Submitted by
paul.wann
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2010
Strengths: I bought this bike new in 1999 or 2000 in an early mid-life crisis and have riden it regularly since then. Its the best bike I have owned and through BMX, road and MTB I've been through quite a few.
The high specification components and lightweight make this bike a delight to ride. I rode it through deep mud, rock and gravel trails, desert, rainforest and even on the road quite a bit. The air shocks are sensitive but if serviced correctly and with the pressures set correctly for your weight and ride style, they make the bike stick to the ground, and you can really rip along in wet or dry conditions. I have the original seat and its still comfortable.
Have only had to replace BB bearing unit once and chain twice through wear. Last week I cracked the derailleur hanger but have ordered from derailleurhanger.com so hope to get back on the trails soon.
Weaknesses: All the XTR kit on the standard bike means that anything that needs replacing is going to cost you significantly. The Shimano parts are easily available but let's see how I fare with the bespoke derailleur hanger replacement...
A little more clearance for really fat, wet-mud tyres would be nice, but can't have everything
Bottom Line:
at $S350 per year (total of bike purchase and replacement parts to date) and still going strong I think this bike is excellent value for the quality and performance
Similar Products Used: Prior to this I rode a Marin monocoque with SID dual crowns - an ugly frame to look at but light as a feather and an excellent hard tail. The head tube was too long for my liking though as it made fork selection limited
Bike Setup: almost stock
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Submitted by
rodriro
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2009
Strengths: Frame was excellent, pre iDrive, very light and fast, thermoplastic design was pretty impressive.
Weaknesses: Poor design construction of the bottom bracket, I broke mine.
Bottom Line:
I have had my bike since 1999 then got the 2001 XCR with iDrive and cracked the rear swing arm. My friend had the XCR chromoly frame and I took the chromoly swing arm and put it on. Since then I still go up to Kennedy where the Sierra Azul (http://www.openspace.org/preserves/maps/pr_sierra_azul.pdf) trail meets. It's one of a kind climb, I've taken all my friends up there and they never made the first run like I did. My friends would have to come back and do it again.
Similar Products Used: I now have the XCR 1000 with the iDrive that they gave me from the warranty.
Bike Setup: I have front Rockshock SID and rear small RockShock SID, Forte disc brakes, Shimano XTR front and rear derailer and Shimano XTR cranks, Mavic Rims, OURY grips, and Wildtrail tires.
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Submitted by
Tyler Pace
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2005
Strengths: Everything! The strength, weight, product set-up. Functionality wise, it climbs like a charm.
Weaknesses: It's a GT - - thanks a lot, Pacific Bikes!
Bottom Line:
Excellent piece of machinery. Super-light, awesome climber, feels like I'm riding on a clowd! I got rid of my I-Drive just last week and I thought I was going to miss it, but the STS is a much better feeling bike - - it's all about the carbon fiber and titanium. If you're able to find one of these out there, definately pick it up.
Similar Products Used: GT I-Drive, Specialized Enduro Pro, Trek Fuel
Bike Setup: Full XTR, Mavic CrossMax, Rock Shox SID, Syncros Titanium.
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Submitted by
Jason Hansma
a Weekend Warrior
from Renfrew, ont. Canada
Date Reviewed: July 29, 2002
Strengths: Very smooth and plush suspension, strong frame at a reasonable weight. I-drive keeps the power in the pedals
Weaknesses: No lockout on rear
Bottom Line:
This is a great bike for everything that I do with it. I use it for both free riding and cross-country. It has not let me down yet and I do not think that it will. I think that this is a great bike if you are serious in cross country. I enjoyed the las bike that I owned which was a Zaskar but I would much rather have a full suspension. The I-drive doesn't take away any power from pedaling so it plays like a hardtail with a much softer ride. I built this bike up myself and it does everything I need. I highly recommend it to a seasoned rider.
Similar Products Used: Kona King Kikapu, Specialized Fsr Pro, Norco xcs 2
Bike Setup: Race Face Forged Crank,Race Face xy Seatpost,Rock Shox Pyslo Race, Fsr headset, Time Atac pedals, Xtr Deraileurs, Xt cassette, xt chain, xt bottom bracket, Sdg belair saddle, Sram rocket shifters, Formula hydraulics on front and Xt v's on back, Mavic d521 rims, Kore Stem, Syncros Bars, Kenda tires
Strengths: Totally solid feel, smooths out the trail, huge confidence downhilling. Quick responsive feel all around the trail. This is classy eye candy, very tough techno-industrial look. Very little maintenance.
