[stan4bikes]

If you were lookiing for a Ti bike, which would you choose and why? I know it's not really VRC stuff but it's close....more to follow when I get home...:thumbsup:

 

[Guest]

If you were lookiing for a Ti bike, which would you choose and why? I know it's not really VRC stuff but it's close....more to follow when I get home...:thumbsup:

both are cool but the owl hollow down tube does it for me. it's litespeed btw.

i'd choose an old merlin though.

carsten

 

[Toff]

I'd pick the Lightning for sure.

I've been using mine since 99 and its still going strong.

 

[muddybuddy]

I've always been partial to GTs. But I wouldn't kick the litespeed out of bed either. Assuming they were both my size of course.

 

[Fillet-brazed]

wasnt the Lightning made overseas unlike the Xizang? Im just going off a vague recollection...

 

[colker1]

the one that fits.

having said that the litespeed is a much evolved ti bike. much stiffer.

 

[Toff]

wasnt the Lightning made overseas unlike the Xizang? Im just going off a vague recollection...

I have heard that before but don't have any information about it.

Mine is a 16" and I weight about 145 and I will say that I can feel it flex under power if I really pay attention and the ground is smooth. Off road I can never feel it.

I went from a Zaskar LE to the Xizang and the difference is ride comfort is astounding. I will never ride another aluminum hardtail again.

 

[Fillet-brazed]

I have heard that before but don't have any information about it.

Mine is a 16" and I weight about 145 and I will say that I can feel it flex under power if I really pay attention and the ground is smooth. Off road I can never feel it.

I went from a Zaskar LE to the Xizang and the difference is ride comfort is astounding. I will never ride another aluminum hardtail again.

yeah, youre probably getting .5mm more "give" from the rear triangle and about 4mm more from the front triangle.

 

[stan4bikes]

heres why I wondered....

Actually it was just to fill space till I got home. I stopped in one of my "connections" today, lo and behold he was having a bike clearance .I looked around and spotted this beauty...a GT Lightning with a Chris King rear hub and Carbon front laced to Ceramic Mavic 217s, XTR derailers-Crank-Cassette and brakes, XT shifters and pedals, Ti Avocet saddle, RS Judy SL....and it was on sale Since I already have the aforementioned Litespeed, I thought a running mate was in order.

And to think I was excited that tonight I was going to pick up a Bridgestone MB3 ..but I still might, it's been available for a week and no-ones grabbed it. So the HOOVER will do it's job

 

[Toff]

Nice, just how cheap did you get that for?

I was just a tad to late to pick up another complete xizang a few months back. It was at a very nice price and had been sitting in some garage for the last 10 years.

 

[IF52]

I'm diggin the duct tape cable end

 

[stan4bikes]

heyyyyy!

I'm diggin the duct tape cable end

(ends, as in multiple ) I noticed that too...I just pulled it out of my truck . and haven't even had a chance to wipe it down yet.

Nice, just how cheap did you get that for?

you don't even want to know lets just say it was about the same as I paid for the MB1 earlier this week :thumbsup: and that was a deal

 

[Fillet-brazed]

(ends, as in multiple ) I noticed that too...I just pulled it out of my truck . and haven't even had a chance to wipe it down yet.

you don't even want to know lets just say it was about the same as I paid for the MB1 earlier this week :thumbsup: and that was a deal

so, what is it - rider (looks too big), flipper, collector bike? What year is that thing? Fork looks like 98 as do the parts.

 

[stan4bikes]

I think it's a 98 but I haven't researched it yet. I probably will flip some parts (to pay for it) and turn it into a paved trail/light offroad bike.

 

[soreyes]

paved trail bike

 

[hollister]

paved trail bike

performance hybrid

 

[gm1230126]

They were only made two years 1997 and 1998 as a complete bike only and yes it is an imported frame. In 97 they had a mix of STX-RC and LX and in 98 they up spec'd to a mix of LX and XT. The Lightning was added to the line back then because Ti was hot pre-carbon days and GT's international distributors wanted a more affordable Ti bike and more Ti bikes. GT couldn't meet the international demand on Xizang's and with VAT added onto a Xizang frame the landed cost was very high in many European countries. They are very nice I've bought and sold nine in the past year.

Differences between the Lightning and Xizang
Lightning top tube end cap is round, Xizang is oval
Lighting top tube end cap is stamp GT 3AL/2.5V, Xizang is just stamped GT
Lightning is bead blasted, Xizang was hand polished or had RWB Team graphics in 99

 

[Fillet-brazed]

paved trail bike

I wonder if there is a PTBR (Paved Trail Bike Review). Maybe they have an PTB forum that caters to non-new bikes had for cheap.

 

[stan4bikes]

hmmmmm?

Differences between the Lightning and Xizang
Lightning top tube end cap is round, Xizang is oval
Lighting top tube end cap is stamp GT 3AL/2.5V, Xizang is just stamped GT
Lightning is bead blasted, Xizang was hand polished or had RWB Team graphics in 99

Soooo, My end cap is oval (Xizang)but marked "GT 3AL/2.5V" (Lightning) ..?

 

[gm1230126]

Soooo, My end cap is oval (Xizang)but marked "GT 3AL/2.5V" (Lightning) ..?

OK Stan, the Lightning end cap is round compared to the squashed oval end cap of the Xizang.
The Lightning is the top picture and the Xizang the bottom picture. See what I mean?
By the way yours is a 1998 model also.