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Submitted by
justin manning
a Cross Country Rider
from Porterville CA USA
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$270.00 | | Purchased At: | shortmans cyclery | | Strengths: | I've owned everything from a Trek Y22, to a Giant iguana and I continue to be impressed with this "cheap" bike. Some people bag on the drive train, but mine has four digits worth of miles on it and it still works great. Its called "maintenance" | | Weaknesses: | Maybe a little heavy, but I paid $270.00 for the bike in 2000. What do you expect at that price. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing compared in those days at that price range. | | Bike Setup: | stock except grips,peddles,and parts that have worn out. | | Bottom Line: | Don't listen to the weeney heads that complain about this bike, it was and is a great bike for what was paid for it. Those guys don't realize this bike wasn't made for big drops and serious down hilling. These guys are the kind that probably got the bike for free from there mamas and don't appreciate anything. If you come across one and don't have much money, it is a sure bet. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
charlie d
a Weekend Warrior
from ct
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | backyard | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | This thing is a tank on wheels never broke anything on it and ive had it for more than 5 years | | Weaknesses: | you cant really compare it to a real bike | | Similar Products Used: | jamis | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | If you want a rigid that is bullet proof this is your bike if you dont, dont even conisider it. I like it when you put the seat down and set up a trials course its a ball. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Racer
from Medford, Oregon, USA
Date Reviewed: June 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | ANYTHING!!! | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$250.00 | | Purchased At: | Sim's cycle and fitness | | Strengths: | frame makes a very nice counter weight to hold up my new bike (pulley system) | | Weaknesses: | let's see here...how to put it nicely...EVERYTHING, the shifters had to perform their tatoo of rattling before even considering shifting, the wheels decided to go out of true every 3 days (Thank dog for Park truing stands), the frame is so hefty that my new frame with wheels and cranks (including BB) is still lighter, grip shifters sucked royally SRAM MRX (Although i am a huge fan of SRAM's 9.0 shifter's and X.0 Derailleur...*drool*)pulled a fishtail off of a curb, landed at a slight angle...tacoed the rear wheel...hung up the bike | | Similar Products Used: | I wouldn't even dare to compare my bike to this horrible piece of scrap metal | | Bike Setup: | Panaracer duster F/r tires, shimano acera 21 speed rapid fire shifters, RST 281 shocks. | | Bottom Line: | Save your money!!! Save up another $150 and buy a nice trek 4500, or somehting else, but please do not buy this thing. considering GT sold out, the warranty is void (according to the LBS) oh, and i learned that when the LBS says "one year unlimited service" they mean one year of minor brake and derailleur adjusments, when they have time. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick Fisher
a Weekend Warrior
from Chillicothe, OH
Date Reviewed: March 10, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Tar Hollow-any | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$175.00 | | Purchased At: | www.JustNorthofDaytona.com | | Strengths: | Strong steel frame, cheap, upgradeable, looks | | Weaknesses: | Grip shifters, only a 7-speed, tires not for serious trail riding, weak wheels | | Similar Products Used: | none-first bike | | Bike Setup: | 00 Rock Shox Judy XC, 8-speed rear end and rapid fire shifters, Michelin Wildgripper Hot S | | Bottom Line: | I bought this bike to help me train for dirtbike racing. I wanted a cheap bike so if I never rode it I wasn't out a ton of $. After riding on paved bike trails(booring), I started to upgrade. Everything I added to the bike just made it better. Frame rides excelent, shifts great even with low end components, and it was a good value. I think after all of the upgrades listed above, I had less than $500 in the whole bike. After I learned that GT went belly up, I sold it to a friend to use as a college commuter bike.
Overall, buy the bike or one of the GT's along the same line if you are interested in getting into mtbs but don't want to spend the major $. You will want to eventually upgrade, but that is half of the fun. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen Hulley
a Weekend Warrior
from Derby, UK
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | None that you've heard of | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$260.00 | | Purchased At: | I forget | | Strengths: | Not bad quick releases.
Lasted well. | | Weaknesses: | Weighs more than my car
Sank when we threw it in a river (really)
No end of problems
So bad I actually feel sorry for it now | | Similar Products Used: | Raleigh Scorpion | | Bike Setup: | My brother put new pedals on but they bent when he put the bike down so I can't recommend them either. | | Bottom Line: | Get a Raleigh. You will get a much more reliable bike for your money.
