The GT Avalanche 0.5 is a complete joy to ride from the first moment aboard. A pretty much perfectly-sized flight deck allows you to ride all day without feeling cramped, yet is not too stretched out to be unweildy when the tracks turn nasty.
Submitted by
xctrooper
a Weekend Warrior
from La Mirada, CA Date Reviewed: September 13, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Kern river, Fyllerton loop
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$850.00
Strengths:
hydraulic disc brakes from shimano deore w/c is a great entry level bike with good decent componetry. they have my size (XS), stiff and light frame great for climbs
Weaknesses:
xs comes in yellow billet, maybe for unisex but the color looks more feminine, need to change the seat post and stem to get my fit better though. Heavy fork and knobby tires (hi rolling resistance in flats) but great traction loose ground (of course)
Similar Products Used:
none, my first mtbike
Bike Setup:
shimano deore components except for LX rear derailleur, sram 9 spd cassette and truvativ 5 d crankset, marzochi mz race fork, tioga factory tires, syncros rims with deore hubs, syncros lo rise handle bars, stok gt stem and post.
Bottom Line:
despite the yellow color, Great entry level xc bike with decent pricing
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
jdl76
a Cross Country Rider
from Gold Coast, CA Date Reviewed: June 24, 2008
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$650.00
Strengths:
This bike is an awesome hardtail and has been a joy to ride. It's great for roads or trails and mechanically solid.
Weaknesses:
Disk brakes are a pain to adjust properly
Similar Products Used:
My GT Tequesta lasted me 10 years and was still working great until the day I gave it away
Bottom Line:
Best bike you can find for the price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Lloydi
a Weekend Warrior
from N. Wales Date Reviewed: April 13, 2007
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$600.00
Purchased At:
ebay
Strengths:
Lightweight do everything bike. Bomproof frame which i belive has evolved from a design 15 years old. Loads lighter than my mates 6500 trek. (you notice when lifting them over gates etc) Handles really well on tight singletrack. Some people don't like the bars but I like them, give confidence on high speed twisty stuff.
Weaknesses:
Forks take a while to setup properly as you have to add oil and mix oil weights to get it right but once setup there good to go.
Similar Products Used:
Trek 6500 (heavy and unresponsive)
Bike Setup:
DMR V8 pedals and Panracer Firecross XC tyres. Added 8" disc on front for more stopping power (though not sure if forks can take it)
Bottom Line:
This is a really good bike with a proven frame and good components. Recomended
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben Shepard
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, Georgia, US Date Reviewed: July 7, 2006
Favorite Trail:
yellow river-Centerville GA
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
biowheels-Asheville NC
Strengths:
the frame is well enough suited for a $2500 piece, deore hydraulic discs leave me feeling guilty for thinking about upgrading to avid juicy 7's, sram drivetrain kills shimano, marzocchi fork is great- no problem- air is nice!
Weaknesses:
the tioga blue dragon and yellow kirin tires suck- sorry i can't think of a nicer way to say it- they are terrible in corners and terrible on any moist surface going uphill, bars are too long, SDG saddle is weak and creaky
Similar Products Used:
this is my third GT and second avalanche, scott scale 60, klein attitude, diamondback response team
Bike Setup:
changed bars to kore lite 3 riser, changed stem to 10 deg kore lite 3 (i know that they went out of business and its no longer stylish to sport the name, but they still have nicer stuff than most on the market), seatpost changed to race face evolve adjustable pitch, crankset changed to race face evolve XC X type w/integrated bottom bracket, front tire WTB weirwolf, rear tire maxxis swamp thing (highly reccomended for anyone riding on the east coast), saddle changed to selle san marco era,
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great bargain and is definitely worth upgrading (although it would be fine for many as a stock unit). I ride all types of terrain (about 50 miles/wk)with extremely technical being my favorite, and this bike more than gets the job done. I was honestly offended at one publication calling this bike a beginner mountain bike, as it boasts components normally seen on bikes three times the price. It has survived rock gardens and downhills that have totaled two bikes of my riding buddies with nothing more than deraileur adjustments needed. If you do not want to spend over $2800 on a bike, BUY THIS- you cannot get a better machine for even close to the same money.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ronny
a
from Melbourne Date Reviewed: December 22, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Gold Cross
Strengths:
Great frame, nice light wheels, strong braking power, quality components throughout
Weaknesses:
Stem and Riser bars dont match the look of the bike, polish on the frame (billet) rubs off easy from cable rub,
Bike Setup:
Stock except for a few minor upgrades. Stem = FSA OS-115 130mm OS 31.8 with carbon cap. Handlebar = FSA K-FORCE flat carbon 600mm 31.8 OS. Tyres = Specialized Nimbus 2006 26x1.5". Sigma BC1200 speedo with RDS (wireless).
