Submitted by
John Shields
a Cross Country Rider
from Drake, CO Date Reviewed: June 25, 2004
Favorite Trail:
Hewlett's Gulch
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$1100.00
Purchased At:
Bike Shop - new
Strengths:
Color! Flat Black is just cool. Super stiff frame which is great for my 200+ lbs. Steering geometry is the best of any bike. It sticks to lines and doesn't push in corners on decents. For tall riders this bike is THE solution!
Weaknesses:
LX cranks and components when bought new. mine came with some decent components as well though that I'm still riding on: RockShox seatpost, Selle San marco leather/titanium saddle, WTB hubs/wheels are decent.
Similar Products Used:
Many, but none felt as comfortable for me to ride.
Bike Setup:
From stock I've added bar ends for climbing, grips, tires, RaceFace cranks/rings/bottom bracket bearings.
Bottom Line:
Sweetest hardtail ever created!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Triangle
a Cross Country Rider
from Russia Date Reviewed: March 22, 2004
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$500.00
Purchased At:
used
Strengths:
Light, strong, incredibly stiff. Color!
Weaknesses:
Incredibly stiff.
Similar Products Used:
Simple aluminium RockMachine frame with too crappy components to compare it in any way with Zaskar X frame.
Bike Setup:
Marzocchi Z2 atom 80, LX/XT drivetrain, LX/Alexrims wheels with Avid ArchRival brakes, now Kore Hoochie/Mavic wheels with Hope Mini/M4 brakes.
Bottom Line:
Got the frame used, with Thomson seatpost, XT front derailler, bottom bracket and Ritchey headset. The frame is stiff like hell - straight chainstays, Easton tubing and GT Triple Triangle do the job. It climbs, accelerates like jetplane, people who try it ask "why it jumps as I push the pedal?", makes me laugh :)
This may get annoying though if you have to descend stairs in the city or ride some bad asphalt road, you gotta work your legs to avoid breaking your ass into pieces, though its very subtle and depends on riding style.
Have no idea how to decide value rating, for you can hardly find any of these frames or bikes in the shops nowdays.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Aaron
a Downhiller
from US of A Date Reviewed: May 27, 2003
Favorite Trail:
lutsen downhill #7
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
SBC canada for frame and online mailorder sites for components
Strengths:
I dont know what to say. This bike was one of the last decent framesets pumped out by the now crappy GT. Although the stock bike is a P.O.S., If you build it up with the best you will have one sweet arse freeride hardtail. I ride a lot of XC as well as some freeriding and this frame does everything while looking awesome and with wieght to spare. As far As i can say nothng compares.
Weaknesses:
None other than that i have customized my frame by adding a clear coat over new decals as another reviewer said to do and adding a jump stop to stop my chain from chewing up my bottom bracket shell. I also added a new seat clamp QR. It is now officially bad @ss
Similar Products Used:
old crappy things
Bike Setup:
This frame Fox Forx Vanilla '03 R XT derailleurs, chain, shifters, and cassette Truvativ stylo team cranks and team DH BB Mavic F219 rims laced with 14 G spokes to '03 XT disc hubs Panaracer black fire XC pro tires Thomson stem and seatpost (amazing) Answer Protaper low rise bars XT hydraulic disk brakes Chris King headset Selle italia seat Dimesions skewers Avid flak jacket shift cables ODI ruffian lock on grips Lizard skin bits
Bottom Line:
Buy it and build it without compromise, you will be very happy
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Michelle
a Weekend Warrior
from Avon Lake, OH USA Date Reviewed: May 3, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
Cambria
Strengths:
BAD-ASS BLACK, welds, legendary Zaskar frame, non integrated headset,geometry,under the toptube cable routing,RARE
size small,LX splined crankset,LX hubs&derailleurs stronger crumpet in rear der.,Ritchey Rock rims in silver,'99 'Zokes Z2 BAM 80 in silver,15x90 silver Thomson stem,silver susp. seatpost,natural finish alum. flat bar & bar ends,SRAM Plasma 9spd. gripshift,Avid ultimate levers silver clamp purple levers,Avid ultimate brakes,Pink Chris King headset,Selle Italia Ldy Trans Am seat,Continental Twister Pro Dual compound tires,Serfas clear grips w/silver metal flake.
