Submitted by
Loehr Young
a Cross Country Rider
from Athens, GA. USA
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2003
Strengths: The I-Drive is a good design. It's a GT. Really cool looking frame.
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
I have been riding an I-Drive 2.0 for a year an a half with no problems at all. I rode an STS XCR-1000 (LTS design) for about 4 years before getting an I-Drive. It was a bit of an adjustment from the four bar active bike but now that I am used to it it's all good. The design kinda fools you into thinking the suspension isn't working because you really can't feel it like you can with a four bar bike. I am a pretty heavy rider (210 lbs) and have not had any issue with either of the GT bikes (I know there have been lot's of reviews saying the frames are weak)but I personally have not had any of these things happen to me. That is why when I found a brand new 1.0 on this site I decided to go for it and build me up a cool fathers day present to me! So far no problems with either of'm. I hope I don't have any either! Anyone who has ridden a full suspension bike already knows all the advantages, climbing traction is awesome and you don't have to be so good at picking lines on the trail plus it doesn't beat you to death on a long ride! The I-Drive can be pedaled out of the saddle too! Way better than my old bike!
Strengths: I-Drive makes for a very plush ride, but does nothing to help the climbing.
Weaknesses: There are so many defects from engineering to welds.
Bottom Line:
I bought the original XCR 1000. I was happy with the bike until the seat mast cracked. After 8 weeks GT replaced the frame with a 1.0. less that a year later the frame cracked again at the seat mast. Pacific will not honor the warranty so I am out a chunk of money. Since then I have purchased a Intense Tracer. Now I know what a real mountain bike rides like. Everything about the Intense is far superior to GT. Especially the customer service from Intense, they have been out of sight. GT is done - stick a fork in 'em. Don't waste time monry and heart ache with GT. I pray every night that Pacific goes bankrupt faster than GT and Schwinn combined. Put the pieces of crap in Walmart where they belong and spend your money on a decent bike. To hell with GT!
Bike Setup: Psylo SL, Fox Vanilla, Race face next crank set, Mavic wheels, Formula disc
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Submitted by
brandt wysocki
a Downhiller
from ventura california
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2002
Strengths: engineering masterpeice i drive is amazing
Weaknesses: cut too many corners to save weight,
Bottom Line:
my first xc1500 climbed well downhill it handled like a dream I was very bummed when I broke the seat mast....but then alas after 18 months of waiting..I GOT A NEW FRAME FROM PACIFIC WHOA now i have a 2002 giant xtc 4 bar and the thing locks out when braking downhill making a bumpy situation even harder to negotiate I broke that xtc frame too...but i got a replacement in two days....the new gt looks awsome way reinforced boxed, seat mount no holes.. extra gusseted wedge of support at the head tube and a cool color, kudos to the boys at wheel world for warrantying my frame and then I heard they got a bill from pacific for all the frames they warranteed
Bike Setup: sids, hayes, mavic xt xtr,blah blah,,,
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Submitted by
dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: August 20, 2002
Strengths: Great suspension, disc brakes, i-drive functionality
Weaknesses: Frame strength - I've cracked two frames(size large) right at the seat mast, and it appears with the second one I'm out of luck. Pacific seems unwilling to cooperate.
Bottom Line:
Don't buy GT. The design rides great, but structural integrity is just as important. Put your money into a company with stability and a reputation for strong frames and customer service - definitely not GT. GT bikes are a thing of the past.
Submitted by
Darren
a Cross Country Rider
from Southern, IN, USA
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2002
Strengths: Good looking bike. Climbs really well. Design is very efficient. Great bike for a lighter weight (200 lbs and under).
Weaknesses: Frame strength. This is my 3rd I-Drive frame. The 1.0 held up better than any of the previous XCR 2000's frames.
Bottom Line:
The design is very efficient. The bike is not designed for riders who weigh over 200 lbs. At 230lbs I have tore up 3 frames. I like the bike even with the hassles of having to deal with gettting the frames replaced under warranty. If I weighed less and could get a good deal on the bike again I would definately get another one.
