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Submitted by
jorje187
a Cross Country Rider
from PA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | i-drive technology, holds up well, very good value | | Weaknesses: | cable routing for the front derailleur, sketchy looking rear shock mount, not sure if rear rear mudguard is replaceable | | Similar Products Used: | first and only full suspension | | Bike Setup: | Fox, XT, Avid, Mavic, etc. I've changed everything out apart from the frame, rear shock, bottom bracket, crankset, seat post, headset, brake levers, and rear derailleur. | | Bottom Line: | This was a great introduction to full suspension. I'm still riding it after 7 years. Highly recommended. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Byrnes
a Cross Country Rider
from Argentine Twp,MI USA
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Highland SRA, Highland ,MI | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | RollModels, Allen Park,MI | | Strengths: | Strong frame, excellent climber, perfect suspension design | | Weaknesses: | a touch heavy, but it climbs sooo well!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS, Yeti FS | | Bike Setup: | XTR rear der, xt front der, Rockshox Psylo SL, Mavic Crossmax Tubeless wheelset, Kenda Kharisma's Syncros Bars, Avid BB7's, XT crankset | | Bottom Line: | Best climber I have ever ridden, I weight 185, and have been as heavy as 205, and the seatpost mount held up just fine!, when you are on the roughest terrain, this bike makes it feel like you are riding on carpet. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
keeps
a Cross Country Rider
from montucky
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | online? | | Strengths: | idrive kicks all ass in the linkage department. with a long travel fork the head angle is superb and you never have to worry about the bb touching rocks. the float never bottoms out and feels endless, downhills like bowling ball and reacts quick for the trees | | Weaknesses: | syncros wheels suck ass as all the spokes are now replacements, and the rear triangle is too wide to slip the wheel on and off easily, seat mount is squeaky, maybe a little bit heavy for the 3in travel, super high ride height | | Bike Setup: | LX XTR avid mechanicals marzochi MCR Z1 mavic xride | | Bottom Line: | everyone is jealous that my ride is cheaper and works better and easier on the uphill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Harold Hidalgo
a Downhiller
from Staten Island, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Light Agile and easy to handle in specific situations. pretty good components for the price, and rear fox shock works like a gem. Also, the idrive Technology in the pedal system is really great with pedal support | | Weaknesses: | GT merged with Pacific. degrading the company. dirt tends to get in the idrive technology, leaving space for damage. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel, Cannondale Jekyl, Gary Fisher 2003 team edition | | Bottom Line: | The bike was great for the price after dealing with the bike shop seller. he threw in some perks. the bike is excellent as long as you maintain it. if riding downhill on trails, protect the idrive system, and have some shop fix up a cover. overall this is a slighter than average full suspension mountain bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trailmutt
a Downhiller
from Vancouver BC
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | XC - Bridal Path | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | local bike shop | | Strengths: | The bike was light and great for climbing logging roads and XC trails. Enjoyable to ride until it breaks and then you find out just how bad customer service can be. Hence the chilies. | | Weaknesses: | GT is a company (speaking from Canada) that I would stir very clear of due to there poor customer service. I rode the bike for about a year until the seat weld broke. GT said they went bankrupt and would not warranty my frame. Low and behold they are back in business and my bike has been sent to 3 different shops and around the world only to come back to me with the same result. NOTHING. Oh yeh except I lost the bushings which are also hard to track down. A local shop welded my frame but I do not ride the GT because of poor service and bought other bikes in the process of waiting forever. | | Similar Products Used: | lots of friends bikes. | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | If you want to pay the money for a GT it would be better spent on Rocky Mountain. That's what I did. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jorge Diaz
a Weekend Warrior
from Moraga CA
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Mt Berdell, Marin Headlens | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Oakland | | Strengths: | Climbs like a billy goat, I'm 250 and I ride hard, I've taken it through the ringer and it still solid. This bike will take whatever you throw at it! | | Weaknesses: | Seat post clamp cracked and I kept breaking wheel spokes | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing compares to the i-drive | | Bike Setup: | Added XTR shifters and brakes | | Bottom Line: | This bike is awesome after 4 years of beating it to the ground it's still as good as when I bought it! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything Technical | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$849.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Climbs like a hard tail and is very abuser friendly | | Weaknesses: | The upper shock eye bolt kept breaking all the time until I replaced it with a hardened steel bolt. | | Similar Products Used: | 03'Giant NRS2, Various Marin full suspensions,94'Mongoose amplifier (before they sold out when they were still quality) | | Bike Setup: | -XT Crankset, XT Rear Casette, XT Front Derailer, Weyless DFR40 Handle bars, Intense Grips (With Flange)/w Odi lock jaws, Marzocchi Z1 FR SL Fork, 8" Hayes Mag Plus Hydraulic Disc Brakes, Serfas open seat, Panaracer FR 2.4 Tire up front, Maxxis High Roller 2.35 tire in the rear, Hardened steel Rear shock bolts. | | Bottom Line: | I Beat this bike harder than I should by far. I was 220 pounds and rode cross country with it for 2yrs stock (except for Avid Mechanical disc brake). It was great. Now at 165 pounds I still ride it. Now its modified it heavily and abused every time I ride it. I ride aggressive cross country and free ride with it. Ive heard of GT disc hubs "coming loose" or "exploding". Mine have not done this and I get air with 8' hayes stress the hell out of them and they are fine. They won't get loose if the bike (hubs include) is maintaned properly. I know people who have cracked thier frames at the seat post welds. Mine have not "Knock on wood". My shock bolt broke only because I was not using it for its intended type of riding furth more it was a 10 cent fix. The bike is absolutely awsome. No matter the bike, No bike lasts for ever. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from Ellensburg
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Good overall. | | Weaknesses: | As someone else mentioned there is problem with the GT disc hubs. I put a set of Avid mech. discs on it 6 months after I got it. The spokes would loosen up and some broke soon thereafter. Then the split, while on a one way in ride, the rear hub exploded and would not free wheel. The hub body had started to shear around the bearing race on the drive side just inside the flange. LBS made good on a repair, but GT lost face there. Poo poo to GT. No cracked welds yet. 230lbs and the frame is still going after a few good throws. | | Similar Products Used: | GF Sugar, Numerous other Specialized... | | Bottom Line: | Go with something else, even if the LBS is offering a deal of the century with closeout GT's | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bora
a Weekend Warrior
from Helsinki, Finland
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Strengths: | Very comfortable and fast. I like to push the limits every time I ride and this bike is always up to it. The I-Drive works perfectly from the saddle. Setting up the bikes sag is very easy with perfect preload gauge. The traction is great both going up or coming down the hill. The rear tire is always pulled on the ground. | | Weaknesses: | slow techinal stuff due to its high bottom bracket. Avid brake on rear, but I upgraded to Shimano deore hydraulic discs. Little on the heavy side...But overall with little upgrades bike is very good. | | Bike Setup: | Upgrades: Rock shox psylo xc and shimano deore hydraulic discs. | | Bottom Line: | If you like ride fast and your pedaling technique is correct this is your bike. Bike works well almost every situation and actually maintenance is quite easy after couple of times. If I ever will brake the frame... I possibly would buy Turner and ride even faster. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a Cross Country Rider
from Lansdale
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Climbs like a goat on crack, with no bob whatsoever. Rips up DH. Oh, looks good too. | | Weaknesses: | Little heavy, high center of gravity. No rebound dampening on POS Fox rear shock. Judy TT is avg. at best. Not a fan of the Hayes mechanicals. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR, GF Sugar | | Bike Setup: | All stock except Hayes mechanical rear. | | Bottom Line: | I got this bike because I always fit well on GT's. I'm 6'-4" @ 220lbs and have had no problems with the frame @ the seatpost clamp...(read the instructions & don't have the post end up above the clamp Einstein's!) or the eccentric. It maybe a tad heavy 30 lbs?, but at my size who cares, I don't race. If you take care of it, it's a smoooth ride. To make it bob, you have to try. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a
from Newbury Park, CA
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Backbone | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | All Pro | | Strengths: | Great climber over rough terrain. Strong descender at high speeds. Disc ready is a plus. The black/brushed aluminum color scheme is awesome! Great Component Group. | | Weaknesses: | Stem is not the Syncros Stem as advertised. Judy SL fork a bit timid for a 6'3" 200+lb rider. Seat Clamp area a bit weak and developed a crack, but not til' after 3 years of hard time. | | Similar Products Used: | I-drive 2.0--(test ride) but I liked the colors better on the 3.0...it matters to me. | | Bike Setup: | MOstly stock except for Hellbent bars, Motoraptor 2.4 front, Ritchey 2.3 rear, Fox Air RC w/lockout rear shock, Marzocchi z5 air forks, Shimano Hydraulic discs. | | Bottom Line: | I've had this bike almost 3 years of hard time. It has stood up to technical rocky downhills and 9+ hour backcountry excursions without folding, until recently I discovered a crack at the seat tube. Pacific sent me a replacement frame- upgraded to 1.0 within two weeks!! Though, the colors are not as cool as the 3.0 was, It's supposed to be a much better frame. I can't wait to try it. I will miss the 3.O. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allan Schuehle
a Cross Country Rider
from Redmond
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$895.00 | | Purchased At: | Alpine Hut | | Strengths: | Price, rides well, rear derailleur | | Weaknesses: | 1. 7 mm seat post bolt too small, broke, upgrade to 8 mm
2. Nut at base of aft shock will vibrate loose, replace with a lock nut and loctite.
3. Rear hub cracked, replace with Shimano XT
4. Rear V brakes marginal in mud and wet conditions, upgrade with disc brakes | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel 90 | | Bottom Line: | It is a good bike for the price.
