GT ZASKAR ALLOY COMP 29
£999.99 Can this feisty speed machine cope in the rough?
The Zaskar hardtail first appeared in GT’s line-up in 1991 and soon became a rider favourite. Does the 2019 version retain the original’s raucous mojo?
The frame
This latest model retains the Triple Triangle design that’s become synonymous with GT bikes, where the seatstays overlap the seat tube. The sleek-looking alloy frame gets an up-to-date tapered head tube, but the rear wheel is secured with a quick-release skewer, not a stiffer through-axle, and there’s no provision for an internally-routed dropper, should you wish to upgrade. Cable routing is fully external, with a front mech mount provided (but not used). There are two bottle mounts – one on the seat tube and one on the down tube. The former limits how far you can insert the seatpost into the frame, which could cause issues for shorter-legged riders.
Our test bike runs on 29in wheels, but there’s a 650b model available with the same spec. The steep, XCstyle 69.5-degree head angle seems slightly at odds with the longish 462mm reach, 1,162mm wheelbase and 440mm chainstays on the large size we tested.
The kit
GT have managed to spec an 11-speed Shimano XT rear mech, mated to an SLX shifter and an 11-46t SunRace cassette. FSA provide their Gamma Pro cranks, with a large 34t chainring and external BB. As on the Cujo, you get the fantastically supple (for the price) RockShox Recon RL fork, which here has 100mm of travel and a remote lockout. The WTB ST i21 rims are relatively narrow (21mm, internal) and shod with skinny but aggressively-treaded 2.25in Vittoria Barzo tyres. Shimano take care of the braking, with their M446 callipers and M445 levers, which have rather long blades.
The ride
The Zaskar is somewhat of a dark horse, with a calm and composed feel despite its steep head angle. This meant we could ride it harder and faster and get looser than we’d anticipated. The decent reach and long chainstays give plenty of space to move your body around in, and help the bike remain more stable in precarious situations, with less chance of going over the bars. On flatter trails that you really have to pick your way through, the steep head angle came into its own, helping to keep the Zaskar nimble.
Despite the mixed drivetrain, we had no issues with the shifting and the bike refused to drop a chain. The tyres surprised us too. We were
concerned that the aggressive tread and fairly hard rubber would make us feel like Bambi on ice in the wet, but they offered plenty of bite. We did miss a dropper post though – and both Cannondale and Giant prove it’s feasible to include one at this price. The long lever blades also made it difficult to find a comfy position for the controls (brakes, shifter, fork lockout), and it’s not like the brakes are lacking in power. We found the pad rattle off-putting too.
The Recon fork handles the bumps impressively, despite having the shortest travel on test. Couple that with the 29in wheels and the length of the frame, and you’re not expending as much energy keeping the bike on-line. It’s possible to overwhelm the fork (and the bike as a whole) though, especially if you’re riding fast in rough terrain.
When you put the power down, you can feel the bike surge forward, both on steeper climbs and flatter, rougher sections. The big wheels help to smooth things out and sustain momentum, where smallerhooped bikes can stutter and stall, making the GT the easiest bike here to maintain speed on. Along with the stretched-out geometry, they make climbing a breeze too, so we didn’t feel the need to use the lockout.
While we like the Zaskar’s light and snappy feel, it does feel like it has a bit of a split personality, and it’d be good to see GT commit to making it a full-on XC racer or a gnarly trail shredder, rather than something that hovers between the two.
WHEN YOU PUT THE POWER DOWN, YOU CAN FEEL THE BIKE SURGE FORWARD. THE BIG WHEELS HELP TO SMOOTH THINGS OUT AND SUSTAIN MOMENTUM