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GT Force Carbon Pro and Sanction 1.0 - Interbike 2009
by kakah
Posted: Oct 9, 2009
GT had two bikes, both with 6" of rear wheel travel, for us to have a closer look at while in the desert. The first is their 150 mm travel Force Carbon Pro, a light all mountain bike that will appeal to those who like long days in the saddle with some gnar sprinkled in for good measure. The second bike is the Sanction 1.0, a heavier duty 6" bike with slacker geometry and stock parts that include a Fox 36 RC2 fork and HammerSchmidt crankset. Two great videos and loads of pictures inside for you to see the difference in these two 6" mountain machines!
Read on...
Read on...
The Sanction is GT's 150 mm travel platform that would fit the bill as a 'do it all' all-mountain bike. There are two models built upon the same frame, a more economical Sanction 2.0, as well as the top end 1.0 pictured here. If you like to pick and choose your own parts then GT also has a frame only option. While the brawny Sanction may have the same amount of rear wheel travel as its lighter brother, the Force, the geometry really puts the Sanction in a different class. With a slacker 67 degree head angle (versus the force's 69 h/a) it really is a bike that is meant for higher speeds over rougher terrain and bigger moves.
GT Sanction 1.0 spec
| Frame and Size | 6061 monocoque frame with 6.0 inches of rear wheel travel. With new forged I-link. Standardized bearings and modular dropout system with 12mm rear maxle. |
| Rear Shock | FOX DHX Air 5.0 XV, air sprung damper with rebound and compression adjust |
| Fork | FOX 36 Talas RC2 FIT, air sprung travel adjustable 20mm through axle with rebound and compression damping. |
| Headset | FSA Orbit X 1 1/8" forged cups, sealed bearings |
| Crankarms | SRAM Hammerschmidt, 22T, 2 speed internal shift system |
| Bottom Bracket | SRAM Integrated for Hammerschmidt |
| Chain | HG-73 Nine Speed |
| Cassette | Shimano XT 11-34t |
| Rear Derailleur | SRAM X .9 |
| Shifters | SRAM X .9 and Hammershmidt |
| Handlebar | Syncros AM 20 carbon "grunge" with 20 mm of rise |
| Stem | Thompson Elite X4 |
| Grips | GT Lock Down, co molded locking grip system with alloy collars |
| Brakes | SAvid Elixir CR with 185mm rotors |
| Front Wheel | FSA Gravity wheelset 20 mm |
| Rear Wheel | FSA Gravity wheelset 12mm x 135mm for Rock Shox Maxle |
| Tires | 26"x 2.3 Kenda Nevgal, 120 tpi with Kevlar bead |
| Saddle | WTB Pure V Race |
| Seatpost | Thompson Elite |
Another telltale sign of the Sanction's intentions is the off the shelf spec that includes SRAM's burly HammerSchmidt cranks. Mounted via the big gray bike's ISCG tabs, the HammerSchmidt system gives the bike a bit more ground clearance, as well as the ability to shift on demand and even act as a proper chainguide. Putting the power down to the ground is GT's Independent Drive (ID) suspension system. The ID system is used by GT throughout their entire full suspension lineup, from the XC bikes to the DH race machines. While looking a bit different than some other options out there, ID's high pivot combined with a floating BB arrangement to counter chain growth has been proven to both pedal well and absorb the terrain.
GT pulled no punches when building the Force Carbon Pro. From the full carbon frame (both front and rear triangles), to the graphics and an obviously no holds barred component spec, the Carbon Pro is sure to attract attention where ever it goes. There is no getting around the bike's distinctive lines and shapes, unlike anything else out there. Those in charge of paint at GT wisely chose to leave much of the Force's frame bare to see, only covering the carbons weave with a protective clear coat. Add to the mix Shimano's grey finish on the Forces's XTR component group and you have a bike that manages to be both stealth and flashy all at the same time.
As opposed to using multiple pieces of carbon tubing glued together with lugs, GT chose to build the Carbon Pro's frame as a monocoque (one piece) unit. Because the front triangle is built as a single piece there is far less chance of imperfections or mis-alignments. The lay up of the Force's carbon is far more complicated than simply placing a sheet of fiber of the mold and letting it take shape. Each part of the frame is under different stresses and has different needs and GT accommodates this by laying down the carbon fiber weave in different directions depending on the riding characteristics that they are looking for. Different grades and types of fibers are also used in different places to have the finished product be as light and strong as possible.
