[magnum703]

Hey,

I want to get more opinions on how good the GT i-drive really is. Started a thread which touched on the topic but I need to know more. Please post your experiences with i-drive because the 2011 GT force is in my head.... ha ha

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=7792978&posted=1#post7792978

 

[MitchD]

The Idrive people for the most part are very sold on the concept. I got rid of my 2001 idrive a few years back and last year bought a sensor with idrive.I wonder now why I suffered without an idrive needlesly.On my bike I dont use the propedal setting on the shock because with idrive you have very little pedal bob.I decided on the sensor vs force because I only wanted 120mm travel (giggle only 120mm )plus for me standover height would be increased by an inch

 

[Evan55]

it is very good. works well on my DH bike but I do still prefer maestro.

i do need to put some more time on a iDrive AM or trail bike though to better learn its ins and outs.

 

[bigbeck]

The Idrive people for the most part are very sold on the concept. I got rid of my 2001 idrive a few years back and last year bought a sensor with idrive.I wonder now why I suffered without an idrive needlesly.On my bike I dont use the propedal setting on the shock because with idrive you have very little pedal bob.I decided on the sensor vs force because I only wanted 120mm travel (giggle only 120mm )plus for me standover height would be increased by an inch

The I-drive was one of the best designs ever. When Pro pedal came out,it allowed most of the other suspensions to perform as well, or even better than I-drive. Some designs bobbed real bad,like the Trek Fuel. Back then, most non I-drive owners fixed the bob by pumping their shocks up real high which made the rear suspension useless.

Thankfully,today, most all rear suspensions work well so the I drive doesn't really stand out like it used to.

 

[Fix the Spade]

Please post your experiences with i-drive because the 2011 GT force is in my head.... ha ha

I-Drive is a very good system.

It's basically a very high single pivot. Normally you would need an idler to stop chain growth interfering with the suspension action. GT gets around that by sitting the bb out on that link so it can swing backwards with the swing arm.

Mongoose Freedrive is basically the same principle.

It works, my experience of it is that pedalling feels a bit funny compared to a normal single pivot. Sort of like pedalling into a generator that then goes to the wheel. It makes for a very forgiving bike, the I-Drive I had carried speed very well over bigger bumps, even when pedalling.

One thing to watch though, the link between the bb and the frame is vulnerable to rock damage, that's what killed mine in the end.

 

[hitechredneck]

I really liked the i-drive on my sanction. Pedaled great adn i did not have to use a platform on the shock (one thing i dont like about my new enduro) But the force is a great bike. I hope GT is on its way back up.

 

[magnum703]

The I-drive was one of the best designs ever. When Pro pedal came out,it allowed most of the other suspensions to perform as well, or even better than I-drive. Some designs bobbed real bad,like the Trek Fuel. Back then, most non I-drive owners fixed the bob by pumping their shocks up real high which made the rear suspension useless.

Thankfully,today, most all rear suspensions work well so the I drive doesn't really stand out like it used to.

So you're saying gt I drive system is no better than any other companies out there like trek, giant and the others?

 

[bigbeck]

Here's a new I Drive Force. Brand new 2009 high end model for dirt cheap.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-2009-GT-For...6422381?pt=Mountain_Bikes&hash=item230e75476d

Fix the spade, Yes, when you first pedal the Mongoose Freedrive you get a strange sensation like there's something wrong with the suspension. But you get used to it pretty fast. Almost feels like you have a motor helping go up those granny gear technical hills. There's nothing else like it.

 

[bigbeck]

I really liked the i-drive on my sanction. Pedaled great adn i did not have to use a platform on the shock (one thing i dont like about my new enduro) But the force is a great bike. I hope GT is on its way back up.

I always liked the FSR suspension system (2005 - 2007). It's what I used as a benchmark to compare other suspensions to. I know they changed it a little in the past few years so I don't know if it's better or worse. Specialized is not the company they used to be. They have become extremely greedy and less customer oriented.

Besides I think GT makes a better bike.:thumbsup: Check out their website, they have a lot of nice high end stuff. A sure sign they're headed in the right direction.

 

[magnum703]

omg check out Fezzari Nebo Peak!
http://www.fezzari.com/full-suspension-all-mountain/nebo-peak

 

[OS cuda']

There seems to be a lot of good reviews about the i drive but my experiences with it have been pretty bad. A friend of mine has an 05 and it has broke 3 times while out on the trail during very non technical sections.
I'm not sure exactly how the i drive works but what I do know is that under the bike there is a piece of metal ( may even be plastic , I can't remember ) maybe 4 inches long that connects the main frame to the rear triangle. It is replaceable, but when it breaks the rear triangle just kinda floats and it's impossible to ride. To have it break so easily seems pretty poor to me. He ended up selling it and bought a sc heckler that he seems to be a ton happier with.
Maybe gt has changed the design by now and maybe his breaking was just a fluke but I thought I'd share my experience

 

[Glide the Clyde]

omg check out Fezzari Nebo Peak!
http://www.fezzari.com/full-suspension-all-mountain/nebo-peak

Someone forgot to take their meds.

