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GT Avalanche Disc 1.0

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An awesome ride for the money

BikeRadar verdict

4.5 out of 5 stars

"Why buy an expensive bike when you can have one of these beauties?"

8 comments
Mon 15 Oct 2007, 1:00 am BSTBy

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GT's Avalanche has been a front runner among £500 bikes for years but this year it stands head and shoulders above others we've ridden. It's even turned some of our test team off top dollar bikes, so what exactly have GT done to create this excitement?

Chassis

The chassis has been evolving for a while, and now exudes a real subtlety that's markedly different from many 'use the biggest tube possible as a logo billboard' bikes that clog up the mid market.

The integrated Aheadset headtube gets discreet reinforcing around top and bottom edges and there's a similarly understated leaf gusset under the throat of the down tube. Contrary to standard practice, the mid-sized down tube is no fatter than the top tube with both getting teardrop to flat oval shaping to combine vertical front strength with horizontal pedalling stiffness. Main tubes are butted for localised strength/stiffness too.

The rear stays are skinny for an alloy frame, with subtle tapers to neat hollow knuckled dropouts that ape the replaceable ones on GT's full suspension bikes. GT retain their trademark Triple Triangle overlapped seatstay design too, with tidy welding where the seat tube extends through the top tube.

Any structural advantage is a moot point, but it does mean the cables flow through very smoothly. Twin bottle cage bosses complete a well thought-out frame.

Equipment

The great frame already gives the Avalanche a clear advantage but GT have also backed it up with superb value kit right through to the last detail. The Suntour X100 fork impressed riders used to suspension that costs more than the whole bike. There's no adjustment beyond a lockout lever for road work, but spot on spring rate, decent damping and no top or bottom out bluntness meant we didn't need to tweak.

Truvativ cranks are a mid-price stalwart, but the LX/Deore gearpack is great for the money, with a noticeably crisp, more upmarket feel than similar bikes at the price. Kevlar coloured Jagwire cables match the gilt frame panels and add to the clean shifting feel.

The Tektro disc brakes are impressively controlled too, with proper self-adjusting pad wear making them worry-free weather beaters. The finishing kit is all good gear, with extra wide bar leverage appreciated almost as much as the 'Grip firmly at both ends for best performance' instructions etched on the the bar!

Ride

That sort of fun attitude is written right into the character of the bike too, making it an instantly and universally enjoyable ride throughout our test team.

The fork feels way better than we expected for this price. It's controlled and consistent throughout the stroke and hasn't seized up after three rides like all budget forks did until recently.

The frame is particularly peachy. The combination of slim rear stays and mid-sized down tube is outstandingly smooth, while the beefier top tube keeps things in line and under control. You can get a bit of rear disc rub if you really pile the pressure on through corners or on climbs, but you never feel you're wasting power or losing precision. The lack of chatter and steep seat angle keeping the nose down helps traction when you're charging up climbs too. There are frames costing more than this bike that feel less cultured.

Weight distribution and overall balance are great too. Some riders might want to chop the wide bars down, but the extra power-assisted leverage helps you feel sure-footed when things start to kick-off under your front wheel.

The steep seat angle pitches in again to nail the front wheel through loose turns and it'll lift or hop either end easily for quick line changes or danger dodging. Add consistent, controlled brakes, faultless shifting plus competent all round tyres and basically it does everything you want it to do, when you want it to, in exactly the way you wanted to.

SO GOOD
- Superb, subtle feeling, beautifully balanced frame
- The most complete £500 bike we've ever ridden

NO GOOD
- At this price, nothing

What's the score with BikeRadar reviews? You can find a full explanation of our ratings here.

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User Reviews

There are 8 reviews on this post

Showing 1 - 8 of 8 comments

  • What a little beastie!

    There is really very little wrong with this bike. It is incredibly capable all round and will really let you enjoy singletrack, descents and copes ok on the climbs. The only problem is there is noticable frame flex around the BB area which makes it ghost shift with high torque.

    The high light though really is the Tektro Auriga Comp hydraulic disc brakes. They work great and good power and feel. The forks don't give much hassle and things all work fine.

    The geometry is nice and eager, confidence inspiring for my girlfriend who is getting into the sport and i'll have a blast launching a descent. I wouldn't recommend this as a bike to upgrade though, the frame is possibly the weakest point of this great overall package because of the flex - which does happen to make it very comfortable if a little bouncy, like a poorly damped fork. But I know if my bike was nicked tomorrow, I'd scrape together £500 and would be happy on this for a few years until I could afford my high-end love!

  • My first bike for 25 years. How things have moved on!

    Seems like a fantastic bike, and bought it after reading reviews like this one. Don't really have anything to compare it to though, so don't want to give it 5 starts.

