GT RTS All Terra Mountain Bike with Girvin Vector Forks
Sheepdisease
Posts: 31
Hello, I am the owner of a GT RTS All Terra Mountain Bike with Girvin Vector Forks. I took the bike in to be serviced and was told the the suspension had seen better days. I am thinking about replacing the suspension so that it works optimally again.
I know nothing about suspension so I'd appreciate if if you could tell me the best way to go about improving the suspension cheaply (or at minimal cost). I've read something about converting to a spring instead of the elastomer (which has now gone rock hard).
I am considering replacing the elastomer with a CORFM from http://rapiddescentscotland.co.uk/index ... sition=7:7.
I don't know how to go about dealing with the rear shock spring so that it works optimally, but hopefully someone else will.
What do you think?
Side view:
Front view:
Angled view:
Front suspension:
Rear suspension:
Also, how would I go about sorting out etched scratches on the frame and other common ailments that come with a bike of such age to make it look like new?
I would consider painting the bike to make it look something like this:
So long as I could remove the scratches and mild dents first somehow.
Decals can be purchased from eBay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0279993538
To be honest I have no idea how to paint a bike, other than really realising that I would have to dismantle the bike in order to paint individual parts.
I am looking to replace the grips with something softer but for minimal price, as am I looking to replace the saddle for something more comfortable but also cheaply.
I know nothing about suspension so I'd appreciate if if you could tell me the best way to go about improving the suspension cheaply (or at minimal cost). I've read something about converting to a spring instead of the elastomer (which has now gone rock hard).
I am considering replacing the elastomer with a CORFM from http://rapiddescentscotland.co.uk/index ... sition=7:7.
I don't know how to go about dealing with the rear shock spring so that it works optimally, but hopefully someone else will.
What do you think?
Side view:
Front view:
Angled view:
Front suspension:
Rear suspension:
Also, how would I go about sorting out etched scratches on the frame and other common ailments that come with a bike of such age to make it look like new?
I would consider painting the bike to make it look something like this:
So long as I could remove the scratches and mild dents first somehow.
Decals can be purchased from eBay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0279993538
To be honest I have no idea how to paint a bike, other than really realising that I would have to dismantle the bike in order to paint individual parts.
I am looking to replace the grips with something softer but for minimal price, as am I looking to replace the saddle for something more comfortable but also cheaply.
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Comments
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talk to the guys at Rapid decent as thay are about the only guys who can help with the fork.
BUT i would be seriously considering putting the frame and fork on the wall.
If RDS can not help with the fork and there are no replacement shocks at a reasonable cost or your shock is not serviceable (i guess it has never had a service) it could be a better use of money to just replace."Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown0 -
Do you have any suggestions regarding any of the other points or queries I made? Thanks for your suggestions thus far.0
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Contact that shop regarding the vector springs to see if they are compatible with your fork. Though A decent new fork can be had for 80 quid which will perform far better. Same with the rear shock.
As for the frame, just get some metal polish on it! Comes up really shiny (see my Zaskar)0 -
Another Girvin cheese fork bites the dust.
Nice snowflake lacing on the wheels too
Don't see that much anymore. 0 -
Yeah, I want to make this bike as nice as it was when it was new.0
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Brasso metal dubbing is great stuff for the frame.
I think the RTS shock may be a proprietry fitting, so a replacments may not be asy to get.0 -
Hopefully someone reading this may have one laying about somewhere, or may know how to get them ship-shape again.0
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A guy called Pickle on Retro Bike forum has an RTS - be worth contacting him.0
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I've just registered at those forums, hopefully he'll read my thread regarding the bike.0
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Nice one! He is a top bloke, and more fanatical about GTs than even me, which I thought was impossible ;-)
Shiny mid 90s GTs rule.0 -
Woohoo!
I do agree!0 -
Latest picture:
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Aw man, that thing was just awesome Now, it is considerably unawesome. What on earth was that, a hossack fork? They barely even work on motorbikes with 250 kilos to balance out. Uncompromising extremist0
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Huh? It was a Girvin Vector Fork, which has now been replaced with a RockShox Dart 3.0
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Yeah, but the fork design looks like a hossack- wishbones and a seperate shock to seperate out braking and suspension forces. Which is frankly mental, because that's something that just barely works on 150mph motorbikes while adding stupid amounts of weight.Uncompromising extremist0
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It looks like one, but doesnt have the linkage pivot on the frame. They are actually quite light, with a j shaped axle path. Can work well, but not with just an Elastomer block! newer forks are stiffer and lighter though.0
