Submitted by
Jason Johnson
a Weekend Warrior
from Morgan, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2008
Strengths: Lite, versatile and not overpriced.
Weaknesses: Rear shifter cable that runs underneath the frame.
Bottom Line:
It has been a great bike. With maintenance it has taken a real beating off drops, many miles on slickrock and mountain trails over the 5 years i have had it. It is a great value with only a minor defect (rear derailer cable design). Plus it is a good looking bike.
Bike Setup: Rock Shox Judy SL, Fox Float, XTR derailers and Deore Shifters
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
George
a Weekend Warrior
from Pueblo Colorado usa
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2007
Strengths: sweet ride when rear suspension works
Weaknesses: the rear shock failed twice. (2 rides total) now in the shop for removal of the fox shock. what a piece of crap. anybody else have similar problems?
Bottom Line:
beware.. I am very disappointed. $1800 shop-loving headache
Submitted by
Michael Salt
a Downhiller
from Finland
Date Reviewed: June 27, 2006
Strengths: I Drive system, front suspension.
Weaknesses: Back drop-outs are most likely to break after couple of drops. Shimano Deore Disc brakes suck and LX gears aren't working even i've tried to fix them.
Bottom Line:
I like it.
I think I've just grown old but I like it. I'm used to buy the heaviest and most expensive DH stuff that you just can't brake even with a sledge hammer but now I'm feeling more like just cruising around with light (not as light as true XC bikes but light compared to DH bikes) bike which you can ride even uphill. Only thing I'm really worried about is the rear drop outs. Those are welded aluminium with holes in the middle. I suppose those holes are for decoration but I'm 87% sure that if this bike is going to break, it's going to "leave the rear wheel behind" if you all see what I mean.
Similar Products Used: Merida Stormbringer DH (XTR, Magura Gustav M disc brakes, RST 180mm front suspension, Rock Shox Super Deluxe rear suspension, Alex DH rims etc.)
Bike Setup: Deore mechanic disc brakes, Rock Shox Psylo SL front susp. 125mm with lock, Fox vanilla rear susp., LX, Mavic 321 rims, deore hubs, etc.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
John Craig
a Cross Country Rider
from San Ysidro, CA USA
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2005
Strengths: The GT name was a great start. The spec's were also a plus in the purchasing process. And the price couldn't be beat.
Weaknesses: I have replaced the Alivio front derailler to XT, it would not shift or adjust properly. The XT made a world of difference. A tad bit heavy, but strong frame.
Bottom Line:
Until buying this bike all my other MTB's had been,(still are), hardtails, steel(Fisher), aluminum(KHS), which rode well but were killing me along the rocky, rutted trails along the border. After much research on-line and in the many shops here in SD, the iDrive 3.0 was the bike. It rides very smooth on and off the trail. Its greatest assest is the climbing ability. I like to climb so this was important in the purchase. No bob, except when standing. All seated climbing with this bike. Very good power transfer to the rear wheel when hammering on the trail. The biggest test came on Otay Mtn. A very long, in some stretchs, very steep 7.5 mile climb to the summit. The weight did hamper me, but it was not too bad. The trip down was amazingly fast! This bike was super fast and agile on the long access road. Although not a true DH bike it handled the trail with ease. The brakes worked well, but I am going to up-grade to disks soon. Over-all I am very pleased with this bike and the way it performs. Those of you who happen to find one would be advised to get one. It will be worth your time and money.
Strengths: Great value all round FS Bike. Good solid design.
Weaknesses: A little on the hefty-side, It will just make you stronger!
Bottom Line:
Unbeatable value, I should have bought two of them. Performance had a blowout sale last year on 2003 bikes. For my first full suspension I am well pleased. On this bike I can compete on the trail with friends on bikes that cost over 3 times the price. It's not the bike but the rider. Don't get carried away with pricey set-ups, the I- drive is a bloody solid bike. Climbs like a champ. Highly recommended for those who don't need to have expensive stuff to have fun.
Similar Products Used: Other mid-priced full suspension bikes
Bike Setup: Stock; I upgraded the front derailleur to XT. Wider handlebars.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Brian
a Weekend Warrior
from Millersburg, OH U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2004
Strengths: This bike is awesome! I had an 80's rigid Rockhopper before this and have ridden just a few other bikes, so I don't have any other FS bikes to compare to. This bike is worth every penny.