    Only thing that is thoroughly naff is the manual. It's a rubbish generic GT bike magazine that doesn't have anything specific to any of the parts. So when you first put the wheels on and read the warning about reading the manual first, you feel a little miffed to find no mention in the manual at all.

    Seat's a bit hard, but sure that will get better when broken in a bit. Good and light, and excellent for a noob like me.

  • Just had to register to post a comment. Bought this bike primarily for use by oldest son however I've been out on it a few times in the forests to have a go. Now I'm a roadie should that matter but suffice to say I've ridden for many years and have a few bikes which are pretty responsive and I was gutted [and soon knackered] when I put some effort in as the bike simply absorbs all effort with no response.I have just been out with a mate who is a very experienced mt biker and we swapped bikes after I started whinging about mine.He was equally disappointed and scathing so it's not just me. I bought the bike after reading the MBUK review however I would not recommend it to anybody who wants to do anything more than pootle around.

  • I agree with (getting on a bit) i sold my Giant bike which was 3 years old and saved up for a new mountain bike and i went off the shinning reviews for this bike and was thoughroughly dissapointed with the whole ride, i seem to put alot of effort and power into the ride and get nothing out of it (like riding an exercise bike) I m gutted i sold my beloved Giant, best part of the avalanche is the Tektro brakes and suntour forks... not a recommended buy :(

  • I have a agressor xc2 which is essensialy the same bike, sharing the frame, and all the same components other than the LX, which it replaces with Deore. A great bike, great frame, and decent kit. i'v upgraded the below par forks and sorted some better bracke pads and a new back tire, and as new fsa crank, but they were all due to my ragging it silly for a year, it kinda needed the cranck and tire and that. overall a great bike. it even copes with the rocks and drops well. Well done GT

  • I have had this bike for around a month now, I love it, easy for up-hill and does whatever i want it to do

  • This is an excellent Bike. I've owned 8 bikes, and this was the best. Lightweight, strong, fast, manoeuvrable and good looking. I'd recommend it to anybody. I did on it what others could do on bikes that cost almost twice as much. My only gripe was I wished it came in an XXL as well!

  • I have owned this bike for 12months.

    It is spot on for general trails offroad and bridleways.

    I tried it at a hand of proper xc racing.

    The wheelset has high rolling resistance.

    The breaks have no feel what so ever.

    The suspension does little but the lockout is a nice touch for the price.

    The crankset cannot deal with alot of torque.

    The front derauiler is a joke.

    On a plus not like i say for general riding it is perfect just i wouldnt reccomend for real xc.

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Specification

Name:
Avalanche Disc 1.0 (08)
Built by:
GT
Price:
n/a

Available Sizes:
L, M, S, XL, XS, XXL
Weight (kg):
13.6
Year:
2008

Frame & Fork:

 
Frame Material:
6061 Aluminium
Fork Brand:
SR Suntour
Fork Model:
X-100
Headset Brand:
Cane Creek
Headset Type:
Aheadset

Geometry:

 
Seat Angle:
73.5 Degrees
Head Angle:
71 Degrees

Brakes:

 
Brakes Brand:
Tektro
Brakes Model:
Auriga Comp

Transmission:

 
Cranks Brand:
TruVativ
Cranks Model:
5D
Gearing:
22/32/44
Bottom Bracket Model:
Power Spline
Rear Derailleur Brand:
Shimano
Rear Derailleur Model:
Deore LX
Front Derailleur Brand:
Shimano
Front Derailleur Model:
Deore
Shifters Brand:
Shimano
Shifters Model:
Deore
Chain Brand:
Shimano
Chain Model:
HG-53
Cassette:
SRAM 9.0 12-32T

Wheels:

 
Rims Brand:
WTB
Rims Model:
SX24
Front Hub Model:
Alloy Disc
Rear Hub Brand:
Shimano
Rear Hub Model:
Disc
Tyres Brand:
Kenda
Front Tyre Model:
Nevegal
Front Tyre Size:
26x2.1
Rear Tyre Model:
Nevegal
Rear Tyre Size:
26x2.1

Contact Points:

 
Saddle Brand:
GT
Saddle Model:
Speed V
Seatpost Brand:
GT
Stem Brand:
GT
Stem Model:
ATB
Handlebar Brand:
GT
Handlebar Model:
Mtn
Grips/Tape Brand:
GT
Grips/Tape Model:
Dual Density

:

 
Frame Model:
Triple Triangle
Front Wheel Weight (kg):
2.13 kg
Wheelbase (in):
42.9 in
Rear Wheel Weight (kg):
2.72 kg
Bottom Bracket Height (in):
11.7 in
Top Tube (in):
23.4 in
Standover Height (in):
28.9 (in)
Seat Tube (in):
18 in
Frame Type:
Butted Aluminium
Frame Brand:
GT
Max. Fork Travel:
100mm
Chainstays (in):
16.5
Handlebar Type:
Riser

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