A little heavy. Fun to ride
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a Weekend Warrior
from Thousand Oaks, CA
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | All | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Strong solid build, handling, iDrive design, componets. | | Weaknesses: | Front derailer. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for XT hyd brakes, Fox Float R shock, Panaracer Tires, Spec Seat, XT Front Derailer, 959 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | This is my first FS MTB, but I read up on suspension designs, read reviews here, and settled on the iDrive. No bob on climbs or sprints. Goes down hill like a rocket, eats anything that is thrown at it. Never unsettled, always smooth and very confidence inspiring handling. You will go faster than you ever thought possible on this bike. I've had no problems with the frame. Had a hard time getting the original LX front derailer to work properly, but an XT fixed that. Upgraded to XT hyd discs also just because the bike came with disc ready wheels. Really a worthwile improvement for any bike. Compared to other bikes of simular build quality, you can't beat the price or performance. If you can find one, and want to stay under 1K, buy it! You will pay twice as much for anything else close. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Downhiller
from Nederland
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Strengths: | idrive, xtr
KICK ASS BIKE | | Weaknesses: | tires are too small
stem is way too long
air shock blew out
needs longer travel fork
top shock mount ovalized a little
Nothing that cant be fixed | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | black spire bash ring
Manitou X vert dc
Fox vinnila rx coil
moto raptor 2.4 front
IRC kugo DH 2.35 back
generic flat pedals
way short stem
chopped down seat post(about 5")
gremica system 8's front and rear | | Bottom Line: | get one, this bike takes everything I can throw at it and still climbs great. If you like freeriding but still actually ride some xc stuff then get this bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Garry
a Cross Country Rider
from St.Petersburg, Fl, USA
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | The one under my wheels | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | ABC Bicycles | | Strengths: | Great riding machine. Does it all. | | Weaknesses: | Weak seatpost support. | | Similar Products Used: | Sugar 4+ | | Bottom Line: | I posted back in April about my cracked frame and trying to deal with Pacific/GT for a warrantee. Whell, here it is November and I still have not received the repolacement frame they promised me! Yesterday I sent a letter to the President and Vice President of the company to see if they can give me a legitimate answer as to why I have to wait more than 9 months for what was promised to me before the summer. If I hear back from them I will post their response. But from what I have gotten so far don't hold your breath. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Q
a Cross Country Rider
from Yokota Air Base, Japan
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Ome, Bowl, the Res | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Kamiya's bike shop | | Strengths: | My LBS has great customer service, they replaced my 4.0 once, and then again, only with a 3.0 instead. I only waited about one week each time. | | Weaknesses: | The 4.0 doesn't seem as well designed or constructed as the 3.0-1.0's (duh) Mine cracked just behind the rear shock mount. | | Similar Products Used: | 2000 FSR Big Hit | | Bike Setup: | EXR bomber, XT hubs mavic 517's. Deore drivetrain, with avid brakes. Cane creek C2, race face stem, titec bars, etc. | | Bottom Line: | GT iDrives are like the 3 legged dog / red headed step-child of the full suspension sect. Nevertheless, people seem to love 'em. I honestly like the way it climbs, and now it's almost another bike altogether. I'm about 200lbs,(5'10") but I don't think I'm abusive to my bike. The 3.0 is a medium (the 4.0's were smalls). So far, it seems to be holding up quite well, I've been using it to commute to work and I'm going to off-road it tomorrow. I don't know what my dealer will or can do for me if this one cracks, I'm hoping the third time's the charm. For the lighter weight guys, this thing probably will lst quite a while...I'll let you know what happens in a few months. 5 Chillis for my LBS / dealer, four because it's my third frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cory Schubert
a Cross Country Rider
from Cedar Falls, IA
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Mary Jane, WinterPark | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$899.00 | | Purchased At: | Superpo | | Strengths: | Setup, feel, i-drive itself, awesome acceleration | | Weaknesses: | few week components include: seat and seatpost, stem, LX crank set is o.k., brakes | | Similar Products Used: | sugar 3 | | Bottom Line: | This is the best deal out there dollar for dollar. From the XTR components to the i-drive technology the deal I got is unmatched period. This bike performs great on the trails from beginner to some rugged downhill. Its to bad there are guys out there that pay $1,700 for a $900 bike, when I paid $900 for a $1,700 bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
T-Bone
a Cross Country Rider
from Morrow Bay CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | I cracked da frame on a minor opps | | Weaknesses: | Right on the weld below the seatpost stem clamp, just as I thought its a weak link there (loads of leverage and way too thin on materials) and it happened on a small buck off on a drop I've done trice weekly the past 8+ months. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with some upgrades to comfort | | Bottom Line: | Dang now I got to deal with warentee issues, oh well got 1,000 miles on it but think the cracking might be controlled enough to still use, working on a fix but will try to get GT to respond which hearing from others on email might be a futile effort?
