Threw some 27+ tires on the Sensor and took it out in the snow. Worked great! Need to spend more time dialing in the psi, but the fact this bike can run 27.5x3 tires as well as 29x2.5 makes it pretty awesome!

 

2019 GT Sensor Sport mods - 27.5 wheelset

Got my Sensor Sport about 6 weeks ago and I'm coming from a 2018 Stumpjumper. This all aluminum Sensor weighed in at almost 34 lbs. stock. My first three trail rides in the central Virginia Charlottesville area were just OK. Mostly rocky, hilly stuff with lots of switchbacks and plenty wet. The 29" hoops are OK, but not great for me - emphasis on the "me". I started my SENSOR PROJECT. Reba 140mm boost fork. Mercury X3 Enduro 27.5 Wheelset. Maxxis Rekon 2.6x 27.5 tires. Syncros 50mm stem with 35mm clamp holding a Easton Haven handlebar. XTR M980 175 crankset. Shimano M8000 XT brakes with 180mm rotors. New weight is 30 lbs. This bike now handles like a slot car on short, rocky turns and the 140mm of travel up front is perfect with the 27.5 wheels. The bike can be taken down to less than 30 lbs. but the current weight is fine and competitive with bikes in and above is price range. I had many of the components on hand from the Stumpy so I didn't have to shell out lots of dollars for the project. With a lifetime frame warranty, this bike has lots of pontential. And I'm still a fan of 27.5 wheels for the terraine I ride. The stock crank, wheels and fork are where the excessive weight was hiding. I'm currently using a Thompson seatpost, so if I change to a dropper I'll pick up some weight.

 

Mbr.co.uk has a review of the alloy sport up. Looks like they are doing a comparison with the Rift Zone and the Fluid. This is great because those are three of the bikes I'm considering. They gave the Sensor a 7 and the Rift Zone a 9. The Fluid review is not up yet. Maybe tomorrow.

They seemed to like a lot about the Sensor and even mentioned it has the best suspension of the three. It seems the one thing they don't like, or rather hated, was the high bottom bracket. They can't get over it. What does everyone here who has one think of the bottom bracket height? Is it as big of an issue as they say? Or are they making roo much of this?

 

i don't know where they got the marin bb height. marin lists it as 337.5. so they seem to be basing points off a geo sheet instead of actual ride.

 

I measured the sensor bb at 341 mm with 2.5 dhf and 2.4 dhr2 on 32mm internal rims. I agree the fit is a bit odd stock. And I believe it’s due to the flat bar and low stack. I fitted a 38 mm riser bar for the second ride and the fit felt awesome. The geo is perfect.

 

I measured the sensor bb at 341 mm with 2.5 dhf and 2.4 dhr2 on 32mm internal rims. I agree the fit is a bit odd stock. And I believe it's due to the flat bar and low stack. I fitted a 38 mm riser bar for the second ride and the fit felt awesome. The geo is perfect.

Is that pretty much max tyre size on the sensor?

 

my comment wasn't about the height of the gt since the number they give and what gt say are the same.. they are praising the marin for having a low 327 height bb but marin says its 337.5. which isn't enough lower than the bb on the sensor to make any difference.

 

What the Sensor's geo would look like with a 150mm Fox 36 FIT4 fork.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

 

So people on this bike, can I get a ride report? I'm looking for a playful, poppy ride that likes to change direction with the geo this bike has for aggressive days. Coming from the GG Smash, that bike was a straight line monster trucker. Before that, I had a Canfield Riot and that was the most fun bike I have ever had but there were other compromises. I am looking for a bike that likes to manual and bunny hop and rewards looking for jibs over just bombing. Any body with some insight and what they can compare this bike to?

 

I'm looking for the same exact thing. The new cf Riot is supposed to drop soon but the Sensor has been on my short list along with the Ripmo and SB130. So... the Smash wasn't very playful? That was on my list too! I'm guessing the Sensor would be similar based on the 4 bar suspension, high bottom bracket (relatively speaking), and long chainstays (again, relative to the Riot). I did get to ride the Ripmo and SB130 back to back and the SB130 is way more fun/poppy which I attribute to the lower BB and lower shock and fork travel. The shock travel was much smoother also than the Ripmo which I attribute to Yeti's Switch Infinity system and NO Igus bushings like the Ripmo uses. The cost is a joke tho - could get a complete Sensor for what the Yeti frame costs!!!

Have FUN!

G MAN

 

I'm not holding my breath on any new Riot after conversations I've had. I think the Riot nailed the playful but it is a combination of elements in my experience. I have found the Evil Following to be similarly playful and it has longer stays and the Riot was higher bb. Smash was as far from playful as any bike I have ever ridden. I'm glad I tried it but honestly, did not care for it (not new carbon one but previous AL). Horst link can be configured so many ways so there is no reason to expect others to have same attribute as Smash just cause it shares expired patent. I think leverage curve and proper fit (reach/top tube and bar width/height) have a lot to contribute to this feeling.
Sensor has relatively short stays for 29er. No where near the Riot but nothing is and bb height is adjustable to let me play with that. I've also read it stiff has hell, something Smash was also but Riot definitely wasn't, so another plus for it. That and its Price make it worth trying out.
To that effect, I just ordered an Expert and will give it a go. The pricing makes it silly to not at least try out as I got complete for less than MSRP for the Offering frame I am also looking at trying out. I am recovering from a busted wrist though, so will be another month or so before I can report back.

