Product Information

GT Avalanche 1.0 2011

GT started life in 1979 producing good quality bmx bikes then ventured into mountain bike production. Their triple triangle design was innovative and has been a dominating force at many race meetings, it is still used today, but relegated more to competitive recreational riding at the Avalanche level. If you wish to race, you would find spending more on a Zaskar beneficial. 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 tough 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. An inexpensive upgrade would be to convert the Tora's to a remote lock-out, it will cost about $120, but allows much greater versatility as you will tend to use the lock-out more regularly. The Avalanche's 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, as a higher quality tyre can offer less rolling resistance and lighter weight. 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.

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Price: $1199.00 $899.00

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