Submitted by
Frankster
a Cross Country Rider
from Quebec,Canada
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2008
Strengths: Very strong frame, good looks, excepte for that ugly yellow or green paint model, good for high mileage, no breakdowns, very dependable bike, worth fixing and upgrades.
Weaknesses: slightly higher weight, GT dealers in quebec are non existing.
Bottom Line:
I bought the bike not sure if i would keep it but the bottom line is that it that this is the bike worth fixing up and riding hard
Similar Products Used: GT hard tail, Specailized full,
Bike Setup: XTR front to back,Raceface crank,headset,stem,fox floatRC rear,marzocchi XC600SL front,Easton carbon bars,seatpost,Mavic crosslink wheels,WTB seat and tires,U name it,I changed it.
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Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Springfield,IL
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2003
Strengths: Takes a big beating,i-drive,frame is good.
Weaknesses: Rock shox judy,very bad chain slap,a few other small things
Bottom Line:
I do alot of jumping with this bike and it keeps on going time after time, IT CAN TAKE A BEATING,the fork is not the best but it will do, over all its a great bike. TIP--GET A CHAIN STAY PROTECTOR OR YOU WILL HAVE A LOT OF CHIPS IN THE PAINT!
Bike Setup: Gt xcr 4000 w/ fox vanilla float air,azonic bars, azonic shorty stem------and a Giant Nrs
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Submitted by
Ray
a Weekend Warrior
from Pollock Pines, CA
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2002
Strengths: it pedals great and takes a beating, it sticks to the ground like its glued there
Weaknesses: it isn't so good for slalom, pinch flats are common when jumping
Bottom Line:
this is a great bike, it can be used for dh, xc, slalom, freeriding, whatever the trail throws at u or whatever u want to use it for. i'm gonna put a better fork and braks on it, then it will be perfect. basically i like it
Submitted by
Kris
a Weekend Warrior
from Leuven, Belgium
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2002
Strengths: An ideal bike for anyone who - like me - likes long, epic rides and fast and spectacular descents. The suspension works really well and makes the bike stable and very comfortable. It's just an very confident ride.
Weaknesses: It's a bit heavy maybe and I have been suffering from some substantial play at the main pivot. Industrial bearings would be a nice improvement.
Bottom Line:
Well ... ergh ... it's a great bike, great value for money and a lovely ride. Too bad the pivot bearings aren't as great and a somewhat lighter frame wouldn't be wrong either.
Bike Setup: Rock Shox SID (weight savings); Deore LX brakes, shifters, brake levers, crancks, front derailleur; SRAM 7.0 cassette and chain (very good stuff!!!); Easton EA50 handlebar, stem and seatpost; Ritchey WCS aheadset; Ritchey Z-Max 1.7 WCS tires.
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Submitted by
Axis
a Downhiller
from Lakewood, Ohio USA
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2002
Strengths: i-Drive really WORKS!!! Great design. I weigh 200 lbs. and ride light DH, do drops no larger than 5 feet and this frame is holding up nicely!!
Weaknesses: considering I'm not riding XC there is nothing weak about the frame so far. If I was an XC weight weenie then it would be too heavy.
Bottom Line:
When I bought the bike it had the cranks, BB and bars already upgraded. The bike has always been great but after my upgrades this bike really is so much fun to ride DH. I have had it a season and a half but the frame itself hasn't had any problems at all! I really have come to love this bike and appreciate the engineering behind the i-Drive suspension. I really love to work on my bike but you really do need to pull it apart evry few months to clean re-lube and such. I pull mine every two months just to check for cracks and problems. So far it has help up. I am hoping that it will last until I can afford a frame like a Joker or Bullit.
Similar Products Used: 1st Full suspension... but I have ridden a lot of rigids and HT's.
