[PurpleMtnSlayer]

Ha I love the bike, I might keep it. Either way I started the paint job, bought the riser bar, grips and wheel components before I found out I need to buy an ebike. But I won't be buying any new bikes for awhile: turns out my little picky fracture was also a ruptured flexor tendon. Which requires two surgeries and 6-16 months of no activity [emoji24][emoji24][emoji24]

So all of my bikes and components are currently for sale.

 

[PurpleMtnSlayer]

Pinkbike’s review is up and it’s an absolute joke! There’s a ton of comments, ok mostly me, but several other who have one and all of us disagree completely with their review. They’ve now updated the review with a disclaimer at the bottom that theirs was equipped with an over damped shock. That combined with the low stack will, of course, make for a sketchy ride. It’s sad because they label this as an xc riders trail bike, which is way off. If someone buys it expecting an xc ripper they will be disappointed. And people who ride rough trails will be missing out on a great bike. I’m so disappointed in pinkbike, but that’s my bad for believing in them in the first place.

 

[cazman72]

Well, I was set to buy a Commencal TR 29er frame for a build but once they posted the weight I started my search again and came across the Sensor. This will be my build, sadly Fanatk is showing Feb for the frame option. The Pinkbike review is very dissappointing but with all the research I've done and from this thread I'm sure I won't be making a bad choice. I'll be running it with a 140 fork to start and at some point see about pulling the shock apart to run 140 at the back and bump the fork up to 150. Long wait for Feb now. Also, I'm liking the cable routing, I wasn't looking forward feeding cables through a frame to build one up.

 

[PurpleMtnSlayer]

Cool, you won’t be disappointed! PB has now added a small disclaimer that the shock on their test bike was over damped from the factory. So their review is basically invalid. I don’t even get why they left the review up? It’s no wonder why they felt like they were tipping forward.

 

[cs84]

I have to admit after watching their review I am leaning more towards the Cannondale Habit but each personal review I have seen on the sensor has been positive so I take what Pinkbike said with a grain of salt. Although when comparing the GT sensor Alloy for $2600 and Cannondale Habit 5 for the same price I do like the build and look of the Cannondale a little more, plus my LBS will actually have the Cannondale in stock to demo.

 

[aenema]

Of the people who have ridden it, can you describe if the bike is playful and fun? How much effort to manual and bunny hop compared to other bikes you have ridden, and what were they? Leverage looks progressive which is a good sign and reasonably short chainstays so it could be playful but its more than those numbers that truly define...

 

[Sideknob]

Hmmm.

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/field-test-gt-sensor-carbon-expert.html

 

[sladesy]

review wasn't that great but read to the bottom and they added a note that basically says our bike didn't have the right damper and the different damper that gt supplies with the bike fixes the suspension issues we complained about. also gt are shipping with longer steerer tubes to combat the low stack.

basically gt fixed everything they complained about other than the tires and brakes. so their review is pretty much null.

 

[PurpleMtnSlayer]

I know I sounds like I’m trying to defend the bike because I have purchase confirmation bias. But that review, when it comes to the rear suspension, is so opposite of reality. I just had my hand surgery, so I had a lot of time to comment on the article and actually quite enjoyed it. I’ve realized most pinkbike commenters and props givers are like idiot cult members. It’s hilarious.

I’m happy to point out the negatives I have for the expert build: the stack is too low, the steerer is cut too short, the tires won’t last long, the brakes are underpowered and imo the rear is a touch too active. Also my large expert was 31.6 lbs out of the box (included tubes and no pedals), verified on two decent scales.

 

[PurpleMtnSlayer]

I have to admit after watching their review I am leaning more towards the Cannondale Habit but each personal review I have seen on the sensor has been positive so I take what Pinkbike said with a grain of salt. Although when comparing the GT sensor Alloy for $2600 and Cannondale Habit 5 for the same price I do like the build and look of the Cannondale a little more, plus my LBS will actually have the Cannondale in stock to demo.

Rad. Super nice to get a demo before you buy. You can't go wrong with either.

 

[cazman72]

I looked over the geo numbers for the Sentinel, Meta TR 29, Stumpy Evo, and the Sensor and all of them are pretty similar. I can't see it riding poorly now that GT has the suspension sorted. I'm glad they responded so quickly to reviewers regarding the stack height and rear shock tune.
What turned me away from the other bikes:
Sentinel, alloy is heavy, carbon overpriced and terrible tire clearance.
Meta, frame weight 7.9 lbs, no thanks
Stumpy Evo, BB just way too low, no frame only option
The Sensor just checks all the right boxes for me.

 

[PurpleMtnSlayer]

Look at this custom build 🤯

[emoji328] IG: CotesloeCycles

 

[cs84]

Rad. Super nice to get a demo before you buy. You can't go wrong with either.

Well I ended up finding a deal on a 2017 GT Force Expert build for $2600 (was like $4300 when it first came out). Has pike fork, fox performance shock, 150/160 mm travel, 1x11 slx components, shimano brakes. When I compared it to the new models (force and sensor) definitely better specs for a similar price so I took the plunge. Plus I have liked my AOS suspension on my helion so new bike day can't come soon enough. Got it online from Americas Bike Company (as no LBS carry GT in stock) so hopefully the shipping goes smooth.

 

[Sideknob]

https://flowmountainbike.com/tests/tested-gt-sensor-carbon-elite/

 

[Trail Features]

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!

 

[gusthedog2009]

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.

 

[richulr]

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?

 

[sladesy]

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.

 

[PurpleMtnSlayer]

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.

 

[sladesy]

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.