Submitted by
P-Fresh
a Weekend Warrior
from England
Date Reviewed: May 18, 2009
Strengths: Great Frame, Good Components! Paid only £700 for it!
Weaknesses: Flat Bars, Bar Ends
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike for 10 Years and have really put it though its paces, the only things original are the frame, stem, seat post, front mech and headset. From trials and jumping off large walls as a fearless schoolboy, to cross country everyweekend, to freeriding etc. This bike has done it all!! Never missed a beat only reason i upgraded stuff was as it wore out or to make it even better!!
I love this bike and it will be sadly missed if i sell it when i buy a new full susser!!
Bike Setup: Rockshox Toras, Titec DH Bars, Deore Hollowtech crank, Magura HS33 Rear brake, Hardcore Front Disc.
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Submitted by
Rob T
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida Yes Florida
Date Reviewed: December 8, 2005
Strengths: Made in America. 7005Aluminum Solid welds, Triple triangle is virtually indestructible
Bottom Line:
At the odd chance anyone will read this I feel it my duty to give accolades to the bike that has brought me so many fond memories. I have done everything to this bike and it has loved me more the more I punished it. It is now reitired to my urban scout bike, and now belongs to my fiance, and should we ever have children I will give to them. It really is part of the family it has never let me down, while I have upgraded & replaced comp's the frame is as solid today as it ever was. Triple Triangle is timeless, count the number of wins Team GT had on them between 1994-1999 it is sick. I will not sell this bike, it is as solid as ever built, and part of the family. 5 Chilis does not do it justice.
Similar Products Used: 1996 GT Backwoods (The only 2 Hardtails I have ever owned; I gave my brother the Backwoods in 1999 when I bought Avalanche both are still solid)
Bike Setup: XT throughout / Thudbuster / Marz Bomber OEM / RhynoLites
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Submitted by
Jeff Doot
a Cross Country Rider
from Chicago, Il
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2001
Strengths: Good setup, and looks very cool. Very stable bike
Weaknesses: Seatpost broke after about 2 months of riding - replaced it with a Thompson and am now very happy
Bottom Line:
Has been a great bike for the money, I have put miles and miles on it in Moab, Chicago, and Alaska and have always been happy - except for that crap about the seatpost breaking. But that was easy enough to fix. Great bike for the money
Strengths: Good value for the components. Stiff frame.
Weaknesses: Seat post sucks. Fat tube don't fit some bike/car
Bottom Line:
Awesome for single track and x-country. This bike is perfect for the weekend warrior trial near Chicago. Have patients w/ Time-clips. You'll appreciate the gazelle like climbing. Good value bike.
Bike Setup: Time Pedals. Marzocchi Z2 Bombers, LX Shifters,Crank & Brakes. XT Rear Derailleur
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Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Alamos
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2001
Strengths: Strength and Durability
Weaknesses: A Little heavy.
Bottom Line:
I have had this bike for 2 years and it continually impresses me. This bike is made super tough and it rides really well. There are areas that are easy to lose weight on this bike. But overall this is on of the best deals for the money. The suspension seatpost did add some weight but the results are worth it.
I love this bike. I have upgraded the whole bike from head to toe. It's wieghs 24 IBS, and I just love riding it. What not want to trade the bike for anything. If you are looking for a light, stiff and affordable bike, this is the one.
Submitted by
Kai Docq
a Downhiller
from nanaimo, bc, canada
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2001
Strengths: it's a kick @$$ bike and i love it so much, that this bike is now my little girl
Weaknesses: Ya right, none
Bottom Line:
$7.000? am i nuts? yes i am. this is what i spent over the years that i owned this bike and my baby is the best that i ever rided in 2 years that own her. i love my bike, i love biking and this baby already did over 12.000 km and she is still runing like brand new. i had to update the drive train earlier last week and this baby is like a torpedo on the road and a wild cat on trails. this bike is my baby and i named her Adrianna. her and i are totaly insperable and over 15 years of riding all sorts of bike, my GT is the best i ever had and i will not trade it in for anything. not even for 50 billions $ Everything on that bike has been customized and my bike shop dealer and i did the impossible to make it possible after years working together to make her look good and ride good and i think that GT are the best bikes around.
bottom line: you can see why i love my bike if you go to my site and my final comment will be, GO GT, this bike is kickin'
Strengths: the bombers mainly but the whole bike makes it a great price point
Weaknesses: saddle and seatpost and wirebead tires but get rid fo those and yer all set
Bottom Line:
A great bike for the price can't go wrong and if you look to save weight on your bike the things on that bike where weight can be saved are just screaming at you!! the LX brakes can be sweitched up for a pair of 2.0's and save half pound same goes if ya switch the tires to a michelin wildgripper thats a pound there. overall the guy at my shop figured it out and I can save almost 2 pounds and spend about 200 bucks!!! thats a hundred dollars a pound you can't fins weight any cheaper on any bikes out there!!! Its a great bike, I'll be racing it this summer and I feel totally confident riding it in a race series. Now log off and go riding!!!
Strengths: Price, looks, and all around performer.
Weaknesses: none at all, just add some mods and it's a winner
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. My is a show stopper, the frame is lime in color and the rest of the parts are yellow. It is an exellent frame and with good stock parts. Kind of heavy but if you add some best mods like mind you have a winner. Treat this bike with the best and it will treat you with the same respect.
Bike Setup: TOP of line parts - Full XTR, Easton CT2 riser bar and seatpost, RACELITES W/ORIGINAL CHRIS KING HUBS WOW!!, Selle ti saddle, Salsa booster, Goretex light cables, and Raceface stem.
