GT FORCE 29 EXPERT
£2,799 Is this big-wheeled trail monster strong with the Force?
Released in 2018, the Force ditched GT’s long-running i-Drive system and returned to their original LTS (LinkageTuned Suspension) four-bar design. This new 29in-wheeled version is the same bike Martin Maes rode in the enduro Trophy of Nations.
The frame
All the bikes in the Force 29 range sport an aluminium frame with 150mm of travel, Boost hub spacing, a threaded bottom bracket and external cable routing – an easy set-up for the home mechanic or privateer racer to work on. The 29er Force shares the same basic layout as the 650b bike, but the suspension kinematics and geometry have been fettled to accommodate the bigger wheels. Anti-squat has been increased, as has the leverage rate.
A flip-chip can be used to alter the Force 29’s geometry. In the ‘low’ setting, it has a 64.6-degree head angle and 76.5-degree seat angle, with a BB drop of 27mm (the BB height stands at 349mm). Reach values jump up in 25mm steps, from 420mm on the small to 495mm on the XL. In the ‘high’ position, the head and seat angles are steepened by 0.6 degrees and the BB is raised by 7mm, adding 6mm to the reach
The kit
Considering that GT are a shopfloor rather than direct-sales brand, you get some decent kit for your money, although there are compromises. Fox take care of the suspension with a Performance-level 36 Float fork and DPX2 shock, both of which are capable units. The SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain gives you plenty of gear range, and Stan’s Flow S1 rims built onto Formula hubs are a nice touch. Even the bar and saddle are branded components, from Spank and Fabric respectively. TRP provide their G-Spec Trail S brakes, with big 203mm and 180mm rotors.
The ride
GT make it clear that this bike is built to be thrown down rough and rowdy trails and ridden back to the top again, and the Force 29’s frame and suspension handle this approach well. Its race-inspired geometry strikes a good balance between stability when speed picks up and the ability to negotiate tighter, slower sections of trail. The rear suspension has good progression and takes big hits in its stride. It’s pretty supple at the beginning of the stroke, so we used the low-speed compression lever for extended pedalling.
What holds the bike back a bit is the 125mm own-brand dropper, which we found we couldn’t get low enough out of the way when descending, and the TRP brakes, which were disappointing in the wet. Fortunately, these two issues can be sorted relatively easily. What the Force 29 does have going for it is its suspension. The Fox fork and shock combo give it a balanced and controlled ride, making it easy to attack the trails. LUKE www.gtbicycles.com