Subscribe to Bike Magazine Bike Magazine Print Subscription Bike Magazine Digital Subscription

Previewed: GT's 2009 Lineup From Livigno

The Marathon Carbon Team


Marathon Carbon Team
The Marathon Carbon Team was on hand for all the XC racer types to ride. The frame has not changed, but some of the spec has been improved compared to '08 models. Mavic SLR disc wheelsets are now standard to reduce weight from last year, and you will also find a new fox remote handlebar lock out for climbs and sprints.

The Sanction 1.0


Sanction
The all-mountain Sanction model is the evil brother of the Force. Both bikes have six inches of travel and similar Independent Drive suspensions, but the Sanction has a reinforced aluminum frame with a slacker 66-degree head angle that can basically take anything you throw at it. No carbon version of the Sanction is available. Most importantly, for 2009, the new Saint group will be included on the top-end Sanction model (note the old model Saint crank is installed on the bike in the photo, new cranks were not available in time for the release).


GuTterBall
And one more thing… Years ago GT created the GTB, which stood for Generic Track Bike. It was an affordable and simple fixed-gear triple triangle track bike that developed a bit of a cult following in bike messenger circles. Given the current popularity of fixies and messenger culture, GT is re-releasing the GTB as the GuTterBall. It's not a mountain bike, but makes for a perfect townie, commuter or bar bike. It has a flip-flop rear hub with both an 18th freewheel and an 18th fixed cog, steel-reinforced horizontal dropouts, 48x18 gearing, high profile Alex rims, a custom fork and a retail price of $750.

Reader Comments 
Posted Fri Jun27, 2008, 2:13 PM — By bald skull
i gotta say, that Force Pro looks sick! well done guys.
Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 8:09 PM — By Tim Pickett
I have an 06 I Drive 5.0, Love it, These bikes look fierce. GT has taken it to another level. Way to go.
Posted Sun Jul13, 2008, 8:10 PM — By Tim Pickett
I have an 06 I Drive 5.0, Love it, These bikes look fierce. GT has taken it to another level. Way to go.
Posted Fri Oct10, 2008, 7:24 PM — By John
Lovin' the Sanction EXCEPT that 3:1 leverage ratio...why not use a slightly longer stroke shock guys??? That is the ONLY thing making me look elsewhere...keeping the DHX air on that high leverage bike is not an option IMO...and the general opinion of just about anyone that's used an air shock on a 3:1 bike! ...wondering if i can switch it out myself??
Posted Thu Apr16, 2009, 11:37 PM — By dylan deGraff
I wonder when the company is going out of business again, then where do you find those i drive bearings?
Posted Fri Aug21, 2009, 3:46 PM — By Bill Freeman
The i-Drive bearings are standard headset bearings and the mechanism can be adjusted using a bottom bracket tool. I've been riding a Carbon Force Pro for a year now and it's taken a beating here in SoCal. I put a Fox 36 VAN and DHX Air on it with 7" Elixirs on Crank Bros Iodines and it rips. It's 31 lbs but rides much lighter. A friend has one with full XTR and a Fox 32 TALAS 15QR and it's just under 27 lbs with a Joplin seatpost. I can disassemble, clean, and relube the i-Drive in about 30 minutes so it's a snap to do. GT just needs to push the marketing here in the States.

Add Comment
Name (Required):
Email (Required, will not be shown to public):
Comment (Required, max chars: 1024):
You have characters left.