Lets hope for the best will post up pictures and a possible homemade fix once I talk to my fabricator. Otherwise seat post stem weld is going to fail just a matter of time. Keep the can in the air or else | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brandon Hansen
a Downhiller
from Kearns
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Little Cottonwood Pipeline | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike World | | Strengths: | Everything. This bike is hands down the best for the money. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized SWorks SFR-XC | | Bottom Line: | If you don't want to spend a lot of money on a Mountain Bike, and you also don't want to spend a lot of time working on or fixing problems while on the trail, this is definately the bike. If you can find anybody who wants to get rid of there's buy it. You can ride, jump, and climb as aggressively as you want and this bike will keep going. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
t-bone
a Cross Country Rider
from S. of Big Sur
Date Reviewed: July 6, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Ridge/east boundry | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | www.cbo.com | | Strengths: | 6 month 600 mile and last report, still fine, no cracks and I'm 190, i-drive works great, fox float shock trouble free, still climbs great no noticable frame creaks, just the deoder frontD doing its grind at times, next upgrade... | | Weaknesses: | Watch the rear shock anchor to the rear triangle, tends to loosen up then you get some clicking, otherwise as long as you keep all bolts snug ride remains so fine, front fork Manitou SX-R needs a heavier spring/elasomer, getting a bit broke in, leaked some redish goo too, looks like a rebuild in my near future or maybe just dive onto one of those new fox forks if the lotto hits. | | Bike Setup: | see below, no changes but some eggbeaters in the cue | | Bottom Line: | Still a great ride, rear brake will go avid disk soon but better first wear out the stock digits, they are getting loose, a pain to keep adjusted but still work, ride on and have fun! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ol Massey
a Weekend Warrior
from Wales
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Paulscycles | | Strengths: | i-drive frame and therefore ride, SID fork, Avid disk. | | Weaknesses: | Richley pedals, strange sizing. | | Similar Products Used: | None, first full-bounce. | | Bike Setup: | UK stock (SID XC fork, Avid CPS front disk, LX cranks, Deore front mech, XT rear mech) pedals changed to V8s | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, which suits the trails I ride, i.e. rocky forestry and coastal tracks. I was a bit concerned about the Avid CPS upfront, as I'd heard mixed reviews about mechanical disks, however it's a stunner - I'll be getting one for the back as well! Sizes will suit taller, long-legged people (I'm 6ft on a medium), seat is on the hard side and stock pedals are hopeless. Ultimatly a great bike for the price and mines orange!!!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bob- not my real name smith-
a Cross Country Rider
from Pacific northwest
Date Reviewed: May 25, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Any place except the road | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Great design and suspension. | | Weaknesses: | The honeymoon is over and I really want a divorce. I took my bike into the LBS in mid Jan 2002 because I noticed what was the start of a small crack around the seat tube. The owner of the shop called GT since this was less then a year old and was told to ship the frame back and they would have a replacement in about 6 weeks. It is now the end of May and all I and the bike shop staff have gotten is a bunch of empty promises. We have been told that the frame builder could not keep up with all the warranty calims, have been told that the first batch of replacement frames was missaligned, and so on etc. | | Bike Setup: | XTR drivetrain, Gremieca discs, time pedals. | | Bottom Line: | It is obivous that the warranty people are either lying through there teeth or really have no clue what is going on. 6 months is rediculous and I am fed up.I see why so many bike shops are dropping Schwin and GT since the Pacific buyout. Not only are they going to start whoring the market by selling these brands through the toy stores but they have no clue about customer service. I would rather have someone tell me they don't know instead of making up storys about when I will have my bike. I can only hope to either get some kind of frame credit so that I can by a new frame and never own this product again or buy a new frame and sell this one if it evers shows up.Me and the warrant dept are going to be on a first name basis very soon as my twice a week calls will soon be starting. Oh yeah I have the 1-800 number for Pacific for anyone else who is going through the same garbage and would like to call.It is a shame since this was one of the best bikes I ever owned up until this point. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kev
a Cross Country Rider
from Richmond, VA
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Waller's Mill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$747.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | The frame and suspension. I am a cross country rider and don't anticipate any frame problems. The bike seems plenty strong for me but I am not planning on any large drops. I love the way the bike handles and rides. It eats up the trail crisply. I have had no problem climbing with the bike, actually getting up things that I would have bet I couldn't. The I-Drive design works very well for me. | | Weaknesses: | A number of components I want to change. Bike is kind of heavy at approx. 29 pounds. When I ride with my friends my bike is heavier than all their full suspension bikes. However, I got a great deal on a nice bike and don't mind paying for the upgrades really. I want to upgrade the wheels, front shock and brakes immediately. But, I mean, at the price I paid I can hardly complain. With upgrades this bike can be made acceptably light and that is my goal. | | Similar Products Used: | Hard tail mountain bikes and road bikes. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for an XT front deraileur. | | Bottom Line: | Great performing bike. This model requires some component upgrades to be really nice and light but a fantastic frame with a great ride. I highly recommend a I-Drive. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from Huntington, WV USA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | The frame and suspension setup is sweet! The XTR derailer is smooth. | | Weaknesses: | The Judy C front shock that came with the bike. Nothing else as of yet! | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Stock from Supergo except for adding disc brakes (Formula activa's from Jenson). Planning to change front suspension in future. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great! It's my first full suspension. It has only been on 1 ride so far. But, it was a technical trail. I really didn't have to get off the seat much because of the 4.6" rear travel. My ass kept thanking me after the ride!
I agree with everyone else in regards to the bike's climbing and downhill performance. It is definetly worth the money I paid! Was planning on waiting to get a Specialized but couldn't pass up the deal.
I will add a second review in a couple of weeks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Garry Rosseter
a Cross Country Rider
from St. Petersburg, Fl, USA
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Alafia | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | ABC Bicycles | | Strengths: | The iDRIVE 3.0 is an awesome riding, climbing, sprinting, off road machine. It handles all rough trails with ease. It is a nicley balanced well equiped full suspension bike with LX/XTR components at a great price either before Pacific took over and even better now. | | Weaknesses: | This is an awesome riding bike. Hard pressed to find a weakness in this product. I did have to have the cable and housing lengthened for the front deraillieur because it didn't allow the full length of the suspension on big hits, which made the front derailliuer pull off the chainring. Once this was taken care of it was like riding a dream bike. | | Similar Products Used: | First full suspension. Been riding hardtail, and rigid frame for 10 years. | | Bike Setup: | Avid brakes, LX/XTR drivetrain, Rock Shox Judy, Fox Float. Added Rolf Propel wheel set and Bontrager Revolt tires. | | Bottom Line: | At some point or another if you ride your bike often as these bikes are designed to be ridden something is going to happen. It appears that something is some frames crack at the seatpost stay. Now that doesn't make this a bad bike, for it is a great full suspension mountainbike. The weakness is how the company deals with you when this happens. Mine cracked, as a few others have, and the frame was supposed to be replaced under warranty in about 6 weeks. Well, it has been 9 weeks and the frame still hasn't even been shipped out. The last I heard, and I have had to exhaust all efforts to get this far, was the frame would be replaced with a 1.0 frame sometime in mid may, which will get it to me by the end of May. The 1.0 frame is the same frame as the other iDRIVES, just sold with higher end components and disc brakes. I will still ride this bike with all of the fun and excitement that I have been doing when I finally get it back, but dealing with warranty problems with Pacific/Schwinn/GT is no ride I wish to take again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Russ
a Cross Country Rider
from Redmond, OR
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | McKenzie River Trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1040.00 | | Purchased At: | Hutch's Bicycles | | Strengths: | iDrive technology is solid and works flawlessly with no maintenance. Judy SL fork once adjusted is a good solid fork that can take a beating. Fox float in rear is easy to adjust with a shock pump. Once I got this bike dialed in I LOVE it! It actually climbs better than my old hardtail and the full suspension takes the fatigue out of the long cross country rides. The downhills are a blast. XTR rear derailleur, LX hollow cranks...great components for the price. | | Weaknesses: | Back V brake doesn't perform very well, I think it is because of the wide seat stays don't let the brake work as well as it could. The iDrive 3.0 is setup for disc brakes and I recommend the upgrade. Saddle is rough and not very comfortable on longer rides I will be upgrading it also pretty soon. | | Similar Products Used: | My first full suspension, upgraded from a Gary Fisher Tassahara hardtail. | | Bike Setup: | All stock, minus all the reflectors and that goofy plastic chain gard. | | Bottom Line: | These bikes are nearly impossible to find now with GT going bankrupt. and the great pricing. My local bike shop is standing by the warranty and it sounds like Pacific will be offering the GT line as their higher-end bikes and will honor warranty issues in the future. Bottom line...for $1000 you can't buy a better full suspension bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Princeton, NJ
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Maylon Dickerson in North NJ | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | Halters Cycles in S. Brunswick | | Strengths: | Great I-Drive design, climbing ability, versatility looks, price, price, price. | | Weaknesses: | No warranty....I know its cliche, but true.....shocks may need to be upgraded as will some other parts, but let them brake, just keep my frame in tact !!!! | | Similar Products Used: | First Full Suspension........used to ride Cannondale F | | Bike Setup: | Minor upgrades like pedals, seat, etc. | | Bottom Line: | A great bike and an even greater deal. The only negative is the lack of warranty, but you are taking that chance for the price. If you are really worried about that, then buy one of the cheaper I-drive models 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 that are left out there and upgradea all compoennets...that way you are only in for a few hundred. The 3.0 climbs much better than my Cannondale HARD tail....I can't figure it out, but hte technology is really, really solid. I am not sure, but would assume another company would copy the design...as much as would be allowed by patent law. I can't say enough good things about it...if you can still get one (there are not many left), grab it....can't get a better F/S for under $1000. Ride Harde......and often........ | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken
a Weekend Warrior
from Wethersfield Ct. US of A!!!!!!
