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GT Avalanche 3.0 - should I keep it?

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GT Avalanche 3.0 - should I keep it?

Old 01-13-09, 08:12 PM
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GT Avalanche 3.0 - should I keep it?

I picked up this fairly recent GT the other day with the idea I would sell the frame & use some of the other parts on a few projects that I needed stuff for (and it didn't need to particularly high end stuff....just decent for urban ATB riding...and, trust me, the questionable economics of the idea did work out in this case). I know the GT frames have a loving following, so I figured the real item of value in the bike is the frame So, my question is whether this is a frame worth building with good components. I have a '95 GT Zaskar LE that is going to be my re-entry into MTBing, but I figured that sooner than later I would be itching for some slightly more modern technology...and, for some strange reason I feel like I'd like to keep my Zaskar in its original spec & enjoy it for what it is...so, if that's the case, would I be wise to keep this Avalanche frame to build with a modern fork, disc brakes, etc. or is it pretty "pedestrian" in terms of a modern hard tail MTB frame? For reference, here's the Avalanche (sorry for the lousy picture):


(and before anyone asks what the heck was I thinking wanting parts other than the frame from this bike, just "it was a bargain")
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Old 01-13-09, 09:29 PM
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Great project. I just picked up the GT Avalanche below for a mere 50 bucks with Deore LX/XT. Only thing I have to replace is the shifters, cables and fork. Picked up a Specialized Hardrock Comp A1 last month for 50 bucks and just replaced the cables seat and cranks. Reviving them is almost as fun as riding them for me. Anyway, howdy.
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Old 01-14-09, 03:22 PM
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i've always wanted a GT frame, ever since i was a little kid riding GT bmx bikes, dreaming of the day that i'd be tall enough to ride one. they day i got my first mtb GT's were being sold at questionable sporting good stores so i passed, i didnt know they still made good bikes till a year or so ago.

if i didnt already have 3 mountain bikes i'd grab a GT
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Old 01-14-09, 05:14 PM
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This Avalanche may have a good frame (assuming an early 2000 vintage GT frame is still tough as nails like the old ones), but component-wise it's entry-level or below in terms of really being put through the paces for tough riding....for an urban cruiser/adventurer, i'd say it'd be fine. I'm using the bars, brakes, levers shifters (maybe), rear derailleur (looks to be replaced with earlier Exage X?), and wheels on a variety of other bikes (where their performance & expected duty-level will be better matched).....but I suppose I could start putting my ear to the ground for bargains on some disc brakes, driveline components, a fork & wheels & end up building this into a nice bike. I hate the paint, but probably won't strip it unless I'm building it.
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Old 01-15-09, 07:27 AM
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I have a 1.0 and I couldnt be happier.. the components are amazing, 27 sp and disc brakes.. it's really light too!
I know the frame is the same from the 2.0 to the 1.0, but not sure about the 3.0? Good Luck!
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Old 01-15-09, 10:48 AM
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how light is "light" in this case? if my luggage scale is correct, my '95 Zaskar weighs 24lbs in it's original (Deore XT, 8-speed, cantilever brakes, elastomer dampened fork) form...which is as light as some of my older steel road bikes & SO much lighter than my steel GT Karakoram from the late '80s...but in today's terms, i don't know what I should expect.
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Old 01-15-09, 11:19 PM
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I myself have never owned one, but a few friends do, and they love those bikes. You can drop a GT off a cliff and it will keep going. I myself will one day build up a late 90's model, just need to either make room or get rid of a bike or two first.

kg4kpg-- That bike you posted looks sweet!! Is that chrome? If so thats what i will start looking for myself.
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Old 01-16-09, 07:10 AM
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Originally Posted by jjbod1
kg4kpg-- That bike you posted looks sweet!! Is that chrome? If so thats what i will start looking for myself.
Nope, bare aluminum. The pic just has the light right. The surface is actually pretty scratched-up so I will polish it out real nice to start its new life. Only thing I really have to get is a new fork but budget has that on hold for now. Any recommendations for a good fork on a budget is appreciated.

~Chris
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Old 01-16-09, 07:45 AM
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here's my Zaskar...also bare aluminum (lots of fine steel wool rubbing)....i'm weighing out hunting down NOS elastomers for my fork vs. a new fork or retrofitting mine. I want to keep the Zaskar in it's circa-1995 simplicity as much as possible....

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Old 01-16-09, 07:37 PM
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Nice Zaskar fiataccompli.

Here is my '97 Zaskar. A few upgrades here and there. I am going to be putting a SID Team takeoff on it as well as a Thomson stem. Everything else is pretty much stock XT with the exception of an XTR cassette. Kicking around the idea of upgrading to 27 speed but I do not know if I want to drop the money into it right now. I do know I will never get rid of it though!

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Old 01-16-09, 10:10 PM
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Couple awesome Zaskers. The Spin wheels look awesome under the red. Im not sure what year my Avalance is but the frame construction looks a lot like that on fiataccompli's Zasker.
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Old 01-16-09, 11:30 PM
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Originally Posted by fiataccompli
here's my Zaskar...also bare aluminum (lots of fine steel wool rubbing)....i'm weighing out hunting down NOS elastomers for my fork vs. a new fork or retrofitting mine. I want to keep the Zaskar in it's circa-1995 simplicity as much as possible....

I have the same fork on my 95 Gary Fisher HKEK. There is a guy on ebay that sells the elastomers for that fork, and has them for 3 different weight classes. If i wasn't so tired at the moment I would hunt the link down for you,but im sure if you search it, it can be found. He sells them for $35. per set.
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Old 01-18-09, 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by kg4kpg
Couple awesome Zaskers. The Spin wheels look awesome under the red. Im not sure what year my Avalance is but the frame construction looks a lot like that on fiataccompli's Zasker.
Thank you kg4kpg. She is an old warhorse but still kicking though it does reside on my trainer right now. To damn cold and to much snow to get out and get in any decent riding. Though it is warming up a little around here!

Scott
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Old 01-18-09, 10:10 AM
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Thanks. I'm going to look out for the elastomer seller. Nice to see that others like these bikes enough to hang onto them too!
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