RC sat down with the GT Factory Racing squad at GT's Team Camp in Temecula, CA. With over 35 athletes attending from around the world, the GT family is looking to kick off the season with their best foot forward.
Although they shouldn't be, I think some people still see the likes of GT and Saracen brands you would associate with the word 'budget' or shall we say 'cheap'. However, both the Fury and the Myst (the Sanction and Ariel included) are bikes that have been proven for seasons on the World Cup/Enduro circuits. I think a lot of people would rather go for a bike from a company such as Santa Cruz/Specialized due to their name. It's a shame because the Fury and Myst are such good bikes.
Where I am in Canada, there's a big box store called Sport Chek and they sell GT bikes and Jamis. In our area(may not be the same everywhere in Canada), customers have become accustom to seeing them as cheaper brands. This store sometimes doesn't have the same level of technicians as a regular shop so the build qualities aren't up to standard.
That's what is giving them a bad name around here at least. The bikes they sell are mostly all leisure level bikes and it wouldn't reflect their better bikes but the way a consumer sees a brand is dictated on how it performs and it if isn't on par with other brands sold at bicycle shops, it's seen as a lower end brand.
@matthew10 I understand your point, but its not like GT put any less money into marketing their DH bike than Santa Cruz/Specialized, or like GT have any less WC podiums. Gee and Rachel stacked up plenty of WC podiums on a GT.
GT have a fairly wide dealer network in the UK and the price seems pretty comparable. I just don't get why no one is buying them.
I wonder if its the linkage that no-one can really work out; or cos they're available in Halfords; or cos the Athertons aren't very popular riders; or maybe they're just seen as an old man brand?
I don't have one myself, and I don't think I would even consider a GT - but I don't really know why? Strange
I'll prob get neg propped for saying this but I don't think the Athertons helped being honest. Unsure why but they weren't really followed that well by the community (that I ride with anyway). I think now they have these new looser and more chilled riders on board their sales will increase. I had a fury and it was perfect pretty much in every way
GT bikes in the US are sold mainly through performance bicycles, the most corporate of bike shops, and there are no santions or furies on the sales floors. It just seems like there is a real disconnect between their presence on the WC DH and enduro series and what bikes they are actually trying to sell.
I've gotta agree with the above. Only time I've really seen GTs is at box stores, with only entry-level / gen pop bikes represented. The brand does not have a high-end identity like it used to.
Not sure if I agree fully with @sewer-rate. Atherton's popularity is inconsistent, yes, but to be fair they were the ones who elevated the bike and brand to legitimate contender on the race circuits again. And now that they have this fast, wild, and diverse group, yeah sales will go up. Really excited to watch the team this season!
Cause there ugly! Just remake the GT Lobo or GT DHI with modern angles and they'll have a winner especially a Lobo as people get so sucked into marketing these days that a pull shock would once again blow everyones minds, but in all seriousness please make a lobo with modern angles I would really really like one!
Yeah I think I agree with you freestyIAM and beast-from-the-east. GT seem to have a disconnect between the suits in the office and the hardcore riders. I do wonder if the Athertons are partly to blame though, because GT high end bikes were pretty popular back when Steve Peat and Eric Carter were competing on them. I also wonder if the corporate disconnect is something to do with having a long history of bankruptcies and umbrella group buy-outs (Wikipedia search "GT Bicycles") possibly leading to the brand lacking identity or a clear direction?
I got a world cup fury(which i'm regretfully having to sell), that I've just had professionally powder coated a different color and I think looks totally amazing. I ve had v 10's, carbon operators, nukeproof pulse, evil undead, demo s works, and the fury is equally up to par, I went from a v 10 to the fury, and personally would go with a fury before the v 10 again as I do not like the (negative travel)
I think the paint schemes have a lot to do with sales, like I see guys selling last years bikes to buy this years bikes and the components are virtually the same, just different paint, and guys/girls just gotta have it. so it totally is the paint
gt's popularity in Canada does have a lot to do with where they are sold, as you never see the high end bikes on the floor of these department stores, only low end beaters, so if 90% of ur sales are beaters, whats ur company gonna be known for.
gt NEEDS to get their higher end bikes outa the factory and into the department stores floors so the good ones can be sold.
never cracked or fractured my gt fury ever, never needed to send my frame away for warrenty as mine has been BOMBPROOF.
I've always felt a bit of a turn off to the GT's because of their older stuff, and t's something I've never been able to shake off. I've known a couple of folks with them, and they were always over weight, under spec'd and in general under-inspiring bikes. I borrowed a mate's Fury for a ride and it rode like a cross country bike. A really heavy, squishy cross country bike... So I'm stuck with that memory. That, and how long they stubbornly stuck with an overcomplex suspension system that didn't do any of the things they claim it did also did it.
Some of the newer stuff looks pretty cool though, I just can't get the old stuff out of my head is all...