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | West Hartford Res. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Wallingford Bike.Thank you Scott & Ellen | | Strengths: | Suspention saves my fat a$$. Handles very quick. Climbs like a raped ape.Down hill even better.Looks | | Weaknesses: | Warrenty, but I hope I never need to use it. Fork( Rock Shox Judy SL) is under sprung for my 210lbs. | | Similar Products Used: | Diamondback Topanga Comp. A great bike for the price!!! | | Bike Setup: | Easton EA50 flat handlebar.Bontrager stem.Avid SD5 brakes and levers.Terry Liberator sadle. Titec shorty bar ends. | | Bottom Line: | Scott and Ellen at Wallingford Bike set me up with a great bike, I would have never given up my D-back if not for such a good deal on such a great bike. I you want full suspention you are an idiot if you pass on one of these I-Drives. Just by it from a good shop like I did and you wont have any worries | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jae yeee
a Weekend Warrior
from Cerritos, CA
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | none | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$897.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo Online | | Strengths: | Definately the price! Disc Ready hubs are great, Rear XTR Derailer works like magic, Light Weight for the Price (Stock Weight 29 Pounds), This Frame Style definately looks better then any other full suspension bike i have seen. | | Weaknesses: | Disc hubs are a little heavy and needed to be tightened, some parts on this bike carry weight and would be nice if they were changed out(seat post, saddle, stem) But not many weaknesses. | | Similar Products Used: | Spec Stumpjumper, Fuel 90 | | Bike Setup: | Stock until something breaks or gets on my nerves. | | Bottom Line: | As long as you keep up proper maintenance im sure this bike will last for a long time. I have found that increasing the pressure on the rear shock will create the feeling of a hardtail bike(works nice), Very plush feel when falling, overall great bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a
from Pampa
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | GSL | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | SUPERGO | | Strengths: | FRAME. The person that made I-DRIVE system. | | Weaknesses: | Wheelset are not tighten. I had to tighten the rear hub and then checked the front and had to do the front also. Didn't like the Fork I bought with it, had to changed it. Had to change the stem I can trust the Ritchey better, and the straight Kore lite handlebar. The front derailluer was doing good but was going to have to be changed out later so i jumped on a XT front. The Shifter had to be changed, was getting annoyed over the clicking sound they made when i shifted, had some LX's laying around so i up graded. The grips, well lets just say i didn't like them had to go with something more softer put some OURY's. Brake levers did good while i had them on, but didnt had any type of adjustments, the Speed dials 7's did. | | Bike Setup: | SID XC fork. Kore light handlebar. LX shifters. Ritchey stem. Oury grips. Avid speed dial 7's. XT front derailluer. Time Atac pedals. Avid Mech disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | This is an update on my 3.0. I had to tighten the hubs on the my wheels. THats all the problems i ready can complian with. I put over a 100 miles on it and had to update the shifters and the front derailluer. The clicking on the shifter were getting annoying. Also I still think this bike ROCKS. I have put some punishment on this rig and nothing seems to fas my rig. The cheap parts will be changed out when they go out, but other than that this GT I-drive will be in my heart the best full suspension bike ever made. It's fast, and climbs like a hardtail. Makes you want to throw more sick trails at it, just to see this this bike can hold together. I hope this review helps someone. I give it 5 flamin chilis for the value and for the componets this bike is installed with. And then 5 more flamin chilis for taking the punishment I'm giving this bike, and it's still whispering to me for more punishment. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Cherry Hill, NJ
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Wissahickon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$899.00 | | Purchased At: | bikesale.com | | Strengths: | cheap, at the time. reasonable suspension design - soaks big hits and rides firm, mostly decent parts, disk-ready wheelset. | | Weaknesses: | frame is cracking. no warranty?
riser bar has weird bend. bar/stem too high for climbing.
short rider compartment; needs layback seatpost.
unexceptional suspension performance - little small bump/feature sensitivity. some cheapo GT/syncros parts. | | Similar Products Used: | RM6, Intense Tracer, hardtails | | Bike Setup: | stock + 646 pedal; swapped tires. | | Bottom Line: | I have the small size and noticed cracks above my shock mount on the seatmast of the main triangle. I took this bike on about 10 rides in the fall of '01.
I'm surprised there aren't more of you with this problem; I recall reading quite a few reviews in the past years of i-drive seatmast flaws.
Oh, well. Thinking of swapping the parts to a Superlight, Trek fuel, or Kona Bear frame. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mat Wintzer
a
from san luis obispo
Date Reviewed: March 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Montana De Oro | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | factory direct | | Strengths: | Great price for what you get. Idrive climbs like a scolded monkey and decends like a dream for a XC trail bike. XTR rear Der. Best looking Idrive. Climbs technical stuff better than a hard tail. | | Weaknesses: | Factory spoke tension is too low. After too months of truing my wheel after every ride, I tightened them as much as was still safe. Now... no more truing. The Judy is a horrible shock--buy the Total Air upgrade and make your Judy feel like a Sid. | | Similar Products Used: | deomoed idrive 2 and 4, and assorted Specialized bikes | | Bike Setup: | Xt front der. Total Air shock upgrade, Avid mech. disks with SD7 levers, Selle Italia Flight saddle, Truvative Stylo team BB and Crank, Ritchey bar ends etc. | | Bottom Line: | Awesome bike for the money. I don't think I can brake the frame or the Idrive, so I am not worried about warranty stuff. If Hans Rey can ride the same frame for Two year, I am not worried about breaking it. To put things in perspective, I have broken most of the components on the bike, but the frame is just fine.
Buy this bike if you are looking to get into FS or you are a serious trail rider with small Free Ride tendencies. If you are a gram counter that races, buy the Idrive race frame. It climbs better but is not as fun on the down hill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
t-bone
a Cross Country Rider
from Morro Bay
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | chumash trails | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$897.00 | | Purchased At: | cambriabike.com | | Strengths: | Its the 300 mile review, below is the one month review, shocks are great both front and rear, frame still tight and still the best ride outside of my wife | | Weaknesses: | Look out for the spokes, way too weak if you're pounding the trail semi daily, spokes started snapping at 240 miles and by 300 miles it became a daily event on the rear wheel (seven replaced allready), front is still fine, tight and true, but the rear was no help with less tire pressure and keeping spokes evenly tight and rims true, just too light a guage spoke, bought a set of bombproof wheels and using the original as spares until I respoke them with 15 gauge SS spokes, if you're running disks respoke right away or else you might break more than one at a time and get really hurt. If your not a pounder riding hard singletrack spokes should last but keep them snug, mine tended to loosen up then eventually started to snap. Ahh the snap then creaking of a broken spoke... not something that you want to hear often. | | Bike Setup: | Now new wheels and brake pads, saddle got replaced fast with a leather model cut out to keep the boys hanging happy | | Bottom Line: | Still a great ride, frame is still tight, srams and XTR shift nice, front D a bit tempramental but its a deoder so not much to expect. Next step is to put a 110g bar stiffener to stop the occasional clicking noise from the shifter, otherwise its a quiet ride even in nasty washboard at full speed, seat post seems to loosen up on the saddle but the squeak is an easy clockwise fix, will probably get a new seat post for it eventually, otherwise its been a very fun purchase, ride on ;) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pat
a Cross Country Rider
from Central New Jersey, USA
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Delaware/raritan canal tow path | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$899.00 | | Purchased At: | bikesale.com | | Strengths: | Coming off a GT RTS that I rode for the last 8 years I was quite impressed where technology has taken full suspension. The bike has felt great since I cleaned and relubed the complete bike. Great price for a great bike that an intermediate rider would want. If you ride dirt trails,singletrack and are contemplating racing this is the bike for you. Overall anyone could benefit from this bike, although experts would do better with a higher level GT for the increased adjustability of shocks and components. | | Weaknesses: | Rear tire and tube blew for no reason 2.5 miles out of the box- brand new! 2.3 miles from my house the walk sucked! Needed to make some major adjustments to the rear brake to get it to serve a purpose of slowing me down. | | Similar Products Used: | i-drive 2.0, i-drive 4.0 . Raced and rode GT RTS-2. | | Bike Setup: | Stock setup with Manitou SX-R. Suggestions- get a lizard skin for the rear shock, the fender helps keep dirt off the shock but not enough. Glue bottom dial on Manitou SX-R otherwise may fall off on the trail. New Performance brand rear tire | | Bottom Line: | I have only ridden the bike 60 miles since new but as I saw so many reviews about issues I wanted to submit a quick review of my discovery. I may submit a followup if necessary again in a few months. I am 6'1 and the seat post has not needed to be cut. After relubing and adjusting the bike I have had no problem at all with shifting. Initially with the stuff that is put on the bike for shipping the shifting was awful both in the front and back. Kerosene and wax fixed that problem. I did a 3 foot drop off yesterday, the manitou and fox both absorbed well and neither bottomed out (I weigh 180Lbs). Coming off the RTS I have not found a real difference in the weight and would not say the weight is excessive enough that I can't ride quickly through singletracks and hills. The pedals have worked well for me on and off road, I have done my darnest to put as much weight and pressure on the chain- it just wont break. Lastly, warranty is being picked up by Pacific which may be better than no warranty. So I go with all the compliments and say this bike has been great for me. The rear brake gives it a few points off of an outstanding bike but for the price and the components this is one of the best deals out there. Sadly GT's lose is my gain in regards to a great bike but Pacific taking it over ends an era of a great company. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
