The GT Zaskar

124

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Yep, top swing, but bottom pull.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    Cheers!
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • Soggz
    Soggz Posts: 221
    Toasty wrote:
    Sadly not, I know what you mean though. A couple down from a Zaskar if I recall the aluminium range correctly:

    Zaskar
    Avalanche
    Pantera
    Backwoods
    Arrowhead

    Did I miss one? :?
    The Panteras frame was 7005 though wasnt it?...mine is...
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    7005 was a series of aluminium, the numbers relate to the different quantities of metals in there. Much like the old Zaskars were 6061.
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • Soggz
    Soggz Posts: 221
    cool, so is it ,the lower the number, the better quality? or is it ,the higher the number, the better the quality?
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Neither really! Just slightly different alloys with different properties.

    7005 has a slightly higher tensile strength, but is more difficult to form and weld. As construction has a lot to do with final frame strength and properties, many top end frames in the 90s were 6061 where more working was invloved, while cheaper 7005 'plain' frames makde up the budget end.

    Nowadys makes little difference, both are used widely.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    Well, that's mine ordered. I'd been waiting for some cash to come in while watching the remaining frames ticking down. Last week there was 1/10+/1/0 (xl/l/m/s), on Saturday this ticked down to 1/5/1/0, then Sunday was 1/4/1/0 followed by 1/2/1/0 this morning. Given I wanted XL I was skating on thin ice a bit.

    I quite often do this, gamble with things like this, lose, then get pissed off. Fortunately the missus rushed to my rescue and completely out of the blue bought the XL frame herself :S Yay!

    So, hopefully by next weekend it should be build up. Kit going on there is currently:

    SLX derailleurs + shifters + brakes
    XT chainset + cassette
    XT factory XC wheelset + Specialized Captain Control 2bliss
    Reba SLs
    Truvativ Team Stem + Carbon riser bars
    Thomson Elite Seatpost
    SDG Bel Air Ti Saddle
    Oury Grips! (Inappropriate but awesome)
    Cheapo M520 pedals

    Should build up quite nice and light, I want to use it for longer rides, hence the Oury, Rebas, Bel Air, risers etc. Nothing too silly weight.
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    Gotta go for the all black stealth look Toasty! I'm stuggling to think of a black XT chainset equivalent though...

    how about this?

    http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=30&products_id=143
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    Hehe, I know, it's so close. Everything is black with silver/white detailing, except that damn chainset. Even the pedals are black, grips are black, saddle is black with white text and logo, black Thomson post obviously.

    I think a Noir would probably fit the bill, especially with the Rockshox + Truvativ finishing kit, seems a bit steep though. XTR maybe?

    Anyway, I'll tidy the kitchen and get some pics posted asap.
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    That will be lighter than my build! My first build anyway ;-)
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    The bits are pretty light, especially the wheels due to the crazy light 2bliss tyres, proper 2" wide tubeless tyres for 620g, similar width to my 2.25" Nobbys/Ralphs. 135g stem, 166g bars, 11-32 tooth XT cassette, 250g seatpost (31.6mm is lighter than 30.9mm which suprised me).

    The biggest weight is those SLX discs to be honest, I weighed them, brand new, with rotors and adapters at 1011g on the scales :S

    I've been quite anal about weight unfortunately, I'm sure it'll continue. I'm not going to sacrifice ride quality for weight though. I like railed SDG Bel Airs for example, even though the Ti one still came in at 289g on my scales. I've got an Ibeam SL one on my commuting bike and it's completely different, same shape, rock solid.

    Err, anyway, sorry, I'm rapidly drifting weight weeniwards. It's good having a hardtail to let this side of me out though, otherwise I'll stick carbon and thin wheels on the Meta, completely defeating the point in it!
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I found out more about frame weights - 2.65 to 3.37lbs across the whole size range, inc headset cups, bolts and hangers.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    Race Face Deus? I' not a fan of Truvativ cranks in general - it's nothing in particulay, just seem a bit overpriced/unreliable.

    gt08_zaskar_side_hi.jpg

    XTR doesn't seem black enough!
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    supersonic wrote:
    I found out more about frame weights - 2.65 to 3.37lbs across the whole size range, inc headset cups, bolts and hangers.

    We've got some gram scales here, I'll say what mine weighs when it comes in :)
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Mines getting the gold LX crank to start lol
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    What size did you go for? I think this frame is my dream hardtail frame. I would love to have the funds and the justification to get one!
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I got a 18M, toasty the XL. Mind you he is 6f6 to my piffling 6 feet ;-)
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    I'm quite reassured by the claimed weight to be honest, my Stumpy has a beast of a headset on so it's probably about 1800g for the frame + headset, so quite a decent loss and a reassuringly sturdy for a carbon trail bike.

