GT Zaskar Review
GT Zaskar Review
The GT Zaskar has been around since 1991 and over the years bikes bearing the name have seen victories in world Cup downhill, cross county, slalom and trials. It has been revamped for 2020 as an extremely playful hardtail. I am going to go through all the details of what to expect in this GT Zaskar review.
What Is The GT Zaskar?
The Zaskar has been redesigned to be a hardcore, alloy framed 29er. It comes in three different versions:
- GT Zaskar AL Comp
- GT Zaskar LT AL Expert
- GT Zaskar LT AL Elite
The Al Comp comes with 100mm of travel on the fork, while the LT AL has 110mm and the LT AL Elite has 130mm of travel.
The Zaskar is available in both the USA and Europe for riders that love the idea of riding a ‘hardcore hardtail’ mountain bike.
The Frame
All versions of the GT Zaskar use an alloy frame. It uses GT’s ‘Triple Triangle’ construction, but it is used in a slightly different way with this bike. The market called for super stiff and efficient bikes, so GT made Triple Triangle frames with the seat tube where the triangles cross. This not only gave us the stiffness we wanted, but it shortened the back end too. Now, GT has made the triple triangle construction so the stays only connect at the top tube. This makes the seat stays longer and a more compliant bike. The frame will allow you to fit a 29 x 2.4in tyre.
Geometry
With regard to geometry, the Zaskar is up to date with the modern trend of being low and slack. With a size-medium offering up a 66°/75° combo with a reach of 445mm (465mm on the Large). These figures are not too aggressive, but they don’t give you the feeling of sitting awkwardly high on it either. The frames come in S, M, L and XL.
Riding Characteristics
The geometry and components make this a very good all-round mountain bike. It climbs well and is quite nimble in the corners for a 29er. The main downside that most riders have commented on is the weight of the bike. There are lighter bikes on the market in a similar price range, but this doesn’t mean that you should overlook it as a great, fun hardtail mountain bike.
Who Should Buy The GT Zaskar?
The GT Zaskar is for trail riders who love the simplicity of a hardtail mountain bike, but they want to be able to thrash it while improving their skills. It has been priced very well considering the specification options. If you were to spend any more money on a mountain bike, you would probably go for a full-suspension bike. So this gives you an idea that it is a high-end hardtail.
If you are looking for something an alternative to the Zaskar, you may want to check out the Nukproof Scout. If you are looking for something cheaper, you should check out the Vitus Nucleus.
GT Zaskar AL Comp
Specifications
- Frame: Zaskar Alloy, triple triangle construction featuring floating seatstays, BSA 73mm, boost 12x148mm thru-axle, tapered head tube
- Fork: RockShox Sektor RL Remote Lockout, 100mm, DebonAir, 15x110mm, tapered steerer, 51mm offset
- Headset: FSA No. 42E, Integrated
- Stem: Alloy, 45mm
- Handlebar: GT All Terra Alloy Riser, Double-butted, 15mm rise, 7° rise, 760mm width
- Grips: GT Statement2 Single Lock-on Grips
- Shifters: SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed
- Brakes: Shimano M445 Hydro Disc, 160/160mm rotors
- Crankset: SRAM SX Eagle Power Spline, 30T
- Bottom Bracket: Truvativ Power Spline
- Chain: SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed
- Cassette: SRAM SX Eagle, 11-50T, 12-speed
- Front Derailleur: N/A
- Rear Derailleur: SRAM NX Eagle
- Chain: SRAM NX Eagle, 12 speed
- Tyres: Vittoria Barzo, 27.5/29×2.25″, wire bead
- Rims: WTB ST i21 TCS, 32h, tubeless ready
- Front Hub: Formula 15x110mm
- Rear Hub: Formula 12x148mm
- Saddle: WTB Silverado Sport, Steel rails
- Seatpost: All Terra micro adjust, 6061 Alloy, 30.9x350mm
GT Zaskar LT AL Expert
Specifications
- Frame: Zaskar LT Alloy Frame, Triple Triangle Frame Construction feat. Floating Seatstays, BSA 73mm, Boost 12×148 Thru-Axle, Tapered Head Tube
- Fork: RockShox 35 Gold RL, 130mm, 15x110mm, Tapered Steerer, 51mm OffSet
- Stem: GT Alloy Stem, 31.8mm Clamp, 45mm Length
- Handlebar: GT Alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm Rise, 5° upSweep, 9° BackSweep
- Grips: GT Ergo Performance, Lock-On
- Shifters: SRAM NX Eagle, 12-speed
- Brakes: Shimano MT400 Hydro Disc, 180/180mm RT56 Rotors
- Crankset: SRAM NX Eagle, 175mm, 32t
- Bottom Bracket: Truvativ Power Spline
- Chain: SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed
- Cassette: SRAM SX Eagle, 11-50T, 12-speed
- Front Derailleur: N/A
- Rear Derailleur: SRAM NX Eagle, 12-Speed
- Tyres: Front: Maxxis Minion DHF 29 x 2.5″ WT, Dual compound, EXO Casing, tubeless ready; Rear: Maxxis Minion DHR II WT, 29 x 2.4″ WT, Dual compound, EXO casing, tubeless ready
- Rims: WTB ST i30 TCS 2.0, 32h, Tubeless Ready
- Front Hub: Formula DC-511, 15x110mm
- Rear Hub: Formula DC-1248, 12x148mm Boost
- Saddle: Fabric Scoop Shallow/ Sport, Steel Rails
- Seatpost: TranzX Dropper, Internal Routing, 31.6mm
GT Zaskar LT AL Elite
Specifications
- Frame: Zaskar LT Alloy Frame, Triple Triangle Frame Construction feat. Floating Seatstays, BSA 73mm, Boost 12×148 Thru-Axle, Tapered Head Tube
- Fork: SR Suntour Zeron 35, 130mm, Coil, 15×110, Tapered Steerer
- Headset: FSA No.42E, Integrated
- Stem: GT Alloy Stem, 31.8mm Clamp, 45mm Length
- Handlebar: GT Alloy, 31.8mm, 15mm Rise, 5° upSweep, 9° BackSweep
- Grips: GT Statement
- Shifters: SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed
- Brakes: Shimano MT400 Hydro Disc, 180/180mm RT10 Rotors
- Crankset: SRAM SX Eagle Power Spline, 30t
- Bottom Bracket: Truvativ Power Spline
- Chain: SRAM SX Eagle, 12-speed
- Cassette: SRAM SX Eagle, 11-50T, 12-speed
- Front Derailleur: N/A
- Rear Derailleur: SRAM NX Eagle, 12-Speed
- Tyres: Front: Schwalbe Nobby Nic Peformance, 29 x 2.35″, Addix Compound, Tubeless Ready; Rear: Schwalbe Nobby Nic Peformance, 29 x 2.35″, Addix Compound, Tubeless Ready
- Rims: WTB ST i30 TCS 2.0, 32h, Tubeless Ready
- Front Hub: Shimano MT400, 15×110
- Rear Hub: Shimano MT400, 12×148
- Saddle: WTB Silverado Sport
- Seatpost: TranzX Dropper, Internal Routing, 31.6mm
Which One Will You Choose?
Whichever version of the GT Zaskar you choose, you will have a great bike that you can ride hard. It isn’t the lightest bike in the world, but you will definitely be able to increase your skills by spending some time with it.
