|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
James Rai
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Bristol and many places around the world | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords (frame+custom build) | | Strengths: | This frame is pretty strong and I'm waiting for it to crack on me soon; after a good 7 years (2001) its still handles well and is pretty light 6061. | | Weaknesses: | The original paintwork was soft and whoever chose the colour should have been shot-it was terrible -red/whitle/black/grey????? Dents easy from thin walls. | | Similar Products Used: | Cove Stiffee 69er, Trek 4400, Diamondback Response Sport, Spesh Hardrock list goes on... | | Bike Setup: | Full 2007 XTR bar XT HT2 cranks, X719 rims splined xtr hubs, raceface carbon bars, post and stem, and one Chris King Headset and one U-turn 85-115mm Reba Team, Xtr spds or Straitlines flats in gloop. | | Bottom Line: | I took this worn out top end retro bike dying in the corner and stripped it of parts, sold all the old bling and got the frame weighed: 1.6kg for a Large? compared to £1000 hardtail medium of 1.7kg and carbon still a bit new for frames in '06-07 (new carbon Zaskar is out now but full susser is the way forward.
Being a sentimental fool I had the bike stripped of yucky paintwork scheme and baked in Ferrari red with original white Gt decals -lettering.
With a light pair of tyres n tubes 21 lbs is not bad for an old bike. On Trail its more 23-24 lbs with trail rims, mud tyres and thick tubes but I needed reliabilty and ride characteristics sacrifices weight till summer allows xc tyres etc.
Being modest I have had some fantastically nice comments from riding clubs and they think its a new zaskar-till I tell them its 7yrs old. I could go lighter with the spec but I want a full susser trail frame so I can transplant these bits too when the Zaskar death occurs ;)
At 85-100mm travel it handles pretty dam good but mainly at high speed through bends & twists as did in Wales back in 2003 (sking on a bike?). 115mm is good for downhill or riding wobbly like a f***ing clown. 100mm for casual trails and 85mm for speed.
Tyre clearance limits choices as the rear is harsh on rocky terrain -I would like to fit a fatter rear as done on the Cove Stiffee to calm it down.
I'm still impressed and must admit with my average technical ability the bike outrides me easily and saved me a heap of cash. Still very light and handles great while climbing is a dream.
Bar the Cove Stiffee fitting me better (slacker), this has to be my favorite ht xc frame-they were on to a winner all those years ago. The modern carbon is getting rave reviews but at that price I'd rather buy a Giant Anthem do it all frame.
Till it dies, I'll never sell the Zaskar.
Thanks to Psyclwerx Bristol with prices, facing, honest advice, building me some nice wheels, taking the pi$$ in front of me and Cheesy riders team -Bristol for dragging me out on Sundays...Argos racing cycles for dents and respray repair, Craig, Will, Tomy n Trey for getting me the frame. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
will Atkin
a Cross Country Rider
from Birmingham
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Canals/urban terror | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | Paulscycles | | Strengths: | rock solid handling underheavy pressure, viagra like rigidity | | Weaknesses: | Not the most nimble shows wear n tear | | Bike Setup: | Brooks ti saddle, Middleburn Cranks, Avid Ultimate, Nokon Cables, Easton Ea50 seat post, Thompson 140mm Stem | | Bottom Line: | Im 6ft 4' and 17 stone this is the ideal bike for heavy aggressive riders the BB never flex's the stock Lx crankset is made from recycled coke cans absolute tat to me its still worth upgrading components hey the frame is the 2000 world cup winner. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Trevor Burchell
a Downhiller
from Birmingham/England
Date Reviewed: August 5, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | all over barmouth wales | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$15000.00 | | Purchased At: | Petes cycles | | Strengths: | are you kiding this bike is stong all over tough light and goes like hell standard kit is all good enough to keep you going in light or heavy tracks only bad point standard dior brakes had to go for some avid legends and yes they are | | Weaknesses: | none really other than it can make you pee your pants D/H its that light and fast | | Similar Products Used: | GT ZASKAR PRO 99/2001 VARIOUS TREKS | | Bike Setup: | Pure standard exept for break avid legend worth that extra £150.00 pounds any day | | Bottom Line: | for the price i would swear there is no better bike honest | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Moh
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | TC's Bike Bar (frame only) | | Strengths: | Very nice geometry, light, strong. Climbs and descends with confidence. | | Weaknesses: | May not stand up to the punishment of a weekend warrior. Mine didn't | | Similar Products Used: | Giant ATX 860 & 890 | | Bike Setup: | Fox Vanilla, XT gear | | Bottom Line: | I rode this bike pretty hard for just over two years until the frame cracked last week. Thought the frame would last a bit longer... but no luck.