Bike Setup: Titec Hell Bent riser bars, Weyless DH Stem, 2002 Psylo fork, Conti 2.35 tires, Sun Ryno Lite XT wheelset, Hayes mech disc brakes, TruVative Stylo cranks, Race Face isis bb, Snafu pedals, T.H.E back front fender, Black xcr frame, GT seatpost and stock saddle.
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Submitted by
Jimmy H-K
a Downhiller
from Crayford, Kent, England
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2001
Strengths: This is an update from when I first reviewed it in February. Okay, it aint quite a year but never mind. The I-drive system. Saddle; I said it was pants at first but it actually really softened up and it quite durable. Suspension is pretty much sorted for me. Those GT grips were ace! Stock setup was fine for the woodland tour but for some Air-time better to upgrade than suffer a mechanical!
Weaknesses: Stock wheels held out for about 3 months before they died(I abused mine ... tut tut!) Stock pedals were shot after bout 6 weeks of easy riding. CAN'T FIND A CHAIN DEVICE TO FIT. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ONE THEN PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANKS :-)
Bottom Line:
I've gotten into Duel, Jumping, Street and a bit of light downhill riding. I KNOW THE BIKE WASN'T INTENDED FOR THIS BUT IT ALL I GOT. I've found this bike to have excellent sprinting ability, even in my Tank-like setup, local traffic gets a nasty surprise on regular occasions. I've binned it many times but got up out of the dust to see the bike still in 1 piece. It feels well balanced when I'm in tight and technical situtation likes upon the top of a wall or twisty wooded singletrack. Discs are required to really stop the beast now, but V's will be good enough in the stock setup. I plan to run this frame until the financial situation permits a Intense Tazer or let's see what GT come up with in the future ... Happy Riding whatever you do.
Favorite Trail: PORC's Duel track or Oldbury Hill (scary steep)
Duration Product Used: 1 Year
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At: Bonthrone Bikes, Vauxhall, London
Similar Products Used: My mate's Diamond Back X-Link = Rear sus is poor, he don't ride no-where near as hard as me, or as much, or weigh as much as me but his rear sus developed horrendous play! 1999 Saracen Frenzy = Tank like, but tough, dependable and good when the ground pointed down.
Bike Setup: Rock Shox Judys (Need a new bushings and stiffer springs) DMR V8 pedals. Azonic Double Wall bars, Tranz-X 50mm CNC stem (It just like a World Force stem but cheaper) Sun Mammoth rims (These babys rule the world) Michelin 2.2" DH tyres. IN NEED OF A CHAIN DEVICE AND 3pc STEEL CRANKS AND SOME HYDRAULICS.
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Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Cleveland, Ohio
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2001
Strengths: Rear suspension and frame... well it just plain works!!! Can't comment on the stock parts cuz the guy that had it before me replaced damn near everything else....
Weaknesses: Creaking "potential" but with the right maintenance it's OK.
Bottom Line:
As the bike setup indicates the guy that had it before me upgraded ALOT. WIthout the platform pedals it was really light for an I-Drive. It rides like a light bike so the reality of the weight doesn't hold me back, infact it just makes it stronger. I put heavy springs in the Judy forks, put in 7.5 weight oil and set the travel to 100mm and now the forks work great!!! I also really like the fox coil over shock too. I am 190lbs and now that I have the suspension dialed in for me it is really really great!
Similar Products Used: Stumpjumper FSR, Giant NRS, Kona MokoMoko......
Bike Setup: XCR-4000 frame, XT shifters, XT V-Brakes and levers, XT derailers front and rear, Truv STYLO cranks, Race Face ISIS BB, Tioga XC 1.95 tires, Hell Bent riser bars, Azionic stem and Snafu platform pedals.