Bottom Line:
This bike is replacing the Raleigh '01 M80(GOLDY)-she was a good steed however geometry just wasn't agressive enough-transferring all components except front fork which was a Manitou Magnum. This bike should ROCK - look stealthy - and weigh less. Female rider 120-125lbs., hence the LX components which are perfect. Also, $350.00 for this new frameset is a steal!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
A.C.
a Cross Country Rider
from rochester Date Reviewed: April 16, 2003
Favorite Trail:
mayowood
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1600.00
Purchased At:
frame from savages
Strengths:
frame is awesome in the first place Tip; if you hate the way GT left out the clear coating finish to give the matte balck color and the stickers are starting to look bad, go buy some automotive clearcoat paint and tape around the two small GT stickers on the top tube as well as the one on the headtube - then paint it
voila! now you have durable clear coated decals
rip off all the other stickers!
It looks much better this way!
Weaknesses:
only have frame so nothing wrong but full bike specs look quite horrible
Similar Products Used:
c'dale
Bike Setup:
Zaskar 'x' matte frame marzocchi 02 EXR coil 100 (also with custom clear coat) XT drive Avid mechs mavic 223's on XT selle italia gel flite easton components
Bottom Line:
buy frame and build yourself. you will save a lot, learn about the bike, and have a silent bad ass machine!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
kirbert
a Weekend Warrior
from minnesota Date Reviewed: September 6, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
supergo jensen price point
Strengths:
build custom
Weaknesses:
finish is kind of cheap but has to be for the color
built mine custom, suggest the same to all marzocchi rules manitou sucks avid rules bad a$$ black all the way this machine flies down any trail on lutsen and climbs noticably better than my old c,dale absolutely love it
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bob
a Weekend Warrior
from midwest Date Reviewed: July 31, 2002
Favorite Trail:
lutsen
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
savages
Strengths:
This frame is absolutly the shiznit when it comes to looks.
stiff
responsive
nice geometry
light
strong!
cable routing that makes sense(my old cannondale had under the bb and over the top tube routing WTF!!!!!!)
Weaknesses:
Gt is now owned by huffy, have heard it's getting harder for them to honer thier warranty because frames are not produced any mor
Similar Products Used:
upgraded cannondale f400 cad2 afterburner fade
Bike Setup:
Gt zaskar x frame Hayes Hmx-1 Mech Discs(pads last longer than the avids, otherwise the same) Manitou 01 x-vert lx shifter/levers xt rear derailluer lx front derailluer irc kevlar tires mavic 223s on xt disc hubs tange sealed aheadset(as good as a king, sealed,and only $80 easton components xt bb on and on.........................
Bottom Line:
If you buy the complete bike you will have to do some serious upgrading fraom the stock gt parts and the formula brakes. I built mine from the frame up and am very pleased with total price( the secret is supergo.com and pricepoint.com)
Get out and ride goddamn it!
five flamin hunks of dog sh*t all around
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
J WGG
a Cross Country Rider
from Toronto Date Reviewed: June 6, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Hardwood Hills
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At:
Savages Bike Centre
Strengths:
Sexy frame, forgiving fork, excellent shifters, decent wheelset, trail gripping tires, and all around stealthy ride.
Weaknesses:
Headset, stem, handlebar, crank, formula brakes,XT FD and cassette, and Ritchey Comp V2. pedals...
Similar Products Used:
Trek 9.8/Zaskar Team 2001/Trek 8500?Klein/Titus
Bike Setup:
Full XTR, Thomson Stem, Race Face Next LP crankset (BACK IN BLACK), RF handlebar w/ Cane Creek Ergo Bar-ends, Hayes Disc Brakes, and shimano 959's.
Bottom Line:
Out of the box...decent ride. Small gradual upgrades makes this ride even sweeter. Good looking bike that climbs the hills with ease and controls the corners with grace. I bought it at a discounted price and invested the savings into top of the line after-market upgrades. Still maintaining the BAD ASS BLACK ATTIDUE with the upgrades. It is a shame the GT is no longer one of the premiere bike companies around. They built a good one in the Zaskar X. Caio GT...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mikhail
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, NSW, Australia Date Reviewed: January 30, 2002
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$350.00
Purchased At:
CBO
Strengths:
Very strong, Very Light, Very good looking... Very practical.