Despite this, I still have to recommend this frame to anyone looking to ride XC. If you are looking to ride rough stuff, then you should look elsewhere. I loved the way the Zascar handled, and the 20" was perferct for my height (6'2"). It will be a hard bike to replace. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Baqden
a Racer
from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Melb C.B.D | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | City Cycles | | Strengths: | The frame is one of the strongest (at a decent weight, 1400 grams) i've come accross. Angles are perfect | | Weaknesses: | Scratches to easy | | Similar Products Used: | 1999 GT Zaskar, 2002 GT Zaskar Pro | | Bike Setup: | Mavic Cross ride rims and hubs, GT Cro Mo forks, Deore
V-Brakes, Fsa cranks and Headset, 11 kgs total weight | | Bottom Line: | GT ROCKS, simple as that. Ive been a bike messenger for 6 years and have had 2 GT's the Zaskar, and now the Race. Solid frame, i use it for work and then convert it to a cross country bike when i go bush. This bike has had many a crash and bingle, not a dent on it. When built from frame up (to your own specs) is one of the best bikes ever.
Ideal for anyone who is hard on there frames and want a light, strong bike. Everything about the frame says tough.
An all round winner | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KGT
a Weekend Warrior
from Bishop Auckland
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Hamsterley Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords, Bishop | | Strengths: | So light I thought the box was empty when I got it. It looks like a pro even if you dont. | | Weaknesses: | Paint seems to chip quite easy. | | Similar Products Used: | Sunn Total + years of hybrid bin jobs | | Bike Setup: | SID Race forks, XT brakes and shifters, XTR rapd rise rear mech, XT front mech, XT cranks, Mavic rims | | Bottom Line: | When I got back into biking a few years ago, I decided I needed a decent steed. I went through a few options really quickly, then decided to build my own (alright I decided to buy bits and get Halfords to build it up for me). After some good advice settled on this frame and added the gear bit by bit. Purchased the whole lot for about £750, which I think is an absolute bargain. Big thanks to Chris and Stu and Bishop Halfords who did all the hard work. Light as a feather but tough as old boots. I spend about 80% of the ride on the bike and 20% in the air / on the ground. Its coped with a fair few spills so far. Unfortunately the paintwork seems quite soft, so its missing a few spots. Im no expert, but if I wrecked this, Id buy another one. Would probably go like the wind with a racer on board, but it does me fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Frank B
a Cross Country Rider
from Aarhus, Denmark
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Moesgård Forrest | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | 1670.00 | | Strengths: | Strong, fast in both down- and uphill, looks great, SID-fork, nanoRaptor tires, The best frame for the price, really light. | | Weaknesses: | Frame gets scratched fast (a shame, because the bike is a real eyecatcher) and the V-brakes (i hate the noise they make when they get wet or when sand and mud gets on the rims, but like the name says, its made for races, so its supposed to stay light) | | Similar Products Used: | Custom made | | Bike Setup: | Stock, but not for long, wanna get full XTR and some discbrakes. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike!! I love it! I dont think ill buy any other bike or frame for the next years. Probably just some better components. Cheap if you buy it now. I got it half price (new) because its last year's modell. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David James
a Weekend Warrior
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress (Boundary trail) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords Dundee | | Strengths: | This is a lovely bike, well built, fantastic groupset (why use XTR when LX does the job! front mech) | | Weaknesses: | Too beautiful to scratch | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Jushua, Gary Fisher sugar 02 | | Bike Setup: | stock, foolishly swapped avid mags for xt's, changed back, ears bled! | | Bottom Line: | Hi, I went to Halfords to get 2 new wheels, saw this and the rest as they say is ..