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Submitted by
Zach Gless
a Cross Country Rider
from Dennis, Massachusetts, USA
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001
Strengths: I-Drive, Fox Vanilla Rear Shock, Rock Shox Judy front fork
Weaknesses: WEIGHT
Bottom Line:
QUIT CRYING ABOUT BREAKING IT!!!!!! If you wrote a review about breaking parts of bending the tires you must weigh about 700 pounds!! This is DEFINETLY the best bike I have ever ridden. Its just that GT could of made the bike a bit lighter. But hey, ITS DAMN GOOD
Submitted by
Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from Auckland, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2001
Strengths: Its good just to be on a full suspension. The 4 inch travel on the back suspension is really cool. seems to make the ride easier. I got it at an awesome price, it was ltierally unused, the tyres still had the little rubber things on them. I have'nt been mountain biking for about 4 years (becasue of 4 years of study) but the advances in technology seem really good. I also like the Gt brand, my old bike was a GT. THe i-drive seems cool. I have'nt used another full suspension so I would'nt know the difference the i-drive makes, but it seems to do what its does well.
Weaknesses: The seat gave me a sore ass after the first day, but I don't know if thats just me being weak. The gears don't seem to change that chrisp sometimes. Overall I'm reall happy with this bike
Bottom Line:
yeah I like this bike, I will have to re-evaluate it after about 3 months, or when i get to try a different full suspension, but at the mo I am happy with it.
Similar Products Used: I used to have a GT borego with RST forks waayyyy back in 93
Bike Setup: stock standard
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Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Auburn
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2001
Strengths: i-Drive
Weaknesses: Weight
Bottom Line:
I was an old-school bmx freerider and is my first mtb. I was going to get a hardtail, but the i-Drive swayed me... as it really works. I purchased the 2000 XCR 4000 over the newer, higher 2001 models for the price and the fact that I would want to upgrade the components myself, but wanted the same frame used in the higher models. This is a heavy bike stock...no kidding, but performs very well...I am consistently surprised at the situtations it pulls off. Would I buy another? Probably...but would purchase the frameset and then add my own hand-picked components. Should you buy one? Yes, if you are into FS performance and don't mind the extra weight. 3 for the value, 4 overall because the i-Drive actually works.
Similar Products Used: A friend's old rigid (can't remember brand)
Bike Setup: Stock
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Submitted by
Chris Ingram
a Weekend Warrior
from Richmond Canada
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2001
Strengths: I-Drive Fox Vanilla 4.6 Nice Frame Pretty Strong
Weaknesses: Derailer's Crank Set Brakes
Bottom Line:
This is a pretty nice bike, i have spent over 3000$ on it so far, but it is so pimped out. I have fully converted it into a freeride/downhill bike. I know that it was made for XC, but a freeride bike with the same parts that i have costs like 3500-4000$. I have busted the rear derailer twice, rounded out the crank arms, bent two rims, popped two tubes, snapped off my brake lever, bent a ring, bent a pedel, and today (june 16) i just got my Jr.T and went downhilling at SFU, and the rear shock bottomed out, and seized up(while bottomed out), so it was like riding a chopper. I have done 5.5 foot dropes on this bike, and it handels them pretty good consitering it's and XC bike. Hopefully FOX will replace my shock otherwize i can't ride for a few months. Im ditching this bike as soon as i have enough money to buy a Brodie Devo frame, but it has lasted quite well so far, and i really abuse it. This bike is a good deal, if u freeride just save up for a real freeride bike, unless u can find some way to extend the rear shock to 6 inches. The frame is awsome. If u ride XC and do 3 or four foot drops, and a bit of easy downhill then buy this bike. This is an awsome starter bike.
Bike Setup: My bike is Pimped Out! It has Grimeca system 8,marzocchi Jr.T, super comfy seat, axiom dh stubby stem, Gazzoloddi Jr.T tire, Welgo pedels, Rhyno-Lite rim, truvativ ring, black spire ring god, and new shifter. The only stock parts, are the Crank arms, riser bar, grips, rear brake, and rear shock(which is broken rite now).