Bottom Line:
Excellent XC bike and great for tackling the mean streets of melbourne. I cycle around 50KM per day, so far over 2000KMs the past 2-3 months and have only had some minor problems which were fixed by a service. The front wheels needed to be trued, the bottom bracket needed to be regreased (due to a sparingly factory application), broke a back wheel spoke today, no biggy. SO far so good for 2000KMs. Its a pretty fast bike, my max speed thus far has been 65.5km.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
karl
a Cross Country Rider
from manchester, lancashire, england Date Reviewed: August 20, 2005
Favorite Trail:
garburn pass (lake district)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1075.00
Purchased At:
winstanley's, wigan
Strengths:
excellent frame, rims, hydraulic discs and overall ride is excellent... this is my second GT. my original was a 2003 GT 0.0, but i smashed the frame (and a few bones) trying be a hero down a 25" drop!
Weaknesses:
the marzocchi forks bottom out at about 5-6 feet... poo! the chain slaps like a mistress from a S&M parlour and the riser bar feels like somebody got lazy... just doesn't fit the overall look and comfort of the bike!
Similar Products Used:
specialized hard rock pro. kona explosif, rocky mountain blizzard
Bike Setup:
changed the risers to flat bars (easier going uphill...) i've also changed the tioga kirin tyres... too much grip, making it slow! changed the forks to manitou minutes... way better!
Bottom Line:
i've ridden too many bikes for my missus' liking and i have to say that after a specialized hard rock, stumpjumper fsr, kona explosif, rocky mountain blizzard, specialized enduro, trek fuel ex9, scott mc40 (i know, even my missus thinks i'm a slapper!)... even tested the new bmw offering (crap!), i've always though of my original GT and how it felt... hmmmmmmm... time to go and tackle that b*st*rd hill which took out my original GT...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney Date Reviewed: August 15, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Cycology Gladesville
Strengths:
Frame, Hydraulic Disc Brakes and whole feel of the bike in General. This craps all over my old Schwinn Mesa (expected as it's alot more expensive)...
Weaknesses:
Seat a little firmer than my ideal but... that's maybe because my arse is a little more sensitive.
Similar Products Used:
Schwinn Mesa, GT 1.0 2005 model
Bike Setup:
Standard, Changed pedals to platform pedals, changed tyres to road slicks.
Bottom Line:
This bike is mainly used for commuting to and from work, so I haven't really hammered it like most people. The brakes a great when trying to stop on rainy days. Hill climbs are so much easier now thanks to the gears and stiffer frame, sometimes can keep up with the racers (obviously depends on the rider on te racer as well). Purchased the GT as for about the price i got it for, had the best components.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy
a Cross Country Rider
from New Zealand Date Reviewed: August 15, 2005
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Hedgehog Bikes
Strengths:
Build, comfort. Great on a long ride. Hydro brakes and drive train all work well. Forks are great with a good feel coming through them. Eggbeater pedals are great to use, brilliant in the mud.
Weaknesses:
Tyres, to fat and to much rolling resistance.
Similar Products Used:
Jamis Durango.
Bike Setup:
Standard apart from new tyres, will upgrade drivetrain as it gets replaced.
Bottom Line:
A really good bike for XC riding. Comfortable on long rides, climbs great. Gives a smooth ride. You feel like you can just clip in and go. Handles great over bumpy stuff. Bike is suitable for beginners, trail riders and intermediates, in fact any use apart from racing. Its a great bike with decent quality compontents without going into the stuff that costs an arm and a leg to replace that you would find on a race MTB.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Duncan Cumming
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Australia Date Reviewed: July 28, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Lysterfield
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Goldcross Cycles
Strengths:
Great bang for the buck. Deore Hydro discs have fantastic stopping power, the drivetrain is very smooth, and the fork does it's job really well. The Eggbeater pedals are an interesting touch, but once you're used to clipping in and out they are a breeze to use. very comfortable and easy to ride overall.
Weaknesses:
Not sure if I'm too keen on the GT riser bars, but that's more of a personality clash than a weakness with the bike per se.
Similar Products Used:
Nothing, really, just an ancient Gary Fisher Wahoo with XT bits which was, alas, stolen 7 years ago *sniff*
Bike Setup:
Totally stock - Sram X9 rear der and shifters, LX front, Deore Hydro discs, EXR pro fork, eggbeaters etc
Bottom Line:
Very smooth and great for this price. Good for people getting back into XC riding like myself after years of laziness, or for those who have outgrown their first XC bike.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Edward Hallgren
a Weekend Warrior
from St. Petersburg, FL USA Date Reviewed: July 7, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Alafia River State Park (Florida)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Jim's Bicycles
Strengths:
Numerous product acclaims by US/UK bike pubs. Hardtail "Valedictorian" and "Best beginner mountain bike" Excellent Shimano hydraulics with frame and wheels designed specifically for dics brakes. Marzocchi EXR dual air fork. GT triple triangle geometry, and SGD Satellite seat.