If you can still find one of these at Halfords get it. If not shell out a little more and enjoy the ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Watkins
a Cross Country Rider
from Newcastle
Date Reviewed: October 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Hamsterly Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords (Tem Vally) | | Strengths: | Looks great, light weight, strong and can handle nearly everything, | | Weaknesses: | dont be silly, hasnt got one cos its the daddy of bikes | | Bottom Line: | i bought the 2001 Zaskar Frame and built the rest myself, ive got full LX apart from my XT shifters, Marzocchi Z3 flylite forks, Shimano M575 16 spoke wheels, Panaracer tyres, and a titec seatpost stem and bars, overall a great looking bike which performs well for just over a £1000 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric Dabiker
a Weekend Warrior
from Kwajalein, MI
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Whats a trail? | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Online | | Strengths: | This bike is light, but strong enough to blaze any trail you come up against.
WTB Nanoraptor tires are a GODSEND.
Easton Superlight Elite Frame is lighter than my shox! | | Weaknesses: | The WTB COMP headset crapped out on me after about 4 months so I upgraded to Chris King and everything is perfect. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper(very disappointed) | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Syncros riser bar, chris king headset, selle italia ti rail seat, and avid ti brakes. | | Bottom Line: | This is, my opinion, one of the best hardtails on the market. With few part changes you can tackle anything from extreme XC to mild DH. HARDTAILS RULE! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Sharp
a Weekend Warrior
from Sarf London
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Norf Daarns | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords Bike Hat | | Strengths: | Stiffer than every frame I've ever tried...but still more comfortable. Fast as hell. Climbs like nothing else. Descends as good as my Kona Mokomoko FS bike. | | Weaknesses: | None...apart from that I wish it had come in the natural aluminium (silver) finish like the older Zaskars. That billet aluminium really gives me a rock. Woof. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona '96 Lava Dome. Kona '98 MokoMoko. GT '98 Zaskar (test rode only). GT 2001 Zaskar LE. | | Bike Setup: | Off road setup: Avid AR, Titec/Azonic/USE/Flite/XT stuff, Bombers (Rock Shox suck). On road I have Project 2 forks. Mmmm. | | Bottom Line: | I brought the frame only. I cycle to work in London every day, with Project 2 forks on the bike; its the fastest but most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. The 2001 Zaskar Race's and Team's are made of Easton tubing which simply absorbs the small bumps better than other tubes. Its a better ride than previous Zaskars; these were stiff as f**k, and harsh as f**k too. It's even better than the old Zaskar LEs' too; the geometry of the Race/Team (2001 models) is more compliant as the top-tube is more angled. What I found was...when using this frame with rigid forks (also goes for any frame designed for an 80/100mm travel sus fork); rigid forks are much shorter than modern sus. forks. I got round this problem by splitting a 10mm headset spacer with a hacksaw, and putting it on the fork steerer-tube UNDER the frame's headtube (i.e. under the bottom part of the headset) to raise the frame to the correct height (and angle). Otherwise, the steering was be twitchy. I'm not sure if this is technically safe, but it works fine for me...anyway, see a bike mechanic first. I currently use Kona P2's, which are light and stiff.
