GT electrify the MTB line-up with Shimano STePS-driven GT FORCE-E and GT Pantera-E

Written by Jessie-May Morgan Oct 10, 2019 11:18 a.m. ET

GT-FORCE-E-MTB-MOUNTAIN-BIKE-ENDURO-CYCLING

The GT-FORCE gets an electrifying upgrade with the Shimano Steps Drive System

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GT Bicycles have today launched their Power Series line-up of electric pedal assist full suspension and hardtail mountain bikes, with the GT Pantera-E and the GT Force-E. Both E-MTBs have been optimised to accommodate a Shimano STePS Drive System, while GT say they still offer the same ride quality and performance as their analog counterparts. Despite the analog GT Force being available in both 27.5″ and 29″ versions, both the GT Force-E and Panter-E MTBs are offered in 29″ wheel versions only. Check out GT’s promo video below, featuring shredders Dylan Conte and Jason Memmelaar.

GT FORCE-E 29″ Enduro MTB

While the analog GT Force was a 170mm/150mm travel enduro bike, the GT Force-E runs 150mm/150mm travel, rolling on a 29″ wheelset, while still utilising GT’s proven LTS Suspension platform. For the electrifying makeover, required to optimise the bike for the weightiness that comes with any E-MTB, the Force-E gets longer chainstays for enhanced stability, a steeper seat tube angle for more efficient climbing, and comes with powerful 4-piston brakes as standard.

Specifically, as compared to the analog GT Force 29er, the Force-E chainstays increase in length by 13mm to 455mm while the seat tube angle steepens by 0.6° to 76° (size medium). The Force-E has more progressive kinematics, with the anti-squat and anti-rise characteristics altered to lower the centre of gravity. The head angle sits at 65° and the medium frame offers a reach measurement of 450mm.

The Shimano STePs Drive System with Shimano’s new high capacity, long-lasting 8035 504 Wh L-Ion battery fully integrated into the downtube should allow riders to travel up to 50 miles on a full charge. The drive system has 3 power settings; Eco, Normal and High, but GT didn’t say which of these settings will allow you a 50 mile range. We’ll assume Eco, to be on the safe side.

The GT-Force-E will be available in two models; the Amp and the Current, priced at £4,199.99 (~$5,150) and £3,599.99 (~$4,420), respectively.

GT Pantera-E 29″ Hardtail MTB

The GT Pantera-E hardtail features GT’s Triple Triangle design with floating seat stays, which GT say makes it 50% more vertically compliant than traditional double diamond frames. A 120mm travel fork soaks up the trail chatter while efficient and fast rolling 29” wheels get this bike going. The reach is measured at 418mm (medium frame), while the head angle and seat angle are 68.5 and 72.7, respectively. See below for full geometry information.

GT’s triple triangle design aims to make the bike more bendy vertically, making it more comfortable over the rough

The frame features internal cable routing and rack bosses for bikepacking adventures. As with the GT Force-E, the Pantera-E is driven by the Shimano STePS Drive System.

The GT Pantera-E will be available in three models; the BOLT, priced at £2,999.99 (~$3,685), the Current, priced at £2,599.99 (~$3,195), and the Dash, priced at £2,199.99 (~$2,700).

GTBicycles.com

Jessie-May Morgan

1,362 articles

Jessie-May Morgan is the UK & Ireland Tech Editor of Bikerumor. She has been writing about Mountain Bike Riding and Racing, and all its weird and wonderful technology for 4 years. Prior to that, she was an Intern at the Mountain Bike Center of Scotland, and a Mountain Bike Coach and Leader in the Tweed Valley.

Based in Innerleithen, Scotland, Jessie-May can often be seen riding the Glentress Trail Center, and its neighboring Enduro and Downhill Tracks. She regularly competes in Enduro at a national level, and has recently competed on the World Stage at a handful of Enduro World Series events.

For Bikerumor, Jessie-May is testing the latest mountain bikes, equipment and kit, letting readers know what’s hot and what’s not.

For context, she weighs 60kg and stands at 5ft 4″ tall (163cm).

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Frank

4 years ago

Well, add GT to the list of bike companies I’m boycotting for offering an eMTB. Feels a bit personal that they are sullying the name of my first mountain bike.

Andy

4 years ago

Reply to Frank

Really, you have a list? That’s so sad…

bryan

4 years ago

Reply to Frank

you had better buy a bike from someone not currently on your list soon… otherwise you will find that your list of companies not offering an eMTB is blank.

Huffagnolo SuperMagna

4 years ago

Reply to Frank

You should boycott all companies for building anything using any modern technology and moving forward! Face it, e-bikes are a growing segment of the market and a lot of people are riding them and some people are now able to ride again or ride further then ever. It has changed a lot of lives and if you want to be some old stick in the mud then go for it y’all won’t last long!

Those damn kids are on my lawn again, dagnabit. Back in my day we had to walk our bikes 10 miles uphill both ways in the snow just to get to the one room schoolhouse which was closed because the teacher got dysentery and we liked it!

