walshy155

I have a red GT All Terra Outpost (Triple GT Triangle) which I've tried to make more modern.

I've put new brakes on, and new tyres...That's it at the moment. I did put very low end suspension forks on but the springs went as they were well very well used. Now the bike has the original forks back on.

I'm not very good with bikes, and I'm learning slowly. I love the frame and want to make it into a hardtail with front suspension, I'm not sure what forks I can fit on the bike.

The bike has a Altus C10 derailleur if that could help you.

Thanks guys

Will modern-ish forks fit on this bike? it makes for a smoother ride, and better for trails.

jimc101

If the Atlus C10 is original, the Outpost will be a 1993 model. You could put any modern fork on it, with upto around 80mm travel (a lot of 80 mm forks come with adaptor to increase to 100mm travel which gives more option) , and the handling would not be adversely affected; over 100mm, and the handling will be affected.

When the bike came out, normal travel was about 40-45mm, with long travel being 60mm, although the extra 40mm sounds a lot, part of this will be taken up by sag, so it's not too much additional travel. Doing all this however will not make the bike handle anywhere near as good as having the same fork on a modern bike, as the geometry of bikes has dramatically changed since the early 90's.

If it's worth it, is another question, the Outpost was the very bottom of the GT lineup, with Hi-ten stays, and only Chromo main tubes, you had to go to the Timberline to start to get a good frame back 1993, putting any modern fork on it will mean a new (a)headset, stem, probably handlebars, as 25.4mm stems are getting harder to find, would suspect that it will be a lot cheaper to just buy a complete bike with an upto date fork, rather than trying to upgrade a really old bike. Modern bikes will ride far better than a bike from the early 90's, be far better spec'd and handle far better, if it was mine, would stick the original fork back on, ride as is, and get a modern bike which is designed around having suspension.

Flying Merkel

Much wisdom in the above post. Might be cheaper & better to sell the Outpost & buy something newer & better. I've been caught in the trap of diminishing returns more than once myself.

walshy155

Well I don't have enough money yet, as I only get £60 a fortnight for college, will get enough money on my birthday, as I'm only sixteen, been looking at a GT aggressor 3.0, Carrera Vulcan, Specialized Hardrock.

Are there any low end mountain bikes that do the job around £250? Or a good second hand bike around the same price?

Thanks guys.

The place I go mountain biking has several burms, massive jumps (who ever built them are probably pro MTB'ers) there's alot there, just want a relatively good hardtail for more control, it really hurts my wrists...as he Outposts original forks are rigid.

The place I go is called Troserch woods.

jimc101

Mountain bikes and cheap aren't things which normally go together, if you are looking at massive jumps, you are looking at a big bike for that, and big money.

Looking for a new basic modern MTB will be around £500, but for learning on, the Outpost will still work, having it rigid means you will have to learn to ride it, not just use a skills compensator. BITD all we had was rigid, and we survived with it.

For 2nd hand bikes, if you look on ebay you may find something, but be prepared to travel for it, and make sure it is in good condition, and the right size for you.

If you intend to go off road with an MTB, you also need to budget for replacement parts, as you will wear out / break part riding off road.

walshy155

I have a couple of friends that go mountain biking so I should have a shortage of spare parts, but if I could get a fork for my GT that would be excellent but I suppose I'll be buying new bike soon.

Kimmo

Co-ops are a source of awesomely cheap cool parts when Lady Luck smiles on you...

Says the guy with a free DA chain & Ultegra cassette with minimal wear

DCB0

Yeah, either sell the bike and buy something more modern (but still second-hand) or just ride it as is. Putting money into anything besides replacing worn or broken parts is a major waste of money.

walshy155

Thanks guys, I'll just keep it and ride it as it is then buy a new bike.