![]() The value of anti squat has been optimized to ensure maximum traction, without giving too much emphasis on pedaling efficiency. The LTS was born to make the bike fun to ride, therefore, it is not an XC bike where what only matters going uphill. In any case, to make the pedaling behavior as neutral as possible, pedal kickback has been reduced to a minimum, with a low placed pivot that is optimized for Eagle 1 × 12 transmissions, with 32-34T crowns. This is a 4-bar suspension scheme, obviously interpreted personally by GT. To those who comment “yes, but it’s the same as …” Let’s say right away that aesthetics is one thing, but from a technical point of view two bicycles, even if they have ballpark suspension patterns of the same type, can have very different behaviors, so every bike must be analyzed independently based on its characteristics,Īt the compression curve level, the new LTS has a more progressive curve and a high initial sensitivity on small impacts. It is compatible with both modern coil spring and air shock absorbers. The acronym LTS stands for Linkage Tuned Suspension and identifies the new suspension scheme that GT will use on the Sensor and the Force, but not solely those bikes (in the future we will see further changes on other models). There were those who liked it (personally, I found it very fun to ride, but it has a problem: it is very much affected by braking input. As long as you let the bike go a bit, the rear end eats everything, but when the braking got heavy, the suspension no longer worked as it should. The more brakes, the more it breaks down, thus requiring you to brake even more. A vicious cycle. In reality, the secret to remedy this situation is to let off the rear brake to make the bike more stable, but this requires a certain malice that the average rider hardly finds in times of difficulty. Executed in a rather daring way, a floating bottom bracket allowed a very high main pivot, first with the I-Drive then with the AOS, this general layout has been the workhorse of GT. Now it is no longer. The change is quite drastic, because the I-Drive has been the hallmark of GT for many, many years. But as with anything we don’t know how to repair, it’s easier to learn in a video.The new Sensors and Force represent an important turning point for the American brand that completely abandons their most recent interpretations, namely the AOS (Angle Optimized Geometry) and the I-Drive, which they have finally forgone for a 4-bar style suspension scheme In a nutshell, a simple truing job is the act of loosening the spokes on the side of the wheel the rim is bent towards and tightening those on the side it is bending away from. This particular I-Drive had a little tweak in its front wheel. ![]() It was made in a time before youtube, so it’s hard to imagine where it was going to get seen, which is maybe a good thing.Īfter watching that, maybe you’ve had enough history for the day, so we can talk a little about what we were actually fixing on this bike. But the I-Drive stood for well over a decade as proof that it’s ok to get weird once in a while, and there’s no better evidence than the launch video. Basically, it worked well enough for the concept to evolve into a couple other versions of the same general principle until GT finally abandoned it in 2018. And the axle path, relative to the rest of the bike, was more rearward than traditional bikes of the time. And in a timely twist, they offered some of the benefits of a high main pivot because … well … they had a high main pivot … technically.īecause the bottom bracket moved with the rear triangle, it didn’t purely isolate suspension movement from your body weight, but it came close. They were efficient, supportive pedalers that remained relatively active whether or not you were on the gas. But if you were to hop on a first-generation GT I-Drive today, apart from the outdated geometry, it might not feel that bad.ĭespite its convoluted appearance, I-Drive bikes worked pretty much as advertised. The unified rear triangles, softails and elastomer shocks seem nearly unrideable by today’s standards. Most of the unorthodox suspension designs of our sport’s awkward 90s stage have not aged well. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!
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