Weaknesses: Absolutely none. I have seen other reviews talking about upgrading components, but if you haven't had a shock front fork or rear shock you will love what is already on it.
Bottom Line:
If you want a FS bike for a great price, go with the GT Idrive 3.0. I thought long and hard before I bought this bike and I have to say that I have no reservations about my purchase. My brother-in-law has a 2004 Idrive 2.0 and he would not trade it for anything either.
The older Idrive frames apparently had problems with cracking around the rear shock. I weigh 210 lbs. and have ridden many miles of trails on the bike this summer. I have had no problems with the frame, or any of the components.
Strengths: This bike eats trails! No lie. Amazing climber If you want a bike to ride trails and a little extra this is the bike. I bought the bike with low end components, upgraded to disc, front shock and a few wieght saving components.
Weaknesses: The biggest weakness is the inability to fit a fat tire on the back. I have a 2.1 panaracer fire which is pushing it.
Bottom Line:
get this bike if you like fast flowing trails. if you can afford a santa cruz blur or bullit get one.
Similar Products Used: i had the missfortune of riding a santa cruz, oh if i had the money. gt hardtails, zaskar, backwoods
Bike Setup: manatou black 120, thompson seatpost & stem , julie disc. bla bla bla
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Submitted by
Wahid Shorter
a Weekend Warrior
from Miami Florida USA
Date Reviewed: January 28, 2004
Strengths: No bob, climbs great, plush ride, well balanced handling, very sturdy, takes lots of abuse
Weaknesses: Fox Vanilla shock maybe a bit too soft for some situations but feels better than the SID I tried as a replacement.
Bottom Line:
I like this bike alot, I got it at a great price and it is a great value. Buy this bike then upgrade the components as you go. If you are already used to better peices then then you might want to consider the 2.0 or the 1.0 which comes with disk brakes and better componenents. It is not as light as some other full suspension bikes but it is so durable and does not suffer from bobin. I have to ride on a lot of anoying root so I upgraded the rear shock to the Cane Creek AD12 which makes the bike that much better. There are good bikes out there and this is one of them.
Weaknesses: Small racing style seat is Hard on the A$$bone.
Bottom Line:
After riding a hardtail few times, I knew that I wanted a full suspension bike. I found a sweet deal on a New, in the box, 2003 closeout on the internet. After speaking with the guys at Bicycleblowout, I ordered the XL frame size, since I'm 6'-3" and 182 pounds. It arrived 90% assembled and within 30 minutes I was riding it. So far this bike has been everything I expected and more. It handles rough, rocky terrain easily and climbs like a cat. It flies downhill and exhibits almost no rolling resistance. The stock components are good quality and are holding up to all the abuse I can dish out. Everyone I meet on the trail wants to check out the I-drive system. This is a great bike !!!! Get one if you want a great, innovative full suspension bike at a price you can't beat.
Bike Setup: Factory setup, Deore / Alivio, Tioga tires
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Submitted by
chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Rocklin, CA, US of A
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2003
Strengths: great value, good name, good technology
Weaknesses: heavy, not amazing components
Bottom Line:
damn good ride, so far. i bought it new, on clearance. i've taken it out about a half a dozen times and i love it. i've riden it REALLY hard a couple times and i can tell i'm not even pushing it. very efficient up hills, and a smooth ride down. i can tell that it's a little heavier than my hardtail, but some lighter LX or XT components will fix that. it's my second GT and so far it's done me right. great for an all-around versatile ride. it's no downhill demon, but a modest 4" in the rear is all i really need; and it's very easy to adjust travel, both in the front and in the rear. Anyone looking for an entry-level FS bike, on a budget, should go with this one.
Similar Products Used: gt timberline fs, diamondback v-link
Bike Setup: stock
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bodin Pollard
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2003
Strengths: Suspension performance.
Weaknesses: Weight and low-level components, but it compares well on both fronts to similar-priced bikes.
