Zaskar Re-Issue made in Taiwan????

B@rtman · Mar 20, 2008

dirtstar59 said:
its a consumers perogative to get satisfaction for thier money....I would also say that its also not a deal breaker....I am sure if someone looked at every frame made by any mfg that they could likely find some defect to warrant a return....

obviously this guy is pretty happy with his

The question coming to my mind is, for how long? I mean, if the head tube was not proper milled, it might break - no one knows. The probability for a well milled head tube is far lower. And for this price you can expect a nearly perfect bike, even when hand made.

This is not the quality GT got famous for.

my 2 cents

EJ · Mar 20, 2008

gm1230126 said:
I thought the frame comes with three sets of decals.....to me that means none are on it out of the box and you choose and put on the color you want...isn't that correct.

Looks like it comes with decals on it in addition to the 3 sets in the box.

I just noticed on the boxes that the large weighs less than the medium, but a net weight of 7Kgs = 15.4 lbs!

gt jorgito · Mar 21, 2008

That's the weight for the wole box and frame dude...that could just be difference in the packaging.

gm1230126 · Mar 21, 2008

oldman said:
hi folks,

a few of us over here in Germany received their 20th Anniversary Zaskar frames with a funny sticker on the box, it says "Made in Taiwan".
I have contacted GT Germany, but they play, as usual, hide and seek, no reply... zero reaction
.
Must say, I don't like this at all. Anyone else having such stickers on the box? Just recalling that the frame has been aggressively marketed as the real thing, made in the US same as the original Zaskar back then....

Any info is welcome
Nick

Have a good friend that says they are ALL in fact made in the USA but said quote "No one in the USA could supply the finish that we received from Asia."

dirtstar59 · Mar 22, 2008

Can you Say STS

B@rtman said:
The question coming to my mind is, for how long? I mean, if the head tube was not proper milled, it might break - no one knows. The probability for a well milled head tube is far lower. And for this price you can expect a nearly perfect bike, even when hand made.

This is not the quality GT got famous for.

my 2 cents

Your memory of the GT history is either short, or missing some key episodes

....I think anyone who bought a first generation STS in either Germany or Switzerland in the late 90's would tend to disagree with your statement GT was famous for quality.:madmax: Also anyone who owned an LTS that seemed to produce that mind bending squeak would also disagree......Like all human endeavors, especially mfg, there will be issues. This is not a defense of improper construction or of unsafe product, which I do not think is in evidence here, but more so an admonition against the current state of mind that seems to prevail nowadays that everything just seemingly comes out perfect with little or no effort on the part of all those involved...I think that is a dangerous naivete that makes for a disconnect between humans and the products of their efforts and is a symptom of a chronic soul eating brand of cyncism

gm1230126 · Mar 22, 2008

dirtstar59 said:
Your memory of the GT history is either short, or missing some key episodes ....I think anyone who bought a first generation STS in either Germany or Switzerland in the late 90's would tend to disagree with your statement GT was famous for quality.:madmax: Also anyone who owned an LTS that seemed to produce that mind bending squeak would also disagree......Like all human endeavors, especially mfg, there will be issues. This is not a defense of improper construction or of unsafe product, which I do not think is in evidence here, but more so an admonition against the current state of mind that seems to prevail nowadays that everything just seemingly comes out perfect with little or no effort on the part of all those involved...I think that is a dangerous naivete that makes for a disconnect between humans and the products of their efforts and is a symptom of a chronic soul eating brand of cyncism

Amen to that.....now would somebody start a new thread on all the great things about these re-issue frames. Let's see some more pics of them built up and hear some ride reports.

Lobo · Mar 23, 2008

gm1230126 said:
"No one in the USA could supply the finish that we received from Asia."

Do they have no quality-check in the states before they distribute this frame? Is that the new GT-policy? It seems that GT dissociates from their own work and from their flagship - the Zaskar.

Here some pics oldman´s frame. It seems to be also bad "finished in Asia". :bluefrown:
@gm1230126: The frames were ballburnished in Taiwan. So they are - from my point of view - not real 100% frames "made in USA", sorry.

Jerk_Chicken · Mar 23, 2008

SAPA makes some of the highest quality frames in the industry, but that doesn't mean that if a budget is imposed corners won't be cut.

gm1230126 · Mar 23, 2008

Lobo said:
Do they have no quality-check in the states before they distribute this frame? Is that the new GT-policy? It seems that GT dissociates from their own work and from their flagship - the Zaskar. Here some pics oldman´s frame. It seems to be also bad "finished in Asia". :bluefrown:
@gm1230126: The frames were ballburnished in Taiwan. So they are - from my point of view - not real 100% frames "made in USA", sorry.

I have a hard time reading and beleiveing you Lobo when your original post was:
(Quote)
Do they have no quality-check in the states before they distribute this frame? Is that the new GT-policy? It seems that GT dissociates from their own work and from their flagship - the Zaskar.

Here some pics oldman´s frame. It seems to be also bad "finished in Asia". The frame weight is more than 1700 Gramms, but officially it should be 1100 Gramms - embarrassing for GT. :bluefrown

Quote)

1100 grams????? Where was the official 1100 grams figure ever posted? What, now you also think they are suppose to be made of some special space age material too? 1100 grams is 2.42 lbs not sure that there's ever been a mountain bike frame made that's that light. That doesn't exactly look like the highest quality caliper that you are using in that picture either. Remember also that you have a square edged caliper and your putting it on a curved surface so you need to be very careful when measuring to make sure what you're comparing is fair.

