Submitted by
qwerty
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2011
Weaknesses: Purchased bike eight years ago and was told the frame had a lifetime warranty. Frame cracked at the right hand rear stay after 5.5 years. Got a replacement frame but had to pay for it. Since that time I have cracked 3 (yes 3!) frames where the seat tube meets the bottom bracket. If unotticed this could cause a serious accident. I am a commuter and do virtually no off-road riding. When I do go off-road it is fire trails - no single track and no drop-offs.
Bottom Line:
I wonder if they have a problem with either their design of manufacturing. 4 frames in eight years is 4 too many.
Bike Setup: Commuting with slicks. Over time I have replaced/upgraded pretty much everything except the handlebars.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
go4it
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2010
Strengths: Descent cross country bike.
Good entry level cross country bike. (but nothing more)
Light weight. good for the uphill climbs.
Weaknesses: brakes are cheap quality, and break down after one season of riding. Not great stopping power! Don't buy if you want to do any thing on the down hill side of the mountain.
Bottom Line:
Good entry level cross country bike. don't expect anything great out of it. Good value rating because it has hydraulic disc brakes, but you might be better of getting some good quality mechanical disc brakes instead (easier to maintain, and less fussy)
Strengths: Very nice Frame. Pretty good wheels. Brakes hold up okay.
Weaknesses: Components are not good quality. Plastic pedals broke after some use. The bottom bracket axle broke on me while landing a small jump after well less than two years of use. My dad, a metallurgist, is sure that the axle broke because of a quench crack, a manufacturing fault. Both derailleurs also broke from that incident, and GT doesn't want to support me in any way.
Bottom Line:
It is an alright first bike but don't expect anything too great. Parts will break, but you can always upgrade as needed.
Submitted by
devon downhiller
a Downhiller
from engaland devon barnstaple
Date Reviewed: January 9, 2010
Strengths: its good for almost anything (as long its not to extreme)it looks nice corners nice and is at home most on the trails. can also take hell of a lot of abuse great to learn it was my first real mountain bike. the components that come on this bike last for ever ive still got the gears brakes and seat/seatpost
Weaknesses: its quite heavy and the forks have a harsh topout the brakes allways needed adjusting
Bottom Line:
if you want a good solid base to upgrade from this bike is ideal for you it looks good rides good probably even tastes good this bike is good all round if anybody just wants the frame i am selling mine its in good nick and i also have a 13" dirt jump frame in matt black only contact me if your British please no silly offers (dj frame for 40 pound minimum) gt frame(60 pound minimum please contact me on 07936412336 just texts though.
Submitted by
roguetrooper
a Weekend Warrior
from Wales
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2009
Strengths: Halfords sell it under old Aggressor label. Excellent frame and wheels not bad for price...Alex rims,Tioaga tyres,Shimano Alivio gears...Excellent to upgrade!
Weaknesses: rockshox dart 1 forks not much cop...but on £300 bike cant expect much better!!
Bottom Line:
I was chuffed with it when I got it, went straight out on trails,never had any issues, first thing I upgraded was brakes. Cable discs are not up to the job! Sound budget starter....And when the bug bites just upgrade!!! Frame not the lightest around but good quality and looks good...I love it!
Strengths: chocolate was yummy but made me run to tha dunny
then i the sharrif camed in and i busted a cap where it hurts
Weaknesses: the weels wher square and then i killed tha sherif
Bottom Line:
tri pod was good but then it turn into an i pod that didnt have very good song on it now i live in a dumpster next door to the sherif.but theni sold my dumpster to buy the world best cheese grater and now i make lots of kick ass toasted sandwitches.
Similar Products Used: unicycle and then the sherif shot me
Bike Setup: skitles and now im dead
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
aj nrazed
a Cross Country Rider
from annapolis,md,usa
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2008
Strengths: stiff,sturdy frame,super cool looking. excellent frame to customize
Weaknesses: the bikes came with run of the mill components back in the day (early 90's)cheap shimano stuff.
Bottom Line:
bottom line is about the frame. this bike makes the perfect city shredder.yes it costs a fortune to lighten things up, but if you make the effort you get a light,stiff,fast ride that looks amazing and is virtually indestructible (not recommended for riders over 180 lbs)
Bike Setup: vintage kooka cranks and brake levers,titanium flat bar,carbon seatpost,titanium spindle crank bros pedals, gripshift esp, ultegra 600 road derailleur, ceramic bearing bb with titanium spindle, coda ti rail race saddle, rigid gt chromo fork,stock mavic 235 rims on shimano hubs,ritchey tom slicks 26x1 high pressure tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
James
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Clarita CA
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2003
Strengths: Stiff, ball burnished aluminum frame. Tough bike. LE model has oversized tubing.
Weaknesses: creaking noises from the seatpost and seat
Bottom Line:
I've had this bike for seven years now. It did a year of duty with me while stationed in Okinawa Japan. It got a lot of compliments back then and I still enjoy riding it. I've taken it twice to Mammoth and it's taken a beating. It climbs well, and is fairly light weight. Even after buying a full suspension rig, I still want to hold onto this one. It's in the shop getting an overhaul. All I have to replace is the headset, chain, and rear cassete. Everything else is holding up.
Bike Setup: Judy XC fork, XT V-brakes, XT brake levers and pods, M737 pedals, stock WTB tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Zim
a Racer
from Medicine Hat, AB, CANADA
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2003
Strengths: Looks, components, price.
Weaknesses: Rear V-brakes - generic brand, I replaced them right away. Front disk was noisey, hard to adjust, changed over to Avid Mechanical disks front and back, no more problems. Syncros riser bar and stem are cheap looking.
