GT proves it can still make the Grade with expanded 2017 range
New carbon, alloy and 'cross builds
The GT Grade has remained a prominent bike in the adventure category since its introduction in 2014, and now, three years since the first Grades took the cycling press by storm, the 2017 Grade range has been unveiled.
- GT Grade Carbon 105 review
- Best road bikes under £2,000
- Best road bike tyres: what you should look for
Several new alloy and carbon bikes feature in the largest ever Grade range, along with a new cross-specific build and several flat-bar hybrid versions.
All of the 2017 Grades use frames that we’ve seen before, although many now boast a lot more colour than the previous subdued liveries. There are also wider 32mm tyres as standard rather than the 28mm components fitted previously (with the exception of the flat-bar hybrids).
Scroll down for a closer look at each key model.
Carbon builds
GT Grade Carbon Red
This is the all-new range-topper and is adorned with SRAM’s Red groupset in hydraulic disc flavour. It also gets Mavic’s Ksyrium Pro Allroad wheelset, which sports generous 19mm rim width, and those wide rims are matched to 32mm tubeless-ready USH tyres from Clement Strada. It’s easily identified from the rest as the stealthiest bike in the range.
Price: £4,499, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
GT Grade Carbon Ultegra
For a whole lot less money there’s the Grade Carbon Ultra which, as you’d expect, gets a full Ultegra 6800 group along with Shimano R785 hydraulic disc brakes. The wheels on this model are Mavic’s new Aksium Allroads and once again they’re fitted with 32c tubeless-ready Clement Strada USH tyres.
Lead by a luminous yellow version of the Grade’s carbon thru-axle fork, there’s no confusing it from the more expensive bike.
Price: £2,899, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
GT Grade Carbon 105
More affordable again is the Grade Carbon 105, which gets a full 105 11-speed transmission but uses the bulkier 105-spec Shimano hydraulic shift levers for its hydraulic discs.
The wheels are called Radlers and they’re made by Stans so they’re also happy to go tubeless — and so it’s convenient that, like the other bikes, you get the same tubeless-ready Clement tyres.
We’ve got plenty of time for the pink and green retro colour scheme, too.
Price: £2,250, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
GT Grade Carbon Tiagra
The cheapest complete carbon Grade is this new Tiagra model, and it looks like superb value for money to us, particularly when you consider that this is the same high-modulus carbon fibre frame that you get on the other carbon Grades — no cheap, inferior lay-ups here!
In order to hit this price point the Tiagra spec comes with a quick-release version of the carbon fork, while a mix of FSA and Shimano Tiagra components make up the 20-speed transmission on this model. Braking comes from TRP’s proven HY/RD mechanically-actuated hydraulic discs and you get the same wheel and tyre combo as the model above.
Price: £1,699, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
Stop, alloy time
GT Grade 105
The top-spec alloy Grade gets 11-speed Shimano 105 gearing, an FSA chains and TRP’s HY/RD hybrid hydraulic brakes. The bike rolls on disc-specific Alex ATD rims that are fitted with 32mm Schwalbe Road Cruiser tyres.
Price: £1,099, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
GT Grade 105 GTw women’s
This is the women’s-specific version of the Grade 105 and, aside from a female saddle and narrower bars, only the colours have really changed. The women’s Grade models use the same geometry as the men’s bikes.
Price: £1,099, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
GT Grade Tiagra
The Grade Tiagra uses an FSA Vero chainset in combination with Shimano Tiagra drivetrain derailleurs to offer 20 gears. Its fork is made from carbon and there are also TRP Spyre cable discs. The Tiagra also has the same wheelset, tyres and finishing kit as the more expensive 105 model.
Price: £949, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
GT Grade Tiagra GTw Women’s
The second women-specific Grade offers the same kit as the gent’s bike, but with the exception of narrower bars and GT’s own women’s saddle. The paint differs slightly also.
Price: £949, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
GT Grade Sora
For a penny under £800, the Grade Sora packs 18 gears from its FSA/Shimano component mix while braking goes to Tektro mechanical discs. To hit its price point GT has switched the fork out for an alloy version and impressively, the wheels and tyres do not differ from the more expensive alloy models.
Price: £799, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
GT Grade Claris
For one hundred quid less, there’s the Claris level Grade. It’s essentially the same as the bike above, but wears Shimano’s entry-level Sora 18-speed group instead. From the spec sheet alone, it looks like an ideal bike for the beginner with heaps of upgrade potential.
Price: £699, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
GT Grade CX/Rival
For 2017, GT is selling this alloy frame cross-specific version of the Grade. This build pairs the carbon thru-axle fork you’d normally find on the carbon Grades (with the exception of the cheapest Tiagra-level build) with SRAM Rival 1×11 and Rival hydraulic brakes, plus it has Clement MXP 33mm cross tyres on its Alex ATD470 rims.
Price: £1,599, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
Flat bar models
GT also offers three flat handlebar hybrid versions of the Grade: the FB Expert, FB Elite and FB Comp. Each option gets a triple chainset and disc braking, and they all roll on narrower 28mm tyres from Kenda.
GT Grade FB Expert
Price: £849, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
GT Grade FB Elite
Price: £649, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
GT Grade FB Comp
Price: £599, US/Aus pricing and availability TBA
Stay tuned to BikeRadar for more news and reviews from the GT range in 2017.
