Bike Setup: Stock other than Mavic Crossland wheels.
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Submitted by
haribokid
a Cross Country Rider
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2011
Strengths: Awesome frame,Ive the Medium and im 5,10 and it handles great on Xc ride.
Weaknesses: None yet.
Bottom Line:
Great Xc frame for the money, you can now get these frames for well under 200 now!! If you see one and its in good condition esp: the I drive linkage, buy it you wont be disappointed!!
Submitted by
jcapewell
a Weekend Warrior
from Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2009
Strengths: For the novice/beginner like myself - this i-drive 4.0 Large frame setup is the perfect bike. Very easy to climb hills, take quick corners, fearless downhills (OK, on the family trails), very good single-finger breaking, and solid shifts. My son (6'5") rode it/abused it for 5 years and garaged it, then I (5'11") took it over last year and now put about 45 miles a week on it, mixed off-road stuff mostly. Local bike shop does all maintenance other than chain lube and bike wash.
Weaknesses: none noticed so far (8 years and counting)
Bottom Line:
The most fun on two wheels an amateur weekend rider can have. The technology is pretty outdated now, but still a fantastic, reliable ride. No failures other than replace the chain, which did not break - it was just time.
Bike Setup: Stock, after correcting SAM's Club set-up butchery
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Submitted by
raycharlesonacid
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles, Ca
Date Reviewed: May 14, 2009
Strengths: Smooth as stock, road and dirt worthy, nice components...
Weaknesses: Rockshox Judy so so, damping adjustment for looks; Synchros Big Box front & rear rims spokes always break till re-laced with bigger gauge spokes (but I'm 6'1", 250 lbs, if that matters)...
Bottom Line:
I'm GT (my real initials, lol) and got my 2 GT's around 2001. Had a motorcycle accident so doctors prescribed a wheelchair (a prescription never filled, thankfully). It took 30 days to stand on crutches. When I did, crutched over to bike, started riding EVERYWHERE TO GET BETTER (insisted on leg braces vs. cast, so I could "ratchet peddle" back and forth at first stage of biking recovery). Worked up to 400-600 miles monthly for almost 2 years (people at work thought I was God, but I'm not). Knew I was "well" when laziness kicked in and would rather sit on couch eating Haagen Dazs than ride... My 2 GT iDrive 4.0's (one for parts, one to ride) cured me of this supposedly crippling motorcycle injury through dirt, street, mud, rain and wind with few problems. Today, I am fine and still love these same bikes. If you see one for sale, new or used, buy it.
Similar Products Used: None, this is my first real MTB.
Bike Setup: Stock
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Submitted by
tom c
a Cross Country Rider
from england
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2007
Strengths: its a comfortable bike to ride
Weaknesses: shock seat and wheels
Bottom Line:
there is a few things wrong with it shocks weak have to keep pumping it up and the over thing is you lot on here bndreads i got it for £25 hahahahahahahaha
Strengths: The idrive technology at made there rename and it's realy kick ass. No publicity bulls**t, it DOES work! I love the fox floating rear shock and I dont think I'll change it for now. Some people claim that the 4.0 is heavy, but they surely didnt ride a Balfa bobonum like I did :P It's a point-and-shoot bike and at each new rides I'm getting more confident and I enjoy it even more.
Weaknesses: The components... sorry but they ar poor... The Judy is too soft and I bottom it out too easy, and it's pretty noisy too...
Bottom Line:
This bike rocks, I realy love it. It's fast, precise and you always want to ride. And with my next setup wich is describe, it will kick as* badly!!!!!!!! :P You get confident realy fast on the bike and it can take pretty nice drop too. The front wheel is easy to lift up (compare to the Balfa I had b4) so it's pretty easy to jump/drop. If you want a good bike for a good price and a good possibility to upgrade, dont search anymore... ;) I realy like to "play" in town,trails, single track and lil downhill too and I'd like to do trial too, is it a good bike to try that!?! I weight 172 pounds and I'm 6' tall and the bike is perfect for my size! :)
Favorite Trail: Anything that I can throw at my bike!
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$450.00
Purchased At: A friend
Similar Products Used: I had the heavy weith Balfa bobonum before, which was nice but damn to heavy.. but is was a " Im-sure-I-can-drop-that " anytime bike :P
Bike Setup: I WILL upgrade to follow: Dirt jumper 3 front shock, Magura HS-33 brakes, Radica XC D2 seat, TiTec XC seat post, Shimano 105 dérailleur, and I'll change the pedal too...
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Submitted by
Tom orr
a Weekend Warrior
from Pentraeth, Anglesey , Wales
Date Reviewed: December 20, 2003
Strengths: Reliable, low centre of graviy, easy to ride, suspension is always active, i personaly like the geometry.
