PINKBIKE FIELD TEST
GT SENSOR CARBON EXPERT
GT's redesigned Sensor pays homage to the famous LTS.
Words by R. Cunningham, photography by Trevor LydenLTS stands for Linkage Tuned Suspension (who knew?) and it was also the name of the dual-suspension trail bike that put GT in the game back in the day. The 2019 Sensor marks their return to a conventional four-bar, linkage-driven rear suspension, and a concerted effort to rekindle the one-bike-to-ride-everything spirit that turned mountain biking into a social revolution during GT's golden years.
The 130-millimeter-travel Sensor Carbon Expert carries a $3899 USD sticker price and shares the same half carbon, half aluminum frame as the $5000 Sensor Carbon Pro and its more affordable sister, the Sensor Carbon Elite.
GT Sensor Carbon Expert Details • Travel: 130mm rear /front
• Wheel size: 29"
• Frame construction: carbon / aluminum
• Head angle: 65.5º / 65.98º
• Seat angle: 76º / 76º.48º
• Sizes: SM, M, L, XL
• Weight: 29.5 lb (13.4 kg) size M, w/o pedals
• Price: $4200 USD
• More info:
GT Bicycles Give the Sensor Carbon Expert a walk-around and it's apparent that you are getting a hell of a lot of bike for under four grand. Start with 29-inch wheels and add a 12-speed Eagle XO1/GX drivetrain, a 130-millimeter RockShox Revelation RC fork, paired with a Deluxe RT3 damper. The handlebars are wide and the cockpit is steep in the back and slack up front - which is a good thing. GT's shock-mount flip chip can be used to toggle between a 65.5 and a 66-degree head-tube angle, with a corresponding shift at the seat tube angle. We left ours in the low, slack position, 'cause that's how we like our trail bikes..
Climbing Judging from the Sensor Expert's build, 29-inch wheels and modern numbers, I expected it to roll smoothly over the area's ceaseless roots and be calm at the controls. Instead, GT's take on the trail bike pedals and rides almost as firmly as I'd expect from an XC racer. A steep seat tube angle and zealous support from the rear suspension eliminated any settling while climbing. With or without employing the shock's low-speed compression lever, I could hammer on the pedals willy nilly and the GT would convert my effort into forward motion.
That didn't necessarily make the Sensor a great climber. Its rear end felt notchy while powering over roots, especially at slower speeds. There are many zones where high anti-squat values and mega-firm pedaling are hallowed trail bike attributes. None of those places, however, are located in the Pacific Northwest. The GT would ease into a fast tempo on the smoother sections of a climb only to bog down three meters up the next root garden. Experimenting with shock settings (like Cannondale, GT recommends a maximum of 25% sag at the shock) did little to soften the rear suspension. Low tire pressures (21 psi front and 24 rear) helped, but speed was really my only savior. Like a hardtail, the Sensor hydroplaned over the chunder as long as I stayed on the gas.
Negatives aside, the Sensor was rarely lacking for grip. Overcome your frustrations, keep the power on, and the GT could top technical sections that would raise the eyebrows of experienced observers. No doubt, some of that traction was generated by its shopping-bag-thin, tan-wall Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires which wrapped around nuances in the trail in a way that only an invertebrate life form could duplicate. More on that later.
Descending Both riders who field-tested the Sensor Carbon commented that we were being pushed forward on the downs. The solution was to up the fork's air pressure and add a touch more low-speed compression. The culprit was that the rear suspension was riding high and overdriving the fork. Normally, the solution would be to soften the shock, but it seemed were were fighting rear suspension kinematics, not damping or spring pressure in this case. The resulting ride was still firm, but much better balanced, and the GT responded by becoming a composed descender.
SRAM's Level brakes lacked the sophistication you'll need to finesse the Sensor downhill at speed, but stay at 80% and the GT will have you dropping down boulders, or drifting loamy corners until you run out of altitude to burn. Steering is light, but not wiggly, and the fork's 51-millimeter offset works well with the steering geometry for those times when you need quick steering inputs to thread down a tricky chute. Rough surfaces at speed, will have the Sensor drifting both wheels with minimal drama until the suspension is no longer overwhelmed and the tires find consistent grip again.