By the way, I gave it to my brother, I'm now riding a Kona Hahanna which comes highly recommended. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Watts
a
from London, England
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | privately | | Strengths: | I find that the palomar has very crisp steering when compared to my last bike (schwinn sierra). The frame is also extremely stiff and quite comfortable on long rides (I only use the standard saddle). Despite the cheap components, it needs very little servicing. I work as a london courier and put in between 250-300 miles per week, even so a quick spray of wd-40 and brake alignment leaves it feeling tight. | | Weaknesses: | The components will go in time. | | Similar Products Used: | Raleigh manta ray, saracen vex. | | Bike Setup: | standard (rigid fork) | | Bottom Line: | Performs very reasonably for the price. If you need a cheap bike to ride into the ground this is it. I usually buy a bike and ride till its dead, but the frame warrents componentry upgrades. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matrix
a Cross Country Rider
from Tennessee
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Tsali | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | Solid frame | | Weaknesses: | Frame is 100% Hi-tensile steel= HEAVY & rusting a little.it's a 1993 {coulda been left outside} | | Similar Products Used: | Azonic DS-1 --Bump apBlaster --Mongoose Zero-G---Litespeed Unicoi -- | | Bike Setup: | Thompson Layback post...Rhino-lite front ---Pepperoni aluminum rigid fork---XT rear derailer{tensioner}--Truvativ DH 40 tooth ring with bashguard.....singlespeed setup... | | Bottom Line: | Got this frame & it's not bad for a 100% hi-tensile Steel..I think it will be a smoother ride than my Aluminum slalom frame but nothing else!...Maybe it'll rust to death? Oh well..aluminum dents easy.but doesn't rust !...alway's a tradeoff ! ...GT is a great company, so i'll have faith in the frame !..it's still heavy | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Henkelman
a Weekend Warrior
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$260.00 | | Purchased At: | Alter Ego Sports (great store good service) | | Strengths: | Cheap, GT name, Savage paint job, rapid fire did i mention cheap? | | Weaknesses: | little heavy, gears not quite smooth yet (really minor problem) | | Similar Products Used: | Nakamura Profile, some friends bikes in similar $ range | | Bike Setup: | RST Onmi CL front shocks, Rapid fire shifters | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the price (i can't afford a bike over $400) nice paint job, good name, highly recommend it for a first bike, Alter Ego sports great store to (yes this is a shameless plug) got one year free sevice. Buy this bike if you aren't sure what bikes are good and your just starting out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chunky
a Weekend Warrior
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords | | Strengths: | Cheap, strong, cheap, comfy seat, cheap. | | Weaknesses: | Cost cutting shows in wheels, fasteners and especially pedals. | | Similar Products Used: | Various Raleighs and Apollos, GT Agressor. | | Bike Setup: | Standard 2001-spec (no front suspension, no damn gripshifts) plus crud catchers. | | Bottom Line: | While I appreciate the Palomar isn't going to win any awards for lightness or technical trickery in the mechanical department, it is a bloody solid piece of work. I am still amazed by the things' ability to soak up bumps, far better than the cheaper sprung bikes considering the tradeoff is excellent control.
I cycle about 19 miles a day to and from work over mostly pot-holed tarmac and appreciate the Palomar's forgiving seat. Even though I've not done any serious cycling for years I jumped straight into doing ~100 miles a week without any saddle soreness!
As other have commented, the brakes and shifting work well only if constantly adjusted. They are great when new but quickly go off the boil. Weekly adjustment keeps them working well enough though. I have only had the chain come off twice, and one of those times was on the way back from the shop!
The price the Paolmar commands is evident in remarkably few of the components used, the capscrews that hold the bars on have started to rust already and as someone else mentioned, I oil the thing daily for fear of rust setting in.
Other than these relatively minor points, I am very happy with my GT. I originally went for it over some of the other bikes I tried because of the GT name, preferring to have a low-end bike by a good manufacturer over a top of the range model from a more budget maker. Having recently tried a mate's Apollo, I find this decision to be totally vindicated. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan George
a Weekend Warrior
from Yigo, Guam, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$160.00 | | Purchased At: | Hornet | | Strengths: | Decent frame, price, great shifting. i ride almost everyday and the bike is still almost new, except for some scratches. | | Weaknesses: | I have to oil the parts almost every ride, in fear of parts rusting. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant-rock, giant-rincon, huffy-challenger(what a cheap bike)
| | Bike Setup: | stock, about to install front shocks. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the price and the gt name. overall for the biker that bikes for the fun of biking | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords | | Strengths: | What a frame, I use it on roads only (touring tyres from new) but I use it for about 4 or 5 miles a day, everyday. Solid build, lightning up and down changes and the breaks are as good as anything else in the price bracket. | | Weaknesses: | Rust, all the nuts rusted on the brakes and the chromoly brake assembly I had to strip completely and paint. The paintwork also needs regular cleaning to stay looking good (more to do with the colour really). Also the brakes, despite being good, are not great, and cannot bite quite hard enough on those semi-slick tyres. I actually hit a ped the other day, I know for a fact I could have stopped when the brakes were new, but they fade really quickly, possibly dangerous if you aren't a careful cyclist. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Timberline 2001, GT Outback 2000, Raleigh MAX Aluminium fs24. | | Bike Setup: | Semi-slick race spec tyres (continental), race spec hydraulic brakes front and rear, Custom handlebars and bar ends, Race spec shifters and brake handles. Rear "Whale-tail". | | Bottom Line: | Not a bike to be left standard, doing so is sacrilege to GT's mindblowing triple triangle frame. If everyone who bought a cheap department store full-suspension bike had one of these, the world would be a much nicer place (well, maybe not, but hey). Buy this is you intend to upgrade.modify gradually. The frame is amazing, really it is, a few mods really do this thing justice. A lot makes it a real ripsnorting tearaway machine. I haven't taken it off-road, that can wait till the summer and I buy a decent set of ATB tyres. Next mod? Light weight wheels and full on race tyres, speed rules! Get one, it's good as standard, but oh so much better specced up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pete Cihelka
a Weekend Warrior
from Calif.
