GT has been specializing in various bike models since the early 1970s. Named after owner and founder Gary Turner, the company remains predominantly known for its BMX bikes. However, GT has a thriving team of mountain bike designers and professional riders. The history of the GT mountain bike dates back to the late 1980s when the popularity of BMX was slowly declining.
Early 1980s - Mid 90s
As the sales of the GT BMX began to decrease, the company turned its attention to the blossoming sport of off road mountain biking. In 1987, GT began to produce some its earliest mountain biking models which featured steel frames and knobby tires. According to GT Bicycles, some of the top professionals bikers of the day, including Juli Furtado and Rishi Grewal, signed on to the GT mountain biking team. These riders would eventually dominate the sport of competitive mountain biking, which in turn gained significant publicity for GT.
Late 1990s
GT continued to make improvements on the overall design of the mountain bike including frames made of lightweight alloys. GT riders dominated the sport so heavily that eventually the UCI or Union Cyclist International began to investigate. According to GT Bicycles, nearly every component on the 1996 model of GT mountain bike was banned by the governing body of the UCI. The GT mountain biking team suffered a serious loss in 1996 when its top rider Richard Long was killed in a motorcycle accident.
2000 - 2006
Throughout the early 2000s, the design team at GT mountain bikes began to develop a new and innovative suspension system. According to GT Bicycles, its patented i-Drive suspension received rave reviews by mountain biking enthusiasts as it helped to increase your handing capabilities during downhill races. The GT mountain biking team, equipped with the new i-Drive suspension, continues to win the majority of competitions and time trials. GT also released a specialized downhill mountain bike known as the Lobo DH.
2007 - 2011
In 2007, GT team rider Brian Lopes won the world championships of mountain biking for the fourth time in a row. In 2008, GT team rider Burry Stander won the world championship for cross-country mountain biking. From 2007 to 2011, GT began to use new materials in the manufacturing process of its mountain bikes. As opposed to bulky steel frames, GT now uses carbon fiber to create lightweight components and frames. GT also developed an innovative design of the gearbox known as the IT-1.
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