Gt avalanche expert 2016

ribbityeah

Do you know if the gt avalanche expert 2016 would be a worthy upgrade from my gt avalanche 3 2012?
I love the GTs and have fitted a rockshox xc32 solo air 100mm to mine.
The expert comes with a rockshox recon silver coil fork
I use it for light off rd and commuting mainly
I have seen no reviews of the most recent avalanche range
I also like the avalanche elite with suntour xcr fork but the spec isn't quite as hugh
Any help appreciated, or comments from anyone who has used these bikes

Thanks

cooldad

Links help. I doubt many people have ridden all of them, or memorised spec.

ribbityeah

Good point I shall add asap

ribbityeah

Hi further to my post:

Top Features of the GT Avalanche 3.0 2012

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Frame: 6061-T6 aluminium frame, double butted, post disc mount, replaceable derailleur hanger
Fork: SR Suntour XCM-V3-MLO 100mm travel
Chainset: SR Suntour XCT, triple 42/32/22
Bottom Bracket: Tange sealed
Pedals: GT Slim line, flats
Front Derailleur: Shimano Acera
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Alivio
Shifters: Shimano Rapid Fire
Cassette: Shimano 8 speed (11-32)
Chain: KMC Z72
Rims: Alex DM25, double wall
Tyres: Maxxis Sphinx 26 x 2.10 (F)/1.95 (R)
Front Hub: All Terra alloy disc, QR
Rear Hub: All Terra alloy disc, QR
Spokes: 14G Stainless
Brakes: Tektro Novela cable with 160mm Rotor
Brake Levers: Tektro
Handlebar: All Terra 6061 aluminium, 685mm wide, 25mm rise
Stem: All Terra 1 1/8" threadless
Grips: Dual Density, GT Wing
Headset: Tange Seiki
Saddle: All Terra
Seat Post: All Terra alloy micro-adjust

Gt avalanche expert 2016
Frame: Hydroformed & Butted Speed Metal™ Aluminum (TT/DT) Frame, w/ Triple Triangle™, Replaceable Derailleur Hanger, Disc Brake Mounts, and Zerostack 1 1/8" Head Tube, 27.5 Design

Fork: Rock Shox Recon Silver TK Coil 27.5" w/100mm Travel, w/Turn Key Lockout, QR Droupout, Coil Spring, Disc Only Lower, W/1.125" Alloy Steerer, W/ Remote Poplock Lockout

Headset: Kore 1B-1 1 1/8" Threadless, Zerostack

Bars: All Terra Riser, Butted, 710mm Width, 15mm Rise, 31.8mm Clamp

Stem: All Terra 1 1/8" Threadless, 3D Forged, 4-Bolt W/ CNC Face Plate, 6° Rise, 31.8mm Clamp

Shifters: Shimano Deore SL-M610

Front Mech: Shimano Deore, FD-M610

Rear Mech: Shimano Deore XT Shadow Plus, RD-M786

Chainset: Shimano Deore, FC-M610, 42/32/24T

Bottom Bracket: Shimano included in FC

Cassette: Sunrace CS-MS1, 11-36T, 10-Speed

Chain: KMC X10

Front Brake: Shimano BR-M396, Hydraulic Disc, W/ 160mm Rotor SM-RT30

Rear Brake: Shimano BR-M396, Hydraulic Disc, W/ 160mm Rotor SM-RT30

Rims: All Terra Double Wall, 32H 27.5, disc specific

Front Hub: All Terra Alloy Disc, W/ Quick Release, Center Lock

Rear Hub: All Terra Alloy Cassette Disc, W/ Quick Release, Center Lock

Tyres: Schwalbe Rapid Rob 27.5X2.25" with K-Guard Front Schwalbe Rapid Rob 27.5X2.25" with K-Guard Rear

Seatpost: All Terra Alloy Micro-Adjust, 30.9mm

Pls reply which is best!