GT needs to upgrade the Sensor before it's going to reach its full potential. The tan-wall Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires were a laugh. They should be renamed "El Chapo" because the air usually escaped before we had put the pump away. You didn't have to ask if I was riding the GT - the Stan's sealant on my kit was the giveaway. Another miss was the 120-millimeter-stroke seatpost on the medium-sized bike. It should have been a 150. I am only five-foot, seven inches and there was plenty of extra post showing above the clamp. Cash can fix those gaffes, but GT will need to tame the Sensor's ill-tempered rear suspension before its 130-millimeters of wheel travel will feel adequate for the aggressive trail bike category.
Note: The shock tune on the Sensor has been changed since we conducted the Field Test. Our test bike had a medium rebound, medium compression tune and two volume tokens, which has been switched to a low rebound, low compression tune and three volume tokens. This should help improve some of the small bump sensitivity issues we were running into.
In addition, bikes are now shipping with an extra inch of steer tube, allowing riders more room to find the ride height they prefer.
Let's get it on!
My comments: Bike is the stiffest thing I've ridden: ever. Combine this with the relatively short travel, firm pedalling platform and a very aggressive (slack head angle for descents, steep seat angle for climbs) geometry and you find yourself wanting to charge at everything. It begs to be ridden aggressively, wants to be railing corners, favors having the dropper dropped so you are always ready to do something fast and stupid.
My negatives would be that the stack height is short, especially once you're into a size large, but that is fixed with changing to hi-rise handlebars, or changing the air spring in the fork to a 140mm or 150mm which would turn the bike into quite the ripper. Small bump sensitivity isn't awesome but the trade off is the firmness of pedalling platform.
I liked the bike so much we decided to add GT to the brands we sell...
I agree that an air spring swap would be a highly recommended move - that was my first thought when I rode the bike earlier this year.
As you mention, and what I would identify with more (I've had to learn this for moments when I'm suggesting a bike that I personally am not a fan of) is to talk about the type of rider a bike might suit, why it might suit them, the trails it might suit etc.
A great example is the Sensor vs. Trance 29er. Some see similar bikes, I see 2 bikes that compliment each other. For a certain rider who goes out on long rides, keeps their butt in the saddle much of the time, the Trance and its Maestro suspension would be more comfortable and the slightly slacker seat angle means slightly less weight on the hands on longer flatter pedalling trails. The Sensor might favor an aggressive rider who is out of the saddle more, or rides/enjoys trails with quick punchy climbs and steep descents to take advantage of the geometry and suspension.
Maybe a thought for the tone of the reviews?? Otherwise, thanks for the great reviews!
We'll have to see if the new tune fixes the issues we had with the bike—but it could explain why all our reviewers felt one way about the bike and some other riders didn't have the same issues.
Ya the stack is low. That combined with an over damped rear end sure as hell will feel like you’re gonna go otb. The tires are thin as tissue paper.
Not sure why I’m getting down voted? Go look at real user reviews, they all contradict what is written here.
But hey, want more ammo to down vote me? I’m selling this bike to fund an ebike! Eww gawd burn him you must be thinking! Well doesn’t seem like anyone reading pinkbike is gonna buy so I guess the sensor will just have to be my enduro race bike next season. See you at the finish line, mate.
New 2019 RockShox Charger RC cartridge-style, self-bleeding damper
forums.mtbr.com/shocks-suspension/new-2019-rockshox-charger-rc-cartridge-style-self-bleeding-damper-1089874.html
It is a funny thing about the rigidity that makes you want to ride like an idiot heh. Whenever I mention the stiffness to people I have to also mention that I'd never complained about a bike not being stiff enough before - just not a thing that I ever thought about - but then when I get on this thing there is this weird sensation almost whispering in your ear like, "dude, it is built like this for a reason - ride harder." I liken it to the first time I rode on a tapered steer tube frame/fork when that was a new thing - I hadn't ever thought about front end stiffness as an issue then all of a sudden the game changes and you start pushing the front end of the bike more.
One thing on the stack height too: look at Martin Maes and Wynn Master's riding styles. They both seem to share a similar riding style of riding in a very aggressive bent over stance which suits these bikes (and racing in general). I admit on my first test ride day I was liking that position - I was only out for a couple hours and was pushing hard. It was more once I got my own bike and the rides weren't all-out that I felt the need to raise the front end.
Enjoy your bike!
It’s not a personal thing, I’m not offended or something, I just want to look out for other riders. Plus I recently had to undergo flexor tendon repair surgery so being active in these comments has been fun for me.