Off-road I've got Bomber forks on it, and I can go just as fast on the downhills as my FS bike. So, I'm selling the FS bike. The Zaskar is an awesome climber too. I can ride longer on it than anything, and go faster than I ever have. I would recommend that you buy one...but I won't... because I WANT ANOTHER ONE!!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
G Man
a Cross Country Rider
from Tucson, Az ,USA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | My High School | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | Now now, that would be telling | | Strengths: | Holly God! Everything on this bike is top notch! The frame won’t bend under pressure or hard drops, climbs great, descends great, and even if you buy a big frame...(I’m 6’ 1” and I have a 20 inch frame) ...you can still hit huge jumps and drops with your downhill homies.
| | Weaknesses: | Are you serious? There are NO weaknesses on this bike. nope, sorry, this bike owns you all!
| | Similar Products Used: | Yeah right...NOTHING! | | Bike Setup: | Just about everything is the same as when I got it, except I got rid of those Time pedals and put some beastly Shimano M646 pedals on my Stallion | | Bottom Line: | The advice i have is this, you haven’t experienced true mountain biking until youve riddin this bike. My advice is if your not too sure what ya want to ride, like XC, Slalom, or dirt jumping, maybe buy one size less and just hammer the seat down when ya wanna jam! Basically, everone should buy this bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex J Collins
a Weekend Warrior
from Bristol, England
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Forest of Dean | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Merlin Cycles | | Strengths: | Its amazinglt light, but at the same time strong. The welding and paint work are all good quality and the geometry is very versatile, with cross country, trials, dual all open to you its no suprise the Zaskar is super popular. | | Weaknesses: | There are no instant weaknesses with a Zaskar, if you cant afford one wait till the end of the season and they'll
drop like everything else | | Similar Products Used: | Zaskar LE 1996, Zaskar 1998, Zaskar 2000. Zaskar Race 2001. | | Bike Setup: | Currently building the Race but it has Z1mcrs at the miniute. | | Bottom Line: | Versatile is a great word for this bike. Ive ridden them since I was about 14 and I cant fault them at all. I ve tried pretty much every size. I did find the 2000 12.5" a little too small although I used it for dual and trials. My new Zaskar race with be a 14" dual/freeride/crosscountry/trials/downhill bike because I can. The looks never fail to impress my mates and it is incredibly quick of the mark.
As this isnt a full susser downhill isnt easy in comparisson to say a Super 8. But you cant have everything. But what you do get is a bike that can handle very technical downhill with some long travel forks. The little details a pleasing the swoop of the disk mounts down to the dropout look great. The triple triangle is faultless also and the geometry is great if you find the frame for you and you know what you want to do. Bottom lin being if you want to race down a hill buy a Super 8 but for anything else get Zaskar. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | bump track | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | pump n' pedals | | Strengths: | I only bought it as a frame set to up grade my '00 model zaskar. The race frameset is much lighter in comparison. Also the frame is very stiff, adding to sprint capability! | | Weaknesses: | paint tends to scratch easy, but that is probably the way I treat it! | | Similar Products Used: | have owned a '00 zaskar, a '98 zaskar LE, '95 zaskar LE. | | Bike Setup: | crossmax wheels, xtr/xt component mix, rockshox sid SL forks, thompson post and stem, easton bars, white industries cnc cranks with raceface rings and michelin wildgripper XLs and hutchinson python tyres. | | Bottom Line: | if it is xc racing that turns u on, go for a zaskar.
if it is slalom, mtx, trail a bit of gravity, just buy a smaller frame and buy 4" travel forks!!!