ribbityeah

Hi further to my post:

Top Features of the GT Avalanche 3.0 2012

Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Frame: 6061-T6 aluminium frame, double butted, post disc mount, replaceable derailleur hanger
Fork: SR Suntour XCM-V3-MLO 100mm travel
Chainset: SR Suntour XCT, triple 42/32/22
Bottom Bracket: Tange sealed
Pedals: GT Slim line, flats
Front Derailleur: Shimano Acera
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Alivio
Shifters: Shimano Rapid Fire
Cassette: Shimano 8 speed (11-32)
Chain: KMC Z72
Rims: Alex DM25, double wall
Tyres: Maxxis Sphinx 26 x 2.10 (F)/1.95 (R)
Front Hub: All Terra alloy disc, QR
Rear Hub: All Terra alloy disc, QR
Spokes: 14G Stainless
Brakes: Tektro Novela cable with 160mm Rotor
Brake Levers: Tektro
Handlebar: All Terra 6061 aluminium, 685mm wide, 25mm rise
Stem: All Terra 1 1/8" threadless
Grips: Dual Density, GT Wing
Headset: Tange Seiki
Saddle: All Terra
Seat Post: All Terra alloy micro-adjust

Gt avalanche expert 2016
Frame: Hydroformed & Butted Speed Metal™ Aluminum (TT/DT) Frame, w/ Triple Triangle™, Replaceable Derailleur Hanger, Disc Brake Mounts, and Zerostack 1 1/8" Head Tube, 27.5 Design

Fork: Rock Shox Recon Silver TK Coil 27.5" w/100mm Travel, w/Turn Key Lockout, QR Droupout, Coil Spring, Disc Only Lower, W/1.125" Alloy Steerer, W/ Remote Poplock Lockout

Headset: Kore 1B-1 1 1/8" Threadless, Zerostack

Bars: All Terra Riser, Butted, 710mm Width, 15mm Rise, 31.8mm Clamp

Stem: All Terra 1 1/8" Threadless, 3D Forged, 4-Bolt W/ CNC Face Plate, 6° Rise, 31.8mm Clamp

Shifters: Shimano Deore SL-M610

Front Mech: Shimano Deore, FD-M610

Rear Mech: Shimano Deore XT Shadow Plus, RD-M786

Chainset: Shimano Deore, FC-M610, 42/32/24T

Bottom Bracket: Shimano included in FC

Cassette: Sunrace CS-MS1, 11-36T, 10-Speed

Chain: KMC X10

Front Brake: Shimano BR-M396, Hydraulic Disc, W/ 160mm Rotor SM-RT30

Rear Brake: Shimano BR-M396, Hydraulic Disc, W/ 160mm Rotor SM-RT30

Rims: All Terra Double Wall, 32H 27.5, disc specific

Front Hub: All Terra Alloy Disc, W/ Quick Release, Center Lock

Rear Hub: All Terra Alloy Cassette Disc, W/ Quick Release, Center Lock

Tyres: Schwalbe Rapid Rob 27.5X2.25" with K-Guard Front Schwalbe Rapid Rob 27.5X2.25" with K-Guard Rear

Seatpost: All Terra Alloy Micro-Adjust, 30.9mm

Pls reply which is best!

avalanche_expert

Since you have swapped out your fork anyway, I think the Avalanche Expert is an expensive way of upgrading your gearing from 8 speed Alivio to 10 speed Deore/Deore XT and switching to Hydraulic brakes.

You could fit these things to your current Avalanche for a lot less than £750. You could also upgrade the wheels on yours and still come in cheaper than buying the Expert. The stock hubs on these are pretty poor and don't wear very well if you ride the bike on a regular basis in all conditions.

I have the 2015 Avalanche Expert which is the same spec as the 2016 model, just a different colour scheme, different cable routing, tyres and saddle. The 2015 model is over £100 cheaper than the new one and it's the same bike.

