We wonder what a modern incarnation of the GT Lobo might look like, and take a trip down memory lane with GT.
Bike designer and fabricator Steve Salter of SmallTownBoyCustoms has been busy re-imaging the GT Lobo as it would be if it were around today.
The GT Lobo was from the days when suspension was very much still in development – and not all of it worked well. GT did have a reputation for suspension that worked – GT RTS proved popular, and its successor the GT LTS reigned for years. But even by the standards of the times the GT Lobo was an oddity with its pull shock. The even more unusual GT STS Lobo and Carbon LTS were way ahead of their time, with thermoplastic tubing and aluminium lugs a precursor to today’s Robot Bikes – and now Atherton Bikes.
| Back Then, a Medium | |
| Head Tube Angle | 67.7 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 61 |
| Top Tube Length | 549 |
| BB Height | 335 |
| Standover Height | – |
| Chain Stay Length | 430 |
| Wheel Base | 1081 |
| BB Width | 73 |
Is this how you’d imagine it would be now? What about other bikes now and then? The GT Zaskar, recently given an update, has been around since 1991, so we know what it’s evolved into.
GT Zaskar | 18 inch frame Then | M frame Now |
| Head Tube Angle | 70.5 | 66 |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73.5 | 75 |
| Top Tube Length | 575 | 615 |
| BB Height | 298 | 323 |
| Standover Height | 776.0 | 763 |
| Chain Stay Length | 425.5 | 450 |
| Wheel Base | 1066.6 | 1205 |
Zaskar Carbon Team 
Since even by GT’s own admissions in this video series, the Lobo wasn’t quite as successful as the LTS or its iDrive successor, we’re probably not going to see the Lobo being revived. If you want to know the history of the development of GT’s suspension, then you should definitely make the time to watch this ‘Full Travel’ series.
Want to read more about the history of suspension? Check out Singletrack Issue 128.
What bike would you like to bring up to modern standards? Is there one that might be better now that materials and suspension have moved on? Or one that you just loved so much you wish you could have one that met all today’s standards. Tell us in the comments!
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Replies (18)
Comments Closed
Cough auto correct fail cough
Lobo lomo
Argh. Autocorrect mixed with home schooling and children baking. Please send gin.
Please do not over bake your children.
..and please do not give your kids gin to keep them quiet – the victorians didn’t get this one right…… 🙂
Ooooohh…. I’d like to try that.
Always remember the first time I saw an STS at a race, was a work of art in my GT obsessed opinion.
An updated Lobo would be marvellous, especially if it works as well as my current Sensor.
Child is making Amanda’s biscotti. Child is 9. We don’t have most of the ingredients so there has been a lot of substitutions. My brain is fried. I think I need a nice relaxing coffee and biscotti.
The original LOBO was my first ever DH bike and also the last time I ever bought a GT. Having to do up every bolt in the back end after one DH run, was a pain in the arse.
If I could have my old 2000 Marin East Peak with more up to date geometry and a bit more travel up front, I’d be a happy bunny. It had a bit of squish to take the edge off, but not so much I felt like I was pedalling a marshmallow. Simple single pivot, nice and light so I didn’t feel like my elbow was going to snap every time I lifted it over a gate. Excuse me while I stare longingly out of the window for a while…
GT are a strange brand. Loads of history but I never see their bikes on the trail.
Muddy Fox Rock n Roll…. With updated cleverness to connect, not solid rod…
For me and do not laugh it’d have to be my Raleigh Peak (turquoise with purple writing), steel frame, Deore LX, Zoom stem and post. Ooh just imaging that with modern geo and a good fork!!! The original was rigid I hasten to add but I’d change that obvs.
My first decent mountain bike was a GT RTS, such a great bike for the time, had it for years.
Mountain Cycle San Andreas with modern geometry, had two and wished I’d kept one as wall art…………….had steep angles and a high BB back in 2003!
Honda RN01 please…
86 Kona Cinder Cone please.
I’d bring the 2020 Canyon Strive and Giant Trance up to date.
Hello, 2015 Geometry calling!
I have an updated Lobo!
It is called a FURY & for good reason too!
It’s f furiously fun
Oooh, I’ve a couple more to add to the Muddy Fox RnR.
Schwinn Straight 8.
1992 Manitou FS – the one with forks front and rear.
ProFlex, any…