Weaknesses: I also had a dogbone busing wear out, but replaced it easy and now it's nice and tight. Do this if you are getting the empty aluminum can sound. The bottom shock bushings wear out easy, but this rock shoxs problem, not GT, while on the bike, it is under compression and pushed down 99.9999% of the time; except when bunny hopping, so it isn't a real issue.
Bottom Line:
I love my bike.
You can't have it.
I love to ride it and I love to drive around with it on my roof rack.
Purchased At: Exchanged for broken Outland VPP by Scate Escape
Similar Products Used: There is nothing similar, but I used to ride an Outland VPP and my STS1000 feels just as plush but sooo much more solid. I've ridden several other full suspension bikes, but had to get off!
Bike Setup: Gripshipft 9.0SL, LTS carbon fiber bars, titec magnesium barends, Salsa chromo 135*25 degree stem - compensate for short top tube along with Race Face XY seat post, race face cranks etc..., Rolf Dolomite wheels, Michelin S Lite tires, Avid single digit, Chris King Headset, alot of red components to match the GT logo, my legs.
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Submitted by
Mark
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntsville, AL
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2001
Strengths: Its a great bike when its not broken. It handles great both climbing and decending.
Weaknesses: I spend more time working on it than riding it and GT customer service has been absolutely no help. I have been through 6 sets of shock bolts and they are a pain in the butt to get from GT customer service. After 5 sets they finally admitted it is a problem with the design but refused to warranty my frame.
Bottom Line:
For the amount of money I paid for this bike it has been a real let down. I've ridden GT's all my life and this is the worst experience I've ever had. GT sevice used to be top notch and now they don't even return you emails or messages. This is the last GT I'll ever buy.
Similar Products Used: GT LTS which I wish I still had.
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Submitted by
jim bob
a Cross Country Rider
from south florida
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2001
Strengths: great bike when it works
Weaknesses: constantly broken and gt warranty slow slow slow
Bottom Line:
this is a follow up to an old post.started with an sts xcr 1000, now have the 2000 sts1000. i am on my fourth frame and now gt claims there are no more anywhere and now they want to give me a idrive 1.0. However there are no medium frames in the country as gt is having major finicial woes. i have been without a bike for 2 months now. major problems with bushing wear and broken shock bolts. my last disaster had the upper shock bolt sheering off and bending my seat mast. Dont Buy It and beware of gt going bust
Submitted by
matt street
a Cross Country Rider
from mirfield,yorkshire,uk
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001
Strengths: Light weight, good standard spec, can pick them up nearly half price in the UK at the end of the season.
Weaknesses: I had the wish bone linkage for the I-drive ware out twice in 9 months causing a irrating rattle and some loss of power throught the I-drive, GT finaly replaced it after 3 months of waiting. the rear shoch bushes waring out, still to be replaced under warrenty.But the biggest problem was the alluminium seat post bracket snapping mid ride. I got a replacement from GT, only trouble was it was a small not a medium. this made the bike too small for me to ride. GT went bust in the UK or as near as dam it. My bike shop finaly got in touch with the States and go a credit note for a new frame. CASH which means I can get a new WHYTE PRST-1 frame.
Bottom Line:
Good bike, if you can get one cheap. GT warranty very slow, and I should know, I have had to use them quite a few times.
Bike Setup: Standard, but new Hope XC discs, Rock shock SL forks.
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Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Edmonton, Aberta, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2001
Strengths: It's fairly light, has the travel of a freeride bike but pedals like a cross country bike.
Weaknesses: The I-drive is a litle complicated.
Bottom Line:
This is the bike of my dreams, it dose almost everything. Great in the tight technical stuff yet still really stable at high speeds. I'm racing cross country on it (a litle bit of a heavy setup with the psylo) and can still freeride it a home. I love this bike!!!
Submitted by
Carl
a Cross Country Rider
from Yorkshire,England
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2001
Strengths: light,fast,you just point it in any direction & it follows.you can set up the shocks to any type of terrain,oh yeah did i mention ITS LIGHT
Weaknesses: if you don't grease under the seat mast it creaks a lot.THATS IT!
Bottom Line:
this bike does everything i could want it to do,although i mainly ride xc it handles downhill pretty well aslong as you don't want to throw it of any big drops,quite honestly its the best thing i ever spent any cash on,if it were a woman i'd marry it tommorrow.