t-bone
a Cross Country Rider
from Big Sur
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Chumash trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$897.00 | | Purchased At: | cambriabike.com | | Strengths: | Nice price for a full featured bike, liked the frame quality, XL large size to fit my 6' 4" frame and 200 lb weight. Love the XTR rear D with the sram 7.0 cassette, keep it bathed in white lightning and shifting is effortless. | | Weaknesses: | Brake pads plain suck, brakes lasted 120 miles of mostly up/down single track and faded bad when overheated and were hard to keep adjusted cause of the soft rubber wanted to cook off, don't ride it on the steeps before getting some real brake pads, the avid 3 a bit touchy to adjust but with wrangler pads its much MUCH better and shop said to go to XTR harder pads when those wear out for longer life. Riser bars seem to flex enough to cause the front sifters to make a clicking sound but does affect the ride. Tires were weak, replace right away at shops advice and glad I did. Richey clipless lasted 2 hours before blew out the front clip, on a kick in on a nasty climb, very underbuilt, replaced with some old bullet proof shimano knock-offs | | Similar Products Used: | Mostly hard tail Specialized and Kliens | | Bike Setup: | Panracer 2.1 rear/front tires, 3 inch stem riser, new break pads (must) and new clips clips (the ones it came with belong on a road bike) | | Bottom Line: | Very nice climber and a joy to fly downhill in just about anything from broken rock to dried mud ruts to loose grabby sand. Having full suspension its a treat to run tires at 45 lbs+ and not get hammered. The idrive with the manatou sx-r at first seemed too soft in the front but after playing with the dials the front and rear really made for a comfortable yet very tight ride. I recommend putting the cheapo plastic fender that came with it on since it will keep the dirt out of the front d and the float shock. Will upgrade the rear brake to disc if the hubs hold up otherwise I plan to ride the crap out of it, very nice all around X-C bike. So far still tight as new, dropped it about 10 times twice hard on sharp braking in the dirt but not with my full weight on it seems strong, no bad noises yet or is that the white lightning effect. Seems like a great deal for the price, GT's loss is my gain, ride on! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Weekend Warrior
from Pampa, TX
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Which ever Trail I'm riding!! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | SUPERGO | | Strengths: | XTR rear. LX hollowtech. Disc ready hubs (even if there cheap) | | Weaknesses: | The seat post had to be cut, to long. The front shox SX-R (didn't like it)I bought the bike with the Manatou and I just didn't like it campared to my SID XC. | | Similar Products Used: | NOTHING! | | Bike Setup: | I had to take the SXR and added a SID XC. I had to get Avid Disc brakes. | | Bottom Line: | I just got this bike and it ROCKS. I read up on this I-drive for a while and finally got one. Most of everthing put in the reviews about this 3.0 is true. I want to thanks everone that has a 3.0 for being truthful for us riders that need the info. Give 5 for all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken Masters
a Cross Country Rider
from Syosset NY USA
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$857.00 | | Purchased At: | www.Supergo.com | | Strengths: | Great Deal for the price, the XTR Rear Derailleur is very nice, as well as the Fox Float Rear Suspension | | Weaknesses: | Front Derailleur is weak and even with adjustment was not very responsive, the Avid Brakes and Levers are great, but not without a brake booster. The standard SDG seat is just not comfortable. The Ritchey Pedals clip on way too tight, had to loosen them up a good ways before they became safe. The grips on the bike are fine if you have well-padded gloves, otherwise they need changing. The Seat Post is dangerously High, I got the small frame and still I barely make it on the bike with the seat as low as it will go.(I am 5'9" btw) | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing worth mentioning
| | Bike Setup: | Deore XT Front Derailleur, Aireon Sport Seat, Seatpost cut down 2.5 inches, Brake booster for the back, everything else Standard. | | Bottom Line: | I like this bike, granted my WTB Motoraptor Tire(rear one) blew the first day, and I wasnt even riding the bike when it did... The Ritchey pedals need alot of work, and with the recent price drop on the Shimano SPD 858 pedals they are just not worth the hassle. I havent done alot of trail with this bike yet, as such cant comment on how it handles. Simply, for the Price Paid (even with the upgrades) the overall product is a good value (as long as you dont have to goto GT/Pacific Cycles for anything). The front forks travel(along with the Medium/Blue MCU the Manitou comes with) disqualifies this bike as a serious Down Hill product. This bikes falls in my weekend warrior with mild Cross Country tendencies catagory. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason Fox
a Weekend Warrior
from Kansas City, MO USA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Lawrence River Trails | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$847.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo.com via eBay | | Strengths: | My best friend for the last six months to get a bike (especially after he got his Giant NRS-1). As I was new to mountain biking, I was looking at hard-tails because of cost. But when I saw this bike at Supergo for $897 ($847 on eBay) with the Manitou fork, I couldn't pass it up. And I certainly haven't regretted it. I've been about only five times since buying this bike, but it's made a mountain bike convert out of me. Very confidence inspiring in its handling--the Fox Float rear soaks up everything and the iDrive works great (although not quite as immune to bobbing as my friend's Giant). Just a great bike for the money, especially considering the XTR rear and LX crank. | | Weaknesses: | Avid Single Digit 3's not as nice as discs, but that's a minor quibble that's easily fixed. The seat isn't great, but I can ride the 9-mile trail with minimal numbness. I didn't need to cut the seat post because I'm fairly tall (6' 1" on a large frame), but it was still close. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant NRS-2, Specialized Rock Hopper, Cannondale F5000 -- all demo'd. | | Bike Setup: | Stock for now. Avid mechanicals and new saddle in future. | | Bottom Line: | I'm glad I held out buying a bike until I found this. I wanted to get a bike I wouldn't have to upgrade right away and this fits the bill perfectly. If you can still find one at this price (I believe Supergo.com still has a few left), buy it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bobby Jackson
a Weekend Warrior
from Philadelphia
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$797.00 | | Purchased At: | supergo.com via ebay | | Strengths: | All around great bike for the beginner to intermediate level. I use it both on the trails and getting around in the city (Philly) and it's the best in both worlds. | | Weaknesses: | Had to cut off about 4-5 inches off the seat post. I'm getting a new seat because the one it comes with isn't the most comfortable although it not the worst either. | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line is that it's a phenomonal bike for the price. Even if I had paid the retail price it would have been worth it. But when I saw that supergo.com put it up on ebay for $797.00 straight from the factory and still in the box, I couldn't pass it up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
JB
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Brian Head Singletrack Utah | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$847.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Great frame, perfect stance, great selection of parts, great suspension, dad bought it and he's having a ball with it, glad it came with disc hubs, good fork, Judy C, great shock, Fox Float, great i-Drive | | Weaknesses: | Needs better pedals for a bike this much ($1589 is original price), GT should make discs an option for extra mula instead of only giving it to them as mandatory on their top of line bike ,i-Drive 1.0, my dad is going to need to cut off about 2" on seatpost, to long hits the shock, | | Similar Products Used: | ALOT LET'S NOT GO THERE SHALL WE | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Great Bike for all around cross-country
Ideal Buyer: cross-country rider who's tall, unless you have a pipe cutter, loves the Shimano Realm and the GT tradition, respects that i-Drive parts will no longer become available after 2002
Pros: XTR an LX instead of deore, proven suspension system, perfect sizing for cross-country and free-friding stances.
Cons: Needs to Come with better pedals, Shorten seat post, Don't hollow out the seat stay | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a
from Brockton
Date Reviewed: November 23, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$950.00 | | Purchased At: | bikesale.com | | Strengths: | I'm very happy with its climbing abilitiy. | | Weaknesses: | Had to chop 4" off seat post and the Maniyou sx-r bottoms out to easily. | | Similar Products Used: | ??? this is my 1st full suspension | | Bike Setup: | stock exept shimano m-646 pedals | | Bottom Line: | This bike climbs every bit as well as my hardtail. I don't like the front shock at all. I will most likely upgrade the brakes & fork. I'm pleased w/ the Fox Float. It is a nice looking bike too. I'm sure there are better bikes out there but, not at this price. Its a steal at about a grand. Get it from bikesales.com, these guys are GREAT !
