1992 GT Avalanche.

[brocklanders023]

Have not had a project for a while so when I spotted this at a good price and reasonably local I thought it was worth a look.

Always liked GT's from this era, especially with the paint jobs that came with them so had been after one for a while. The Avalanche doesn't have the wildest paint job but for me it's made up for by the fact it's from near the top of the range ( I believe?).

I was pleasently suprised when I picked this up as it seems to be original except for the risers (already in the bin), saddle and tyres. The rear mech looks a mess but the mech hanger can be salvaged so all's well.

Had half thought of splitting this to make back some money I spent on my Orange Prestige but it's so original and I have an interest in it so it might hang about for a while. It at least deserves to be cleaned and polished so that's the first plan.

Sorry for the dodgy pics, I've lost my good camara. :facepalm:

 

[brocklanders023]

Re: 1991 GT Avalanche.

It has a fair few paint chips but the paint job covers these well. Apart from that it seems ok. Bit of surface rust and it's dirty but nothing that a deep clean wont sort. Even the seat post comes out easily and the bb + headset are ok. Groupset seems to work and is not too worn + the original wheels run true. Result!

The Avinir bars are temp as it's all I had in stock. The awful risers had to go asap. One strange this is the stem/headset/etc. Stem is ahead like but the headset is threaded with a wierd quill joining the two. Is this a GT pre ahead lash up?

One confusing thing is the tube set used. Sure I read it should be Prestige but as the decal says, it's True Temper GTX. Any GT boffins able to shed any light?

 

[brocklanders023]

Cleared up the tube thing myself as it's a 1992, not 91 as first stated! :facepalm:

 

[Grumpy farmer]

The stem is a FlipFlop stem, it was designed to give 2 positions for riding, head down racey style or head up trail riding style. Not that the head up style can actually be described as up with the short head tube on these. My 92 Karakoram has the same stem.

 

[brocklanders023]

Cheers farmer. Agree that the head tube seems short, much like a pre 91 Orange. Will be interested to see how it rides.

 

[Grumpy farmer]

I have to admit that I have stuck some 2001 Easton ea50 monkey bars on mine which helped make it comfortable and somehow better balanced for a tall rider on an 18".

 

[MADJEZ]

Great score Brocklanders023 and a great price !

I bought mine as it was a bargain with a view to flipping but I've got too attached to it now.

GM1230126 answers the tubing query here and also in his '30 days of GT' thread.
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... p;t=270904

 

[brocklanders023]

Thanks Jez. Got a feeling I might become attached to this too although size might be an issue. We'll see, and in the mean time I'll enjoy tinkering with it.

 

[merckx]

looks great. yes avalanche is definately a higher end bike back in the day. as a kid, i dreamed of owning something as cool as an avalanche, with its XT and DX mix

 

[Dossa]

Pah, can't focus on the Avalanche -- too destricted by the Prestige in the background!

Nice GT though, work your magic on it