Similar Products Used: marin mt vision,orange sub 5
Bike Setup: just as it came but with thomson stem&titanium flite seat
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Submitted by
DON KERR
a Weekend Warrior
from NEW ZEALAND
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2001
Strengths: what can i say, everything
Weaknesses: costin NZ$, disk brakes
Bottom Line:
Spent a year on an XCR 2000 and traded up. It's so light it makes uphill piss easy,downhill the bike rips. Its a freeride dream. With the seat lowered its a downhillers choice, seat back up you have a top class cross country bike What else can I say, pay the price and buy it. At 3 bikes in one it's cheap.
Submitted by
JEFF VICKERMAN
a Cross Country Rider
from PHOENIX,ARIZ,MARICOPA
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2000
Strengths: THIS BIKE SCREAMS DOWNHILL WITH GREAT CONTROLL, CLIMBES LIKE A PISSED OFF APE AND I DONT GET HALF AS TIRED AS I DID WITH MY LTS WHEN DEALING WITH POGOING CONTROL WHEN CLIMBING YOU CAN BE NOVIUS AND SREAM DOWN HILL LIKE A HORNY BULL RUNNING TO THE PASTURE FIRST BIKE IVE HAD WERE IT CLIMBS AND DESENDS WITH GREAT CONTROLL!
Weaknesses: CRACKING WELDS AT SHOCK MOUNTS AND BUT GT HANDLES IT PROFESSIONALLY TRYS TO HELP INSTEAD OF PUTTING BLAME THEY KICK ASS !
Bottom Line:
BIKE ROCKS ID DUMP MY GIRLFRIEND AND MARRY THIS BIKE IF I COULD ONLY ONE EXCEPTION THE ONE THING THIS BIKE CANT DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Similar Products Used: KLIEN MONTRA, ONLY DIFFERANCE IS YOU NEED TO BE BACK IN THE SATTLE ON THE KLIEN GOING DOPWN HILL OR IT WILL THROW YOU ACROSS THE TRAIL LIKE YOUR MOTHER INLAW,I HAVE A KLIEN MONTRA AND LOVE IT THE ONLY REASON I PURCHASED THIS BIKE IS I BROKE MY REAR TRIANGLE ON MY KLIEN AND GETTING IT REPLACED WAS A PAIN!THEY BLAME ITS YOUR FAULT THEY PISS AND MOAN THEY DID EVERYTHING BUTT HELP I DONT KNOW IF IT WAS ANY DIFFERENT BEFORE TREK PURCHASED COMPANY OR NOT BUT ITS STUFF LIKE THIS THAT IS HOW THEY LOOSE GOOD CUSTOMERS
Bike Setup: I BOGHT FRAME ONLY AND PUT MY OWN STUFF ON ALL XTR CHRISHUBS MAVIC517 WHEELS AND EVEN THOW THEY ARE HEVEIR THAN SID MARZZOCHI BAM Z-1 MORE PLUSH AND IF YOUR ARE NOT TO LONG USE A SHORT STEM CLOSEST TO HEAD TUBE AS POSSIBLE MAKES FOR GOOD CONTRLL
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Submitted by
ross hewitt
a Weekend Warrior
from uk
Date Reviewed: October 9, 2000
Strengths: everything but moast of all the light weight
Weaknesses: at this price tag... as if
Bottom Line:
this baby floats over trails like theyve been rolled flat. it climbs like a hardtail thanks to the i-drive and its feather weight. if you have the cash buy one.. if not take one for a test drive then save up. you will not be disapointed:)
Similar Products Used: many similer bikes but nonr in the same class
Bike Setup: xt/r z1
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Submitted by
Bob
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2000
Strengths: Climbs like a mountain goat on speed. Handles like a ferrari
Weaknesses: Non worth talking about. Price$$$$
Bottom Line:
From the first time I rode this machine We were meant to be together. Smooth, Fast, Precise and forgiving. I don't ride a huge amount 30-60km per week and there hasn't been a bike I've enjoyed riding more than my STS. It climbs better than any hardtail I've ridden in the past 15 years and the best part, when your coming back down the STS really turns on the charm...
Bike Setup: XTR/XT components. Manitou SX/LT forks 100mm travel. Front disc and Magura rear brake. Magura H
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Submitted by
STS
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2000
Strengths: Hand made, fine machining on the eccentric. Light and stiff.
Weaknesses: Decals are crap! Not the cheapest bike around.
Bottom Line:
I would never own this if I paid retail for any of it (it helps to be a bike tech!) A super light bike that performs like it memorized the trail ahead of time. Climbs like a mountain goat on crack! If you can afford it buy it.
Bike Setup: Qr20 fork, Maguras, RF Ti BB, next LP cankset, RF team SL headset, ATAC carbon pedals, XTR RR r. der., XTR f. der., Azonic shorty billit stem, Monkey lite high rise bars.