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$219.00 | | Purchased At: | Lee's (dont' have no cust. service)Hollywood, Fl. | | Strengths: | None after 2 and a half months on the thing. | | Weaknesses: | Everything is broken | | Similar Products Used: | GT Outpost, ridden friends' $$$ bikes. But Ilike rigid. | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Have had it 2 and a half months now. Bottom bracket knocks like crazy, the chain won't stay on the damn thing. I clean it and adjust on my stand after every ride and it just keeps failing. Great grocery getter, but get off the pavement and you will be disappointed. GT customer service sucks too. Haven't heard a word from them after three phone calls and five e-mails. The LBS mechanics, Lee's in Hollywood, FL., just shrug their shoulders and say, "I dunno." when I bring the bike in. No more GT, now looking at Kona. Whatever happened to rigid rides? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Cihelka
a Weekend Warrior
from Californiaoriginally
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$219.00 | | Purchased At: | Lee's | | Bottom Line: | Down belw you'll see my initial review on the Palomar. I harp on the Acera set up for ghost shifting, skipping, etc. Turns out the shop didn't swap the cable housing when I opted for Rapidfire over the stock Sram gripshifts. I took it back, they hooked me up and now I'm passing full suspension rigs at Oleta State Park (if you're familiar with it). The drive train is clangy and the chain seems like it's continually on the verge of falling off, but the shifting is nice albeit not perfect. But again, the bike cost me $219.00 so how can I complain? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Cihelka
a Weekend Warrior
from California originally
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Too mant to mention here | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$219.00 | | Purchased At: | Lee's, Hollywood, Florida | | Strengths: | One word, RIGID! Excellent frame. Maxxis grip well on majority of surfaces. Very clean design. Al for $219 | | Weaknesses: | One word, ACERA! Didn't like SRAM grip shifts. O.K, a bit on the heavy side, but it cost $219. | | Similar Products Used: | 1988 (yeah, 88) Outpost. Have ridden friends $$$ bikes. Hardtail and full-suspension Kleins, Cannondales, etc. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. Had dealer trade out grip shiftd for Rapidfire. I admire you folks who can maintain control while riding technical stuff using grip shifts. | | Bottom Line: | Rigid, fantastic frame for the bucks. Great platform for quick acceleration and handling through technical terrain. Switching over to Rapidfire helped me get through the tougher stuff. Climbs well too and the stock Maxxis help with that aspect. Probably won't go with front suspension as I like a ride where you really have to think about the line you're riding. Pro Max brakes do a fine job for the money. As far as the cheap rims and pedals some people take issue with, look how much the thing cost. The only thing I'm not pleased with is the drive train. The Acera set up began ghost shifting, skipping and the chain married the front deraileur after approximately 10 minutes of riding.
It's another fine GT product otherwise. Had my Outpost for 12 years and abused it for 12 years in California, the DC area, Washinton state, British Columbia, Oregon and finally down here in stinky Miami. Aside for rims, tires and a seat a moving company destroyed, all was still stock. EVEN the chain was still stock when I moved here. Can't quite explain that. But the bike finally gave out after 8 months of riding Oleta and Quiet Waters Parks down here. I think it just hated Miami as much as I do and decided to retire. The whole point being, GT makes (I hope they still do) a durable, well designed product at a price even a father of two-year-old twins can afford. I give four flamin' whatevers overall. (Acera stuff really bugs me) and five of the funny looking things for value. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Alvechurch, Worcestershire,England
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | This bike has a very strong frame and excellent gear shifting capabilities. | | Weaknesses: | Its a little on the heavy side but the strength and stiffness make up for this. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first mountain bike. | | Bike Setup: | Factory settings. | | Bottom Line: | This is an excellent bike for the begginer or the occasional cyclist. I have ridden the thing of huge droppoffs and it hasn't broken, this just goes to show that you don't have to pay a fortune to own a strong off road bike.
