2011 GT Press Launch | All Mountain Bikes

Next up in the 2011 GT range is the All Mountain sector. Comprising a number of bikes that sit between five and six inches of travel, this is the range that covers what a huge number of riders need. Namely bikes which are light and provide a good combination of climbability and descending. The Force is the lightest of the bunch whilst the Sanction sacrifices some climbing ability for fun on the descents.

Read on for more info:Sanction
The Sanction is an all mountain bike for the burliest of All Mountain riding. Featuring a tough frame with an RP23 to control the 150mm of travel at the back, this was matched with a pair of Fox Float 36 RLC FIT’s up front on our top end 1.0 demo bike. Having spent the early afternoon on the lighter Force (more of that shortly) a few of us swapped to the Sanctions and took them for a blast down the Mountain of Hell qualifier track which is this bikes ideal terrain. Sacrificing some climbability over the Force is no major drama as it still climbs well despite 2.35 Maxxis High Rollers and slightly greater weight.


Ride wise the Sanction initially didn’t shine, feeling quite tall. But then, remembering that it is an all mountain bike that climbs as well as it descends and it made more sense amongst those that descend better at the expense of climbing, the offerings from some manufacturers not being more than a granny gear on a downhill bike. The forks on the demo bike felt sticky too although this was no doubt due to their freshness out of the box – some more riding time should loosen them up properly and allow them to match the back end a lot more effectively. Whilst the amount of time you have to set up bikes at events like these is usually minimal, a ballpark was found and it proved to be capable across a whole manner of trail types, from loose and rocky to hard packed washboard filled with braking bumps. It jumped with confidence and railed the ultra loose and dusty berms to the valley floor. Whilst these are obviously just first impressions, it nevertheless was a bike which had good spec, rode well across a variety of trails in the short time we had it and was good fun. Whilst not as specifically gravity orientated as some bikes out there it catches the middle ground well, retaining the ability to climb too. In fact from the top of the Mountain of Hell qualifier track from which you get some great views of Pic Blanc it was easy to think that this would be a bike right at home at the Megavalanche.


The 1.0 that we were riding also came fitted with DT Swiss wheels held onto the bike with Maxles front and rear, a Crank Bros Joplin adjustable post and twin rings up front with a bash and chain device. And attached to the Race Face carbon bars are Formula R1X brakes with 180mm rotors front and rear and 9spd X9 shifters. Why 9spd? Whilst 10spd is proven in the world of xc, the range of products is still very much xc oriented and thus not necessarily the best choice for a bike that is going to be seeing some abuse.


The second spec in the range is the 2.0 which still manages to pack a fair punch despite its lower price. A RockShox Lyrik R up front offers the same travel and taper steerer as the more expensive 36 on the 1.0 whilst a Float R keeps things active at the back. Meanwhile X7 does the job of gearing and one of the new X-Fusion adjustable posts in place of the Crank Brothers. It’ll be interesting to see how these hold up but it would be a welcome addition to the market if it provides great performance at a far more reasonable price than the current offerings out there.


Force Carbon
Force, the do all 150mm travel bike in the GT arsenal. With two frame options, one in aluminium the second in carbon there are no shortage of options to suit varying budgets. The top end carbon framed bike we had the opportunity to ride there was no shortage of high end kit dripping from the luminous yellow chassis. A Fox RP23 is de-rigour on bikes like this and the Force is no exception whilst suspension duties up front were dealt with by a RockShox Revelation XX which proved stiff and responsive and a great match for the rear end.



As with the Sanction range, two specs are available on the lighter weight Force - this time the Pro and the Sport. The top end Pro comes with a whole host of Crank Brothers parts including their Iodine wheels which, like most Crank Brothers parts, do a good job of looking trick and eye catching. Formula R1 brakes take care of slowing you down whilst there’s a full 10spd X0 groupset on there, including carbon cranks. This was my first real experience of using the 2x10 setup and whilst it took a little getting used to the ratios on offer it seemed slick and efficient in an unnoticeable way. Which is a compliment. Shifting was slick and sharp, and there was no noticeable degredation in any benchmark measures over 9spd.


On the Sport, QR15 RockShox Sektors and a Float RL take care of suspension whilst again an X-Fusion post does the job of dropping your seat when the time comes to descend. Gearing on the Sport is taken care of by a predominantly X7 2x10 drivetrain whilst an X9 rear mech shifts the chain across the wide ratio 11-36t cassette. Despite both bikes being fitted with 2.4” carcass Maxxis Advantage tyres they climb well, with the lock out aiding on the smoothest stuff where suspension isn’t needed to help maintain traction on the climbs. It’s easy to think of this as being a short travel bike but then it’s also easy to forget that a decade ago this was considered perfectly normal for downhill bikes, which makes the ability with which this genre can now climb all the more impressive. On the descents it cornered well on the short ride we had it out on, being both nimble and sure footed whilst being fun to pop off every little lip.



The aluminium Force option features a 6061 monocoque frame but keeps the same geometry, tapered head tube and aesthetic look of its carbon brethren. The Force 1.0 features a Fox Float RP2 & Revelation RL whilst the 2.0 a Float RL and Rock Shox Sektor TK’s. Kit changes to suit budgets but all feature 2x10 drivetrains to make the climbs easier and keep the weight down whilst both also come with the X-Fusion seatposts that so many others in the 2011 GT line up also feature.



Prices
Sanction 1.0 $5349
Force Carbon Sport $3949
Force 1.0 $3499
Force 2.0 $2649
Force 3.0 $2149

Next up will be the Endurance bikes, including the Sensor 29” wheel full suspension lightweight and the revised Zaskar Carbon.