sport. This is the same but in reverse.
Next up, we have the “wheels on the ground and plow” riders. If you’re not much of a jumper, jibber, or goof-er off-er, you’ll enjoy the stability the ECC6 offers. It means business and will run over just about anything in its way.
Next up are the folks who want top-tier, blingy components. The ECC6 is dripping with the fanciest parts you can put on a mountain bike. And, compared to most other high-end eMTBs, it is a little cheaper.
Last up are the tinkerers. Between the suspension with endless combinations of settings and the frame guards, you could spend a lot of time in the garage turning knobs and playing with the looks. Me? I’ll just ride the damn thing.
That’s going to wrap it up. See you next time.
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