GT Zaskar Expert Mountain Bike 2011

Was $2,599, but now only $1,999

Tried and true – What better description could you give this bike? The Triple Triangle frame has been around for 20 years now. It has been ridden to a win at races world-wide, and to say that it is race proven is really an understatement. GT have retained this proven geometry, using new higher quality materials, such as the Kinesis Superlight tubing, and utilising the latest manufacturing processes, like hydro forming to keep abreast of current technological advances. The frames keep getting lighter and stronger, but retain the reliable and predictable handling that GT is known for. “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it!”
The Zaskar Expert has a Kinesis Superlight aluminium Triple Triangle frame. As I stated earlier has used similar geometry for around 20 years now, so there are no surprises with this frame. The handling is excellent. While there are always new innovations, as we all know not all of them live up to their claims, well there is no such situation with the Zaskar frame. The GT frame design has won both X/C and DH world championships and is available at a price that most of us can manage. Even though their bikes may not be lightest weight or the most recent fad, they are every-day bikes that, at the end of the day, are durable, hassle free and fun to ride.
This tried and true frame has then been fitted with RockShox Reba RL Air suspension. Reba’s have a system that allows far better tuning to rider and terrain requirements. This air/hydraulic system has provision for altering the pressure to cater for both rider weight and surface impacts . With the combination of variable air pressure, and restricted hydraulic flow, the forks can cater for a huge variety of riding conditions. Reba RL’s are a relatively lightweight fork as they have an aluminium crown, magnesium lower legs and aluminium stanchions.
The Zaskae Expert is designed for rapid climbing and high speed work, it has wide, flat bars with good quality tyres that give great traction and help with the excellent balance of this bike. With the Zaskar's light weight, climbing is easier than on many of its competitors, and fast single tracks are a breeze with the great traction, and predictable handling. If you would like a bit of an edge, this is the machine to do it. The gear system is a combination of Sram and Shimano, it is actually rather unusual, in that it is opposite to what is usually used. GT have decided on an Deore XT rear derailleur with SLX Shifters and SRAM 1400 crank-set. The brakes are Formula RX with 160mm rotors, which provide powerful, controllable braking.

GT Zaskar 29er Expert Mountain Bike

Was $2,299, but now only $1,899

Love 'em or loathe 'em. 29" wheels are here to stay. The benefits of larger-diameter wheels - increased momentum and improved traction - on endurance mountain bikes are compelling enough to have built a loyalist following amongst trail riders across the globe; GT is committed to providing these riders with bikes they want by providing a 29" option for each bike in the Endurance line up.

GT Sensor 29er Expert Mountain Bike

Price was $2,499, but now just $1,499!

GT Zaskar Elite Mountain Bike 2011.

Was $1,999, but now only $1,499

2012 GT Karakoram 1.0 Mountain Bike

Price $1,349

Here is a review written by Steve Worland from What Mountain Bike posted on bikeradar.com

The Karakoram is a good looking, well specced, smooth riding 29er at a great price. It's a little heavier than the average 26in-wheeled mountain bike at this price, and you can feel that in acceleration and on climbs. But fast tyres, a good suspension fork and some very classy finishing touches all help to boost performance in other areas. Its aesthetics also make it stand out from the crowd – important in a market where so many bikes look so similar.

Ride & handling: Easy rolling feel with comfort and stability on difficult terrain

You can’t get away from the fact that bigger wheels, a longer fork and slightly more frame metal are usually going to make a 29er a bit heavier than a 26er at about the same price. But to be honest the only time we noticed the GT's nearly 30lb (13.6kg) weight was on long climbs.

Elsewhere, the smooth-rolling confidence, stability and noticeable extra comfort of the long wheelbase and bigger wheels seemed to boost speed on most trails. Responses felt sluggish on slow technical terrain, but as speed increases, comfort and confidence get a boost and you end up throwing caution to the wind, much as you would on a short-travel suspension bike.

The high profile and easy roll of the Kenda Small Block Eight 2.1in tyres is forgiving enough to let you run them softer than you would on a 26er, with no added pinch puncture risk. The RockShox Recon Silver TK fork doesn’t offer as much bump confidence as a pricier fork like a Reba does, but it’s excellent on a bike at this price.

The Karakoram's geometry is spot on – even the small size makes a 29er option accessible to shorter riders without obvious downsides. We love its subtle looks and its easy roll, comfort and stability on difficult terrain. Overall, it's a superb introduction to big-wheelers. It’s not much heavier than an average 26er around this price and makes up for its weight by taming the trail and feeling more confident on tough terrain.

