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GT was founded in 1979 by Gary Turner and is still one of the biggest names in the cycling industry today. Many of the names in the GT mountain bikes line have been around since the early days of the sport, and former mountain bikers know names like Zaskar and Karakoram. The GT Bikes brand doesn’t just build on its heritage, it continues to make cutting-edge bikes by regularly updating its lineup to reflect the latest trends in technology and mountain biking. It continues to impress with its Aggress and Avalanche models, which are perfect for beginner to intermediate riders.
The 3 best bikes of the market
Discover the best bikes on the market. See who are the direct competitors of GT Bicycles bikes.
A competitive environment
The bicycle is today one of the favorite means of locomotion of the French. Indeed, it will be simple for you to notice that this last one quite simply flooded our cities and our campaigns. They are real companions and allies for your excursions and walks.
This is possible because citizens are taking steps to protect the environment. They opt for non-polluting modes of transport. And thus reduce the production of greenhouse gases.
The second aspect that should be taken into consideration is the aid put in place by the French state. But also by the regions or certain communities. We suggest you learn more in one of our previous article.
The best electric bike on the market
Our team of experts has selected just for you the best electric mountain bikes on the market. Discover the direct competitors of the GT Bikes brand.
And discover other electric bikes :
GT Bikes, the mountain bike and BMX specialist
GT is an iconic brand in the world of BMX and mountain bike. GT Bikes were born and GT BMX bikes quickly became a regular fixture on the podium. They were also synonymous with durability. The reputation of GT Bikes was already established.
And the growing success of the discipline in the 1990s would keep the brand alive. Today, the GT BMX bikes are available with aluminum frames and carbon forks.
Technology used by the GT Bikes
GT uses 27.5″ wheels in most of its GT mountain bikes line. They offer better inertia than 26″ wheels without the weight restrictions of 29″ wheels. This type of wheel is also suitable for riders of all sizes. AM is a suspension system that isolates the pedal motion.
This means that the energy from pedaling is used only for the transmission. In addition, the suspension only reacts when the rider needs it most. GT Bikes also uses a high pivot point to reduce impact and completely eliminate chain stretch.
All suspension-related components are placed downward to lower the center of gravity for ideal balance and unique handling.
The reference GT gravel bikes
Always at the forefront of providing fun and reliable bikes, GT is one of the pioneer brands. It offers bikes designed for gravel biking. Available with aluminum or carbon frames. The GT class bikes are now among the benchmark gravel bikes. Easy to ride, for leisure or sport, on the road or on the trails.
The Grade will accompany you on all your adventures. With nearly 40 years of experience, GT offers a lifetime warranty on all its frames (lifetime material warranty, first purchase, proof of purchase).
In addition, the historic brand of bikes, offers a very wide range of bikes and GT BMX bikes. All this to provide you with unparalleled riding pleasure.
The GT electric mountain bikes
The electric mountain bike is becoming more and more important in the bicycle market and is revolutionizing the way we move around. In cities, it is gradually replacing the traditional bicycle and car. In its mountain bike version, it allows athletes to see further and wider.
It contributes to the protection of the environment and our health! It is suitable for everyone: men, women, young and old, and its popularity continues to grow.
GT Bicycles offers only two Shimano STePS electrically assisted bikes. A semi-rigid eTB, the ePantera, and a full-suspension bike, the eVerb. Two bikes to meet everyone’s expectations.
The advantages of GT electric bikes are well known. It’s up to you to choose the one you like best! Here are the criteria to take into account before buying a GT electric bike.
The model
Just as there are differences between GT Bikes and traditional city bikes, the mountain bike is aimed at athletes and women who ride on difficult terrain. The drivetrain is more complex, the shocks require more attention, the frame and tires are larger and the whole package is therefore heavier and more expensive.
Electric city bikes are ideal for urban riding, for a journey from home to work for example. There are also folding electric bikes, which are very compact and therefore very practical.
Battery life and charging time
The batteries can travel from 50 to 160 km. The ideal is to evaluate the length of your trip in order to choose a model that meets your needs. However, it is important to know that if the battery cuts out during the trip, you will still be able to pedal and therefore move forward.
It is this “electric assistance” that distinguishes the electric bike from other motorized two-wheel vehicles (scooters, mopeds, etc.).
The speed
The speed of an electric bicycle is limited to 25 km/h. This means that when this speed is reached, the assistance is automatically cut off. You can always ride faster, if you pedal harder.