Bottom Line:
I'm not cashed up, so I really needed one bike that can do as much as possible for as little as possible. I bought the new 2003 model iDrive 3.0 (I wanted a coil rather than an air shock) and ugraded virtually every single part using stuff I already owned to create a really nice budget Trailbike. Four and a bit inches in the rear and U-turn on the fork makes the bike extremely versatile - 3 inches for XC, 5 for DH and 4 for everything else. Due to the weight and the coil shock (this is NO XC racer), the rear gets a bit mushy on long fire road climbs, but that's ok, because it's got great traction on rocky climbs and is plush and active on descents (even with discs). The geometry seemes to be pretty neutral, with no hidden surprises, so you don't need much body english to keep the bike stable, which suits me, as I stay seated as much as possible. More agressive riders may want something that steers quicker, but having an adjustable fork makes this inconsistent anyway... Overall, I'm really impressed, as I've got a bike that works well and can be ridden just about anywhere in any condition for any distance. I'm going to be using it in a 12hr race soon - just hope the weight doesn't kill me. From reading previous reviews, my only concern is about the longevity of the frame, as there seem to be many unimpressed GT owners out there. GT claims to have addressed these issues with upgrades to this year's frame, so here's hoping... I'm not too heavy and I don't do drops, so only time will tell, but everything is great so far. I'm having a lot of fun, which is the most important thing. Even with the original parts, I would recommend this bike for the rider who wants quality, do-it-all rear suspension at a very reasonable price.
Similar Products Used: 2000 iDrive 1500, 1996 Raceline Extreme
Bike Setup: Came with Judy TT fork and generic Shimano, Truvative & Tektro parts - upgraded to LX/XT gears, Truvative Stylo Cranks, Hayes Hydros and Psylo XC.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bodin Pollard
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2003
Strengths: Suspension performance.
Weaknesses: Weight and low-level components, but it compares well on both fronts to similar-priced bikes.
Bottom Line:
I'm not cashed up, so I really needed one bike that can do as much as possible for as little as possible. I bought the new 2003 model iDrive 3.0 (I wanted a coil rather than an air shock) and ugraded virtually every single part using stuff I already owned to create a really nice budget Trailbike. Four and a bit inches in the rear and U-turn on the fork makes the bike extremely versatile - 3 inches for XC, 5 for DH and 4 for everything else. Due to the weight and the coil shock (this is NO XC racer), the rear gets a bit mushy on long fire road climbs, but that's ok, because it's got great traction on rocky climbs and is plush and active on descents (even with discs). The geometry seemes to be pretty neutral, with no hidden surprises, so you don't need much body english to keep the bike stable, which suits me, as I stay seated as much as possible. More agressive riders may want something that steers quicker, but having an adjustable fork makes this inconsistent anyway... Overall, I'm really impressed, as I've got a bike that works well and can be ridden just about anywhere in any condition for any distance. I'm going to be using it in a 12hr race soon - just hope the weight doesn't kill me. From reading previous reviews, my only concern is about the longevity of the frame, as there seem to be many unimpressed GT owners out there. GT claims to have addressed these issues with upgrades to this year's frame, so here's hoping... I'm not too heavy and I don't do drops, so only time will tell, but everything is great so far. I'm having a lot of fun, which is the most important thing. Even with the original parts, I would recommend this bike for the rider who wants quality, do-it-all rear suspension at a very reasonable price.
Similar Products Used: 2000 iDrive 1500, 1996 Raceline Extreme
Bike Setup: Came with Judy TT fork and generic Shimano, Truvative & Tektro parts - upgraded to LX/XT gears, Truvative Stylo Cranks, Hayes Hydros and Psylo XC.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bodin Pollard
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2003
Strengths: Suspension performance.
Weaknesses: Weight and low-level components, but it compares well on both fronts to similar-priced bikes.
Bottom Line:
I'm not cashed up, so I really needed one bike that can do as much as possible for as little as possible. I bought the new 2003 model iDrive 3.0 (I wanted a coil rather than an air shock) and ugraded virtually every single part using stuff I already owned to create a really nice budget Trailbike. Four and a bit inches in the rear and U-turn on the fork makes the bike extremely versatile - 3 inches for XC, 5 for DH and 4 for everything else. Due to the weight and the coil shock (this is NO XC racer), the rear gets a bit mushy on long fire road climbs, but that's ok, because it's got great traction on rocky climbs and is plush and active on descents (even with discs). The geometry seemes to be pretty neutral, with no hidden surprises, so you don't need much body english to keep the bike stable, which suits me, as I stay seated as much as possible. More agressive riders may want something that steers quicker, but having an adjustable fork makes this inconsistent anyway... Overall, I'm really impressed, as I've got a bike that works well and can be ridden just about anywhere in any condition for any distance. I'm going to be using it in a 12hr race soon - just hope the weight doesn't kill me. From reading previous reviews, my only concern is about the longevity of the frame, as there seem to be many unimpressed GT owners out there. GT claims to have addressed these issues with upgrades to this year's frame, so here's hoping... I'm not too heavy and I don't do drops, so only time will tell, but everything is great so far. I'm having a lot of fun, which is the most important thing. Even with the original parts, I would recommend this bike for the rider who wants quality, do-it-all rear suspension at a very reasonable price.