Weaknesses: heavy,
Bottom Line:
i love this bike. i find the SPD's well worth it and a very comfortable bike. i like the long cockpit, as i have long arms, and at great value for the UK, i have no idea about the US...... handles anytrhing i throw at it, but it is on the heavy side. I find it rides light though.
Similar Products Used: None, my first full bouncer
Bike Setup: slightly different to the one here, Judy xc's, Fox Float rear shock, LX throughout, (when bought, now i have XT here and there), came whith Avid 3 digit v-brakes, but now i have Hayes HFX-9 6" hydraulic discs, well worth the upgrade, whith WTB speed disc hubs and mavic 717 disc rims. Ritchey SPD's
THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO A REVIEW I DID 6 MONTHS AGO.
THE BIKE STILL GETS TOP MARKS- (WELL, VERY NEARLY), COS IT FEELS LIKE A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE MACHINE. THE FOX FLOAT IS GREAT, THE JUDY FORKS ARE A BIT HEAVY, BUT CAN HANDLE ANYTHING I THROW AT EM, AND THAT i DRIVE THING WORKS REALLY WELL. ON THE DOWNSIDE, THOSE SPOKES DID BREAK AFTER ALL- THEY'RE C**P, AND MY BOTTOM BRACKET SOUNDS A BIT CLUNKY NOW, ALSO THE BUSHINGS ON THE DOG BONE HAVE GONE. BUT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BIKE THAT SHOULD COST £1000+,AND I ONLY PAID £500, THE OVERALL SCORE IS STILL VERY HIGH.
Bike Setup: changed to a shorter (THE) stem, also upgraded to proper brake blocks.
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Submitted by
Matt Lawless
a Downhiller
from Hockessin Delaware
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2003
Strengths: I think this bike is great and thats all im saying.
Weaknesses: I dont have a keen eye to find any.
Bottom Line:
Well really have nothing to say since i used to have a trek 820 so this is a big step up. I bought all of this bike but the handle bar and seat for $300!!!!!!! And i put new wheels on that are worse than the gts but these look cooler. I put magura disk brakes and this bike rocks. His name is 8er carried on form the 820.
Submitted by
Chuck
a Downhiller
from Cleveland, Oh, USA
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2003
Strengths: Price. Full suspension. I-drive.
Weaknesses: Seat mast broke during mild wipe out. Bottom bracket was shot. Derailleur hanger is weak.
Bottom Line:
Not a very good frame design. Definitely not geared up for heavier riders ie. 200 lb'ers. GT went belly up so good luck trying to get any kind of warranty. Lasted a year.
Strengths: good frame/rear suspension for 180lb rider, price
Weaknesses: syncros big box rims need lots of truing, judy c fork blows, truvativ firex stock rings bend/break, deore parts, bottom bracket is junk, rim brakes, aluminum bottle cage bolts like to break (be gentle), heavy but who cares when you're going downhill
Bottom Line:
This was my budget replacement for an ailing hardtail. The price was great but had to put it together out of the box (not too bad if you know where things go). Bike rides great up or downhill with new front fork. Has taken over a year of beating and up to 6' drops with only the usual component damage/wear (gears, spokes broke, derailleur hanger snapped by angry stick, cables). Can't wait to add Sun Rhynolite XLs with Avid Cable Discs and replace the bottom bracket (sounds like an 85 year old's knees). Buy it for freeride/recreational xc but don't pay more than $900.
Bike Setup: bomber z3 fork, new gripshift 9.0 all around (hate rapidfire), salsa chainring guard (aka: chainsaw), wtb seat, shimano 535 platform/clipless, all else stock
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Submitted by
Andrew Jennings
a Cross Country Rider
from england
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2003
Strengths: Value. Upgradeability and if set up correctly a top xc ride.
Weaknesses: Weight and forks.
Bottom Line:
For £550 pounds this bike is a bargain. The weight is not too good and can make climbing difficult but if you set up the suspension correctly it is excellent for singletrack. The only disappointment for downhill is the that you worry about the duke fork handling it. This is a sound all round bike for someone getting ito montain biking. You might want to upgrade but I would say don't bother. get a new seatpost and thrash the arse off it. Mine still has no problems.
Bike Setup: As bought but with new easton seatpost and saddle.
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Submitted by
Mike
a Cross Country Rider
from Montrose, PA
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2003
Strengths: I-Drive system, Price
Weaknesses: Should have come with disc brakes. I'm kind of weary of the frame design although ive beat the hell out of the bike and not had any problems. The Judy C sucks.
Bottom Line:
pretty sweet bike for the price. Sucks that GT went belly up. People have complained about the rear shock mounting and the spokes. When i bought mine it was put together like sh#t....my first few rides i did a LOT of tuning. I havent had any problems with the spokes since i trued the wheels appropriately. I put rubber washers and the new "upgraded" bolt in where the rear shock meets the frame...cracked two bolts before that. Since then i have beat the hell out of this bike and not had a problem. Its an excellent intermediate bike for the price.