Weaknesses:
Stupid intentation on seat clamp area of frame. GT QR's just don't have enough clamping force when used with a solid post. Took a while to get a suitable bolt on seat clamp.
Similar Products Used:
Giant ATX-870,-890,-980,-990, GT Avalanche-2.0,-1.0, Zaskar Race, Zaskar X
Bike Setup:
RS SID SL, RaceFace SYStem, RF XY post, RF Next LP ISIS, Shimano XTR drive, Hope/DT/Veocity wheelset, Hope XC4 brakeset, Azonic D.W Riser Bars, King Ti Headset.
Bottom Line:
Despite the fact that i've only had the bike for a short time, it has been ridden all day, and nearly everyday since i've owned it.
It seems that alot of the bad reviews about this bike, are the ones from those who have bought the entire package from GT. This build kit is obviously bad. Advice: Buy the frame and build your own toy. Mine is so silent, all you hear is the tyres hum from the wind!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Sacklyn
a Weekend Warrior
from Kennesaw,Ga. Date Reviewed: September 8, 2001
This is a follow up review to my frist one almost a year ago and it is for all of those fellow "x" owners. About four months ago I had issues with the formula disc brake levers going soft under load and to make a long story short, GT replaced them under warranty with Avid's cable actuated disc brakes. I could't be happier with the results. They are a breeze to set up and no bleed/air/noise/vibration/stopping problems. If you still have the original brakes, ride them til they fall off! As far as the squeaky seat tube is concerned, a thin film of automotive brake quiet grease (ie:lithium) on the seatpost and in the frame(and a tight quick release seat clamp) did the trick for me. I am a 210 pound rider who rides hard 3 times a week and have yet to bust the frame. I am still very satisfied with this bike after a year of hard use. With the exception of the brakes and the seatpost, the bike still has all of it's original equipment. If any other zaskar owners have any questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me. I'd like to hear from other owners.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
JAmie
a Cross Country Rider
from CAlgary Alberta Canada Date Reviewed: September 3, 2001
Favorite Trail:
DEm BOnes
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
BOW CYCLE
Strengths:
Nice ride, handles well on technical decents
Weaknesses:
I find that when i pump my tires up to about 50psi, the head tube creaks. Also im not a big fan of the decals.
Similar Products Used:
GT ZASKAR,
Bike Setup:
Full XT, judy race, mavic 517, kore, azonic.
Bottom Line:
I actually got this frame as a warranty, because I cracked my old Zakar, it looks like i cracked it just in time because of GT going bankrupt. I was extremely pleased to get this new frame epecially because I had bought my last bike second hand.
Anyways i dont seem to have any problems with the bike, nothing on it is stock, the only thing that bothers me is the little bit of creaking i get when my tire pressure is high. Other than that I really like the feel of it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve Scates
a Cross Country Rider
from Poway, CA Date Reviewed: August 13, 2001
Favorite Trail:
secret
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Strengths:
Very strong frame with good componets. Brakes work excellent. Great frame for taller riders.
Weaknesses:
GT has replaced this frame once. More later... Brakes do squeak a little. Keep them clean and this stops. Of course dust is enough to get them sqeaking.
Similar Products Used:
Bridgestone MB-S
Bike Setup:
Took off riser bars. Put a flat bar with bar ends. Climbs and descends much better. Everything else is stock.
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great ride. I like climbing and descending. This bike does both well. Now about that cracked frame. After 3 rides, the down tube started creaking. I couldn't find the cause specifically. I took it back to the shop. They said the frame was cracked where the triple triangle comes together. GT said they didn't have any replacement frames, as they were the last of the USA made Zaskars. They offered a Zaskar Race frame, but said it was on a boat from China. I didn't want a Race frame as they are lighter than the X. I don't jump this bike, but I certainly don't need a light weight Race frame with a one year warranty. There's a reason there's only a one year warranty. Anyway, Action Cyclery in San Diego found a new Zaskar X frame at Cambria and convinced GT to give me enough credit to by from Cambria. Sean at Action worked all of this out. I got the new frame after Sean swapped all of the parts. After 3 rides, same noise. Wow! Inside the down tube just below the seat insert is a nub sticking out. If your seat post is lubed pretty well it won't make noise for a few rides. So, there never was a cracked frame. Oh well, since I have figured this out, I'm not going to call GT again. The bike works great now. As a side note, the gentleman at GT said that he wouldn't even ride the Zaskar Race frame that they offered me. That's how light weight it is. Disposable bikes! I hope this bike lasts 10 years. I guess GT is bankrupt. Quit your complaining about the squeaky brakes and go ride.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jody
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington DC Date Reviewed: August 1, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Sugarloaf Mountain
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1450.00
Purchased At:
Revolution Cycles
Strengths:
color,light,climbs well.