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Submitted by
Mike Christiansen
a Weekend Warrior
from Spokane,WA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2001
Strengths: I thought it was a good design
Weaknesses: To thin a guage of aluminum used in the seat post mount
Bottom Line:
I thought it was a great bike,until I folded the frame at the rear shock mount when the seatpost mount and rear shock weld to the frame. The shock went one way the brakcet the other and I was just cruising a gulley at Beacon Hill Spokane. The trail switched from a down hill to an up and that was the end of my love for GT.
Was a great bike,Now I'm going to a more stoutly build FSR Gt didn't do themselves any favors listening to the whiners about weight. Strength is what this bike lacked. I weigh 230lbs and was riding a 800 spring, no jumps mind you,just a momentum shift and I wasn't sitting down. If you ride this bike make sure you over estimate your spring needs because I cant be the only one to have folded this thing.
Bike Setup: Judy's,Diore,Fox vanilla orange. azonic stubby neck.
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Submitted by
David Fambrough
a Cross Country Rider
from Plano
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2001
Strengths: Solid without feeling tank-like. Frame feels flex-free. Solid pivots. Smooth on both small and big-hit bumps. Minimal bob w/hard pedaling. Handling doesn't feel nervous or squirrelly in tight singletrack. Confident descender (note: it's not a downhill or extreme North Shore freeride bike).
Weaknesses: Weight. Slow and steady climber. You can work it on the hills and provides good power transfer and traction in seated position. SDG saddle causes numbness. Rims don't stay true.
Bottom Line:
All in favor, say "i-Drive." Seriously, there's a reason why MBA rated the GT i-Drive 4.0 best in their $1000 trailbike shootout over the Trek Fuel 80, Cannondale Super V 500, Gary Fisher Sugar 4, and Giant XTC NRS 3. It does everything extremely well.
Bike Setup: Standard components except for: Specialized Body Geometry saddle, Hutchinson Alligator Golds, and Shimano M646 clipless pedals. Planning on upgrading rims to Mavic x517 and Shimano XT hubs. Eventually, I will upgrade the suspension and drivetrain to lighten bike as my riding skills improve and components wear out.
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Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Lawrence, KS
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2001
Strengths: I-drive is great, climbs well. Black and Silver color scheme looks real mean. Feels extremely quick for an FS.
Weaknesses: ALL stock components, bought this rig for the frame. Derailers constantly need to be tweeked. A little heavy.
Bottom Line:
This bike should be used for trail riding ONLY! Don't whine about breaking stuff on it if you jump off a 30' cliff. Bought this bike when I first got into mtb, since have lost my mind, changed everything, and fell in love with this bike. On the trail this bike handles like a comfortable hardtail. It doesn't feel like it weighs as much as it does off of the bike. Most of the weight is from the I-drive, the frame itself weighs just over 6 lbs.
If you are looking to buy an FS FRAME this is a great buy, but if you going to be serious rider buy a higher end bike in the line. They have MUCH better components and will make your life easier in the end.
Bike Setup: Hmm...(inhale):XT drive train, crossmax disk, sella flight saddle, thomson post/stem, Easton C2 flat bar, yeti grips, avid mag levers, avid mech. disks, Sid XC, Fox Float R, Gore, Time peds, King headset, Michelin Wildgripper CompS, and a partridge in a pear tree.
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Submitted by
Fernand
a Cross Country Rider
from Newmarket, Ont, Can
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2001
Strengths: Good smooth ride,nice and steady in down-hill sections. Climbs nicely. Rear Der/shifter works flawlessly.Mostly good selection of components for price level.
Weaknesses: Seat hard on nether regions - replaced it. Problems getting front Der to shift properly which got worse over time. Solved that by changing front shifter to SRAM. Cheesy Crankset (Suntour)also replaced.
Bottom Line:
Over all I really like this bike. Just fun to ride. Balky shifting under load seems unique to me, though I'm not heavy (170). SRAM shifter solved that anyway. I actually prefer Rapid-Fire so I left that on rear Der. A good bike to start with and up-grade as your means allow.