Similar Products Used: GT XCR 2000 models (model years 1999 and 2000)
Bike Setup: Marzocchi X-Fly 80, RS RC on rear, Wildgrippers 2.0's f & r. XTR V brakes, XT drivetrain.
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Submitted by
Pauluz
a Weekend Warrior
from Hilversum (the Netherlands)
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2002
Strengths: Feeling one with the bike. Anything that I can take with my bravour. The perfect travel. Enough for going down technical stuff, not to much for going up. Perfect for going up when it gets technical and rough (keep speed is the trick. Hanging on the back when it realy gets steep 45 degrees and more is just as easy as with my old stolen Zaskar LE from way back ('91). In short: Reasonable light, very good handling traits in technical and even at high speed, climbing in technical conditions takes you as far as your own phisical shape will get you. A little bit heavy and wrong geometry for climbing long, evensurfaced climbs (but who like them anyway? If you do get the I-drive team for it).
Weaknesses: The sory's about breaking seatmast's. For some reason I don't read them for 1.0. But the other models...pfff..a lot bad stories. Further the great service from GT..NOT. Getting a dogbone or bushings with the same size bolts....impossible...just go to BETD for the spares. But speaking about riding: no weakness wathsoever!
Bottom Line:
I bougth this one as a frame, so I'm lucky that I'm not using any of the Rock Shox parts (Psylo Race and S(h)ID rear shock.
After they stole my good old Zaskar LE (1991 model), I rode Cannondale F900, GT Bravado and a XCR 2000...al of these bikes didn't give me the symbiosis I have with the Zasker LE. I decided to try it for one more time with GT. And ...ooooh baby...finally I found the bike. My confidence is back.
Strangely the geometry for the XCR 2000 I-drive and 1.0 should be the same, stated by GT altough. But for some strange reason it doesn't feel like it. The 1.0 is more lively than the XCR2000. And measuring both bikes confirmed this. The 1.0 is at least a little bit shorter at the top tube. The angles I don't know but after riding some serious technical dowhills without (finally) touching any feet to the ground...(the last time that happend was with the Zaskar)...I even think that the angles are different...Any way..this is the bike I can speak with.
Going up rough climbs..this bike also shines...the tricj for it is just keeping the speed up..the suspension will do the rest for you.
As for the stories about breaking the bike...I will see when it happens and then just buy a new one..cause the price went really down. Now you can buy a 2002 1.0 for around 750 $ (850 Euro's)..and with this frame you get warranty...wich is not the case for models bought before 2002. In short: Buy this frame, you get a do anything, go anything bike with one of the best working suspension systems. The moving parts of this one don't get sloppy as with 4 bar linkages. But you get the same ride-quality as with 4 bars....
4 chili's for the hassle with GT itself.. 5 chili's 'cause this still one of the best alround bikes (who needs travel adjustment)
Favorite Trail: The Trails Around Montherme (France)
Duration Product Used: 6 months
Price Paid:
$800.00
Purchased At: Company Bike
Similar Products Used: I-drive XCR 2000
Bike Setup: Frame 1.0. Fork Marzocchi MCR Z1 (4"). Shock FOX Float R (no need for a lock out. XT and XTR (8 speed)parts including the first V's from XT (little bit sloppy but still going strong and modulates better than the new ones). Azonic, Kore, Cane Creek, Mavic and Oooh Yeah..WELGO PLATFORMS. Cables: Gore and Flack Jacket.
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Submitted by
Sunken
a Cross Country Rider
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2002
Strengths: Outstanding handling and component selection, looks good too. Psylo Race fork, Hayes disc brakes provides you with all the brakingpower you´ll ever need and does so in a smooth controlled way, XT/XTR components. Handles really well, climbs great, decends even better.
Weaknesses: Tubeless tires leaked first few months, but seems to have fixed itself??? Hutchinson tires a bit sloppy in high speed cornering when airpressure is low.