GT's have historically been popular around here....but not anymore. From what I have heard the thing that's blown it for them is the AOS suspension system (Helion, Sensor and Force). Most people that are looking for a full suspension bike don't either understand it, and those that do understand it don't like it. The idrive works well (and still does on the Fury and Sanction) so why did they have to change it?
Dan Atherton won a round of the AOS bike so you would think it would work. I think the price point is a big part of the problem too oif you look at the equivalent giant you get for the same money you get a much better spec
That's true, they ride well and are capable of winning races.....when they are serviced regularly (which most team bike are). But if you ride a lot in the dust or mud then then pivots get gunked up and your small bump compliance goes out the window. Most average riders just want something they don't need to maintain all of the time.
They were very good, and popular, DH bikes before I-Drive or whatever that crap was in early 2000's...by the time they recuperated from that bad publicity, they were available in a Big Box store(Sport Chek) = Zero sales to any serious biker. Gotta be in the local bike shop.
They are a rare site. However, my wife and I are both riding the 2015 GT Fury and my daughter will be aboard a 2016 GT Fury this year. My wife won several local DH races aboard hers and also took our local Cat 1 women DH overall title aboard the Fury. I rode mine a total of 36 days in the park last year and my wife had 40 days on hers (plus several days of truck shuttling.) Neither one of us had any problems with the iDrive system and we rode them through everything from mud to moon dust here. They both have had suspension, drivetrain, brake and wheel maintenance but the iDrive, linkage and bearings went an entire season without any issues or maintenance whatsoever. I haven't been disappointed in mine at all.
Ive have 1988 karakorm owned it since new has a ton of odd upgrades from back then, a 2006 Idrive 5 and now custom build distortion running 650B front end. Really geart suspension system especially here on the north shore gnarly trails. I always ride up from my house uphill to Fromme or seymour great climbing bikes.
Gt really lost their core once they sold and got all corporate, moved away from socal for most part. even gt owners close to team guys like hans rey have had trouble getting some love.
stark contrast to the grassroots support santacruz, evil, norco, intense, provide.
In the uk gt spent so long being sold in halfords at the bargain end of the range that it is difficult for the uk market to consider them as a choice for a high end product
@randybadger - I disagree , just look at Saracen!! If there is one brand that has turned it round it's those guys so it can be done, and GT's products are very very good!
In not disputing that they are good, I've had several zaskars and a fury over the years.
What is true though is the brand went wholesale into halfords and neglected the independent retailer so the image of gt became based on an entry level mtb between 250 and 600.
Add to that the fury pre atherton getting at best mediocre reviews due to being of relatively old geometry you can see how many would overlook the current line up.
People buy stuff that is new (like YT) or proven for years of delivering best quality (like Spec). GT is not regarded as 'bad bike' but simply nothing interesting.
"Why is GT Canada in sportcheck and not in my LBS?" ...would like to know about this as well. If someone could post their answer here if there was one please (can't listen to the broadcast)
My theory behind sport chek carrying GT is that the average bike sold is under 1000. Most are around 500. Sport chek is a sport equipment retailer that likes to carry brands every knows that makes a quality product. That's where GT comes in. They've been making bikes long enough where people that aren't into bikes know of GT bikes.
Some brands don't like to be associated with chain stores. They feel it gives off a certain vibe that they don't want to be known for. I'm guessing GT is a brand that just like it when big numbers of bikes are moving, regardless who they sell to.
Sport chek isn't seen as a bicycle shop. They may sell a lot more low end bikes than LBS but when it comes down to it, they don't need very experienced technicians working in the shop considering most of what they sell is entry level hybrids and mountain bikes. They don't need to invest in a technician that has many years in the trade or knows how to do complex repairs like rebuilding suspension or building wheels. This keeps the cost of having someone servicing the bikes they sell, less than having a highly experienced technician.
I could be totally wrong in my theory but, maybe sport chek is losing customers who are looking to purchase or would like to service a high end bike but don't want to go to a massive chain store to have their bike serviced. They just aren't renowned for having a bicycle service department on par with that of a bicycle shop. If I were the consumer, I'd feel more comfortable bringing it to a cycling oriented shop because that is primarily what they do.
As stated in my previous comment, this is from my experience where I live. It could be totally different at other locations.
I'd like to know the real answer that GT would say about selling their bikes in sport chek. I feel it does more harm than good, at least for their higher end bikes.
This is cool but when are we getting one of those classic bike forefather interviews with RICHARD Re Mantis? Come on my whigga! Get Tom Ritchey or someone to interview YOU and shoot a mad vid telling us about XCR, Flying V, Pro Floater & WTH happened to cause the brand to fade away? Then you can go out & smash it on hardtails like the Ritchey vid you did.
- Why not see more ads like this ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ46J3NQIVg ) from Scott? Scott (and Strava) rules when we talk about advertisment videos.