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George Griffith
a Cross Country Rider
from BARBADOS
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1100.00 | | Purchased At: | Bronx Bicycle shop | | Strengths: | idrive feels smooth esp over bumps.light. good components. good for weekend warriors and enthususaists who like the off road as well as the occasional fast road ride. | | Weaknesses: | seat pole way too long touches back shok will cut off two inches.had to put a gel seat on the saddle.ooooh | | Similar Products Used: | never ridden a full suspension before thought id lose power on the road but not noticeably so | | Bike Setup: | magura hydraulic disc front and back ritchey clipless | | Bottom Line: | very comfortable but people should think about how they arrange gear cables on trail bikes they get caught on trees and bushes and get stretched out now my gears are missing and jumping but overall very good value im happy | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
blazebaby
a Weekend Warrior
from Grover Beach, CA
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | bikesale.com | | Strengths: | iDrive suspension rocks!
Disk Ready!
Fox Float
Manitou
XTR
Lighter than the 4.0
PRICE! | | Weaknesses: | No Warranty!
Seat tube way too long. Had to chop about 3 inches off it so it wouldn't hit the shock.
Rear derailer had problems lining up with the inside rear chainring
Manitou bottoms out without too much weight on it. Might be factory defect of incorrect oil level.
Rear brakes suck. Good thing it's disk ready. Mechanicals are only $100 away.
The seat is a pain in my ass but I guess losing a few lbs wouldnt hurt either. I'll be replacing it soon. | | Similar Products Used: | Old school Bianchi and Raliegh tanks. These things weighed twice as much at the 3.0 and were only front suspension. | | Bottom Line: | After years of being out of mtbiking I did a lot of research before buying this bike. Tons of test rides and many hours searching the net for rider reviews. This is definately the best buy in Full suspension bikes. Rides better than many bikes that cost way more. If you're a serious racer type then you'd probably be buying a much more expensive bike anyways.
Had an issue withthe rear derailer not lining up with the inside chainring. Nothing major.
The bike rides like a dream and absorbs roots, rocks and ruts like nothing I've ever ridden before. Climbs better than my old hardtails. The tires handle sandy trails well and do a good job on everything else.
The seat, shifters and brake levers may not be the highest quality but they've been doing their job quite well. This gives me time to upgrade other components
Great on the rode. For me it's the perfect all around bike. I ride it on the road to get to the trails, freeride a little, climb a little, dh back to the start and ride home. It does everything great!
Value is a 5 for the lighter iDrive, components and it's disk ready! I'm much happier that I spent a few more bucks to get the 3.0.
Overall is a 5 for great dh, climbing, freeride-ability. Great Ride! High Quality! Low Price! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a
from Palo Alto
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Garners bikes | | Strengths: | i have done some mad drops on it and it has held up with no problem i have had it for 5 weeks and there is not a skratch on it yet. i have also used it for a lot of xc and it has also held up just fine it is a great bike with great conponatry and disc ready hubs wich is asome! | | Weaknesses: | nothing at all it is great!!!!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | nothing like it it's great | | Bottom Line: | it is amasing i love this bike and it is great for every tipe of riding really and is great for beginers and medium riders | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bailey Quintrell
a Weekend Warrior
from Atlanta GA USA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Soap Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Skate Escape | | Strengths: | great price for the components and iDrive. I have never ridden any hardtails that climb as well as the 3.0, much less any other full suspensions. Even if you have the float low on pressure for dh it still climbs better than anything else I've ridden, even a Cannondale F900 with about a thousand bucks of weight-reducing extras. When i bought the bike i saved my LX shifters and Lx front derailleur thinking that within the first two months I would have to replace the Deore shifters and front derailleur. I have had the bike for 5 months and everything on the bike is still stock except for two tubes, I ewven thought I would have to replace the stock tires really soon because they looked like they were crap, but i am still using them and they are working like a charm. | | Weaknesses: | monocque rear seatpost stay creaks a little, without good tuning of rear and front fork for your weight (Mines 190) it seems to ride heavy on climbs. | | Similar Products Used: | iDrive 6.0, Cannondale F900 | | Bike Setup: | Basically stock still | | Bottom Line: | You can't get any better than this without spending another 500 bucks so I give it 5 flaming chilis, but the creak in the seatpost stay and the weight stock I give it 4 flamin chilis for overall | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Danny
a Weekend Warrior
from Detroit
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikesale.com | | Strengths: | Fantastic suspension....rockeating. Disc brake ready (there is at least one person who reported problems with rear hub durability and discs however.) Easy to set up. Incredible value (if you feel confident without warranty.) | | Weaknesses: | No Warranty!!! Rear swingarm flexes considerably at brake attachment point...brake booster will improve feel considerably as suggested by previous reviewer. Low end Shimano Deore shifter (but seems to function OK.) A bit heavy in the tail (30lbs for the large frame model.) Seat tube very long (others have reported too short...GT seems to put several different length tubes in this bike.) Avid V brakes don't have quick detaches...negates quick detach wheels. Bike arrived with front derailer shiftpoint setup so that lowest gear couldn't be reached...no problem...just an adjustment issue. | | Similar Products Used: | Upgrade from low-end Mongoose...HUGE IMPROVEMENT!!! Have demo'd other bikes...Specialized, Giant. This one had the best ride feel, IMHO. | | Bike Setup: | Fork tube as low as it can go...might have to cut some off (and I'm 6 foot tall on a large frame.)
Mechanical front disc (front V is very good, but disc is too cool.) Note: When you go to mechanical discs you will need to replace the brake cable. The stock one is too short to reach the disc brakes.
Swapped out seat with ergo leather LeMond seat (from Target of all places.) LeMond seat is lighter and more butt friendly.
Swapped out Ritchey pedals for Shimano 424 combination platform, SPDs (for more versatility and better performance.)
DKG Strongarm Stiffener added to rear brakes to reduce flex...improve response. | | Bottom Line: | If you don't need the lightest bike, this is an incredibly good, full suspension, value. You don't really notice the weight driving it. The suspension has to be ridden to be believed. It feels THAT good.
I give it 5 Flamefests for value but take off one for overall rating because of the lack of warranty and the flexy rear brake.