Similar Products Used: 2000 iDrive 1500, 1996 Raceline Extreme
Bike Setup: Came with Judy TT fork and generic Shimano, Truvative & Tektro parts - upgraded to LX/XT gears, Truvative Stylo Cranks, Hayes Hydros and Psylo XC.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rob Ohawk
a Cross Country Rider
from Alexandria, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2003
Strengths: The ride is excellent on level (or near level) terrain. It's a dog when climbing a steep hill, though. The shocks seemed to hold up well (with basic PMs) and provided a smooth ride.
Weaknesses: Since purchasing this bike, I had to replace the spokes on the Big Box rims. They started breaking withing a week. (Why?) All spokes were replaced with double-butted stainless spokes, and I haven't snapped one yet!
The stock bolts securing the rear shock broke.
The stock, drive side crank snapped under load and was replaced with an LX crank set.
The original eccentric bearing ovalized (Why?) and was replaced.
The housing for the eccentric bearing (rear triangle) cracked, so the entire rear triangle was replaced, along with the eccentric bearing.
The down tube and seat tube of the front triangle both failed. Fortunately, I noticed it before continuing the ride.
Bottom Line:
I understand that under extreme riding conditions, components will fail, and all parts eventually will wear out. The problem is that 80% of my riding is on somewhat mountainous PAVED roads; the rest is on rail-to-trail surfaces, and the bike was never crashed. I don't mind replaceing a "drive train" or cables, but there is no reason for a frame to fail this soon.
I'm interested to see what (if any) help I'll get from GT. I fear I might have to take this I-Drive to Jim Thorpe, PA for a proper burrial.
Similar Products Used: This is my third GT bike. The frame of the first one ('94 Timberline) failed at the BB and down tube after about 50,000 miles and was replaced. The frame of the replacement seems fine.
Bike Setup: Deore LX Drive Judy C Front Fork Fox Vanilla (coil spring) Rear
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Derek Geary
a Weekend Warrior
from Port St.John Florida U.S.A
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2003
Strengths: This is a great bike .Mine was a 4.0 but has been upgraded with all xt componants.Even before it was upgraded I loved it .it climbs great .The suspention works all the time . In Florida great climbing is not quite as important as it was at tsali and the I Drive was on. Then the high speed donw hill at Fontana Dam had me concerned but only for a second except for completely wearing out a new set of xt brake pads the bike worked perfect.I swear by mine. This bike is perfect for the weekend warrior who thinks he is a down hill champion.
Weaknesses: I have few complaints. Only two that i can think of.(1)the front derailer has a cable guide under the frame that failed on mine.I replacid it with a piece of tubing just big enough to fit a piece of cable housing inside and welded a small tab to it to screw it in the original mounting hole. (2)the rear derailer hanger broke twice so I machined a new one out of billet 6061 and it has hung tight.
Bottom Line:
this bike was great at entry level and only got better as it was abused. I also think the xt componant group was worth every penny.this is the fourth GT bike I have purchased and I still have and ride all of them.
I'm looking at maybe buying one of these bikes. The price difference is only $50. So i'd like to here what everbody thinks. I'v been out of mountain biking for about 4 years, i liv Read More »
I was looking at a 2001 gt i drive 3.0 .. I tryed to check out reviews but it seems like they are all for the gt i drive 3.0 2003 and 2004 .. is the 2001 and 2002 models better ? J Read More »
I decided to upgrade my GT instead of buying a new bike w/ low end components. I just ordered a set of wheels(XT hubs/Mavic rims) to go w/ some Hayes MX-1's that my buddy gave me. Read More »
Does any body here is running these disc brakes? I want to run them but I am not sure if they will work with my bike. I have an '04 i-drive 3.0, It has Shimano XT M775 center lock Read More »
Going to see a guy who posted on my local forum about a GT I Drive 5 3.0 for $300. It's an 06' model and he said he kept it up pretty well and didn't ride it hard. The bike looks Read More »
