GT RTS differences?

[brocklanders023]

Hello all. Were there any major changes to the GT RTS over it's life time? I know the top ones were 6061 USA built compared to the others built in the far east but I'm thinking more about changes from the early to the late ones. It seemed to go from a top end, just about as good as it gets bike when introduced to a low end budget full suss by the end (around 1996?) Was the frame basically the same?

I ask because I've always wanted an original RTS-1 but doubt I'll ever be able to afford one and wondered if a later version would be worth polishing and chucking better parts at? What's the timeline of the RTS?? :?

 

[ozone1]

I have a 94 RTS Team, alloy rear end, XTR componentry, Noleen piggy back shock, the lesser ones had a black steel rear end,

- only Team RTS and RTS-1 had a flat end cap on the top tube (others were curved)
- RTS Team and RTS 1 had the piggy back noleen shock, the others had non piggy back version
- The RTS fell out of favor when the LTS superseeded it (have one of those too ), but just sold this second LoL

Have a look in the Galery section, all the years brochures are there, good reading

 

[brocklanders023]

Cheers mate. Didn't the original RTS 1 have a steel rear end? So a late, lower down the table RTS would do a reasonable impresion on an early RTS 1 (looks and ride wise)?

 

[ozone1]

oops yeah your right I think, the first RTS was an RTS-1, the other models came the next year, yeah I would think looks and ride would be pretty comparable,, the alloy rear was always the more sought after but both mine have alloy rears and i had to find new swingarms for both as they both had cracks, so I think they were a bit of a weak point. apart from that its really just a componentry difference between them

I have a spare non piggy back shock if you do get one and need to replace it

cheers
Gregg

 

[ozone1]

oh and the lower end ones were painted red or blue

 

[brocklanders023]

Cheers Gregg Had noticed they were painted and wondered if it was because they used a lower grade of alu for 'em. Will keep a look out for a cheapish project

 

[ozone1]

they come up on ebay UK all the time for not alot of $$$

The bearing are pretty standard (actually skateboard bearings), just check for cracks in the end of the lower swingarm, crack around weld on the cross bar the rear brake rocker sits on, and commonly crack where the rocker fitting is welded to the back of the bottom bracket

good luck!

 

[taffy]

initially they were a top dog bike/frame

originally even the tea had a cromo rear end and piggyback shock (team and 1)

then they got an alloy rear end (93/94 ish ?) - same piggyback shock and the rts 2 came in (1993) 7075 alloy frame cromo rear end noleen shock but no pigyback resevoir.
And in 94 they got a better brake rocker inseat of the cotten reel roller affair.

Later ones are pretty much the same in design as the originals, lower end ones will probably have the cromo rear end and a more basic shock but will ride no different tot eh team/1.

But as Ozone says they are common and reasonably priced.

 

[Ductape]

I put this in the for sale forum a few months ago. Still hanging in my garage waiting for the right person. Minty....Wrong decals though...

RTS-3 1993

 

[gtRTSdh]

There was an early style of rear brake roller for canti's which later changed to a rocker style setup. I think production moved to taiwan around '96, from what I hear the taiwanese frames crack less.

To all interested in the cracking issue on the frame around the rocker pivot mount.

When I took mine apart I found that the lugs on the frame which hold the rocker were being deformed considerably when the bolt was tightened. I made some top hat washers of a more suitable size to fill the gap which stop the lugs having to bend. I think this poor fabrication is likely to be the root cause of cracks in this area.