Lobo · Mar 23, 2008

@gm1230126: I changed my statement!!! - So please read my changed post (from yesterday!). 1100 Gramms wasn´t officially posted by GT (only a Bikeshop did). But nevertheless quality of the frame is too bad for a frame that costs 1300 Euros!

oldman · Mar 23, 2008

Lobo said:
@gm1230126: I changed my statement!!! - So please read my changed post (from yesterday!). 1100 Gramms wasn´t officially posted by GT (only a Bikeshop did). But nevertheless quality of the frame is too bad for a frame that costs 1300 Euros!

no, this information has also been given to visitors of the bike show in Germany by employees of GT Germany . As well, more than one bike shop communicated this weight.

gm1230126 · Mar 24, 2008

oldman said:
no, this information has also been given to visitors of the bike show in Germany by employees of GT Germany . As well, more than one bike shop communicated this weight.

What other company in the industry has ever produced an 1100g aluminum frame?.....none. I never would have even believed that if I had been told 1100g's. I'll echo what others have posted....... that SAPA produces to spec what is wanted by the company that they build for and they build for lots of bike companies. I'm hoping that the frame you got is one of very few that have the problems you feel yours has. When I receive mine I will check it also. Although I'm planning on storing mine in an attic for 20 yrs right next to an original 91 Zaskar frame. Don't think I'll be building it up. If I do someday it won't be with discs. I've already talked to a machinist about producing the correct diameter clamp on mounts to run canti's or v-brakes on the rear if I do decide to build it up.

oldman · Mar 24, 2008

gm1230126 said:
What other company in the industry has ever produced an 1100g aluminum frame?.....none. I never would have even believed that if I had been told 1100g's. I'll echo what others have posted....... that SAPA produces to spec what is wanted by the company that they build for and they build for lots of bike companies. I'm hoping that the frame you got is one of very few that have the problems you feel yours has. When I receive mine I will check it also. Although I'm planning on storing mine in an attic for 20 yrs right next to an original 91 Zaskar frame. Don't think I'll be building it up. If I do someday it won't be with discs. I've already talked to a machinist about producing the correct diameter clamp on mounts to run canti's or v-brakes on the rear if I do decide to build it up.

well, I had a pretty strong aluminum frame made by Kinesis, it had 1150g at size M.... technically no problem.

re y frame: it is certainly not alone, there is a lot of them out there with same defects.
My plan was to build it and ride it. I found the idea of an up to date Zaskar with disc brakes and 100mm forks a cool thing.
I own 2 Xizangs, 2 Psyclones, a Litespeed Niota Ti, a 1993 Scott Pro Racing, a Morati titanium roadie and a few others- all of them get adequate treatment.
If any of my bikes doesn't make a minimum annual mileage, it ends up on ebay...

Just to avoid misunderstandings: I owned at least 8 GTs, none of them less than an upscale steel model, have spent lots on my GTs.
So, this is not a GT bashing thread - am simply upset about the poor quality.

ilostmypassword · Mar 24, 2008

oldman said:
So, this is not a GT bashing thread - am simply upset about the poor quality.

Sometimes things are not perfect. Shame about the quality- can't you return it and replace it for a better job?

B@rtman · Mar 24, 2008

dirtstar59 said:
Your memory of the GT history is either short, or missing some key episodes ....I think anyone who bought a first generation STS in either Germany or Switzerland in the late 90's would tend to disagree with your statement GT was famous for quality.:madmax: Also anyone who owned an LTS that seemed to produce that mind bending squeak would also disagree......Like all human endeavors, especially mfg, there will be issues. This is not a defense of improper construction or of unsafe product, which I do not think is in evidence here, but more so an admonition against the current state of mind that seems to prevail nowadays that everything just seemingly comes out perfect with little or no effort on the part of all those involved...I think that is a dangerous naivete that makes for a disconnect between humans and the products of their efforts and is a symptom of a chronic soul eating brand of cyncism

Sorry, but if I pay € 1.300,- (nearly $ 2.000,-) for an alloy frame, the frame has to be perfect. I don't pay for a Bentley to get Volkswagen finish.

And GT to my knowledge got famous for its unbreakable Zaskars. And a mechanic who worked for a "pro team" said, that it is only a question of time until this poor milled head tube will break...

kr

oldman · Mar 25, 2008

ilostmypassword said:
Sometimes things are not perfect. Shame about the quality- can't you return it and replace it for a better job?

am currently handling the issue with my bike dealer, let#s see

Jkuo · Mar 26, 2008

The Zaskars were very tough. My brother still has a '95 Zaskar LE frame. Still in great condition, he only stopped riding it when he got a Spark.

I didn't have as much luck with my GT's. I had a RTS that broke on the downtube. They replaced it with an LTS that ended up breaking at the shock mount. They replaced that one too and I eventually sold it to someone in Germany. They were great bikes, but weren't exactly known for "legendary" quality. The warranty policy was great, but as bikes they weren't too special.

B@rtman said:
Sorry, but if I pay € 1.300,- (nearly $ 2.000,-) for an alloy frame, the frame has to be perfect. I don't pay for a Bentley to get Volkswagen finish.

And GT to my knowledge got famous for its unbreakable Zaskars. And a mechanic who worked for a "pro team" said, that it is only a question of time until this poor milled head tube will break...

kr

Zaskar Re-Issue made in Taiwan????

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