This speed of 25 km/h can also be reached without electric assistance (for example, downhill). Nevertheless, the electric assistance allows you to maintain a constant speed of 25 km/h during the whole trip.
The range of GT Bikes
Once you have chosen your type of bike and your riding style, all you have to do is choose your GT Bikes.
The hardtail range
There are five hardtail models in the 2018 GT mountain bikes lineup: Palomar, Aggressor, Avalanche, Pantera and Zaskar. The vast majority of GT’s hardtails and their full sussers are made of aluminum.
The only hardtail offered in carbon fiber is the Zaskar Carbon. The two inexpensive cromoly steel hardtails are the Palomar and the cult GT Performer, a big wheel BMX.
All three models of the Aggressor are equipped with disc brakes, with the Expert version having hydraulic disc brakes. The next model is the GT Avalanche. An incredibly popular model that a lot of mountain bikers started out on.
It is essentially a more affordable version of the iconic Zaskar model. The GT Avalanches range from the Sport model to the Expert model. There is also a GT Avalanche Comp GTW for women and a GT Avalanche Sport GTW.
To top off the GT hardtail line, the GT Zaskar is a true icon. It has lost some of its aggression and has transformed over the years into a track hardtail with a strong XC bent.
There are four Zaskar models for 2018, with only the GT Zaskar Comp 27.5 being aluminum. The other three are GT Zaskar Carbon models, available in 27.5-inch or 29-inch wheel sizes.
GT Bikes with full suspension
GT has radically streamlined its full suspension offerings for the UK market. There are now only two types of GT full susser: the GT Sanction and the GT Fury. The GT Sanction is an enduro bike with 27.5-inch wheels. It is a smaller version of the Fury.
With 165mm of travel, aggressive geometry and robust components, the GT Sanction is the bike that World Series Enduro star Martin Maes rides regularly. This bike has been his ticket to the podium.
How to choose your GT mountain bikes ?
GT mountain biking originated in California in the 1970s and was launched in France in 1983. That year, the first French Riviera awards ceremony was held, and in 1996, the sport was included in the Olympics and recognized as a sport in its own right.
The type of business you are in
Mountain biking is not a single discipline, but several, and their number is constantly evolving. For trekking, off-road, you will choose a rigid or semi-rigid bike with an aluminum or carbon frame. If you like jumps, street installations or jumps on modules, you will prefer a light and very easy to handle machine.
Mountain bikes, similar to GT BMX bikes, are perfect for this discipline. Be aware of the type of terrain you will be riding on. If you choose rockier terrain, such as mountains, or mostly roads, or less hilly terrain, the same type of bike is not recommended.
Your budget and your needs
How often do you ride? Are you looking for a mountain bike for recreational or racing use? Determining your needs will help you save money when buying a bike. Bikes range in price from €400 to over €7,000 on average (excluding special offers).
You don’t need to spend €4,000 to cycle only once a month for a short distance. In this case, a cheaper bike will be of sufficient quality. Don’t forget that a full-suspension GT bike requires more maintenance and therefore costs more to maintain.
If the models proposed by the brand do not correspond to you 100%, you should know that others such as Decathlon offer a wide range of bikes adapted to all practices.
History and origin of the GT Bikes brand
The GT mountain bikes and GT Bikes were born in 1972. Gary Turner, a professional drag racer and experienced welder, built a frame for his son Craig Turner in his garage in Fullerton, California. He designed it so that he could compete in BMX races.
Most of the frames used at the time broke easily under the stress of BMX racing and jumping. Gary Turner built his frames from 4130 chrome-moly tubing. Craig’s bike was noticed on the BMX track and Gary began making frames for other kids.
Bike GT was first noticed for spearheading BMX bikes. Then it developed a line of bikes around its “triple triangle” design. At the end of its independent history, GT Bicycles won an order to build a $30,000 carbon fiber “Superbike” for the 1996 Summer Games.
The company sponsored numerous race teams and in 1998 went public and later merged with Questor Partners, then owner of Schwinn. The conglomerate went bankrupt in 2001 and was acquired by Pacific Cycle, which in turn was acquired by Dorel Industries in 2004.
Evolution of the GT Bikes brand
In 1976, Gary Turner began producing frames for Pedals Ready. These were the first frames produced and distributed by Gary Turner.
