GT has revealed a new carbon version of its best enduro mountain bike, the Force - making it GT’s longest-travel single crown 29er.
More travel is part of the significant change, but this bike also ushers in a high-pivot chain management system for GT's enduro product portfolio.
Proven in downhill racing, the high-pivot idler wheel has proliferated into enduro bikes. GT is the latest brand to offer it, integrating the idler wheel with its reshaped Force frame.
The front and rear triangles are still different materials (carbon front, with alloy at the back), but cable management is vastly improved and there is a reshaped rocker link.
Shock travel is 160mm (10mm more than before) and there is a shapely new rocker link. The front triangle cable routing is now internal and this new Force carbon 29er has a pleasingly purposeful aesthetic.
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Slack and made for steep terrain
GT’s engineers have decided to put a flip-chip in the back, instead of the middle of its new 29er enduro frame. As such, geometry adjustment moves from the shock to the rear axle, allowing for 10mm of chainstay adjustment.
A bike designed to navigate the most technical trails, the new GT Force 29er sits at a 63.5-degree head angle, built up with a 170mm fork. The new frame design is quite roomy too, with a 480mm reach on the size large.
GT is offering three builds, with an Elite and two Pros options.
The entry-level Elite build sees RockShox’s Yari RC paired with a Super Deluxe Select shock. Stoppers are TRP’s Slate T4s, while the drivetrain is from SRAM, and SX 1X12 in specification.
Pro builds
If you want SRAM NX/SX drivetrain and Code R brakes, that will be the GT Force carbon 29er Pro. It also upgrades the front fork from RockShox’s Yari RC to Zeb Select+, with a corresponding improvement in rear shock specification.
Want the ultimate factory version of GT’s new 29er enduro bike? Force Pro LE delivers the smoothness of a SRAM XO1/GX drivetrain and excellent stopping modulation, thanks to Code RSC brakes. It also rolls WTB KOM Trail i30 wheels.
A common build feature across the entire new Force carbon 29er range is the Maxxis tires. As is the case with many enduro bikes, GT has specced the Force carbon 29 with Assegais upfront and Minion DHR II tires at the rear.
While the off-the-shelf bikes champion RockShox suspension, GT’s frame-only option Force carbon 29er ships with a Fox Float Factory X2 shock.
Pricing for the new GT Force carbon 29er range starts at $3,300 for a frame and shock. The Elite built is $3,800, Pro prices at $5,100 and that top of the range Pro LE is $6,000.