Weaknesses:
Frame creaks after only 20 rides. No one, including GT's rep knows why. Also bent the chainring after six months. Previously had a stumpjumper for six years with no problems. GT filed for bankruptcy and is not honoring their warantee. Formula brakes squeal like a stuck pig and their is no resolution for it.
Judy race shock, rock shox seat post,wtb hubs and wheels,XTR derailer,formula brakes,
Bottom Line:
Don't buy this bike if your are into peaceful rides and like to see wildlife when out in the woods. Everyone knows your coming a mile away. GT has been horrid at honoring the warantee. I will never buy another GT product again. It's not set up for technical single track riding. It doesn't hold up for this type of abuse. That's why GT only waranteed this frame for one year. I was very excited when I first got this bike, but after only 20 hard rides their has been way to many problems that I'm still paying for because GT will not honor the warantee.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
layne
a Cross Country Rider
from spokane washington Date Reviewed: July 29, 2001
Favorite Trail:
The Bluff
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
spoke'n sport
Strengths:
ITS A LIGHT...BAD-ASSED FLAT BLACK MACHINE!!!!!!
Weaknesses:
Creaks......squeaks....formula brakes...
Similar Products Used:
GT i-drive full suspension
Bottom Line:
This bike can be punsihed on a daily basis.....whether cross country riding or downhill, this bad-ass goes and goes...great responsive handling on technical trails...out climbs, and holds its own on downhill......light and with an attitude!!!!!! This is a great ride for those of us seeking the harder line in life.....
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
ath
a Cross Country Rider
from boulder, co, usa Date Reviewed: July 19, 2001
Favorite Trail:
yesterdays
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1400.00
Purchased At:
cambria
Strengths:
I was stoked to finally have a light racing bike. It was quick in the turns and climbed extremely well.
Weaknesses:
Weak. At least mine was. After only two months of riding, I broke the frame through the top tube and inch in front of the intersection with the seat tube. Lemon frame? We will see as I understand that the Zaskar Race that they are replacing it with is only warrantied for 1 year.
Similar Products Used:
GT Backwoods, Specialized Stumpjumper
Bike Setup:
Full XT, etc.
Bottom Line:
I was extremely pleased before I looked down and saw that damn crack. Buyer beware.
Billet frame, Pace 90 mm fork, XTR v-brakes, Sram 9.0 SL mechs, DT/ Mavic wheelsets
Bottom Line:
Great frame, I got it really cheap, but what really impresses i the neat finish, I've got the billet version. Fits really well with my lightweight setup, but I allso tried it with a shorter travel fork, it did not feel well at all. Needs atleast 90 mm to perform at its best. One of the best aluminium frames I have ever tried.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mark Adkins
a Weekend Warrior
from NY Date Reviewed: June 21, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Hunters Creek
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
Canadian closeout dealer
Strengths:
Legendary ZASKAR heritage has withstood the test of time. RockShox JUDY Race with 100mm travel is a great component, and they had it painted matte black to match the frame color "BAD-ASS BLACK". Super stiff feel that the ZASKAR is known for.
Weaknesses:
Crappy headset Tioga Alchemy. Supplied bar grips are like cheese graters, so toss 'em. The jury is out yet for the RockShox suspension seatpost.
Similar Products Used:
1992 ZASKAR 1st generation frameset
Bike Setup:
Install SYNCROS headset immediately.
Bottom Line:
The component groups for the top line GT bikes have gotten below par in recent years since joining up with Schwin. Certain items on the 2000 ZASKAR-X beg to be upgraded. For a bike in this price catagory, better parts need to be spec'd. I got mine as a closeout from a Canadian bikeshop at about half the price it sold for last year. All the money I saved will be put into better schwag. But if a hardtail is your gig, made-in-the-U-S-of-A means something to you, and you like GT reliability, you can not go wrong with this bike,
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Brad Hogan
a Cross Country Rider
from Charlotte, NC 28226 Date Reviewed: June 13, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Catawba Riverfront
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Shoppe
Strengths:
Lightweight, stiff, good stock component setup, GT warranty, bad-ass black paint job.
