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Submitted by
bordercollie1
a Cross Country Rider
from Sussex, England
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | South Downs Way | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Wiggle | | Strengths: | This is a GENUINE hand made in the USA mountain bike (By Sapa in Portland where Turner bikes are made) and it reminds me of mountain biking as a kid in the early '90s. I have number 103 of 500 made. MBUK used one to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Hans Rey has one. All this makes me try a bit harder to beat my mates on uphills. | | Weaknesses: | The canti bosses were an afterthought. None of the marketing images show canti bosses and they look quite messy on the otherwise neat seat stays. I guess that GT wanted this to appeal to fans of the original who would want to run old brakes. The tyre clearance at the back (mud clearance in the UK) is quite poor (like the original) so you can's run fat rear tyres. GT have used an internal headset when this frame is crying out for a Chris King Aheadset. I read complaints from other Zaskar re-issue customers that there were quick release marks on the rear drop outs but this is just the clamp from the frame jig in the factory. Remember guys, this frame is hand made! | | Similar Products Used: | Stumpjumper M4 (91 Hardrock,'92 GT Karakoram and '93 Kona Cinder Cone 'in the day') | | Bike Setup: | XC Race bike; Zaskar Frame Large, Magura Durin Race 100R forks, XT/717 wheels with Stans, Thomson post and 120mm stem, Easton EA70 Monkey bars, ODI Ruffian grips, original Flite saddle. Different tyres every week at the moment. | | Bottom Line: | I paid £420 for this in the UK and I think that is pretty good value for a performance frame. If you value the 'hand made in the USA' badge and like the fact that it was a limited edition run of 500 frames then I think it would still get 5 chillis for value with the original £800 price tag
Performance wise this is a typical aluminium bike. It is light and stiff. It is the same weight as my old Stumpjumper M4 frame but it feels more responsive when sprinting and climbing (could be my imagination). Frame weight was 1700g which is about right for a burly aluminium frame.
If you see a tall guy on one of these on the South Downs Way or at a race in Hampshire / Sussex then give me a 'cool bike mate!'
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nick
a
from Prague, Czech Republic
Date Reviewed: March 23, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | many... | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | nice looking frame with fat weldings, comes in "gift box" with certificate signed by the welder and 3 sets of decals | | Weaknesses: | the frame arrived scratched, decals applied unevenly, there are wheel/skewer marks on the rear!
the headtube milling is a desaster, not centered at all, the bearings would never run smooth.
the originally communicated weigth of roundabout 1100-1200g is not true: my frame has got 1740g, size M | | Similar Products Used: | GT Psyclone 2x
GT Zaskar 3x
GT Xizang 2x
Scott Pro Racing
and more | | Bike Setup: | none, am returning the frame to the dealer | | Bottom Line: | GT made a big deal of the Zaskar 20th Anniversary re-Issue Frame, calling this thing exclusive and cult.
What you get is a poorly finished and certainly overpriced, average frame.
For GT fans like I am, this is a huge disappointment. Stay away from this product, rather buy a regular Zaskar frame. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
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