And one of the first sponsored riders to use them was Greg A. Hill. Recognizing the popularity of Gary Turner’s BMX frames, Richard Long contacted Turner in 1977 to supply his bike store in Anaheim, California.
Turner agreed and the foundation of bike GT was born. These early frames were not yet branded as GT, but were simply called “Gary Turner” as evidenced by the frame stickers.
Things moved quickly and soon Richard and Gary invested in a manufacturing warehouse dedicated to making high quality Cro-moly BMX frames in Santa Ana, California. In 1979, they incorporated into GT Bicycles, Inc. GT being the initials of its founder, Gary Turner.
Richard sold his bike store and began selling frames as fast as he could to bike distributors throughout the United States and Europe. Richard ran the sales and marketing aspects of the business while Gary was the engineer and production manager.
Bain Capital
With the loss of public interest in the sport of BMX and declining sales, Long and Turner sold a controlling interest. They sold it to Boston-based investment firm Bain Capital in 1993.
Bain Capital then took the company public in October 1995. In 1996, GT won the order to manufacture a highly aerodynamic bike that would later become known as the “Superbike.
Nike sponsorship and athletes
On October 11, 1996, GT announced that it had reached an agreement with Nike. The agreement named Nike as the official sponsor of all GT cycling race teams in 1997. This new sponsorship agreement represented an expansion of the previous sponsorship in place.
Nike was recognized as the official shoe of the GT mountain bikes team. GT Bicycles was the first and only mountain bike and BMX team to be sponsored by Nike.
In 1997, GT had a total of 57 athletes in various teams. This included nine mountain bike racers, 32 BMX racers and 16 freestyle/bike GT Air Show racers. One week before GT’s debut at the 1996 Summer Olympics, GT co-founder Richard Long was killed in a motorcycle accident.
At the time of his death, GT maintained an office at the Santa Ana plant as well as a factory in Huntington Beach. It manufactured 600,000 bikes a year under the GT, Powerlite, Robinson and Dyno brands.
Dorel Industries
Less than two years after Long’s death, in 1998, Bain Capital sold GT to another investment group. To Questor Partners, which at the time also owned Schwinn. Five years to the day after Richard Long’s death, Questor filed for bankruptcy and was bought out by Pacific Cycle. Pacific Cycle was in turn acquired by the Canadian company Dorel Industries in 2004.
Edition of GT Bikes Inc.
GT Bicycles Inc. publishing has been evolving since 1980.
1980 – 1983
In 1980, GT Bicycles Inc. released its first bike, the “GT Pro”, and began sponsoring BMX racers such as Lee Medlin and Denny Davidow. GT’s first magazine ad appeared in Bicycle Motocross Action (BMX Action).
For the 1981 season, GT released five models: Junior, Expert, 24, 26 and Pro. The models remain like this until 1984, when they introduce their first freestyle bike, the Performer.
In 1983, GT signed BMX freestyle riders Bob Morales and Eddie Fiola to design and eventually ride a new freestyle bike, the Performer. At the time, the Performer was the only other dedicated freestyle bike besides the Haro Freestyler.
The unique bent down tube was instantly recognizable. Plus, it was a game changer in design and marketing. Becoming a trademark for GT.
1985 – 2002
In 1985, GT bought the company Dyno, specialized in BMX accessories and clothing. In 1985, the company produced its first GT mountain bikes for the sport and emerging market.
Robinson Racing was created in the late 1970’s after Chuck worked for DG BMX and Webco Bikes Inc. It was purchased by GT Bicycles in 1987 from founder Chuck Robinson due to the company’s financial problems.
In 1989, bike GT acquired Auburn Cycles. Another company that Bob Morales had formed with Todd Huffman only a year earlier. When Auburn merged with GT, Huffman was hired by GT to manage the brand. All this, in addition to his title of marketing director.
Also in 1989, GT acquired Powerlite. The latter was founded in 1977 by Steve Rink in Orange County, California as an executive for the Peddlepower bike store, called Peddlepower SR.
In early 1979, that changed and the stickers read Powerlite. The company name was resurrected as an independent in 2002 as Powerlite Bicycles USA which produces racing bikes and BMX accessories.
Conclusion
The GT Bikes are very good road companion. Indeed, for a practice in mountain, for hardtail or to make BMX, the American group is placed as a must.
Nevertheless, it will be necessary to determine if this type of bike is right for you. Or the type of riding you want to do. For this, you will have to make a list of your needs. And if in doubt, why not get advice from experts online or directly in store.