Strengths: I paid $200 cdn for this frame second-hand. I also bought an assortment of parts from the same guy at an incredible price. Basicly I got the whole thing for $700 after a fork, and new shifters. It is great on the climbs, and even though it is stiff I also use it fot free riding. My two previous bikes were both Rocky Mtn's and I loved them both 'til I broke the steel frames (yeah both, and one twice!!) I love this bike for all I do, from the tech DH trails to the city dwelling trials. The tripple triangle frame is a whole different feel from the standard. Ifeel like I can get back futher when needed, and that the center of gravity is lowered on the bike itself, which helps imensely with the tachnical stuff.
Weaknesses: Not much to mention here. . . . although some may mention the weight thing, I am not too concerned there. Still a wicked bike. . .
Bottom Line:
This bike is the definition of a well trained pet. You treat it well but with authority and it will follow your lead. Take it where ever you want to and it will get you through. The climbs are of corse one of its greatest strengths.
Similar Products Used: Rocky Mtn Hammer Race and Vertex, Schwin Moab, GT tempest, Kona Roast, Kona Caldera, Specialized M3
Bike Setup: Lime green frame, Z2 alloy w/Z1 stiff springs, XT front and rear der's and shifter/lever pods, X517 rims, ryno lites,(depending on the ride) Flat ritchy bar and ritchy hubs on the 517's and some wickedly fat Bontrager grips. . . .
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Submitted by
Andy Nelms
a Racer
from Martin, Tn USA
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2001
Strengths: Light, very stiff for sprinting, point it where you want it to go, excellent value, killer color(green). I'm able to adjust fork for all kind off conditions
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
This is a do it all bike after the mods. You cannot beat this bike for the money, it came stock with excellent parts selection with the adjustable travel fork I can do anything from downhilling to cross country racing. Anyone looking for the bike for the most money I would recomend this bike or any of the GT brand, plus my bike was all hand built with 6061 and then there the killer color
Bike Setup: Phsylo XC set to 5 inches of travel, Race Face stem and riser bars fizik saddle cane creek suspension seat post xt wheel with mavic 222's Maxxis mud tires front and rear
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Submitted by
Kai Docq
a Downhiller
from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: November 27, 2000
Strengths: Light as a feather, design is sweet, the colour is really kewl.
Weaknesses: none, i love my bike so much, nothing is wrong with that frame
Bottom Line:
My bike is so far, the best ever in my region and the best thing i ever bought, i never had any problem with it, i love it so much that i gave her a name (Adrianna) if you want to know why i named her Adrianna, you'll have to drop to my site to get the story at http://www.adean.co.uk/~aqua/ the new pictures of my Adrianna will be up soon. I don't know why GT changed the colour of that bike this year. the colour of the model in 1999 was the best and matched beautyfully the design of that frame and parts that we put on. Anyway i sure hope that GT will bring back the colour of that Avalanche, but beside all that, it is the best bike i ever had. GO GT and keep smiling =) Kai
Similar Products Used: GT Pantera and Precision Pr 6045, trade it in for my Avalanche frame
Bike Setup: GT Avalanche, aluminum frame 16", most parts are ionized purple colour, customized painted front dual air Rock Shox Sid Suspension, front disc brake, most parts are XTR except the front hub, crank and pedals. I name her Adrianna
Strengths: Beefy Frame and decent drive train. The Z2 alloy was a good spec with this bike.
Weaknesses: Heavy but beefy to match. Piece of junk binder bolt and seatpost !! I had a lot of trouble with the azonic stem which is not typical of azonic products. Switched it for a Race Face. Killed the rear wheel after only a couple hundred miles on a really tame trail. GT front hub is not up to par, even an LX would be better. Crappy time aliums that don't like water.
Bottom Line:
I love this bike because it has been a good partner but I wouldn't buy it again. The avalanche that GT is turning out this year is crap. If you are set on a hardtail look at Specialized. They give your more bang for your buck. I am hoping to replace this bike with a Santa Cruz superlight. Put a lot of really really really rocky miles on this bike and had some pretty good "oh my God I am going to die" crashes but the frame has held up great.
Purchased At: Racers Edge. Shop at Arizona Bicycle Experts or Bikes West or Full Cycle if you are in Tucson Az. !!
Similar Products Used: All of them.
Bike Setup: Z2 Atom 80. Race Face Stem. Time Pedals. XTR seatpost and brakes. Risers and stock everything else.
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Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2000
Strengths: Frame, Fork, Drivetrain, Pedals
Weaknesses: Heavy Frame, Super Stiff ride,
Bottom Line:
This is my first aluminum frame, and I have to say that its a little harsh. The ride on rocky downhills is tough. I researched quite a bit before purchasing. I had planned to buy a Fisher Kai Tai, but then I got such a good deal on this. I love the components, no junk here. I feel that the top tube may create a larger cockpit than most are accustomed to. My buddy has a size large Cannondale, and its a lot smaller than my 18" Avalanche. Swapped out for riser bar for more control. If you love to ride, and can get a good deal on this one, pick it up. I'd say test the GT feel first though.
I have an older (1999) GT Avalanche and I need a new suspension fork... I was wondering if the new types of forks would even fit my bike and if so what brand, model would be best. Read More »
Hey everyone, I have a stock 99 GT Avalanche bike that I was looking to upgrade so that I could further enjoy some nice single tracks and fire trails here in Southern California. Read More »
