GT Mountain Bikes
Discussion
Never all that popular, in the UK anyway it seems - to me anyway.
Now this years GT riders have won Rampage, The Women's DH Worlds and World Cup Overall, 2nd World Cup over all Men's DH, Junior Enduro series, etc etc.
When Sam Hill was killing it, everyone wanted Sundays, you couldn't move for them on uplift days.
Peaty sells a LOT of Santa Cruz V10's and not to mention the rest of the range is stupidly popular for what is a tiny company.
Gwin made the already popular Session bikes the must-haves for a bit and when Sam Hill went to Spesh and the redesigned the Demo into a proper DH bike they flow out the door.
And the Athertons sold a lot of Commencals
But even now, with the RocknRoll Athertons on them and Pinkbike etc filled with GT riders vids they still don't seem to be that popular - I can't remember the last time I saw a GT on the trail that wasn't one of there £500 price bracket Hardtails and I have never once seen one of their downhill bikes unless it was some sponsored pro rider's bike.
I personally never really consider them when I'm window shopping, they're a bit bland to my mind - anyone else?
Now this years GT riders have won Rampage, The Women's DH Worlds and World Cup Overall, 2nd World Cup over all Men's DH, Junior Enduro series, etc etc.
When Sam Hill was killing it, everyone wanted Sundays, you couldn't move for them on uplift days.
Peaty sells a LOT of Santa Cruz V10's and not to mention the rest of the range is stupidly popular for what is a tiny company.
Gwin made the already popular Session bikes the must-haves for a bit and when Sam Hill went to Spesh and the redesigned the Demo into a proper DH bike they flow out the door.
And the Athertons sold a lot of Commencals
But even now, with the RocknRoll Athertons on them and Pinkbike etc filled with GT riders vids they still don't seem to be that popular - I can't remember the last time I saw a GT on the trail that wasn't one of there £500 price bracket Hardtails and I have never once seen one of their downhill bikes unless it was some sponsored pro rider's bike.
I personally never really consider them when I'm window shopping, they're a bit bland to my mind - anyone else?
The reason you will see a lot of the £500 hard tails is that for a good few years they where the next step from the Carerra range in the biggest bike shop chain in the UK, i.e. Halfords. Now they are no longer stocked in Halfords you may see more of the higher end bikes assuming the halfords link hasn't tarnished their reputation
I've got a 2008 model GT Avalanche 3.0 - bought in Feb 2009 for £305
My son has a 2012 model GT Avalanche 1.0 - bought in Aug 2012 for £650
Mine is a bit ropey, and was quite obviously 'built to a price' but is still soldiering on, and gets me around 'Red' at Swinley in a little under an hour.
My son's bike really annoys me, because it's so much better than mine, but he is reluctant to allow me to ride it. Which is a shame, as he hasn't been riding it much at all, lately. I just want to find out if it would let me go that little bit faster/harder than my ropey old 'cheapy'.
I really like the GT off-road bikes, but wouldn't really consider buying a road bike from them. I had my eye on a black and gold Zaskar Comp last year, but it was too much for me to spend at the time. Lovely bike though.
My son has a 2012 model GT Avalanche 1.0 - bought in Aug 2012 for £650
Mine is a bit ropey, and was quite obviously 'built to a price' but is still soldiering on, and gets me around 'Red' at Swinley in a little under an hour.
My son's bike really annoys me, because it's so much better than mine, but he is reluctant to allow me to ride it. Which is a shame, as he hasn't been riding it much at all, lately. I just want to find out if it would let me go that little bit faster/harder than my ropey old 'cheapy'.
I really like the GT off-road bikes, but wouldn't really consider buying a road bike from them. I had my eye on a black and gold Zaskar Comp last year, but it was too much for me to spend at the time. Lovely bike though.
Other than the Lobo, I've never been a fan of the full sus GT's.
I think they ahve flooded the market with level entry stuff and only had a handfull of upper end stuff, so people seem to forget about them.
I had a few back in the 90's and more recently, a Brian Lopes 4X which was spot on. I also have a original Palomar (I'm into retro bikes) that still has the original brake blocks and is worth a few quid on the retro market.
However the days of the iconic GT Zaskar have gone!
I think they ahve flooded the market with level entry stuff and only had a handfull of upper end stuff, so people seem to forget about them.
I had a few back in the 90's and more recently, a Brian Lopes 4X which was spot on. I also have a original Palomar (I'm into retro bikes) that still has the original brake blocks and is worth a few quid on the retro market.
However the days of the iconic GT Zaskar have gone!
Back in the 90's to me they always seemed quite aspirational, especially with SP being so big on the UK scene. I think the change came when the company went bust (around 2002ish I think?). Since they whoever owns them seems to have focused on the sub £500 end of the market and to my eyes at least, damaged the brands reputation quite considerably. I used to see them in the same light as Cannondale and Specialized, but now, rightly or wrongly seem them in the UK at least as an alternative to brands like Diamond Back and Saracen.
I had a Hardtail GT (forget the model) setup with some triple clamps and an MRP with a 52 tooth chainring was my commuting bike for a while I loved it for speed and a cheap build. The old man sent it to the tip when I left home without telling me 
I always wanted the GT gearbox downhill bike.
I always wanted the GT gearbox downhill bike.
In the early 90s they were pretty much the pioneers of the sport being one of the first to make a useable full suspension frmae in the RTS and LTS compared to the horrors that Manitou and Proflex were pushing out. Their range was pretty good form the lowly Timberline through the the Zasker but something went wrong and they chased the low end market sales as described in an interesting history here around 1995 as hihg end sales apparently slumped....
I remember when they bought Caratti in the mid 90s and singlehandley destroyed dozens of good bike shops with their stranglehold on distribution of parts and cycles. They seemed to drop all other brands and focus on GT which was losing appeal with customers.
Its interesting that the Specialised "concept" store in Bristol has closed down too. Obviously some sort of marketing restructure but I wonder how long the Giant store has left.... particularly now they have thrown everything behind the 27.5" trend.
I remember when they bought Caratti in the mid 90s and singlehandley destroyed dozens of good bike shops with their stranglehold on distribution of parts and cycles. They seemed to drop all other brands and focus on GT which was losing appeal with customers.
Its interesting that the Specialised "concept" store in Bristol has closed down too. Obviously some sort of marketing restructure but I wonder how long the Giant store has left.... particularly now they have thrown everything behind the 27.5" trend.
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 24th October 15:43
GaryGlitter said:
I'm guessing you weren't riding in the early/mid 90's?
Zaskar, Hans Rey, nothing else to add.
RTS and LTS full sus bikes - probably accounted for half the bikes I saw on the NEMBA and BMBF races.
Zaskar, Hans Rey, nothing else to add.
RTS and LTS full sus bikes - probably accounted for half the bikes I saw on the NEMBA and BMBF races.
Enough said!!
Even peaty used to ride for GT back in the day, I actually have his old GT race trousers around here somewhere.
I've got a Timberline from 2000, thinking of selling it to a colleague. It has served me very well and up until getting a new HT on Cycle2Work last year, it was my only bike. Raised a smile from Mr Peat when I met him filming this. Pause it 01:09 you *might* just be able to see my GT laid down at the top of the bombhole
http://mpora.com/videos/AAdbxjwso9dv
http://mpora.com/videos/AAdbxjwso9dv
Mr E said:
Pretty sure they still make something called a zaskar...
Want, a lot:http://www.gtbicycles.com/zaskar-100-hans-rey/
GaryGlitter said:
The link didn't work but on a quick google wow!! What a good looking bike!!Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff