PressCamp '16: GT Bicycles

For 2017, GT Bicycles will begin their first foray into the plus bike market with the release of the brand new Pantera hardtail. Given just how hot the plus segment is right now, it’s hardly a surprise for an American company like GT to be announcing a 27.5+ mountain bike. But from our first initial look at the Pantera hardtail during PressCamp 2016, it looks like they’ve firmly hit the mark with this high-value fun machine.

Perhaps the bigger news from GT however, is the broadening of their off-road lineup for the 2017 model year. Over the past four years, it’s been no secret that GT’s predominant focus has been on revamping their high-end full suspension range. Seeking to win over a more hardcore audience, GT delivered what has become one of the most desirable downhill race bikes on the market: the Fury. Ridden to numerous victories by the Atherton siblings, the new Fury’s progressive geometry shot GT out into the spotlight with its forward-thinking design and stellar high-speed performance. Shortly after, GT delivered the new Force and Sensor 650B trail platforms, followed by the Helion XC bike, and the Sanction enduro rig. Each new bike has been coveted by press and enthusiasts alike, which has helped to lift GT’s image in a competitive market that is seeing rapid evolution in geometry, suspension performance and frame standards. While all of those developments are still important, GT has concentrated its efforts on the entry and mid-level of the MTB market for 2017, applying trickle-down technology to the bikes that will be purchased and ridden by the newest riders to our sport. During PressCamp, I had the opportunity to check out some of the new range, which are delivering incredible bang for buck.

Ok, so we really gotta talk about that blue Pantera first. As I mentioned above, it’s the first plus bike to come from GT, and it comes in the form of an alloy hardtail that features 120mm of travel and trail-oriented geometry. The frame itself is crafted from 6061 alloy tubes that are hydroformed, welded and heat treated into the final shape you see here. It of course features the iconic Triple Triangle design, with elongated seat stay tubing that extends past the seat tube into the top tube. The result is masses of lateral stability for the short back-end, while pushing some of the vibrations from the rear wheel into the frame, rather than up into the seat tube. Mind you, the Pantera features quite burly oversized alloy tubes, with most of the compliance coming from those fat 2.8″ wide tyres.

“Made to let the good times roll…….over everything! When you want the manoeuvrability of a traditional trail bike to take on the technical steeps, balanced with the stability that a 29er brings over the rooted, rocky and rutted out sections of your local trails, you can find it all in a Plus bike. GT’s newest addition to the lineup is the Pantera 27.5”+, with oversized tires that are ready to rock every type of terrain you can throw its way. The increased traction gives you the type of cornering and pedalling control you need to ride in almost any condition, putting your skills at centre stage” – GT Bicycles

The Pantera will be coming in several options, though the blue model you see here is the top-level Pantera Expert, which will sell in the US for $1620 USD (there’s no confirmation as to whether the Pantera will be heading Down Under, but stay tuned for updates on pricing and availability). The fork up front on the Pantera Expert is a 120mm travel Revelation from RockShox, which comes with a 15mm thru-axle and Boost 110 spacing. Wheels are All Terra models, which feature a tubeless compatible rim that’s paired with 2.8″ wide Schwalbe Rocket Ron tyres. Spec all-round is well thought out, and highlights GT’s close attention to current market trends, whilst still ensuring that those dollars are spent where it counts.

The Pantera Expert gets a 1×11 drivetrain, which relies on a Shimano XT rear derailleur with a direct mount hanger for shifting cogs. Regardless of price, the entire Pantera range all utilise the same frame, which features neat full-length cable routing for shifting. Bolt-on guides along the underneath of the downtube manage gear cables and brake lines, and they’ll accommodate an externally routed dropper post. Unfortunately however, the Pantera frame has no provision for Stealth internal routing. Other slightly less exciting details on the frame include sealed bearings for the tapered head tube, a threaded bottom bracket shell with a regular external-type bottom bracket, and post mount 160mm rear brake tabs.

For a more comprehensive insight into the GT Pantera, keep your eyes peeled for the latest issue of AMB Magazine, which includes my first ride report from PressCamp.

Another new GT model devoid of carbon fibre and fancy acronyms is the Verb. With 27.5″ wheels and 120mm of travel front and rear, the Verb is designed as a versatile trail bike that’s equipped for all-round riding. It sort of sits between the existing Helion and Sensor in terms of suspension travel, but with its modest parts selection and alloy frame, the Verb is built to be a cheaper entry point into the full suspension market. Rather than the newer AOS suspension platform though, GT have given the Verb their previous i-Drive design that simplifies some of the forgings and machining required to reduce manufacturing costs. Geometry is on the relaxed side, with a 68-degree head angle and a low-ish bottom bracket height giving plenty of stability and confidence on the descents. The result is a comfortable and easy-riding mountain bike that is perfect for beginners who want a bike that’ll take them anywhere.

“The Verb is the perfect suspension bike for a rider that is having to make a decision between a hardtail and full suspension bike due to price. We all know that full suspension bikes are fun but they also provide more traction and help boost confidence especially for the beginner to intermediate rider. The Verb has a modified Independent Drivetrain system that will allow you to have class leading technology at a very affordable price” – GT Bicycles

Like their sister brand Cannondale, GT is growing its women’s line for 2017, which they call “GTw”. One of the models joining the range is the Helion GTw Elite, which employs the same frame as the existing Helion, but with different graphics and a revised parts spec designed to appeal to female riders. While the AOS suspension design and 110mm of rear travel remains, GT have added a burlier Fox 34 fork up front with 120mm of travel. This kicks back the angles a bit, and is designed to deliver more descending stability from the snappy Helion chassis. Chunkier tyres in the form of Schwalbe Nobby Nics should deliver more traction in mixed conditions, making the most of the Helions impressive cornering abilities. While the Helion GTw Elite is meant to be a women’s model, I’m so into the paintjob and the spec changes that I imagine a lot of guys will be buying these too!

More big news on the Helion front, as GT announce a 29″ version of their latest XC full suspension bike. First introduced for the 2015 model year, the Helion took the same AOS suspension design as the latest Force and Sensor models, and shrunk it down into a lighter and tighter XC package that was designed to appeal to XC racers and trail riders. You may recall my review of the GT Helion, where I praised the lightweight XC bike for its fun and poppy ride qualities and incredible cornering prowess. Part of this comes from the low bottom bracket height and short chainstay length, and part of it comes from the smaller 27.5″ wheels, which give the Helion more of a fun XC vibe than the “heads-down, bums-up” racerboy feel. Looking to offer something a little more suited to XC and long distance marathon racing, GT have added 29″ wheels to the Helion platform, so riders now have a choice in wheelsize.

For the most part, the new Helion 9r uses the same AOS suspension design and similar frame profile to the 27.5″ model, but stretches things out a little for the bigger hoops. Not much though, as they’ve been able to retain a 438mm chainstay length while still using a regular 142x12mm thru-axle, rather than the new Boost 148 standard. Another crucial element to the Helion 9r’s handling is the use of a 51mm fork offset that helps to decrease trail for crisper steering. Combined with the low centre of gravity of the AOS suspension design and the short chainstays, the Helion 9r retains the nimbleness through the turns of its smaller wheeled sibling, but with the rolling advantages of the bigger wheels. And so with the increased tyre contact patch, GT have shortened the travel a touch to 100mm front and rear, which means we’re expecting to see more racers and long-distance XC riders looking towards the Helion 9r platform.

Pricing and availability of the new 2017 models will be updated as soon as the info comes to hand. For further information about the current GT Bicycles range, see your local GT dealer or get in touch with Monza Imports.