GT Force Carbon Pro spec
| Frame and Size | GT designed carbon monocoque frame with Independent Drivetrain suspension. 6.0 inches of rear wheel travel. With forged I-link, standardized bearings and modular dropout system. |
| Rear Shock | Fox Float RP23 Shock |
| Fork | Fox TALAS 32 RL wth QR 15 through axle system adjustable travel from 110 - 150mm with air spring pressure and rebound adjust with 7050 aluminum steerer |
| Headset | FSA integrated sealed bearing |
| Crankarms | Shimano XTR 44/32/22 |
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano XTR Outboard |
| Chain | Shimano Nine Speed |
| Cassette | Shimano XT 11-34t |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Shadow XTR | Front Derailleur | Shimano XTR |
| Shifters | Shimano XTR |
| Handlebar | Ritchey Carbon WCF Rizer 31.8 clamp, low rise |
| Stem | Thompson Elite X4 |
| Grips | GT Lock Down, co molded locking grip system with alloy collars |
| Brakes | Shimano XTR Disc, 180/160 mm |
| Front Wheel | Mavic CrossMax ST disc, 15 mm TA |
| Rear Wheel | Mavic CrossMax ST disc |
| Tires | Kenda Nevgal, 120 tpi with Kevlar bead, 2.3"/2.1" |
| Saddle | FIZIK Gobi XM with manganese rails |
| Seatpost | Thompson Elite |
The Force Carbon Pro uses GT's Independent Drivetrain suspension design. The I.Drive system has been proven to work well when the needs are both a forgiving platform and a good pedaling bike. Despite the complicated look, the rear axle actually rotates around a simple single pivot that sits high on the front triangle which should give the bike great square edge ability and make it carry speed well.
If you want to see GT's entire range, including other models of the Force and Sanction series, head on over to the GT website!
Mike Levy
41 Comments
- + 2
sushi1239
(Oct 19, 2009 at 0:40)
sweet i like it!
Well it's a French word, so I'm gonna go with the French pronunciation. I suppose the most common American version I hear is "mah-vick," but that doesn't mean it's right.
[Reply]
Uhm...a Talas without travel adjust wouldn't be called a Talas, since it stands for "Travel Adjustable Linear Air Spring."
i wonder why the sanction didn't come with an adjustable seat post like the gravity dropper. they seem pretty much the standard on these types of bike nowadays.
Guys,
As expressed in previous articles its not that the chains are rusty, its the dirt in the desert that makes it look so rusted out.
As expressed in previous articles its not that the chains are rusty, its the dirt in the desert that makes it look so rusted out.
[Reply]
Which one has Floats?
The Force has TALAS 32 QR15 and the Sanction is runnin TALAS 36 RC2's
What Float's are you talking about?
The Force has TALAS 32 QR15 and the Sanction is runnin TALAS 36 RC2's
What Float's are you talking about?
Why do these idiot manufacturers keep trying to make carbon fiber work in mountain biking? it's a failed material for this sport and should never be sold to the public as a working product. It's over-priced, disposeable, unsafe garbage designed to sell to rich little weight weenies that have more money than brains. Everybody listen to me, carbon fiber WILL fail and it will be catastrophic when it does, oh and guess what...NOONE will give carbon fiber a warranty because they know it will fail yet aluminum bikes are now coming with 25 yr warranties because the companies have faith in those pruducts.
I remember the days when people said the same thing about aluminum.
I agree with you but only a tiny bit. Yes, carbon fails catastropically, but first you have to get it to fail. GT say the (carbon) Fury is 10 times stronger than an aluminum frame. They say they hit the downtube with a hammer and broke its handle.
The thing I don't like about carbon is not knowing if it is still sound or not. Is that damage cosmetic or structural and only x-ray can tell. That's not economical for a set of bars. So back to aluminum bars I go.