- How is the relationship between Cannondale and GT? Do you change infos about everything? And about the Dorel investments? Is the Cannondale the main brand of the group, correct?
@ Sam in the past you practiced allot with the syndicate and Brook as well but now you have the bulldog in the same team do you predict a more unified team loyalty (ie keeping lines and settings to yourselves) or business as usual?
@ Rachel is Kyle planning on getting to any of the enduro races? Does he still play a major role in training or has that position been taken by team GT?
This 'rap' with a guy who can't hold a microphone near his mouth when he speaks so we can hear him - if we were at all interested, that is - won't help the sales of GT bikes. Abysmal presentation.
that was so forced when he said the pedaling platform was better on the GT... you could tell that he didnt even believe it when he said it.... too funny
- Why don't you invest more in components and accessories like Specialized do? I'ts possible to buy an entire Specialized bike (just the brakes and the transmission from another brand) and accessories. Would be nice if I could buy everything by GT (and I speak about excelent quality components and accessories, not ordinary pieces...).
I think that if you do all of these things that I said before (please, see my previous questions) the GT brand will be valued.
And I'm sorry you live in California! I lived out there for years man. Great place to visit, I wouldn't live there again, but I love to visit still. Don't dis AZ man, it's badass. We have everything here, except the ocean and rain forest. Tundra, conifer forest, all 4 North American deserts. And lots of guns! Haha its a diverse place, just like California.
I've never understand why, cos they've always ploughed a ton of money into marketing the Fury in the UK. So how come no one buys them?
Not a sarcastic question by the way.
That's what is giving them a bad name around here at least. The bikes they sell are mostly all leisure level bikes and it wouldn't reflect their better bikes but the way a consumer sees a brand is dictated on how it performs and it if isn't on par with other brands sold at bicycle shops, it's seen as a lower end brand.
GT have a fairly wide dealer network in the UK and the price seems pretty comparable.
I just don't get why no one is buying them.
I wonder if its the linkage that no-one can really work out; or cos they're available in Halfords; or cos the Athertons aren't very popular riders; or maybe they're just seen as an old man brand?
I don't have one myself, and I don't think I would even consider a GT - but I don't really know why?
Strange
Not sure if I agree fully with @sewer-rate. Atherton's popularity is inconsistent, yes, but to be fair they were the ones who elevated the bike and brand to legitimate contender on the race circuits again. And now that they have this fast, wild, and diverse group, yeah sales will go up. Really excited to watch the team this season!
I do wonder if the Athertons are partly to blame though, because GT high end bikes were pretty popular back when Steve Peat and Eric Carter were competing on them.
I also wonder if the corporate disconnect is something to do with having a long history of bankruptcies and umbrella group buy-outs (Wikipedia search "GT Bicycles") possibly leading to the brand lacking identity or a clear direction?
I ve had v 10's, carbon operators, nukeproof pulse, evil undead, demo s works, and the fury is equally up to par, I went from a v 10 to the fury, and personally would go with a fury before the v 10 again as I do not like the (negative travel)
I think the paint schemes have a lot to do with sales, like I see guys selling last years bikes to buy this years bikes and the components are virtually the same, just different paint, and guys/girls just gotta have it. so it totally is the paint
gt's popularity in Canada does have a lot to do with where they are sold, as you never see the high end bikes on the floor of these department stores, only low end beaters, so if 90% of ur sales are beaters, whats ur company gonna be known for.
gt NEEDS to get their higher end bikes outa the factory and into the department stores floors so the good ones can be sold.
never cracked or fractured my gt fury ever, never needed to send my frame away for warrenty as mine has been BOMBPROOF.
www.redbull.com/uk/en/bike/stories/1331672370190/dan-atherton-enduro-bike-check-setup
when they got bought out by pacific they took a HUGE hit everywhere. no one wanted to buy a huffy, the poor kids all rode huffys.
they are still suffering from the "only poor kids ride those" even after 2-3 more buy outs.
I doubt anyone paid £4000+ for a single one
build all my bikes except (shocks,forks and spokes) I leave that to the gifted mechanics..
Come on my whigga!
Get Tom Ritchey or someone to interview YOU and shoot a mad vid telling us about XCR, Flying V, Pro Floater & WTH happened to cause the brand to fade away?
Then you can go out & smash it on hardtails like the Ritchey vid you did.
- How is the relationship between Cannondale and GT? Do you change infos about everything? And about the Dorel investments? Is the Cannondale the main brand of the group, correct?
- Will you invest in road bikes or the attention is only in MTB bikes?
- When GT Factory Racing will enter officially in UCI XCO Elite Champonship?
For you lucky owners of one, sell it to me!
Why even bother putting it there right now?
Would be nice if I could buy everything by GT (and I speak about excelent quality components and accessories, not ordinary pieces...).
I think that if you do all of these things that I said before (please, see my previous questions) the GT brand will be valued.
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- How many direct employees has the GT?