 

[bigbeck]

So you're saying gt I drive system is no better than any other companies out there like trek, giant and the others?

No. I'm just saying that when propedal came out it leveled the playing field. So now, pretty much everyone has a good rear suspension. Even the nice simple single pivot designs work great. It becomes a matter of choosing your own personal favorite. So many good ones, you can't possibly try them all.

Maybe just narrow your search down to a few of the coolest looking bikes and test test ride them - on the trail. If they all feel good to you just flip a coin to decide which to buy.:thumbsup: Lest you want to spend about 40 years testing different bikes.

 

[bigbeck]

There seems to be a lot of good reviews about the i drive but my experiences with it have been pretty bad. A friend of mine has an 05 and it has broke 3 times while out on the trail during very non technical sections.
I'm not sure exactly how the i drive works but what I do know is that under the bike there is a piece of metal ( may even be plastic , I can't remember ) maybe 4 inches long that connects the main frame to the rear triangle. It is replaceable, but when it breaks the rear triangle just kinda floats and it's impossible to ride. To have it break so easily seems pretty poor to me. He ended up selling it and bought a sc heckler that he seems to be a ton happier with.
Maybe gt has changed the design by now and maybe his breaking was just a fluke but I thought I'd share my experience

I had a Heckler. Bought it at a bike shop as a 2 year old left over for 50% off @ 1,200.00. Very nice single pivot design. I sold it a year and a half later for 1100.00

That broken link that you're talking about is called a dogbone. It's part of I drive maintenance to check that although it usually starts to make a clicking noise long before it breaks. Remember, GT changed hands around 2004 and the new owners no doubt made changes to the bike. Anyways the latest incarnation of the I drive has been redesigned, maybe a few years ago. I can't attest to it's durability as I only spent a half hour with it on a demo ride. I felt very comfortable on the bike, like I've been riding it for years. .:thumbsup:

 

[missoularider]

As bigbeck was saying, there's been a few generations of the idrive. I had some time on one back in about 2003 and was impressed with the way you could hammer on the pedals without much bob, quite a feat at the time. The new version looks much cleaner, I actually just bought one but have yet to ride it, still in the build phase. I'll post impressions when I get some hours in the saddle.

 

[magnum703]

Swwwee stuff.
As good as the ID is now, I guess there's no massive difference nowadays with pro pedal? Cuz I found an amazing deal http://www.fezzari.com/full-suspension-all-mountain/nebo-peak/
I mean, nothing can beat it.... Please let me know if something is better for the price! haha SRAM X0!!!

 

[mnigro]

there is a really nicely built Yeti 575 in the classifieds for a $500 savings... if it fits you.

 

[frdfandc]

One thing to watch though, the link between the bb and the frame is vulnerable to rock damage, that's what killed mine in the end.

The new ones use a thicker billet aluminum dog bone instead of the flimsy steel one that always snapped at the mounting points.

I've replaced many of the thin ones like you have, but not a single one of the new billet aluminum one.

 

[bigbeck]

Swwwee stuff.
As good as the ID is now, I guess there's no massive difference nowadays with pro pedal? Cuz I found an amazing deal http://www.fezzari.com/full-suspension-all-mountain/nebo-peak/
I mean, nothing can beat it.... Please let me know if something is better for the price! haha SRAM X0!!!

It's a shame they only make them for little people. The XL size only has a 615mm top tube. I'm only 6'2" and would need a 130mm stem for the XL frame. A Trek Fuel size large is even a little bigger than this bike. :nono:

 

[jscusmcvet]

There seems to be a lot of good reviews about the i drive but my experiences with it have been pretty bad. A friend of mine has an 05 and it has broke 3 times while out on the trail during very non technical sections.
I'm not sure exactly how the i drive works but what I do know is that under the bike there is a piece of metal ( may even be plastic , I can't remember ) maybe 4 inches long that connects the main frame to the rear triangle. It is replaceable, but when it breaks the rear triangle just kinda floats and it's impossible to ride. To have it break so easily seems pretty poor to me. He ended up selling it and bought a sc heckler that he seems to be a ton happier with.
Maybe gt has changed the design by now and maybe his breaking was just a fluke but I thought I'd share my experience

I used to ride a GT IDXC and had this happen a couple times. A couple thoughts: I was riding th exc oriented bike a little harder and asking it to go beyond it's design parameters, I think.

Finding a replacement piece for that part was VERY difficult. Wound up making my own. Eventually the screw that holds that piece broke off inside the shell. Still have not fixed that after a couple years.

That said, I think GT has redesigned that part. It was the only issue I had. Performance was incredible and the infamous GT Idrive "creaking" was easily taken care of with regular lube aNd maintenance.

John