Frame: Good looking with plenty of mud room

The Karakoram’s metallic paintjob is nicely complemented with graphics that almost vanish in certain light conditions. We really like the gold parts detailing too. There are lots of interesting tube shapes here. The frame material is 6061 heat-treated aluminium and GT’s distinctive triple triangle configuration sets it apart from the rest.

The radically hydroformed top tube is effectively an ovalised triangle, the down tube is almost coffin shaped and both are biaxially ovalised at the ends to create big weld contact areas into the bottom bracket and seat tube for extra strength and rigidity. The seat tube passes through the capped end to the top tube and there’s an extra reinforcement gusset under the down tube in front of the bottom bracket shell.

A ring-reinforced head tube is short enough to stop the front end from looking lanky and the rear triangle is compact enough to feel tight under sprinting pressure while still offering lots of mud room – not something you can take for granted on a big-wheeler.

Equipment: Well specced and the RockShox Recon fork is a bargain

The RockShox Recon Silver TK fork is air-sprung, and easy to set up to produce a plush well controlled 100mm (3.9in) of travel. The rebound damping on the bottom of the right-hand leg is effective, as is the top-of-leg lockout switch, which still leaves a small amount of compression movement for unexpected bumps.

The only significant downgrade to make room for the better-than-average fork is the basic Shimano crankset and bottom bracket. It shifts as well as a more upmarket crankset but cheapens the overall appearance of the bike and adds some weight. A SRAM X7 rear mech and X5 shifters worked perfectly and the Shimano brakes performed powerfully enough after a short bedding-in period.

The wheels were nicely built, with tough Alex TD24 rims and GT own-branded hubs. The efficient quick-release skewers have gold levers to match the detail elsewhere. 2.1in Kenda Small Block Eight treads roll fast and boost comfort, but don’t expect them to be great in the mud. Most testers liked the WTB Silverado saddle, but some found it too skinny on rough terrain.

The 27.5in GT flat bar boosts control and stability in speed trail situations but without the generously angled back sweep of a typical riser bar, some riders found it awkward on low-speed technical terrain. The short stem, 72-degree static seat angle and inline GT seatpost prevent the long (23.25in) top tube from feeling too stretched.

GT Zaskar Comp Mountain Bike 2011.

Was $1,549, but now just $1,199.

2012 GT Karakoram 2.0 Mountain Bike

Price $1,199

2012 GT Karakoram 2.0 Mountain Bike Bike Review

29ers are growing in popularity very rapidly. They have obvious advantages with the larger wheels in rough terrain, and even for normal tarmac. Their shortcomings are more in relation to smaller riders and more technical trails. The GT Karakoram 2.0 is an inexpensive way to put your foot in the water, yet not so cheap as to not give 29ers a fair go.

Utilizing the legendary triple triangle frame, with hydroformed 6061 tubing, and RockShox XC28 suspension, the bike is relatively light, and it handles and accelerates well. The triple triangle frame has "stood the test of time". After 20 years of production you could not call it innovative. I know it sounds boring, but "well proven" is probably more appropriate in this case. Whatever name you give it, what you can count on, is that you will get a bike that handles well, accelerates well, and will not break. Not exciting maybe, but certainly a safe bet. I do not really understand why GT have chosen to go with forks with 28mm stanchions (instead of 32mm) with such a large wheel size, I can only trust that they feel that this fork will give good service, given the selling price of the bike. Again there is 12 months guarantee on the forks, and RockShox have a reputation to maintain.

One of the advantages of a 29er is that they will take a 700c commuting tyre, so if you are prepared to buy a spare set of tyres and tubes, you can have a quite a rapid commuter, then with the change of tyres convert it to a great off-road bike. Saves owning 2 bikes, and it makes a great reason for buying one, should you be talking to your wife about the "feasibilty" of a new bike. The 9 speed gear system is made up of Alivio shifters matched with Deore rear derailleur. Not suitable for race conditions, but gives good reliable shifting for most recreational riding.

All the rest of the equipment is good. Tektro hydraulic brakes are reliable and function well, I would have preferred to see 180mm rotors, but I guess you can't have everything. It has a WTB saddle, good quality bars, stem and pillar, and Maxxis Aspen tyres. All good.

Why not come along for a test ride and see for yourself?