I agree with you but only a tiny bit. Yes, carbon fails catastropically, but first you have to get it to fail. GT say the (carbon) Fury is 10 times stronger than an aluminum frame. They say they hit the downtube with a hammer and broke its handle.
The thing I don't like about carbon is not knowing if it is still sound or not. Is that damage cosmetic or structural and only x-ray can tell. That's not economical for a set of bars. So back to aluminum bars I go.
Carbon as a material is fantastic. Companies need to be smart in the way
they work with it and generaly speaking they are getting better and better.
So EasyKillah, You'r telling us that Formula One teams are stupid for
using carbon to make the entire chassis of a car when they should be using
aluminium? Or are you saying you're so hardcore you put more stress through your bike than an F1 race car's engine?
they work with it and generaly speaking they are getting better and better.
So EasyKillah, You'r telling us that Formula One teams are stupid for
using carbon to make the entire chassis of a car when they should be using
aluminium? Or are you saying you're so hardcore you put more stress through your bike than an F1 race car's engine?
eder, those videos prove nothing. worse things would happen to an aluminum XC frame if you hit it with a hammer.
Then you didn't see the entire video, because they did it with an aluminum frame and it bent in the first beat.
Iamamodel, these videos proof the carbon is very resistant. I believe you understood I was trying to say the inverse. But i'm trying to say the carbon fiber is great. I broke all my aluminum DH bikes, but didn't my carbon fiber one.
actually they said the carbon frame would take an impact that would normally dent an aluminum frame. I know lots of guys still riding dented frames but if they were riding a carbon frame they would have had to throw it away. imagine replacing your frame after every decent crash like a helmet, sounds great for the manufacturers tho. Also, do you think anyone at the factory would have taken that frame they tested with their very scientific method of using a hammer and ridden it afterwards? Not on your life! carbon should stick to road use as you don't have to worry about regular impact. the fact that this is even a matter of discussion proves that this is problematic.
My scientific method was to ride my DH Carbon Remec about 5 years until to break the rear aluminum swing arm and the crow of a Marzocchi Monster. The carbon front suffered several hard impacts and is integer until today.
Here is it http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1775877/
Here is it http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1775877/
even the dude in video called it a long-travel cross country bike (to avoid liability I'm sure) before he talked about how it rode on the mountain.
I rode the Sanction down at demo days in Boulder City, and to be honest it was one of the worst riding 6" bikes I have been on in quite some time. The GT guys said that it was because it had been demo'd not only at Interbike but also at Eurobike... to me there were no worn parts...it just rode terribly! The bike was set up for my body weight and yet when pedaling the bike felt like it locked out over the small bumps and then when i hit some of the little jumps and drops on the BC trail the bike blew through the travel and bottomed out. I was hoping that the bike was going to be nice to ride but honestly the Mongoose Khyber felt 100 times better and has a better parts kit for less money. Anyway just thought I would share my experience.
+1 I rode the prototype last Jan in Cleveland and none seen at interbike? What is going on with this SLopestyle bike anyway?
Spoke to a mate in GT about this very thing!
The Slopestyle bike got put on hold along with the "Speed Series" BMX's
and some other prototype stuff (by which i presume he means that Ruckus 7
proto we've seen). Apparently the guys developing this stuf got re-
assigned during the corporate reshuffle but these are still very much
alive and still in development.
Both Slopestyle and Speed Series are still being riden and tested and have
been re-sheduled for 2011 release.
Morpheous, does the Slopestyle ride as well as it looks?
The Slopestyle bike got put on hold along with the "Speed Series" BMX's
and some other prototype stuff (by which i presume he means that Ruckus 7
proto we've seen). Apparently the guys developing this stuf got re-
assigned during the corporate reshuffle but these are still very much
alive and still in development.
Both Slopestyle and Speed Series are still being riden and tested and have
been re-sheduled for 2011 release.
Morpheous, does the Slopestyle ride as well as it looks?
Ruckus 7: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/interbike-gt-causing-a-ruckus-in-2010-23449
And yes the Slopestyle bike is a nice tight, stiff little package. Rode it at Rays indoor MTB park during a demo day for GT. Thumbs up!
And yes the Slopestyle bike is a nice tight, stiff little package. Rode it at Rays indoor MTB park during a demo day for GT. Thumbs up!
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