This is an initial, out of box, report. I'll report back when I've got some serious seat time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
El Rey
a Cross Country Rider
from Arizona
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Slickrock Moab | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$999.00 | | Purchased At: | bikesale.com | | Strengths: | Climbs great, better than I expected. I am big boy at 6'3" and 190lbs but the XL frame fits me great with lots of room to stretch out. This is my first fully suspended ride and I'm sold. I have been riding a Bridgestone MB-2 with a Manitou fork from back in the day so I'm used to a sweet ride at a fair price. So far the I-drive is treating me right. | | Weaknesses: | The rear brake is a horror show and it should be sold with a booster. Have your shop install one upon set up. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR | | Bike Setup: | Stock but needs better rear brake, wider handle bar. | | Bottom Line: | GTs financial misfortune seems to be great deal for any one interested in thier products. I bought this $1599 bike for $999 so it's hard to go wrong. No way you'd find a bike this good for a grand!!! I live in Flagstaff where the trails can be a very harsh mistress indeed (lot's of rocks)so we'll have to see how this bike holds up. The i-drive technology seems to be the bomb for climbs and downhill on this bike is an f'ing gas. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a
from North Andover, MA
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | fun ones | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1350.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycles Etc. | | Strengths: | just about every thing | | Weaknesses: | 1) chain hits the side of the frame, getting Lizard Skin
2) Fork is a lil stiff, prolly cause I only weigh 105 ( Im 13) | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except for a cut down seatpost | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great. Climbs easily, goes fast easily, goes slow easily. It just wants to be ridden. Idrive is superb. I can climb hills I never thought possible on my old bike. It also built my confidence by a lot! If you are lookin for a good full suspension bike, this is the one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Philadelphia, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any and all | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | bikesale.com | | Strengths: | Smooth, FAST, unbreakable (except for front drlr; see below); gives all kinds of confidence and increases ability | | Weaknesses: | Stock v-brakes kind of weak, front drlr. (comes with XTR rear (nice!), deore(?) front is extremely hard to get dialed in, and is pretty flimsy); that's it so far | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn Moab, I-drive 4.0, 5.0, FSR, Mongoose FS | | Bike Setup: | manitou sx-r, avid mech. disc, shortened up seat post, ditched the clipless for some platforms | | Bottom Line: | Best FS bike for the money that I could find, and glad about the decision! Researched for ever while getting the money together and it was worth every minute. Perfect bike for anyone who likes to do a little bit of everything: Cross country, moderate DH, etc... kind of heavy but the +'s way outweigh that. I feel no difference in climbing compared to my hardtail (except my rear keeps better contact with the ground over rocks and stuff, which is nice) I-Drive lives up to billing. 5 for value; 4 overall for annoying fr. drlr. and weak breaks (Avid Mech Disc is the best, cheap upgrade you could make to any bike!) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Kalispell, MT USA
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Wolf Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Rite | | Strengths: | The I-Drive is simply the best out there. I work at a shop so I get my hands on a ton of different bikes and this is my favorite hands down. Rear travel is smooth and always working yet it climbs great for a fully suspended bike. The bike handles really well and is easily handled on any kind of trail. | | Weaknesses: | Three things. First, the one we got came with Avid 3.0 V-brakes and levers. I love the Avid Arches but these brakes are awful. Second, I don't think GT spec'd the front shock very well. The Judy SL just doesn't give as balanced a ride as a Psylo or a Sid. Plus, you can watch the fork flex and wobble while you are riding. Third, GT needs to give up on making their own hubs. They can cause a lot of problems. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky and Manomano, Specialized Enduro and Stumpy, Zaskar LE (still my fav. bike of all time) | | Bottom Line: | is that you are going to have to put up with the extra weight for full suspension unless you have a whole lot of extra money, but for a great all around ride, this bike wins. Buy it if you are doing all kinds of riding and want a fantastically designed bike. Don't buy it if you are a retro grouch, nuts about saving weight, or want tons and tons of travel. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mustang
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The next one | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike USA | | Strengths: | Got a deal! Good components (4 price). Very solid. 4.6 in the back! XTR der., disc hubs, fox float. Not HEAVY! | | Weaknesses: | Deore shifters?!? owell, seat, and pedals, and front derailleur | | Similar Products Used: | 4.0, Sugar, Giant XTC 2 | | Bike Setup: | shortened seatpost, light springs/psi, different pedals, | | Bottom Line: | Great XC bike! I live near some very technical switchbacks, drops, teeters, and drops. This bike helped me push my limits. It takes everything, and the last ride is nice on my legs and rear. I highly recommend this bike over the 4.0, even with the price difference. The price really sold it for me as I am 15 and have limited funds. Do not buy it if you are not goin to ride it cuz it begs to be shown the outdoors. I went biking for 7 1/2 hours last sunday, and good gawd did this bike love it. It rules for pedaling, singletrack, switchbacks, and intermediate drops (5 ft). I love this bike, but can't give it all 5 chilis as the shifters and front derailleur are not quite up to par with the rest of the bike. Also, the Fox float is huge over the vanilla, but the float r would have made me cry and laugh and make every other rider on the trail cower. Great bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a
from Charlotte, NC USA
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | This is an update to my first review. Most aspects of the bike are still great except for one major flaw. See below | | Weaknesses: | There seems to be a manufacturing flaw with the GT disc (actually made by formula I believe) hubs. I put a set of Avid mech. discs on it as soon as I got it. The rear wheel started to have all kinds of problems. It came out of dish on a weekly basis and the spokes would loosen up so much that they would squeek when riding, even on pavement. Luckily my shop (South Park Cycles) was cool enough to keep tightening and re-truing the wheel weekly since contacting GT is a little difficult these days. Then, I started breaking spokes and upon closer inspecetion, the hub body had started to shear around the bearing race on the drive side just inside the flange. I have also heard of another i-drive rider in this area that actually split his hub while riding and got hurt pretty bad. GT keeps saying that they will be ready to ship out warranty parts "next week" but still nothing. I had to pay out of pocket for a new rear wheel just so I could keep riding. Hopefully GT will make good when they get things set back up but until then, be very wary of using disc brakes on the GT disc hubs. It could be hazardous to your health. | | Bottom Line: | Use stock brakes until GT gets their act together again and can replace the defective parts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tyler
a Downhiller
from maine
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | its an all around great bike i tried it and it rode extremely good. | | Weaknesses: | the seat stem is too long | | Bike Setup: | as is | | Bottom Line: | i loved the bike so im going to buy one to race with. this is the type of bike that wants to be ridden on trails no pansy road riders alowed. i only tried it but it was the best bike i ever rode. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Spider Monkey
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | GR7, France | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Quality suspension action, great handling, GT build quality, SIDs and Avid disk on UK bikes. | | Weaknesses: | Rear end fairly weighty, rear brake is awful. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Kilauea for last 9 years. | | Bike Setup: | UK spec is mostly as US except: Avid CPS disk brake on front, RockShox SID SLs (80mm). | | Bottom Line: | This bike handles like my Kona, which is a very good thing. Except that it is so much faster downhill! Air/oil setup front and rear can be tweaked to match perfectly; i-Drive seems to do its job and provides smooth action with no bounce.
XC and downhill this bike is awesome - enough travel to take big hits but no bobbing, so little or no wasted pedalling. Climbing is ok but not brilliant - the front is quite short and light so has a tendency to come up: have to get used to pulling weight forward more than usual.
Only major problem is the rear brake. Mounting bosses are too wide and the routing is too tight, net result being that there is no power there, especially in the wet. Useless for long downhills. Bought another Avid CPS disk for the back and now it's superb - masses of braking power. Good job it comes with a disk hub on the rear anyway. Would recommend the same upgrade to anyone. Rest of kit is high quality, although the saddle gives numb nuts - prefer the Flite TransAm.
Will turn my Kona into a full rigid for the really technical trials-type stuff, but for everything else I am well pleased with this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kent Kuhlmann
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA USA
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Soquel Demonstration Forest | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | Hyland Family Bicycles | | Strengths: | I-Drive, Rear Fox Air shock and general handling | | Weaknesses: | GT/Schwinn financial problems, no warranty and yes, it is a little on the heavy side. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant, Klein, Specialized
| | Bike Setup: | Stock from the factory. Like the fact that they give you the better components where they count. | | Bottom Line: | I don't care if people say GT stands for "gross tonnage" this bike rocks! I am in my 40's and don't plan to race the sucker but it does everything I need for great all around and technical riding. Did lots of research and rode close to 30 bikes before I bought this one. It simply felt and rode the best. The only thing that rivaled it was a Santa Cruz that was $3,000 more! I wound up on some trails that were probably over my head and the bike was awesome. Warranty or no warranty, I will have a hard time ever breaking this bike and I am having fun trying. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big Poppa
a Cross Country Rider
from Fernie, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Everything off the Ridgemont clearcut | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | The Ski Base | | Strengths: | Climbs better than anything I've ever ridden!! Great geometry for climbing. The i-Drive system is a dream because there's no bounce and it helps roll over logs and roots like there's nothing there. | | Weaknesses: | Mechanical disc should be hydraulic and the rear Fox Float would be better with a coil-over. Needs fatter tires!!! Can't get the seat quite low enough on really steep downhills. | | Similar Products Used: | Fisher Sugar 3 Disc, Specialized FSR Enduro | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for an Avid mechanical disc on the front. | | Bottom Line: | I'm a hard-core Fernie local who gets out at least 4 times a week. This bike can handle everything I throw at it with ease. A little pricey compared to others who have posted thanks to the stellar Canadian dollar but still great value for the buck. If you're into killer climbs and quick single-track downhills, this bike's for you! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Toby Citret
a Downhiller
from Daly City, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 29, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | fox creek loop, sun valley Idaho | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Amazing frame design and manuverability, great fork. Disc ready when you buy it. | | Weaknesses: | Syncros | | Bottom Line: | Unbelievable ride, it can take drops, rocks roots, and witha good rider even trees. This bike is amazing | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bike rider
a Cross Country Rider
from Sunny SoCal
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$899.00 | | Purchased At: | bikesale.com | | Strengths: | I-drive, component group, price, | | Weaknesses: | seat,warrantee issues, | | Similar Products Used: | iron horse hollowpoint, suger 3, spec. rockhopper, rocket 88. | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | With the GT in trouble the price was too good to pass up. Disk ready hubs, fox float RC shock, Judy SL forks, XT/LX components, I-drive for $899.00. Hopefully the company that buys GT will honor the warrentee.