Bottom Line:
I went for the I-drive 1.0 because of the outstanding components for the price and the fact that it has a Lockout feature on front Rock Shox Psylo and rear Rock Shox Sid in case I would change my mind about riding fullsuspension. The lockout feature proved completely unnecessary. Fullsuspension forever, hardtailers eat my dust. Flamin'Chilis for GT I-drive 1.0
Similar Products Used: Cannondale Jekyll 700 -Stiff KONA stinky de luxe -Rocking horse
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Submitted by
JAMES STAUBER
a Cross Country Rider
from BEDFORD, NH USA
Date Reviewed: December 6, 2001
Strengths: This is my second review. I've had the bike for about 6 months now. I am extremely impressed with the bike. I am a 6' 2" 227 pound clydesdale. This bike handles evrything I can throw at it and begs to be ridden harder. The I Drive suspension is amazing. It allows to me to do things I did not think were possible. The derailleurs are first rate. The bike is a bit on the heavy side, but the I Drive systen more than makes up for it by permitting me to retain speed over rough terrain. The downhill ability of the bike is incredible.
Weaknesses: Tires could be better,... but hey for $1699.00 I really cannot complain.
Bottom Line:
An excellent all around performer. The baragin basement fire sale price only makes it that much better.
Similar Products Used: Upgraded proflex 957 (anyone want to buy it?)
Bike Setup: Stock
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Submitted by
Rodel
a Weekend Warrior
from Orange County CA
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2001
Strengths: Color, Component selection... Psylo Race fork, Hayes disc brakes, XT/XTR components. Handles really well, climbs great, decends even better.
Weaknesses: Noisy disc breaks, grips stink, tires perform really poorly in the soft stuff.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, I hope to GOD the problems that other riders are expierencing with their frames doesn't happen to me, but so far so good. This bike eats up rocky and rutty terrain with ease and carves up the singletracks. Climbing is very easy, and flying downhill is oh so sweet!!! Bike gets 5 Flamin'Chilis for value only cuz I didn't pay full retail for it other than that it woulda been a 4.
Strengths: Great components at $1700 a steal., handles great, climbs great for a FS, looks cool!
Weaknesses: bad seat braket/shock mount design. cock pit kinda small. Tubeless tires leaked.
Bottom Line:
Seat Bracket sucks! mine started cracking after like 5 rides.. no drops etc.. just xc riding. Couldn't wait for the GT fiasco to settle, got it welded, after one ride it crack at different place inches away from the prevous crack. Finally totally collapes.. after 2 more ride.
But other than that its a good bike, handles, virtually no bob, comfortable, great components, Hell if it wasnt for the above problem it would be perfect for me. Got an intense tracer frame on order... Not gona trust putting anohter GT frame on thats for sure...!
Strengths: Responsive frame that tackles anything you are prepared to throw at it
Weaknesses: See below... And I bought the frameset seperately and have had trouble finding a quality post to suit (with a healthy layback)
Bottom Line:
Well, I just snapped mine at the rear drop-out. I think it has failed due to a poor weld... but I am waiting to see what happens with the Warranty. Especially with the current GT/Schwinn situation. If anyone has recently experienced problems with any GT frame I would appreciate hearing about it.
Bike Setup: XT, Rock Shox, Hope Hubs and Mavic rims
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Submitted by
JAMES STAUBER
a Cross Country Rider
from OLD BRIDGE
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2001
Strengths: Outstanding handling and component selection. The I Drive must be ridden to be appreccited,... mere words do not provide an adequate description of the bikes superb handling,....it flies uphill and downhill,... lockout feature on front Rock Shox Psylo and rear Rock Shox Sid,...
Weaknesses: The upright position. I know the top tube is short for a reason, but it is quite a change coming from race hard tails. Oh, ya, The stock grips
Bottom Line:
If it wasn't 118* I'd be riding it instead of talking about how much I like it. The reason I bought this was so I could cut loose on trail (mostly PHX.) "free ride" like and not worry about trashing my race toys. No matter how crazy the line, big the drop or wide the gap this thing has held up.
