GT Force 1.0 - is the I drive belter or bo*****s ??

Grummble
Grummble Posts: 9
edited May 2009 in MTB buying advice
Is the GT force 1.0 a decent ride? I love the gear hanging on it, but not sure about the I drive. Is it worth the cash or should I stick to Cannondale / Kona??
Grummble

Comments

  • djb1971
    djb1971 Posts: 565
    I love mine, paired with the rp23 the I-drive is excellent. It has good traction and gives a plush ride. Once the shock is setup pedal bob isn't noticable unless you're jumping up and down on the pedals.It loves being pointed downhill on a bumpy track and it also climbs very when you think about what travel this bike offers.

    I wasn't too happy with the fox forks at first, compared to the rear they seemed too stiff but thankfully they've softened a bit now they've had some use. I think it's a little more hardcore than the xc they've marketed it at so god knows how solid the sanction must be. I personally think its built better than the last few cannondales I've had and with more kit for the money. I love konas but they also dont have better kit for the money and with this travel they are much heavier.

    Where have you seen it? Cheesey has a brand new one for sale in the classifieds.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    It is a fantastic platform, and you wont find a better value full susser than that.

    The Idrive has a high single pivot which is great for sucking up square edged hits and small bumps, but the Idrive linkage removes almost all the annoying pedal feedback you get with similar designs.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    I can vouch for the GT Force, it's a stunning ride and a great all-day trail machine... not 'racy' in the XC sense but inspires confidence when you get used to the I-drive system, took a little bit of getting used to but it's worth it when you get used to it... virtually no pedal bob... and as supersonic said theres nothing that can touch it for the money, even at the full £2k asking price back in 2008 it's worth it.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I think some people dislike the Idrive because you can't really feel the sus working - which to me is a good thing!
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    I agree, it just 'feels right' after the first 10 mins on it.....
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I was blown away when I first rode one back in 1998. Having just come of a long travel LTS (low horst pivot), you couldn't feel it squat as much, and in the small ring the feedback on the LTS was huge!

    Orange need to add a idrive link to the 5 ;-)
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • Grummble
    Grummble Posts: 9
    Grummble wrote:
    Is the GT force 1.0 a decent ride? I love the gear hanging on it, but not sure about the I drive. Is it worth the cash or should I stick to Cannondale / Kona??

    Thanks chaps, I've been popping into City Bike Depot in Sydney over the past few weeks and bending the techie's ears about the GT, the Kona and their Cannondales. I'll be taking the GT Force 1 and the Kona dawg deluxe out over the next few weeks to have a play and compare, but I've now got that warm fuzzy feeling about the GT. The kind of feeling that makes your wallet cry :twisted:
    Grummble
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    Grummble wrote:
    Grummble wrote:
    Is the GT force 1.0 a decent ride? I love the gear hanging on it, but not sure about the I drive. Is it worth the cash or should I stick to Cannondale / Kona??

    Thanks chaps, I've been popping into City Bike Depot in Sydney over the past few weeks and bending the techie's ears about the GT, the Kona and their Cannondales. I'll be taking the GT Force 1 and the Kona dawg deluxe out over the next few weeks to have a play and compare, but I've now got that warm fuzzy feeling about the GT. The kind of feeling that makes your wallet cry :twisted:

    You won't regret it, you will be pleasantly surprised with it - it's a lovely ride! Are you going for the 2008 or 2009 - the only thing I prefer on the 2009 model is that it's black, oh and has QR15 drop outs on the fork.......

    The frame itself is a work of art - gorgeous in fact - almost an alien 'organic' feel to it... and at 29lb it's pretty light to for an AM rig!
  • Grummble
    Grummble Posts: 9
    The '09, The black look is very sexy, and I cant wait to dial it in around Manly dam and the Blue mountains. Very chuffed with the QR15s as well, the spec does the frame loads of justice and vice versa.
    Cheesey wrote:
    Grummble wrote:
    Grummble wrote:
    Is the GT force 1.0 a decent ride? I love the gear hanging on it, but not sure about the I drive. Is it worth the cash or should I stick to Cannondale / Kona??

    Thanks chaps, I've been popping into City Bike Depot in Sydney over the past few weeks and bending the techie's ears about the GT, the Kona and their Cannondales. I'll be taking the GT Force 1 and the Kona dawg deluxe out over the next few weeks to have a play and compare, but I've now got that warm fuzzy feeling about the GT. The kind of feeling that makes your wallet cry :twisted:

    You won't regret it, you will be pleasantly surprised with it - it's a lovely ride! Are you going for the 2008 or 2009 - the only thing I prefer on the 2009 model is that it's black, oh and has QR15 drop outs on the fork.......

    The frame itself is a work of art - gorgeous in fact - almost an alien 'organic' feel to it... and at 29lb it's pretty light to for an AM rig!
    Grummble

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