 

Anybody have one of these and put a water bottle on it?

I'm trying to figure out how this is supposed to work with the cable guides. Obviously you can just bolt the cage over the cable guides, but the guides have a counter sink for the bolt head and I'm not to keen on just tightening my plastic cage over these holes.

 

At first I mounted the cage right on the frame so it would sit in the groove tube for max clearance. But there was so much clearance I decided to just mount it on top of the cable guides using socket head machine screws to prevent any cage to frame rubbing. The cage is secure and the bolts have stayed tight.

 

Are you using a plastic cage?

 

No I have a cheapo alloy one. But I think plastic would be fine too. For extra security you could put washers over the counter sunk holes if your bolts are long enough.

 

I’ve been scanning this thread, and I’m the owner of a 2019 Sensor alloy Sport.
A few things come to mind. Order longer water bottle cage bolts from Amazon or EBay made of titanium. Cheap, light and effective. Mercury wheelset (around 1800 gms. versus 2200+) and they’re 27.5. So it’s like an alloy Force short travel. The frame works well with either wheel size but I love the handling of the 27.5. SLX crank, and looking at a Reba fork. All in all you can get it to less than 30 lbs.

 

So this is really cool: Martin Maes, one of the fastest ews guys around is running mixed wheel sizes on his GT this year. If you recall that's why I started this thread and bought a Sensor. It's so prime for a 27.5 rear wheel it's almost like it was designed for it. Perhaps, knowing the number one GT rider is running the mullet on his Force, they were designed for it!



Unfortunately I never got to try the mixed wheel sizes cause I've been trying to sell the bike. I did however get a good California spring ride on to check out the wild flower bloom.

 

Damn. I didn't realize not only did Maes win, but he hit a grand slam, winning every stage, a first for EWS. So sick!

 

Holy crap, y'all!

Man, the more I ride this bike, the more I'm stoked on it!

Did some basic upgrades to the sport and it's a whole new bike! Even rode my first double black trail in Sedona with it, no issues!

Let me know if y'all have any questions!

 

Just ordered the Carbon Pro...keen to ride it!

 

I have a few rides in now on my Sensor Elite. First thing I noticed is that its a big, stiff, burly frame. My rig is right around 34.5 pounds with a Fox 36 and carbon wheels so its no light weight at all. The second thing is that the rear end is not plush at all! Hardly any low speed absorption. But what is more annoying is the wonky shock size. Its darn near impossible to find a shock size in trunnion 180x50. There are no coil trunnion shocks in that size at all!!! The most logical thing is find a 185 coil and have Avalanche do their magic.
Its a fast bike that feels better going fast. The taller bb hasnt been an issue for me yet.

 

I know my expert is 185mm. There are several trunnion coils in 185x52.5 and 185x55. The one Craig recommends is the Marzocchi Bomber CR and it come is those sizes. So does the RS deluxe which has similar design plus a climb switch. I'm going with an avy tuned Bomber for my YT Decoy.

The Deluxe R is a terrible shock. It's got no midvalve and the main piston is way over damped so it doesn't blow through the travel with big riders. I feel like the Deluxe RT3 makes this bike a pretty plush and supportive ride for only having 130mm out back.

 

Will a 185x50 work? GTs website lists it as 180x50

 

Not sure of the specifics, but this guy found one

 

Gts info isnt that good such as the misprint with the shock size and also it advertises it using ZS headsets and in reality it uses integrated headsets. So I just literally just bought a Marzocchi Cr coil 185x52.5 and I am excited to make it work

 

Nice choice!

 

My Sensor

 

Nice build! This bike totally deserves the Fox 36 and quad piston brakes. I like the carbon horizon riser bar too, especially for the price! What’s the travel on that fork?

 

Thanks! Its a fantastic bar and the price makes it even better. I have no reason to get the 35mm stuff. There is Nothing wrong with it but the old stuff is good enough for me. I went from a 120mm suspension bike with the 36 on that so when I switched it over I thought I should put it at 140 for something different. I do need to lower the lowers to see why its so harsh, so when I do that Ill probably put it to 130mm.

 

Currently own and ride a 2018 YT Capra 27AL. I love the bike and it works for most of my riding, but have plans to do some long distance trail rides this year which I think will be a bit much on the 170mm Capra.
The Sensor has caught my eye as it's geo is not that far off the capra, it has 29er wheels which appeals and if I get the Alloy Sport model it leaves me enough to buy a 150mm dropper, bars and tyres straight away. Then in future I can look to upgrade wheels and forks.
So just wondering what owners make of the Sensor, and specifically the alloy sport. Is it a good all day trail bike?