Let me explain this: my favorite riding buddy just got the new blur. I wanted an xc style trail bike to ride with him as the enduro was too much bike for those mellower xc/style trail rides. Based on this review you might think the sensor fits that bill nicely. But I was immediately disappointed the sensor was clearly much closer to an all mountain bike than light and snappy trail bike. I put my enduro wheels and tires on immediately because I knew these tires were not gonna survive one ride. With that set up the sensor doesn’t climb much better than my Wreckoning, just a lot more comfortably. My large expert, out of the box, is 31.6 lbs (with tubes no pedals). I verified it on two decent quality scales. It’s pretty heavy and you got to use the climb switch to keep the rear suspension from sagging too much on the climbs.
With all the negative props I’ve received I decided to lean into it. So I’m gonna race the smuggler next year. Pretty excited about it!
In any case, although the suspension impressions would likely alter a bit with a different shock, the other portions of the review, which discuss the bike's fit and component spec, still stand.
As for the rest of your comment, I kind of lost you there. Good luck with the healing, and go easy on the pain meds.
Personally, I'll likely be looking for a new bike when XT-level Shimeagle 12 comes out. Then I can have the low-profile rear derailleur and clean shifting of a Shimano drivetrain AND an extra-low bailout gear.
Until then, I'll grunt out on an XT 1x11 (11-42 rear, 32 oval front, 27.5 wheels).
I'm in tears laughing at the image of this.
www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.sram.com/sites/default/files/techdocs/gen.0000000005683_service_manual_2019_pike_revelation_english_rev_b.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjYx5SR0Z_fAhVic98KHZggCXIQFjAAegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw26SDmJfT1LCebqNhjmafAj
forums.mtbr.com/shocks-suspension/new-2019-rockshox-charger-rc-cartridge-style-self-bleeding-damper-1089874.html
Nifty exploded view here: uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181004/13bbf39e483f9b028a677af0da010d81.png
Looks like the it also doesn't have any HSC adjustment.
So what are the odds this goes the same was the Fox GRIP Damper did (i.e. introduced as a budget option that was actually as good or better than the bladder based system that was occupying the top of the line)
"Pinkbike- Post early, post often"
The early bird gets the "First"
Maybe, I heart direct mount
Post-mount is for me
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes and creaking PFbb's.” -Pinkbike
In addition, in the last fews days/weeks all I look for when I go to Pinkbike: Is there a new slow-mo of a bottom out, which i need to see?! :-D
Honestly this spec is kind of baffeling... Tan walk tires and level brakes on a trail bike with a 65 degree HA? Poor allocation of resources.
My current build:
Lyric RC
Super Deluxe RCT Coil
XT Drivetrain with E13 Casette
XT Brakes (some issues I know, but plenty of power, easy to bleed the levers on a road trip and cheap to replace)
Minion DHR 2.5 front Agressor 2.5 DD rear
1 Up 150mm dropper
Carbon bars
$4500
www.pinkbike.com/photo/16670045
How do yall think this would be with a coil in the back and bumping the front up to 140?
Have access to the Sensor and the Habit and intrigued by doing coils on both.
It's really hard to compare bikes in a vacuum. There are a lot of things changing. The reviewer is an important one - both his/her ability to make judgments and their tendency to follow through and to take them to the article. More reviews from RC.
Did you fellas check/try removing volume spacers for more plow through roots, better climbing?
Imo more linear spring force plows through better, would you agree?
I'd prefer low AS, so if the choppiness you guys experienced was shock related rather than frame kinematics related it'd make a big difference to my opinion of the bike... I'm going to go out and test, but does the bike actually have high AS?
As I mentioned, in a different context, where the techy pitches were spaced between long, smoother sections of trail, the Sensor's shock tune and kinematics would be praiseworthy. Also, many prefer a super firm pedaling platform, at the expense of small bump compliance, you'll just need to keep your speed up.
I did not confirm the anti-squat percentage, but (watch the boulder footage) the chassis does not rock rearward under large pedaling efforts, which is impressive, so the GT either has a significant percentage of anti-squat built into the design, or it has a combination of factors that provide the same effect.
Looking forward to giving it a go, sounds promising. What a time we're living in, I'm considering buying a GT....
www.pinkbike.com/news/stans-s1-wheelset-review.html
Will need to switch to minions or smth durable like that and throw my 90 € pair of almost new tires away.. and im not even riding rocky/sharp or even street stuff, only groomed jumps and trails.
Very disappointed since i used to ride Schwalbe tires that actually worked and i could not imagine to get such inferior equipment (especially at that price-point)
Designer 2: Paint it do-do brown!
- Colour, poo brown
Other than that it'sa nice looking machine.