I would strongly recommend it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Weekend Warrior
from London, England
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Halfords | | Strengths: | Extremely solid feeling frame and brakes that could stop a speeding train | | Weaknesses: | Perhaps a tiny bit on the heavy side, but so is a dumb bell. | | Similar Products Used: | none, this is my first decent bike. | | Bike Setup: | Factory standard. | | Bottom Line: | Such a nice smooth ride, even without the optional front suspension, the quickfire gear selector is soooo fast and smooth to boot. My own bike hasnt arrived yet, I have only tested the store's one but I was impressed immediately. Untouchable in this price bracket. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Lima
a Cross Country Rider
from Glen Morris, Ontario Canada
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ? | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Good Components for the buck
Little road shock
Good brakes and shifters | | Weaknesses: | heavy rear end | | Bike Setup: | 99' Rock Shox Judy 100
FSA Orbit DL head set Titec Big Al stem | | Bottom Line: | Kick ass deal!!!
Great bike for some one how wants to get in to mountain biking.
Great components!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Vince
a Weekend Warrior
from Oak Creek WI, US of A
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | i just bought this thing for it's sweet frame. The frame is cro-ma and is damn strong! I decked this bike out w/ all awsome stuff. very good bike for the money | | Weaknesses: | a little heavy. | | Similar Products Used: | none on how it's set up now. | | Bike Setup: | Rock Shox jett T2, bontrager RE-1 clipless, LX cranset w/kooka crankase ooter ring, STX-RC rr. derailer, lower stem, post moderne shock post, koobi SI saddle, avid arch rival 40 brakes, LX shifters, Mavic 221 Fr. rim w/GT hub, Velocity Deep V rr. rim w/ stainless steel spokes and LX hub, OnZa Rip rr. tire, WTB primal raptor Fr., Serfas Lock on grips, Mr. tuffy liners, presta valved kenda's, Specialized team wireless computer, All new quick releases.
Everything but the rr. spokes is black!! real sick looking! | | Bottom Line: | this bike is so awsome i even named all my email address's (3) after my palomar! I really think more people should put their money into a bike like this beast. If you guys want any more info on my bike or anything else mail me! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Strome
a Cross Country Rider
from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The Floodway | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | It's got a good solid frame and drive trian that has kept up through whatever I've put it through. I aswell like the finish on it. Upgradeable. Triple Triangle. Made by GT. | | Weaknesses: | It's got a smooth ride but I think it's time for a front suspension upgrade. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona, Raleigh, Cannondale | | Bike Setup: | Stock, future upgrades: Front suspnsion, possibly new derailleurs? | | Bottom Line: | I would recommend this bike for a person who has a low bike budget or doesn't want to spend $1000.00+ on a dual suspension bike, and wouldn't mind a few upgrades. I like it a lot. And it's made by GT!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Young
a Weekend Warrior
from Ridgewood, NJ
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Solid construction, nice paint job, good for those who don't have a lot of money to throw around. Can't find a better bike under $300. | | Weaknesses: | a tad heavy, slow to shift at times (a minor problem) | | Bottom Line: | Great value, solid sub-$300 mountain bike from an incredible company (GT). Great for poor college students who want a good mountain bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Edward Mifflin
a Weekend Warrior
from Stafford, Staffs, England
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Hanchurch | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Excellent looks, riser bars are good, gt trade mark-always a good thing, good price, even better with suspension | | Weaknesses: | pedals not great, not aluminium frame | | Similar Products Used: | Gt arrrete, trek, cannondale | | Bike Setup: | Front suspension, bar ends, new stem | | Bottom Line: | Brilliant bike, all round fantastic, make sure you have suspension tho | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam
a Racer
from Wpg, MB
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Floodway | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Basically overall around high quality and performace, nice framwork, and pricing. | | Weaknesses: | I can't find any yet. | | Bike Setup: | All good. | | Bottom Line: | Overall great 2000 product from GT once more. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dragon fly
a Weekend Warrior
from vancouver
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | various | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | The Palomar is a great bike for purposes such as to and from work as well as weekend light trails. The parts for most part are quite decent for a low end type bike. | | Weaknesses: | None yet so far. | | Similar Products Used: | 1st bike ever since my bmx. | | Bottom Line: | Reliabe bike for simple purposes with a great name brand behind it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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