Bottom Line:
This has been an awesome bike, I've used it as a commuter, XC racer, for touring and Urban Assaulting. It has stood up well, I just finished replacing all the components because of wear, I've put about 6000 miles on it in the past 3 years. The Judy fork has stood up well to the mountains and urban assault. I swapped out to orginal braking for Avid mechanical disks which was easy to do since the frame, fork and hubs were already set up for disks.
Now I'm running full XT components with XTR V-brakes, Bontrager Race Lite stem, bar and post, Egg Beater pedals and Mavic x517 rims. The bike is a racing machine and only weighs in at 24 lbs!
I don't know about the new GT lineup but I think this bike is comparable to the 2003 Zaskar!!!
Similar Products Used: Trek 8500, Norco Nitro, Kona Cinder Cone
Bike Setup: Judy XC Fork, LX Components, XT Rear Derailleur, Formula front Hydraulic Disk, Syncros Stem & Bar, Tioga Extreme XC tires, XT rear disk hub.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
EDDIE LOPEZ
a Cross Country Rider
from CORONA CA
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2003
Strengths: Light weight, all aluminum, durable. I weigh 240# and I've jumped this thing many times never a problem. I've been riding this bike for about 4 years, only things I've replaced are chains front rim, cranks and rear derailer , all because I rode the heck out of it.
Weaknesses: A little hard on my rear, next bike should be full suspension. Serious downhillers should stay away.
Bottom Line:
I love GT, when I do replace this bike It will most likley be with another GT. Anybody wanting to ride hard and keep the cost down this bike is the answer. I've rode everything from Big Bear to Chino Hills on this bike you can take it anywhere and I ride hard and it has lasted except for normal wear and tear.
Similar Products Used: The only other MT bike I owned was a Schwinn, it was a heavy piece of junk, I love my GT.I've rode Gt LTS it was great also Trek, the only bike I will ride is GT
Bike Setup: Rock Shox Indy SL, XT components Kore and Shimano equiped
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from dallas, tx
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2003
Strengths: solid frame, well spec'd, great bargain
Weaknesses: a little on the heavy side, but managable
Bottom Line:
I'm currently riding my 2nd GT Avalanche. The 1st was a now ancient (and stollen) '93, steel avalanche lovingly nicknamed the "mountain cow" due to its weight and paint job.
The one I'm riding now is a 2000 model, I believe, and has served me well. The only major issues I've had thus far are with parts simply wearing out with time; i.e. chains, rings, etc. The frame is simply bomb proof. It's fallen off roof racks, seen the worst of Texas rocks, its been ridden in snow storms, rain, sand, mud, hail, and is still in fantastic shape. For the money, you simply can't go wrong.
The only major alterations I made with this bike from how I purchased it was changing out the Avid mech. disc brakes for XTR V-brakes. While the avid's are fanatastic brakes, I simply never got used to the feel of them. I just felt that they were more brake than I need.
Bottom line: I'd recommend this bike to anyone who's on a tight budget and wants to do some serious riding.
Bike Setup: Judy SL, XT drivetrain, syncros rims, XT hubs, time pedals, Thomson seatpost, XTR brakes
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2003
Strengths: This bike took all the abuse I could give it for 10 years. Frame never cracked (and it should have several times), and overall it has just been a damn good bike. $1200 back in 1993 was a lot of cash for a bike, and it has been worth every penny.
Weaknesses: Never had a problem, except for minor wear and tear that required component upgrades/replacements.
Bottom Line:
This review is intended for anyone considering buying a used GT.
The bottom line is I rode the absolute piss out of this bike for ten years, and the only reason she is being retired is because I am finally ready to build the over-the-top dream ride, and I have finally admitted to myself that it just can't do it anymore (although the bike would beg to differ). I may sound like a cheez ball, but for those of us that have tried desperately to keep that last ounce of glory in our first hardtail, this should sound familiar. If you are considering buying someone's used Avalanche, I say yes. I don't know about the quality of the new breed of Walmart Gt's, but this frame is still rock solid after 10 years. I give it all the flamin' chili's cuz she never did me wrong.
Similar Products Used: The only mtn. bike I've ever had, that is until my new Switchblade arrives in about 3 weeks.
Bike Setup: It's seen alot of changes, but it is still very, very old-school: An orange Manitous Spider fork with .00000000000000025" of workable travel, original Shimano LX cranks (they still work), assorted Titec parts, some kind of blue shifter pods (they look cool), Avid canti brakes (I think), LX hubs, rims are unknown at this point (they just work), the rest of the parts are a hodge-podge of whatever my local bike shop could find at the time of needed repair. Needless to say this is a mutt bike, but it ruled in it's day.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
kajki rolandsson
a Cross Country Rider
from Jönköping, Sweden
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2003
Strengths: very light,components.
Weaknesses: no suspension!
Bottom Line:
This bike i very good, but i would like a suspension, becouse i ride very bumpy trails. i will probobly buy an AXEL or similar.. great value though. i recomend it to people that maybe not race very much. for excercise.
Strengths: I bought this frame second hand for 200 bucks if I can recall. It was a really stiff frame and treated me well. It was small enough (16") to throw around and have fun on but still do the XC stuff I wanted to do. The welds have held up through severl months of introductry freeriding and urban drops and numerous bails as well.
Weaknesses: It is a heavy frame from an XC perspective. I cracked my frame on the right chainstay just next to a weld near the bottom bracket.
Bottom Line:
This is a great ride til you break it, and by the sounds of it I am not the only one who broke a frame. Climbs great but is not quite set up for a 5" travel fork. Great over all.
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