Weaknesses:
Lightweight front end, twitchy at high speeds. Mavic 221's are weak. Cheap headset, rusted out after a few rainy rides. Stock stem too short & high and riser bar too narrow with too much sweep, creates understeering.
Similar Products Used:
1999 GT Avalanche, broke and replaceed with 2000 Zaskar X which was a nice upgrade for free (good thing about GT's no questions asked warranty)
Bike Setup:
LX/XT, Race Face Turbine LP chainrings & cranks, LX sidepull brakes, Titec Hellbent riser, Rock Shox seatpost, Mavic 221's, Time ATAC's alum, Judy C 80mm fork.
Bottom Line:
Great hardtail and sweet look. Super stiff, light, & great climber. I would recommend changing to a longer, lower stem and a wider riser bar to get a more stable feel on the front end. This bike jams in the tight twisties. I normally ride a full suspension but have this bike for XC racing. I will say that this thing rides pretty rough, it rattles me so bad my teeth hurt! I guess that is just the nature of a hardtail. I would not have paid full price for this bike, I obtained it through a warranty replacement upgrade when I broke my Avalanche. For the money I would buy full suspension, however if you are used to a hardtail it is a damn good solid bike, good for racing too.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim
a Cross Country Rider
from Camarillo, CA,USA Date Reviewed: June 11, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Overlook, PT Magu
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$1700.00
Purchased At:
Newbury Park Bike Shop
Strengths:
Looks Good. Nice component package. Climbs well. I like the disk brakes and haven't had any trouble with them
Weaknesses:
Seat Post Tube in frame creaks. GT rep says its an aluminum insert in Tube. Rear freewheel sounds like it has bad bearings. Replaced it once with the noise returning after a couple of rides. Bike in general creaks and cracks down the trail.
Similar Products Used:
Marin Pine Mountain
Bike Setup:
Out of box. XT Front derailer, XTR rear, LX cranks, XT shifters, Judy Hydrocoil, WTB hubs
Bottom Line:
Very disappointed with the bike. Creaking of frame seat tube is annoying along with may other as yet unidentified noises. WTB hubs are crap and would not buy a bike with them again. Road my Marin for 5 years with XT components with very little trouble. Bike shop I purchased from has been very good. Unfortunately the Bike is not worth the $1700.00 I paid. Live and learn
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mo
a Weekend Warrior
from Sedro Woolley Date Reviewed: May 5, 2001
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$380.00
Purchased At:
Cambria
Strengths:
Superlight frame with wicked colors. Remove the stickers (who needs 15 GT stickers anyway?) and it looks even tougher! The frams inspires confidence in every aspect of riding! With a 70 mm fork the steering is super fast in tight corners and very predictable on long, steep and technical up hills. When I swapped the fork out for an 80 mm Rock Shox SID SL the steering slowed down a little bit, but the downhill "fun factor" increased tremendously! This bike begs to have its limits pushed. I have taken bigger wheelie drops, cruised through corners faster and hammered up the steepest trails in bigger gears than I ever thought possible! The frame is tuned to put all of your power into the rear while taking the edge off of all the small bumps without killing the feel of the trail. Very nice
Weaknesses:
This frame is not made for V brakes or cable actuated disc brakes. There are no cable stops for the rear brake, so you have to run full cable housing from the lever to the brake which increases cable drag and reduces brake feel and power.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized A1 Hardtail, Kona Blast.
Bike Setup:
XTR cranks, BB, Front and Rear Der., XT Shifter pods, Grimeca Sys. 8 front brake, King Headset, RS Suspension post, YETI Headcore grips (these are the BEST!) and Race Face Stem.
Bottom Line:
This frame is the answer to your hardtail dreams. The quick handling and tuned frame inspire the rider to go faster without worrying about out riding their equipment! This bike is better than you are!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tim Huber
a Cross Country Rider
from San Juan Cap. Ca. Date Reviewed: December 3, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Wherever I am
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$1200.00
Strengths:
Tight @ss bike. It is confidence inspiring. There are no creaks or noises of any other kinds. You can feel how solid it is on anything. It's great for tight technical places ,but is very happy in the big chain ring.9very stable at high speeds) No complaints about the breaks, so they squeak a bit, others hear me coming up on them.haha. I love this bike. For the amount I spent I really love it.