Weaknesses:
Tech specs say Laser Disks, but every pic I've seen has Speed Disks, as does mine; the wheels are fine, but confusing consumers is weak. Not many reviews posted.
Similar Products Used:
Cannondale line at promo event, and my Mongoose '98 DX 5.2
Bike Setup:
Stan's tubeless (18 psi), SRAM 69 chain, chopped steerer tube, 1.25 off each bar end, flipped stem, levers inset .25 and shifters another 1/8th, seat moved all the way forward on set-back post; 42 psi in fork (190lbs)
Bottom Line:
I have done plenty of reading on this purchase and was looking at GF HooKooEKoo and Cake or Turner 5. I went with the GT, because of what was written in the bike mags and because of the triple frame, components, and it came from a LBS. I ordered it and it was there in in like 2 days. I put in Stan's, which is something I wanted (lighter tire options and low pressure, etc) and adjusted the cockpit. I prefer a low bar and am pleased with the set-up, which is all stock. The trail I ride (Alafia, Tampa, FL) is technical and has long rooted sections. With the Marz EXR at 42psi and Stan's at 18psi and modified cockpit, the bike climbs well and is blast in the big ring over rooted spots. It feels well shock absorbed, solid, quiet, and fast, as set up. I look forward to putting my 747's in place of the Eggs, and go through the rest of the bike to get everything else tweaked up right. No complaints on the excellent True-V Blaze crank, SRAM X9 rear and Shimano front, or the SRAM trigger shifter, even though I have always used Shimano triggers/compos. The bike gets 5 peppers, because of value and the fact that it goes tubeless with the high-volume Tioga/WTB wheels and adjusts easily at home or at LBS to excellent comfortable and safe ergonomics without replacing stem, post or any other stock parts.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill Brown
a Cross Country Rider
from Dayboro Australia Date Reviewed: May 7, 2005
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Strengths:
it looks good, lots of street cred, hydraulic disks are just great
Weaknesses:
the bike just cant handle the rough stuff. Too much chain slap, weak wheels and deraillier, and the chain is totally a waste of money, breaking under strain and ripping the rear mech off.... a 4 hour walk out of the forest as a result. Not once, three times.
Bottom Line:
for the money, it just doesnt meet expectations. I now sold it, and bought an older second hand bullet-proof forest/mountain bike
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne Date Reviewed: May 6, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Yarra River
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Brunswick Dt Cycles
Strengths:
Shimano Deore Hydraulic Discs
Bike Setup:
Upgraded bottom braket and crank set to Deore LX outboard bearings 48/36 tooth ring.
Bottom Line:
This bike almost rides itself. Everything is set up perfectly, with the added bonus of hydraulics with a reasonable price tag. I feel protected riding this big bike on the roadm because it has presence. It screams "Get out of the way!" The GT 6061 Butted Alum Adventure handle bar gives plenty of leaverage when your really cranking it. I am yet to attack some serious trails, but have planned for next weekend! Will update review once i've hammered this little puppy a bit more. Love it!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Victoria, Australia Date Reviewed: April 8, 2005
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1000.00
Purchased At:
Bendigo Cycles
Strengths:
Well made strong and well finished frame, X9 drivetrain, Deore discs, WTB rims, SDG saddle, EXR forks, eggbeater pedals. Brushed ally frame looks great. Well specced for the price Cheap.
Weaknesses:
Heavy wire beaded Tioga tyres, forks needed an oil change as they topped out BAD, 2 inch riser WAY too high. Forks have a thin paint job that seems to mark easily.
Similar Products Used:
Balance AL450, Klein Pinnacle, Mongoose NX7.5, GT Backwoods.
Bike Setup:
XC hardtail, bar change to a flat Answer Hyperlite, tyres swapped for lighter ones.
Bottom Line:
The frame is very well made, welds are thick and neat. THe Marzocchi EXR dual air forks topped out very badly, but an oil changed fixed this. The Tioga Yellow Kirin and Blue Dragon tyres are very heavy especially with a wire bead, and don't belong on an XC hardtail. The riser bar is a 2 inch one and is way too high for climbing, and is usesless for slow speed technical riding. I've swapped the tyres to an Extreme XC front and Red Phoenix rear, and put flat bars on. The bike is now lighter, faster and looks more like it means business. The X9 drivetrain is easily as good as Shimano, the forks are very smooth and plush, everything is holding up very well. Great value.
$ 1000.00
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