It is so sad people are so against change to the point of ridiculousness. Things are always moving forward and that will never change! Not that long ago we had 2×5 operated by a friction shifter on the down tube and now we have 2×12 operated by an indexed electronic shifter that is integrated into the brake lever, we can adjust our seat height with the press of a button that is wireless, and so much more. Look I love vintage bikes I have 5 of them (an 85 Trek 520, 92-94 Klein MTB, 1994 Phil Wood road frame with Dura-Ace 7400 as well as a Proteus frame with 600 tricolor and a Swiss CILO with a hodgepodge of conponents) but I also love the new technology as well (my titanium and carbon forked road bike with Di2 is awesome) including e-bikes! They are fun as hell and are certainly taking some cars of the streets and keeping the bike industry alive and well! I am not saying you have to own one or love them but go out for a test ride on something of quality and tell me you didn’t have some fun!

Frank

4 years ago

Reply to Huffagnolo SuperMagna

Y’all might notice that the best MTB companies, Santa Cruz and Ibis come to mind immediately, don’t offer eMTBs. Bigger bike corporations are putting short-term profit over the future of the sport (access and identity). There are plenty of quality builders to choose from that won’t sell out our sport.

Cmanser

4 years ago

Reply to Frank

Hey Frank – the company that owns Santa Cruz (Pon Holdings) is one of the largest makers of ebikes!! Better take them off your list.

Heffe

4 years ago

Reply to Frank

Hey Frank, I more or less agree with you. Putting a motor on a bicycle makes it no longer a bicycle. But, these mopeds are not evil or whatever. Even though they’re not bicycles per se, they’re fun and useful for those who want a quasi-motorcycle pedal thing and the manufacturers make a lot of money off of them.The guys who run this website make their living off of the bike industry, so if this is what is selling this is what we will see here. I mostly just ignore it and spend more time at other websites that don’t have the e stuff, and that’s what I recommend you do as well.

Huffagnolo SuperMagna

4 years ago

Reply to Heffe

How do you define a bicycle then? What do you call a bicycle you need to pedal in order to go forward if not a bicycle? Why does adding assistance while pedaling suddenly make a bicycle not a bicycle?

We are not talking about a throttle powered bike with pedals but an actual bicycle with bicycle parts that also has a battery and a display and a motor to assist your pedaling. If I put Di2 or eTap and a Garmin on a bicycle what do you define that as? It surely cannot be a bicycle!

Heffe

4 years ago

Reply to Huffagnolo SuperMagna

You are using straw-man arguments, just give it up and quit wasting people’s time.

Huffagnolo SuperMagna

4 years ago

Reply to Heffe

So are you able to define a bike at least? Why is it always when defining this stuff comes up people run away but they are happy to hate on e-bikes for no real solid reasons.

Tell me why e-bikes are so terrible? Being someone who has actually ridden them and worked on them I know what they are and hence why I would define them as a bike because it is a bike.

Frank

4 years ago

Reply to Heffe

I don’t disagree with this point of view. E-bikes are going to get people commuting in bikes that otherwise would be in a car. I’ve ridden a few, I get it. But e-bikes in any guise need to stay where other motorized vehicles are allowed or on private land at the discretion of the landowner. Human-power only on singletrack on our public lands.

I’m no longer an IMBA member and I wrote them a letter to tell them that their support of e-MTB’s is why. I put my (limited) money towards the Sustainable Trails Coalition now. I do wonder if an organized boycott, even if its just an online petition, would encourage corporate bike makers to consider the well being of the sport

e-MTB’s are going to destroy this sport, just as its getting good.

I’m hopeful that this will just be a fad and sales won’t pan-out and e-MTB’s will end up being an obscure niche. Peer pressure and local trail organizations taking a stand (as the New England MTB Association has done) could be critical in preserving our sport.

Heffe

4 years ago

Reply to Frank

E-bikes won’t go away but they will evolve, probably rather quickly, from an ‘e’ version of old-school mopeds into something more resembling e-motorcycles. They appeal to a much broader demographic than bicycles do. People love riding them who don’t love riding bicycles, which means many more consumers will buy e-bikes than would buy bicycles, hence the smell of money in the air with all things ‘e’. For those who never were into bicycles, the pedaling aspect is, ultimately, a nuisance; the number one feature that drives sales is always going to be a more powerful motor and bigger battery. Once they are firmly established economically and politically they can drop the pedals and move forward on their development trajectory just as g-bikes did a century earlier.

Huffagnolo SuperMagna

4 years ago

Reply to Frank

Why should a pedaled bike only stay on motorized trails? What do you think an e-bike is just tearing up trails like some sort of Rally Car or something?

Max you can go is 28mph pedal assist and most e-MTBs are 20mph so not really sure what you are thinking?

I can easily hit 15-20 pedaling and downhill it is not hard to go faster.

If you believe that cycling is always a race then yes in your minds e-bikes are cheating. However if you just ride and enjoy life well you will be much happier. If someone is pedaling then kudos, who cares if it is a carbon race bike or an e-bike or a gravel bike with Moloko bars and a ti dangle mug or a penny farthing just ride!

Craig

4 years ago

Nice looking bikes. Great to see another major brand embracing E.Bikes to keep more people riding more. And it’s cool to see a modern take on the triple triangle. Nice job GT!

Mike Wottawa

4 years ago

Eventually all manufacturers will a model or two of e-bikes. They are here to stay and if they get more people on bikes and enjoying life and the outdoors then bring them on. If used responsibly they are very useful and fun for those who require pedal assist.

Or are you cool with discriminating those who need an e-bIke from enjoying the same trails you do?