The bike rides great. Very effecient pedaling even with out lockout. Suspension is very plush without being mushy. Overall a great bike for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Howie
a Cross Country Rider
from Hopatcong NJ
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Vernon bikes | | Strengths: | The i-drive rocks, fox float does a nice job on big hits, 100 mm judy SL is a great shock. | | Weaknesses: | Spokes and head set installed very loose. Rims make a funny creek every once in a while. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek hard tail 6500. | | Bike Setup: | Stock W/spd 858 pedals | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great. I got it at a 400 dollar discount so for me it was a great deal, but this bike is well worth the money at full price. I'm a buck 85 and the shock set up works like a dream. This is my first full suspension bike and it climbs better than my hard tail. I had a problem with the spokes but the bike shop fixed it right up during my first adjustment. This bike Rocks!!
If youd like to see some shots of this bike in action go to www.geocities.com/mtbtrailblazer | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A Guy
a Weekend Warrior
from Canada
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | A shop | | Strengths: | I Drive works great, Frame is strong, Good components | | Weaknesses: | is a little on the heavy side | | Similar Products Used: | GT's, Kona's, Brodies | | Bike Setup: | Avid Mechanical disk brakes, Tioga Factory DH tires, Easton Monkey Lite Riser, Raceface XY seatpost, Marzocchi Z1 MCR, Fox Vanilla RC | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike that perfoms awesome in any conditions. The I Drive does make the frame weigh alot(this bike weighs as much as my Aeon Joker complete). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Audra
a Cross Country Rider
from Cle Elum, WA
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The Ridge | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Recycle Shop | | Strengths: | It's a GT! The i-Drive works great. A lot of bike for the $$, an awsome frame to build-up. And it's pretty. | | Weaknesses: | The brakes, I use mine a lot, but its disc ready!!! Have to crank down hard on the seat post. Ritchey clipless pedals, they work (sometimes too well or maybe its the rider) - but a fairly inexpensive part to replace. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Karakorum | | Bike Setup: | Stock accept for the seat and bootie cover on rear shock. | | Bottom Line: | A great bike - I love it! climbs like a dream. Smooth. I would definitly recommend the GT 3.0 to anyone wanting a new bike. GT builds them to last. Nice color. i-Drive frame, decent components, you couldn't build this bike for the price. (Replace parts when needed or when they go on sale) Mt. biking is even more fun now! p.s. My husband has one too! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from TN
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Plush suspension front and rear, great frame to build on for future use, disc ready, mostly good component selection,great layout nad product spec for cross country riding, Judy SL fork | | Weaknesses: | Routing of rear brake cable causes rear brake to have a poor "feel" quality, would recommend working a deal at purchase to upgrade to disc. Spec rear derailuer to XT and upgrade front to LX or XT instead of Deore. Quick releases on wheels are flimsy. Seat and seatpost are both mediocre. Little bit heavy but not bad. | | Similar Products Used: | First dually. | | Bike Setup: | Completely stock except brake pads. First upgrade will be to disc (rear cable routin not good for v's). I am also going to change shock oil to 10w from 5w to slow it down just a little. Will also get rid of Deore stuff (frt drl & shifters) over next few months even though it has worked amazingly well for low end components.
| | Bottom Line: | Being in my late 30s the rear suspension makes the day after a big ride much better by reducing the soreness in my lower back I would feel after riding my hardtail. I find that I can actually climb better over rough terrain on this bike but you need to stay seated, not because of rear bobbing but because of the Judy. I drive seems to work as advertised, very satisfied with rear suspension performance. Its great to be able to stay seated and keep pedaling on those little stutter bumps I used to have stand for. In my opinion GT has come with a great package in the 3.0 at the right price point. Weight is reasonable, suspension is balanced, components are all adequate, and frame is worthy of upgrading later on. Oh yeah, I think the silver and red paint scheme with the black wheels and rear triangle is b!tch!n also. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
benwe
a Weekend Warrior
from Charlotte, NC USA
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | too many to choose from | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | SouthPark Bikes | | Strengths: | Good component mix for the $$$, they seem to have put the good stuff where it counts, like the awesome XTR rear der. Disc Ready! Great freeride bike. Plush on the downhill but still climbs good (in seat). Pretty forgiving for an intermediate rider. | | Weaknesses: | GT stem is a bit cheap. Seatpost seems to like to twist unless you put tons of pressure on the clamp. Seat is made of concrete. RS Judy SL fork made strange "pop" sound when pushed hard. Apparently springs were not lubed properly from factory? Got this fixed up quickly (and Free) thanks to a great shop (South Park Bikes). | | Similar Products Used: | GT, Specialized, Cannondale hardtails. Gary Fisher Sugar 3. | | Bike Setup: | Added Avid mech. disc breaks. What a great and simple bolt on upgrade. Serfas Cosmos saddle. Yeti hardcore grips. the rest is stock so far. I did put boots on the fork and rear shock because of the mud (despite what Rock Shox says about their XXX seals). | | Bottom Line: | Great freeride bike. Great upgrading platform. Have been on GT's since the early 80's bmx days and have never been dissapointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Renault
a Cross Country Rider
from Lowell MA
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | The next one | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Nimble, i drive was very plush when needed, no excesive bobbing. Judy was also very plush, good from curbs to ledges. Cranks were fairly strong, consistent. I love i drive the most on this bike, its the best full suspension ride | | Weaknesses: | Climbing moderate to severe hills was a little more challenging than a hardtail, but i got over it. A litte pricey for some of the components also, but its only a matter of time before i save up. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized FSR XC, Cannondale Jeckel with ELO, Gary Fisher Sugar 3 | | Bike Setup: | demo bike | | Bottom Line: | If your looking for an cross-country, freestyle bike with travel to spare, this is the bike. im buying one as soon as get the cash. stay away if your doing extending climbing or racing.....spend your money on the shorter travel GT idrive Race or Team model | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mud Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Everett wa
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Centers | | Strengths: | Climbs as good as my hardtail except for loose or rough climbs were it beats the hardtail easily. Great handling on single track or flying downhill. Good choice for taller riders I am 6'3 and this bike fits great.Looks SWEET!. Strong frame and the rear susp is easy to maintain. | | Weaknesses: | Not the lightest bike but also not the heaviest either, to those who complain about weight shut-up and ride. | | Similar Products Used: | GT hardtail w Manitou fork and XT drivetrain. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Titec stem,Time ATAC pedals, and Grimeca Disc brakes-Sweet | | Bottom Line: | Mountain Bike Action said it best this is the equivlent to the point and shoot camera. Does all things well and very forgiving when you do something stupid. I would highly recommend to anyone, especialy the bigger riders. If you are looking at the 4.0 and the 3.0 go with the 3.0 lighter better parts and best of all Disc brake ready. Also remember the reason to ride is to have fun!. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
taod stoole
a Weekend Warrior
from la habra, ca
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | mt. wilson | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | La Habra Cyclery | | Strengths: | bad ass bike. the i-drive actually helps out on climbs. it gives you butt loads of traction in or out of the saddle. i climb better on this than on my hardtail (zaskar). decending can be hazardous, it handles so good you dont realize how fast your going until you run into a turn. as far as the weight goes, loose that big o' gut then start your whining | | Weaknesses: | on tech rides its kinda top heavy you gotta scrub the back tire with your ass when going on steep soft and rocky decents. i heard those i-drive black hex screws are easy to strip and rust. just change em out with stainless. | | Similar Products Used: | gt zaskar | | Bike Setup: | just a 3.0 with xtr brake levers | | Bottom Line: | i got this bike on cinco de mayo and put 220 miles on it. for me i feel like i'm riding the crap out of this bike. its perdy durable. i heard its not good to submerge the bike in water , i do it anyway, no problems yet, but then again its only a month old. this bike kicks ass! i recommend it to anyone that likes the hardtail efficiency for climbing and the plush suspension for the downhill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hank
a Weekend Warrior
from Fremont, CA
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Wilder Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Fremont Schwinn | | Strengths: | Excellent frame design gives extra handling. Combination of Judy SL, Fox Air and i-Drive really makes this bike rocks!!
| | Weaknesses: | Ritchie pedal is a pain in the butt! GT uses a cheap stem, it should stick /w its catalog pic of Syncros stem. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialzied Enduro(test ride) | | Bike Setup: | Stock, a pair of disc brake is comming on its way... | | Bottom Line: | This is my fist taste of i-drive, I love it. I am rather impressed with the system's performance, you can easily feel its efficiency kicks-in after just a few pedal. It Climbs well, decends even better, Judy SL sucks up all the pain and stays solid afterwards. I also considered 4.0 prior to purchase but after noticing 3.0 is significantly lighter in weight, I decided to spend the extra $300+, no regret!! It is really a sweet ride I would recommend to anyone. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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