Id have no problem riding the GT or the Fisher with confidence. I bet it can take all the abuse you can give it. The GT is NOT a Pacific or a walmart Schwinn, regardless of what anyone says.
....no i do not own a GT, but my buddy rode the sh*t out of an Avalanche for a long time, and ive checked out quite a few others.

I had a gt back in 94. it kicked ass but early full suspension was wicked heavy, sold it.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=202519

If you do not know what your talking about, then DON"T... This is one of the few that was made in the USA. My 94 Backwoods was made in Taiwan, but not the Tequesta.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...1/IMG_2062.jpg

I dig my GT

I just have an inexpensive GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc (~$500.00) and for the money I can't complain at all with this bike. It is a little on the heavy side, but most bikes are compared the 18lb road bikes that I am used to riding. GT is not what it used to be in the 80's but, it is by NO MEANS a walmart level bike, at least not yet. They are owned by Dorel who owns Pacific. They make good and poor products through various bike lines, GT being one of their best.
http://liveoncenjoy.com/SMF/MGalleryItem.php?id=12

My current frame was made in Tiawan. It rocks hard. Who cares?

I broke my derailleur hangar on my Carbon Mongoose last year and they gave me a GT Zaskar Carbon Team bike as a replacement when they couldn't find the frame.
I have no complaints!
Attachment 202571

Ouch. So the carbon models don't come with rear derailleur hangers? Luckily my Zaskar Elite does have a derailleur hanger. I have had so many encounter with the rear derailleur smashing or getting stuck with one thing or another, but never damaging the frame (but it did not spare the RD hanger).

here's one example:

Thanks to everyone who contributed and to those who just used this thread to show off their GTs.

I tried out the GF Cobia 19'' and it was too small (makes sense, as my wife took a 17.5'') and I was tired of waiting so I just went with the GT. I also tried the Kona Kahuna and it was too stiff and aggressive. Plus it had a cheaper fork and was about $200 more.

I hope I made the right choice though, in terms of size, because there's no way i'm going to switch out that sexy white&gold stem, just to adjust the fit.

As a kid growing up in the 80s, you were cool if you rode a GT "stunt" bike to school or around the 'hood. I wanted a florescent green or powder purple Performer or Mach 1. They were the beez kneez! Never got one but a hand-me-down BMX bike. In the late 90s when I got into mt. biking, I'd see the "pros" ride GT mt. bikes, and you could tell them from other bikes from a mile away by their distinct triple triangle. When I started riding more (and wanted to be cool), I bought my first real $$$ mountain bike: a GT RST-3 in candy apply purple.

I don't know what GT offers these days and from what I've seen and read, I'm a bit disappointed where they've fallen. But I'm sure they are great "bang for your buck" bikes that come from a good pedigree. I still have a soft spot for the GT brand. I no longer have my RST-3 but a couple of years ago I picked up a '98(?) Timberline and converted it to a city cruiser/grocery-getter/errand runner/commuter:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...55/gt-side.jpg

No, the frame came with a nice aluminum derailleur hangar that could have been easily replaced. But if they want to give me a $5500.00(retail) bike as a replacement for free I can't complain. :thumb:

Old thread bump (not that old, really).

So what's the concensus here? For fun, I've been looking at bikes for an upgrade down the road, probably in a couple seasons, or whenever. GT seems really interesting. They have a ton of cool looking bikes, all with good component sets for their price.

Gee Atherton seems to have been doing well enough on one. Doesn't seem like being owned by some big asian brand is a big deal anymore, cause pretty much all of GT's bikes seriously look sick.