Submitted by
wesley
a Downhiller
from south africa
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2003
Strengths: i like the lobo because you can turn so smoothly & when i ride i feel as if i can do everything! you can also hit a turn at a fast speed because it turns like a dream for sure! the small cockpit is the reason for this...
Weaknesses: the rear link is flexy, but it doesn't matter that much.. then the rear suspension is a bit of a problem, but anything can be replaced or fixed..
Bottom Line:
it's a really nice bike!! although a high maintinence bike, it can do the job, unless you go do some HUGE drops.. it's tough and really strong!!! good all-rounder and if they could ever make the i-drive similar to the lobo, it would be great!! the i-drive's suspension linkage, but the lobo's main frame.... think? a pure monster!!!
The bottom line is if you have a GT LTS and need a new shock then you either have a RockShox Coupe Deluxe or need one. If you have one the seals will adventually leak. I have found that it is easier to replace the shock then try to rebuild it. The advantage to this is you can get new bushings with a new shock. There is a company on the web called ICYCLES that sells replacements at a ridiculously low prices. Just buy a New one each time you blow the seals out so you can spend your time riding and not wrenching!
Submitted by
Chris Inglis
a Racer
from Edinburgh, Scotland
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2001
Strengths: This bike is quick, there is/was nothing on the circuit to beat it. It makes all courses flow, and turns any jump or corner into an oportunity to get more speed. Nice component selection Ac cranks Kore stem etc, unbreakable!!
Weaknesses: While the Ac cranks and the Kore stem may be unbreakable, they obviously didn't follow the same philosiphy at GT. The main frame is made from toffee, the alloy brackets round the thermoplastic develop hairline cracks. The rear frame bends and cracks at all these pretty machined sections. And the pivots are just pathetic, can you have a softer grade of alloy??? I don't think so!!
Bottom Line:
This bike handles like a dream, really inspiring compared to anything else I have had a shot off, it just begs to be pushed at every corner, technical section and jumps, they all feel like they can be taken faster on this than any other bike I have ridden.
Shame thats the end of the good points!! If you are going to get one of these be prepared to spend half your time riding and the other half regreasing those pivots, which is not an easy job, a full stripdown and rebuild takes me the best part of an hour and a half and I have done it allot, allow an afternoon for you first time. Which will probably be after the third time you have ridden it. Maybe it is Scotland and all out mud and rain, but come on GT sealed bearings please!!
Next point, just how easy is it to break this bike? well......very, my tally so far is two front ends, two sets of link plates, one set of chain stays and one set of seat stays. Not bad for just over two years worth of riding.
I don't consider myself a hard rider I am 10 stone with a smooth style, that likes to race as often as possible, yes during racing you do take risks you wouldn't do normally, but this bike was sold to me as a fully fledged race machine I watched as Steve peat and the rest thrashed them on the world cup, if it was good enough for them, surely it was good enough for me.
Next problem with this part is GT themselves, just getting parts is a miracle any thought for a rider with a machine any older than the current seasons machine, really frustrating.
GT should go out and hammer a Giant ATX one for a long time and take the lessons learned about building strong bikes with good pivots and low mantinance, I have seen very few broken atx's and plenty broken Lobo's.
If GT were to take the handling and suspension action of the Lobo and add it to the build quality and strength of the Giant you would quite easily have the best bike in the world by a mile, but at the moment it just breaks to often to be considered a good overall bike. If you don't mind the work with regreasing and fixing bent or broken parts, then you will be able to enjoy one of the sweetest handling bikes ever made (in my opinion) if like me you like to ride more than wrench a spanner then go for something else.
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross-Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: December 19, 1999
Strengths: Nothing upsets this beast, and I mean nothing. Extremely stable at high speeds. Easily jumped and very stable in the air as well. Makes you want to go faster and faster, bigger and bigger!
Weaknesses: the only thing that I have found is that it's some what twitchy at low speeds. Nothing I haven't gotten used too but it was noticeable in the beggining. I also had some problems with the rear lever leaking, twice, but it has since been fixed. The fork was leaking extremely in the beggining as well but with the addition of the new samauri seals from rock shox it's been running strong since. This is also some what of a heavy bike, at 42 pounds it's a beast. This however doesn't stop me from riding it cross county bettween DH races though. I can't really put the weight issue in a negative catagory or a positive catagory, but it is there(for your info).
Bottom Line:
I bought this bike because of the enormouse bang for you buck and I was greatly surprised by it's performances so far. There is a huge stability window right iin the middle of the cockpit of this bike and as long as you stay in it(witch is very easy) it will just roll over anything without any feedback. I do ride this bike cross country during the off season just to stay familiare with it and I can climb pretty much everything I can on my hardtail. I work in a bike shop so I got to try out all the newest coolest stuff before I decided to go with the GT. The best one I rode just happened to be the cheapest. The only one I wish I could have tried was the Kona Stab, but my shop isn't a dealer. All in all watch for me next season because I'm going to be Winning on this thing!!!! 5 stars for performance, 5 stars for value, -1 for tech difficulties, +1 for getting them fixed at no charge to me and fast.
Bike Setup: stock except: shifter- XTR to 9.0sl rear der.- XTR to SRAM 9.0 bar- Azonic to Azonic Chubby Double wall Pedals- 636 to Time Tires- Wild Grippers DH to Leopard 2.6's
Do you think it's possible to use a BB mount front deraileur on the lobo? I know there is no cable mount but I think I have fig out a way to mount the cable. just wondering if anyo Read More »
Here is a picture of a Lobo Loco I have been running on the front of my Motolite. It was installed on a Mavic Crossride wheelset, ghetto tubeless and ran with 25-29psi.
So far Read More »
Here's a few pics of my recently built Lobo. Sourced an unused frame and it then took me months to source the parts. Labour of love for one of my dream bikes BITD. Yep I know they' Read More »
Posted this in VRC but thought I should also post it here.
Here's a few pics of my recently built Lobo. Sourced an unused frame and it then took me months to source the parts. L Read More »
As the title say's what tire would be best to compliment a Lobo loco ust. Up until today I'd never gave geax tires a thought but the lobo loco looks very good on paper.
So I tho Read More »