these things rock
I reckon zaskar riders are most loyal to the name, they always keep coming back!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan Stout
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Sherwood Pines,UK | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords,UK | | Strengths: | Frame,Very Light | | Weaknesses: | none of yet | | Similar Products Used: | Trek VRX 300 (99 model) | | Bike Setup: | Use Carbon post,Easton Carbon bars,Selle Flite ti Saddle,Xt rear and front,Lx shifters,Icon stem,FSA UF head set,Avid brakes,Sid XC front forks (red),Hope hubs on Mavic 517's,Fire XC kelvar Tyres,Icon Chainset, | | Bottom Line: | I bought this frame for £150 sterling pounds from Halfords.I've built it up for the purpose of going to work on it every day,The bike is very light, arounds 23.5 lbs in weight,handles great and easy to ride.For the price of the frame you just can't knock it, there dropping the pprices for the bike now down to £999 sterling, so I got a bargin i think :) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
max knop
a Weekend Warrior
from boulder
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | any worth riding | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | light frame, smooth performance, fits MY riding position well
| | Weaknesses: | lx components, sid xc front shock is low quality compared to what is out there for the price. | | Bottom Line: | test this bike ou before you buy it, if it dosn't meet all your likings, probably not worth it. other wise, great all around bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Engdahl
a Cross Country Rider
from Saint Cloud MN USA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | a few of them | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Out N About Gear | | Strengths: | very good frame and components for the money, Weight, my bike weighs around 25 pounds. Awesome Easton frame. | | Weaknesses: | None that i can think of besides thatI cannot ride it | | Bike Setup: | michelin wildgripper s's, sid xc xtr rear, lx front, lx hollowtech cranks , avid single digit mag brakes | | Bottom Line: | The bottome line is this, i bought this bike in may and rode it for 2 weeks.the bike is in mint condition I than had knee surgery in june and more than likely wont be riding for a very long time and im getting sick of looking at it in my basement. If there is someone out there who is interested in purchasing this bike from me, for around $1200-$1300, please email me at MNclimber@astound.net if are interested but that is too high, write an email anyway, price is fairly negotiable. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray Mondo
a Weekend Warrior
from Peterborough - U.K. England
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Still looing | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | That would be telling!!! | | Strengths: | Good mixture of components,light and tough. Nice paint job!! | | Weaknesses: | Lack of disc brakes-but the V's do a good job considering a disc is expensive if you want it that light! | | Similar Products Used: | This the first GT I have had considering I was into Diamond Backs, And the zasker is more fun to ride!! | | Bike Setup: | I have changed the front bars for some club roost's! much more comfortable!! Binned the reflectors!! Love the Atacs! | | Bottom Line: | Great bike, I have been out of the scene for a while and with the bike like this I must have been mad! Good mixture of components, lightweight, strong and fast.
Great for beginers and not bad for fun racers. Atacs are great for speed but be careful when city riding when leggy blondes distract you as you ride to a set of lights and you fall over!!
Setup can be upgraded which is good as the frame is great!
Nice paint work!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bravados
a Cross Country Rider
from Brunei
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Strengths: | Though a step down from Zaskar Team, it is the Ferrari of all MTB and I was fascinated when I first looked at it. Has red colour same as Ferrari and it is designed for XC and has though components. Everywhere I go with the bike, people tend to say its name - ZASKAR WOW!!!. | | Weaknesses: | It's pricier and not that affordable. Though its not rare here, but not many people buy it. Too expensive makes you think not to use it too excessively. | | Similar Products Used: | GT prototype. | | Bike Setup: | Some XTR, XT and LX components. Still stock Avid brakes and SID XC shocks. Upgrading to SID Race, Mavic CrossMax and XTR components. | | Bottom Line: | The best so far, and I wouldn't sell it off for any other bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ian Thompson
a Weekend Warrior
from Newcastle upon Tyne
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikehut | | Strengths: | Excellent build quality, it is an awesome looking machine. Exceptionally smooth ride too. | | Weaknesses: | Cannot find any! | | Similar Products Used: | GT Avalanche 1.0, the Zaskar is more expensive but like they say, you get what you pay for, it's worth the extra. | | Bike Setup: | All XT parts, I have the XL frame and I tell you cars get out of my way, still weighs less than 25lbs. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the best I have ever owned, it is thoroughly recommended. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cole Anderson
a Racer
from Kersey, Pa USA
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | devil's den | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Mike's bike Shop | | Strengths: | The zaskar's frame is that of strength, speed, and indurance. This bike comes race ready for the novice racer and pros. This bike has top quality componits, with everything from xtr deraluers to avid brakes. | | Weaknesses: | There are none!!! | | Similar Products Used: | schwinn homegrown | | Bottom Line: | This bike is ready for more riders. With a price like that it is a wonder that there isn't many people riding them. Go to you local gt dealer, and see this bike. It could end up being you favorite. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 1699.99
