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GT Zaskar LT is a modern, longer travel take on the classic Triple Triangle hardtail mountain bike

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In terms of hardtail design, it doesn’t get much more iconic than GT’s Triple Triangle. Going hand in hand with the Triple Triangle is the legendary Zaskar frame which has seen a little bit of everything since it was launched in 1991. A lot has changed since then, including the Triple Triangle design itself, but that ‘do everything’ spirit of the original Zaskar lives on in the latest iteration – the Zaskar LT.

GT Zaskar LT is a modern, longer travel take on the classic Triple Triangle hardtail mountain bike

Mountain bikes have gotten longer, slacker up front, steeper at the seat tube, gained more travel, and run bigger tires. Which kind of sums up the Zaskar LT. Built to be an extremely capable hardtail, the Zaskar LT is a dedicated 29er with room for 29 x 2.4″ tires in the frame. Up front, a 130mm travel suspension fork comes stock, though the frames can handle up to 140mm.

GT Zaskar LT is a modern, longer travel take on the classic Triple Triangle hardtail mountain bike

While the original Triple Triangle design was meant to increase frame stiffness and durability in an era when mountain bikers often broke frames, the newest version is more about compliance. Instead of attaching the seat stays to the seat tube and the top tube, they are instead just attached to the top tube, allowing the floating stays to flex which adds 50% more compliance to the frame.

 

GT Zaskar LT is a modern, longer travel take on the classic Triple Triangle hardtail mountain bike

Available in four sizes, the LT runs a 66° head tube angle with a 75° seat tube angle along with longer reach numbers paired with 45mm stems.

GT Zaskar LT is a modern, longer travel take on the classic Triple Triangle hardtail mountain bike

The 6061 butted aluminum frame has a 1x specific design with a tapered head tube, Boost 148mm rear spacing, a 73mm BSA bottom bracket, and internal cable routing including the dropper post.

GT Zaskar LT is a modern, longer travel take on the classic Triple Triangle hardtail mountain bike

Sold in two trims, the higher end Zaskar LT Expert runs a combination SRAM NX/SX 1×12 drivetrain, WTB ST i30 TCS rims with Formula hubs, and a “TBA” Rockshox fork. From the photos it looks to be the RockShox 35 Gold, but the TBA tag means we may see something different for production.

GT Zaskar LT is a modern, longer travel take on the classic Triple Triangle hardtail mountain bike

For fewer Euros, the Zaskar LT Elite still gets you a SRAM SX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain and tubeless wheels and tires, but the fork is a SR Suntour Zeron 35 coil, along with other small changes in spec.

Note that for now, both of these bikes will be available in the UK and Europe only. GT states that future regional availability is in the works though.

gtbicycles.com

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Patrick Cavender
Patrick Cavender
4 years ago

They finally did the floating stays. Would love to hear how this rides.

IzzyM
IzzyM
4 years ago

Wish they’d gone for clearance for 2.6″.
And 450-mm chainstays??? I guess you need them to be that long to get some “compliance.”
This looked promising, but…

Ed
Ed
4 years ago
Reply to  IzzyM

I actually see a point to having longer chainstays on a hard tail. Since there is no rear suspension, adding a bit of length helps cushion the ride since you are not sitting over the rear tire as much. I have a hard tail with 445mm stays and it handles fine.

Though I do agree that a max tire width of 2.4″ is a little light these days for a harder hitting HT.

Ham jam
Ham jam
4 years ago

So much vertical compliance. Eats up trail chatter. Won’t beat you up… Can we just admit that the frames don’t flex enough to make a difference?

Patrick Cavender
Patrick Cavender
4 years ago
Reply to  Ham jam

Ham Jam, yes, triangles that reinforce each other (bike frames) do not move much, but that slight give does change the feel. Not unlike the difference between road bike tires at 130psi vs. 90 psi; those few mm of movement change the feel. And will never be confused with suspension.

Frank
Frank
4 years ago
Reply to  Ham jam

I had a 1996 Zaskar, and my lower back would beg to differ with your unsubstantiated opinion.

alloycowboy
alloycowboy
4 years ago

The GT Zaskar has always been a bloated frame. Using extra long seat-stays is just plain stupid as it puts the metal in wrong places.

Gabe
Gabe
4 years ago
Reply to  alloycowboy

Tell that to Jeff Jones

Tim
Tim
4 years ago
Reply to  Gabe

True, but Jones also uses a completely different geometry that works as a system, with different head and seat angles and bottom bracket height.

Gabe
Gabe
4 years ago
Reply to  alloycowboy

/knock it til you try it. To be fair I just finished a ride on my 411mm chainstay 29er and I love it. For tight technical use. For your average rider longer stays offer more stability and help keep the front wheel planted (important for climbing and descending). I’m not a longer chainstay kind of guy but I do understand how it would feel good to the average rider.

Tim
Tim
4 years ago
Reply to  Gabe

Which 29er do you have that has 411mm stays? Canfield, Kona?

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