Weaknesses:
I trashed the seat post susp. Rochshox thing. ?? I like it better without it. other than that....nothin.
Similar Products Used:
Giant atx860, demos on numerous bikes.
Bike Setup:
stock xtr, xt
Bottom Line:
Great all around bike. I love the disk breaks. For this amount of money you can get a so so full suspension or the best hardtail. I like knowing that I am on a bike that can handle and was made for anything I dish out. A very fast and agile bike. For some it may be a little hard on the rear ,but it depends what kind of surface you are riding. Go ride one and compare it. I absolutely love mine.......
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike Sacklyn
a Cross Country Rider
from Kennesaw,Ga,USA Date Reviewed: November 24, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Purchased At:
Roswell Bicycles
Strengths:
Great "out of the box" component selection, very quick and responsive on the trails, one mean paint job!(You can't go wrong with a name like "bad ass black")
Weaknesses:
Brakes are just now starting to squeak. I will have to ride the bike more to give long term review of the disc brakes. I am not a fan of the Ritchey clipless pedals(just my personal preference), so I replaced them with Time ATAC models.
Similar Products Used:
GT Rebound, Cannondale f2000? (I don't remember the # exactly. It had similiar components and black paint like the x.)
Bike Setup:
Stock catalog setup. XT front derailleur, XTR rear derailleur, LX crank ,WTB Laser Beam rims with Michelin XL S tires, Rock Shox Judy Race front fork and suspention seatpost, Formula full hydraulic disc brakes, SDG Satellite seat.
Bottom Line:
If you like to ride hard and fast (and look good doing it too!), this is the mount to have. The Zaskar X is a very light and nimble machine with a solid frame and a smooth drivetrain. The long-travel Judy fork soaks up the meanest terrain with ease, and the 50mms of adjustible suspention in the Rock Shox seatpost makes those long rides all the better. The hydraulic disc brakes stop very well despite some minor squeaking. If you can still find one of these gems at your local bike shop or in the paper, I would highly recommend the more experienced rider picking it up despite it's somewhat high pricetag. GT will not make this particular bike in 01 so it is a rare bird indeed.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA Date Reviewed: September 29, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Downeyville
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$2000.00
Purchased At:
Ocean Cyclery, San Francisco
Strengths:
Good climer, quality frame, nice components EXCEPT for those cheap a$$ FORMULA brakes.
Weaknesses:
FORMULA EVOLUZIONE HYDRAULIC DISC brake review below:
1. Brake levers are cheap! I have owned the bike for 4 months and have already broke the clamp which secures the lever to the handlebar. The levers have lots of play from the fully extended position to where the levers engage the brake.
2. Brake engages without pressing the lever. Road vibration causes the lever setting to change which causes the levers to engage the brake. I find myself adjusting the brakes everytime I ride singletrack.
3. The brakes squeak bad. I clean the brake disc and the problem returns after a 30 minute ride.
Bike Setup:
-Zaskar X stock -WTB SST.98 Seat -I am hoping to settle this dispute with FORMULA and get some Shimano XT disc -I bent the rear rim (WTB Laserbeam) and now have one Mavic 317
Bottom Line:
I love my bike but if I were to do it again, I would have built the bike from scratch and left the FORMULA DISC BRAKES out!!!
I have had nothing but problems with both the quality and customer service from FORMULA. I broke the clamp which secures the brake lever to the handle bar. The lever was returned to FORMULA because it was a manufactuer defect(cracked along the weld). My bike has been sitting in the shop from 9/2/00 til today 9/29/00. I have contacted them through email, fax, and phone. They do not answer their phone!!! I am still waiting for a response or replacement. Their customer service is the worst I have EVER experienced.
I would have given the bike a 5 but GT had to go with Formula brakes. That's very unfortunate that they had not used Shimano XT's or Hayes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
John Shields
a Weekend Warrior
from Loveland Date Reviewed: August 1, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Dad's Gulch
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Light weight bike and responsive steering (not too twitchy). Reminds me of my old BMXer and encourages 'sano stunts. Can't beat that color! Great low center of gravity.