The Expert has a coil fork and you have fitted the air fork to yours. The air forks are easier to tune to your weight as you don't need to swap out the spring. Of course you could fit your current air fork to the Expert if the spring rate is a problem.

I think the 2015 model is much better value than the 2016 and it looks better in my opinion, but for much less you could just upgrade the components on your Avalanche.

To be honest going off what you've said, I don't think you need the upgraded kit for your riding style anyway.

I love the GT's too, my old 1996 rigid Talera is now demoted to Turbo Trainer duties. I'm really happy with my Avalanche Expert, love it in fact! I've had mine since May and covered over 2000 miles on it. I've ditched the stock wheels and went tubeless, the original rear hub wore out despite correct maintenance and the rear wheel went out of true twice. I've upgraded from the entry level rotors and next I could do with changing to a softer spring so I can use all of the 100mm of travel.

Oh! the QR seat post clamp was useless too, the seat post kept slipping all of the time. A new clamp sorted that.

It's a really nice smooth, nimble and speedy bike to ride especially with a better wheel set on it, but I'm sure your Avalanche will be too. I'd suggest upgrading the bits on yours and you'll have exactly what the Expert is anyway, just for a lot less than £640/£750 of the '15 & '16 models.

ribbityeah

Thanks
That is exactly the sort of answer I was looking for
I have added a few components too such as welgo pedals and continental traffic tyres
I must admit you are right about the wheels I have had to have mine trued twice
I guess I was worried the frame may need replacing but I guess the gt frames last ages especially as I haven't abused it!
I was lucky as my bike came with hydraulic disc brakes too
Your bike sounds great too

JBA

What made you think your frame may need replacing?

avalanche_expert

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19726945#p19726945]ribbityeah[/url] wrote:

Thanks
That is exactly the sort of answer I was looking for
I have added a few components too such as welgo pedals and continental traffic tyres
I must admit you are right about the wheels I have had to have mine trued twice
I guess I was worried the frame may need replacing but I guess the gt frames last ages especially as I haven't abused it!
I was lucky as my bike came with hydraulic disc brakes too
Your bike sounds great too

Your frame will be fine unless it's been in a crash of some kind and it's been bent. There is no reason why your GT frame won't last a lifetime.

My old GT is 19 years old and it's frame is as good as the day I bought it. I upgraded to my Avalanche because I wanted modern geometry with front shocks and hydraulic disc brakes. For my budget in my local shops the Avalanche Expert was easily the best specified hardtail I could find. Also I really like how it looks and after my old GT I was more than happy to buy another. The wheels are the only real negative with the stock bike.

Your Avalanche will be every bit as good as the new ones if you upgrade the parts you feel you need to.

ribbityeah

I am not sure why I thought the frame may need replacing. I crashed into a fence a few months ago but the bike seemed fine
Any ifead on good light strong wheels for my Avalanche pls at a reasonable price?

ribbityeah

Meant any ideas!

avalanche_expert

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19727720#p19727720]ribbityeah[/url] wrote:

I am not sure why I thought the frame may need replacing. I crashed into a fence a few months ago but the bike seemed fine
Any ifead on good light strong wheels for my Avalanche pls at a reasonable price?

You could check out the Mavic Crossride wheels. They have sealed cartridge bearings with much freer spinning hubs than the standard All Terra ones. They are also a bit lighter than the stock wheels. My average speed has actually consistently increased by 0.5 - 0.6 MPH over my last 4 rides since fitting them to mine...

d

ribbityeah

Brilliant will do
Your bike looks amazing!

bluemoon81

you looked at this i cant believe the spec for the price.

http://www.diamondback.co.uk/MTB/Product/?pc=1&pt=10&pg=14287

The Rookie

Your right, it's rubbish for the price....unbelievable.

My old HT frame was a 2006 as is my new FS frame, both work as good as new, as mentioned the better forks you now have on yours means changing would be silly.