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ADV NewsGasGas Dakar-Winning Rally Replica Available To Public For 2023?

GasGas Dakar-Winning Rally Replica Available To Public For 2023?

Replica of Sunderland’s Dakar bike on its way per type approval documents.

Published on 08.24.2022

With its first ever Dakar win fresh in the books, it looks like GasGas will be right on time with a follow up Rally Replica of the RC 450F Sam Sunderland rode to his 2022 victory. Or at least that’s how it appears when you check out recently updated documents that list all the GasGas models approved by Germany’s federal motor transport authority, the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt.

Unearthed by master data miner, Dennis Chung, of motorcycle.com, the obscure record lists a new model as “RX 450F Replica.” For all you eagle-eyed readers, yes, Sunderland and his teammate Daniel Sanders’ factory-built rally bikes use a RC prefix rather than RX, but the listing contains data that follows what parent company, Pierer Mobility Group submits for its headline brand KTM’s Rally Replica models, confirming a GasGas version is on the way.  

And sure, as most of you know, the GasGas and KTM rally bikes, as well as Husqvarna’s FR 450 Rally, are basically the same beast with different badging, and the replica bikes will likewise be M&M-esque, with an orange or red livery coating on the outside and the same delicious mix of winning hardware on the inside. This practice of cloning bothers some, though in the wider world it’s a win-win move by Pierer, especially when you take into account the broadened dealer landscape and bridging of brand loyalties.  


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While the filing only reveals that the RX 450F Replica is an “enduro” model with a 449cc engine and single seat, we expect the GasGas specs to be nearly identical to KTM’s 2023 450 Rally Replica, which will offer WP XACT PRO 48mm closed-cartridge forks that use sophisticated Cone Valve technology, WP XACT PRO fully-adjustable shock and a drivetrain that has the same gear ratios as the current Dakar factory bikes.

GasGas RC 450F Rally Replica coming soon

The weight of these limited edition bikes is kept minimal using tricks that include utilizing a secondary fuel tank as the subframe. A compact Akrapovič exhaust system also cuts pounds and helps to centralize weight. Basically everything about the KTM Rally Replica and the future GasGas version has been podium proven, providing a customer with a bike that’s truly race ready.

Spain’s GasGas continues to be transformed since its adoption into the Pierer Mobility family in 2019. Once known primarily for its line of competitive motocross and trials bikes (the brand has won 16 FIM Trial world titles), GasGas has quickly become an important player in the world of enduro and also started selling supermoto and dual sport models this year (not yet available in the US).

GasGas RC 450F Rally Replica coming soon

In its wildest news to date, GasGas just announced a 2023 debut in MotoGP, teaming up with Tech3 to become the GasGas Factory Racing Team, and securing Pol Espargaro as its star rider. 

As for the RX 450F Dakar Rally Replica, no news yet on timing or pricing, though you can expect the model to be highly sought after. KTM’s 2023 450 Rally Replica is restricted to 70 units worldwide, the perfect number for a frenzied sell out. 

GasGas RC 450F Rally Replica coming soon

How much will a copy of Sam Sunderland’s Dakar bike set you back? We’d expect it also to be positioned similarly to KTM’s Rally Replica, which sold in 2022 at the fixed price of €25,900 ($27,220 USD) plus VAT & shipping (no word yet on the 2023 edition’s price). 

Is that a lot? It’s hard to say it is when you’re talking about an out-of-the-box Dakar-winning machine. And then there’s the euro waning to near parity against the US dollar, suggesting a future where European motorcycles could be more enticing than ever. 

Photos by Marcin Kin

Author: Jamie Elvidge

Jamie has been a motorcycle journalist for more than 30 years, testing the entire range of bikes for the major print magazines and specializing in adventure-travel related stories. To date she’s written and supplied photography for articles describing what it’s like to ride in all 50 states and 43 foreign countries, receiving two Lowell Thomas Society of American Travel Writer’s Awards along the way. Her most-challenging adventure yet has been riding in the 2018 GS Trophy in Mongolia as Team AusAmerica’s embedded journalist.

Author: Jamie Elvidge
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Prasenjit Debroy
Prasenjit Debroy
August 25, 2022 11:27 am

Strategic move by Pierer Mobility. As a hallowed model, the 450 Dakar Rally Replica will increase brand awareness of GasGas globally.

What will whet the appetite of ADV enthusiasts globally though: a proper 450 Rally Replica with ~50 bhp, 180 kg dry (without any fluids) and15000 Km service intervals at a MSRP or OTR (on the road) price point of sub 10,031 EUR /10,000 USD /800,000 INR.

Pierer Mobility ought to make ’em in Orange, Blue and Red to attain economies of scale.

Here’s hoping the upcoming KTM 490 ADV/(R?) takes a step in this direction.

Ernest Schraner
Ernest Schraner
August 26, 2022 8:53 am

How about the new BRABUS 1300 posting ? $47,000 US Dollars for one of 77 units.

Patriot159
Patriot159
August 26, 2022 8:14 pm

70 units, meh. Looks like it will exist only in my virtual collection.

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