Weaknesses:
Upgrading any parts will change the look of the bike completely. Flat black isn't a common color for parts. Of course there are only a couple of items that I want to upgrade (cranks, bars, stem). The tires are REALLY soft and won't last long if used on pavement/asphalt, but stick hard in dirt!
Similar Products Used:
None, I'm upgrading from an old Cro-mo Trek 950. Absolutely no comparison there! I've ridden others, but this bike rocks! I considered and rode Specialized and Kona before buying.
Bike Setup:
Mostly XT, XTR rear, LX cranks, disc brakes, WTB wheels/hubs, FOX seat post.
Bottom Line:
This is certainly the best bike I have owned and I have no complaints after shelling out 2k for it! I actually figure I ripped them off. I consider this a top of the line weekend warrior ride. I'm a big guy (6'3" and 210) and this bike hasn't creaked or complained at all! Too bad they won't be making it for '01, not that I'm complaining!
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Submitted by
Travis Parker
a Cross Country Rider
from Gainesville, FL Date Reviewed: June 26, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Creekside (well it's where i usually ride anyway)
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
The bike is bullet proof. The frame is super solid and feels as if you could land out of anything on it. The brakes are almost to sweet.
Weaknesses:
The seat post is a little awarkward at first, it makes a good bit of noise (nothing bad though), even with lithim grease on it.
Similar Products Used:
nothing really similar, I was up in the air on if I wanted to finally go with a full ride. In the end I decided I wanted something that could really take some hard hits and get some good air with our questioning rather or not I was gonna die on the landing (i'm used to rigid bikes). this bike just feels so beefy and solid yet is fairly light. It handle real tight and does it's best work on hard packed down hill with "fun" ground action. but it can climb
Bike Setup:
stock, this bike was made to take anything straight out of the box
Bottom Line:
In my opinon hard tails are more fun than full rides for those of us who aren't trying to make a living out of mountain biking. I do a lot of round town rides on the bike now. I used to ride a tour bike for pavement but the mt bikes are so much more fun in the city/suburb. Out on the trails i don't ever question the zaskar. It responce great for my style, which is typically involves going bigger than need be to clear crap. I have the bike up pretty fast going down hill and it was real comfortable, for a hard tail (a moto bike is going to feel nicer of course). The zakar is real quick in the get go and mid speed changes. Great all around stock tires. But why did I buy this bike over the GT pro model -the flat black kicks butt. Not only does it look cool, it's not flashy and doesn't draw a lot of attension to it's self compared to most bikes on the market right now. To the untrained eye most huffys look more expensive than the Zaskar X (good secruty device). The stance of the bike is also a little more live able than an all out cross set up. This bike, if you know cars, is the bike version of a BMW M5.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston, MA. Date Reviewed: June 19, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Mt. Snow
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great lightweight frame, excellent braking, and great looks! Also, climbs effortlessly.
Weaknesses:
Some difficulty with getting the front wheel off and on, due to the disk brake.
Similar Products Used:
Klein Pulse Race
Bike Setup:
Judy Race 100, Rock Shox seatpost, all XTR.
Bottom Line:
This bike is like a motorcycle. It climbs almost effortlessly, has plenty of suspension, is lightweight, and handles incredibly. It's a beast- and looks as such in Badass Black, the only available color!! Highly recommended!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gareth Howes
a Cross Country Rider
from Flintshire,Wales Date Reviewed: May 6, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Clacaenog forrest
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Oversized strong frame,excellent components,plush consistent suspension froks, making a true quality bike at a good price.
Weaknesses:
Disk brakes can sqeak and become irritable but other than that none.
Similar Products Used:
Specialized Rockhopper Mtb.
Bike Setup:
Deore LX mechs, Stxc mega 9 rapid fires, suntour cranks.
Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a solid well built, well spec'd mtb then this is the bike for you. Whether it be cross country or downhilling this bike can cope. I use mine everyday and it has not yet posed a problem. Overall this is a very strong bike with excellent components at a bargain price.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ken Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Castro Valley, CA Date Reviewed: April 12, 2000
Favorite Trail:
Morgan Territory
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Well constucted and light weight
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
GT Backwoods and Gary Fisher Kaitai
Bike Setup:
XT crank, XTR derailer, Judy Race and Formula disc brakes
Bottom Line:
Bike works extremely well for those who still wont make the change to a full suspension bike. I'm a 215 pound rider and the bike works great for my weight. Go buy one!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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