GT Avalanche 1.0 Mountain Bike 2011

Was $1,199 now $899

GT started life in 1979 producing good quality bmx bikes then ventured into mountain bike production. Their triple triangle design was innovative and is still used today. Simply stated the advantage of the triple triangle design is that it keeps the frame triangles smaller and more rigid. It is also said to reduce rear wheel vibration and give the bike a more comfortable ride. While this bike is not perfect, when you consider how little money you are paying, it is excellent buying. The ride is interesting, it is actually more comfortable than some of the competition, yet the bike is more than capable of holding its own in the rough stuff. The riding position is quite aggressive, as the bike is made for off-road use.

If you were looking for an inexpensive bike that can be taken to Lysterfield and the You Yangs this is ideal. The frame is made of hydro formed 6061 aluminium with replaceable dropouts and a "zero stack height headset" (to give better handling). The frame is relatively light, but there are certainly lighter frames out there, but not at this price. The handling is good the 120mm of travel allows it to absorb big hits without too much fuss, and the adjustable rebound allows you to set the suspension so that you dont get thrown off, and can stay in control. The triple triangle frame is reasonably stiff, and the xero stack height head set stiffens the front end up under rough cornering. Overall a good, controllable bike for this price level.

The suspension again is set up for true off-road riding. The Rockshox Tora 302's have longer travel (120mm) and again while they are not a lightweight fork, they offer true rebound adjustment and a hydraulic lock-out for faster work in less demanding terrain. The running gear is a combination of Deore and SLX, so you can expect good, reliable shifting under most conditions. It also has Shimano hydraulic brakes operating on 180mm rotors, so the braking capability is excellent, certainly in the upper levels for a bike costing less than $1200.

The Kenda Mobster tyres give excellent grip, ideal for demanding off-road conditions, but if you want to improve the speed of the bike, this would the place to start. For an an extra $60-$100 you could make the bike quite a bit faster. Another inexpensive upgrade is a remote lock-out for the front suspension, it will cost about $120, but allows much greater use of the lock-out system.

So there you have it. I know I have referred to price often, but the reality is, if you spend a lot more there are better bikes around. But if you wish to spend around a $1,000 this bike will make an excellent choice for off-road use, and still be a comfortable bike for evening rides along the local bike paths.

2012 GT Karakoram 3.0 Mountain Bike

Price $849

2012 GT Karakoram 3.0 Mountain Bike

2012 GT Karakoram 4.0 Mountain Bike

Price $669

2012 GT Karakoram 4.0 Mountain Bike

GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc Mountain Bike 2010. XS, Small.

Was $789 now $489

Ideal bike for those taller kids who you thought would still be riding a kids bike. GT make their extra small frames low enough to allow smaller people (like 10 and 11 year old kids) to mount the bike easily. This is due to the design of the frame, it drops sharply at the front of the bike, with a bend in the top tube, allowing top tube to run nearly parallel to the ground near the seat, giving more rider clearance (tough to describe).
The bike has a strong aluminium frame, designed to transfer power efficiently (makes it feel easier to pedal), and has adjustable front suspension, so that the ride can be adjusted to suit the weight and preference of the rider. The suspension even has lock-out for improved hill climbing. The disc brakes ensure efficient braking, regardless of the weather conditions. It certainly makes the bike safer to ride. The shimano gears give simple precise gear changing, with 24 gears to choose from. The equipment such as pedals, saddle, handlebars, etc are all good quality and will withstand pretty harsh treatment. It also looks good.

GT Outpost Disc Mountain Bike.

Was $529 now $399

The GT Outpost Disc Mountain Bike is one of the entry level GT's. GT is renowned for their quality high end mountain bikes, but most people cannot justify a high price for a bike that will be used recreationally. GT's answer was to introduce the Aggressor and the Outpost models of Mountain Bike. Both retain the triple triangle aluminium frame which has long been known for its efficient design. Because the frame tubes are braced using the triple triangle design, the unsupported tube length is shorter and it has less flex, and transfers the riders force more efficiently. More efficient power transfer = easier to push.The bike has Suntour suspension forks which have proven to be very reliable, and in the event that they require maintenance, they can be dismantled easily, repaired, then re-assembled. The gear system is Shimano Altus 24 speed, which is simple to use and very reliable. The bike has alloy handlebars, a good saddle and tough wheels.

2010 GT Aggressor.

Save $40. Price: $329

Gt’s triple triangle aluminum frame with Suntour adjustable suspension forks. Shimano shifters and TX-30 rear derailleur combined with Tektro "V" brakes. Available in white/blue or white/grey. We do not have the correct pictures.