    Definitely a dream bike here too :) I used to spend my teens desperately wanting one of the old Zaskars, there was a kid at my college we knew solely as the "Zaskar Kid", never did find out his real name. My poor Raleigh Max Cromo had a DCD (Daves Chain Device), new fangled LX V brakes, a cog hog, Smokes/Darts, Crud Catcher, anodized red risers and spds, sadly I never managed to save more than £20 so a Zaskar was always out of my league.

    I bought an Avalanche a couple of years back to try and relive my youth, I didn't get on with the shorter top tube though sadly so I flogged it on. This is a much better idea!

    PS Is it just me or is the entire Bikeradar domain absolutely chugging along? Doesn't seem to be my connection.
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    Hehe, I have an Avalanche at the moment!
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    I don't have a bad word about the Avalanche really, the frame was very nicely made, very close weight to the Stumpy too, I just felt too cramped. I sold the frame on ebay, bought a new frame and swapped bits across. Top tube wise:

    618mm on the 2007 one I had
    634mm on the Zaskar
    640mm on the Stumpy

    Sounds quite petty in retrospect, bizarre how much difference an inch or two here and there can make. I think I could have had a bit more layback on the seatpost with a longer stem, not fun though. The XL Avalanche top tube is about the same as a large Zaskar one.
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • Speed_King
    Speed_King Posts: 510
    is that polished frame you pictured earlier for sale i want one
    G.H.Allum
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    I've just noticed Wiggle are doing a load of reissue ones for silly cheap too if anyone is interested.
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    Stripped down my old Stumpy frame tonight, 1670g with only the seatclamp, about what I expected for 21". Sadly I can't bring myself to sell it, I'm far too sentimental, it's going in the shed to be built up again when we have more room! :cry: I'm using an old B1 full sus frame to commute in on, it's on shakey ground at the moment!
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • gm1230126
    gm1230126 Posts: 3
    what's everybody running for disc brakes on their Team carbon's. I'm working up a spec sheet for this frame. I picked it up at "A racers" garage sale after the Beijing Games. Only two were made like it the one he rode in Beijing and this spare in case something happened to the other one before the Olympic cross country race. I suppose it should be built to that racers original spec because it's even got his name on the decals. Will be back to post pics got to get them up on flickr first I guess.][/img]
  • gm1230126
    gm1230126 Posts: 3
    Speed_King
    what you looking for in a polished Zaskar frame? I have two....one 16" and one 18". Shoot me your email and I can send you some pics.
  • toasty
    toasty Posts: 2,598
    gm1230126 wrote:
    what's everybody running for disc brakes on their Team carbon's. I'm working up a spec sheet for this frame. I picked it up at "A racers" garage sale after the Beijing Games. Only two were made like it the one he rode in Beijing and this spare in case something happened to the other one before the Olympic cross country race. I suppose it should be built to that racers original spec because it's even got his name on the decals. Will be back to post pics got to get them up on flickr first I guess.

    I'm using SLX discs but only as I had a set kicking around. If I were buying from new I'd personally get a set of Formula R1s now. Good pound lighter than the SLX as well.

    Wow, amazing story behind the frame by the way, you might find the proper race version is sneakily a bit lighter than the team ones weve picked up.
    Stumpy FSR 29er
  • ringo42
    ringo42 Posts: 21
    Here it is after its first outing in the sun today.
    Spec is as follows:

    Zaskar Carbon Team Frame Size Large
    Magura Durin Race Forks
    Full XT Groupset
    Mavic XC717 Rims
    Thomson Elite Seatpost
    Ritchey WCS 4 Axis Alloy Stem
    Ritchey WCS Carbon Riser Bar
    ODI Extreme Lock on Grips
    XT Hydraulic Brakes
    Maxxis High Roller UST Tyres 2.35
    Crank Brothers Egg Beater Pedals
    Fizik Gobi XM Saddle

    Fantastic responsive ride, makes you realise how great hardtails can be again!
    P1010590.jpg
    P1010591.jpg
    P1010592.jpg
    P1010593.jpg
  • mottles
    mottles Posts: 203
    Lovely!
    Specialized Pitch Comp - Mr Glass' Monster
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... 3#16136203
  • muddylegs
    muddylegs Posts: 485
    Sorry I have come into this thread half way though and I know it’s not a Zaskar but it seems to be a GT appreciation society.
    This is my Karakoram from 93 I still ride it.
    http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv10 ... 300012.jpg
    http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv10 ... 300011.jpg
  • samcharles
    samcharles Posts: 24
    Guys, where did you get your GT Carbon Team frames from?!

    Riding an aluminium Gt Zaskar Team at the mo, but your black carbon Zaskars are awesome - need to have one in my life!!

    Ta

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