GT Sensor ST Carbon Pro: First Ride Review

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The GT Sensor ST Carbon Pro is a reminder of how capable modern trail bikes are, especially if you get the geometry at such perfect balance.

  • Brand: GT
  • Product: Sensor ST Carbon Pro
  • Price: £4,000
  • FromGT Bicycles
  • Review by: Amanda Wishart for 2 weeks

Three things I loved:

  • The angles are all spot on. Not too high at the front, not too low in the middle, not too long at the back… I can’t find anything I dislike about the numbers
  • Geometry feels aggressive for the descent, yet it skips up technical climbs. Super efficient pedalling
  • It’s really predictable without feeling dull. Playfully reliable? Enjoyably consistent?

Three things I’d change:

  • I think I can feel the rocker when pedalling, it’s kind of chunky
  • The colour options are boring, logo is REALLY boring
  • The swimming pool under the shock is quite annoying

I have been testing the ‘Gloss Indigo and Wet Cement Grey with Wet Cement’ GT Sensor ST Pro. The blue paint is beautiful, it’s such a shame they added a grey fade and a really boring logo.

And that’s pretty much where my complaining ends with this bike, so far.

The tyres that come as standard aren’t too inspiring on paper (or at least the Rekon on the rear isn’t), but in reality they’re a great combo for the bike and what I’ve found it capable of riding. I seem to have plenty of traction even in the wet.

My weight is perfectly centred to keep the front end down whilst not having the back skipping out on corners. It has a really short and playful feel, yet there’s no clumsiness to the ride. I can choose a line and know how it’s about to ride, I know where I’ll end up and there’s never any corrections needed.

One of the biggest changes in my riding since getting this bike has been the commitment to line choices – I always want to take the high line through long rutted sections of trail but I’m not always convinced I can hold it (result being cross-rutting and bruising), but I can on this bike.

It goes exactly where I want it to and remains stable and smooth.

I’ve never been too excited to see SRAM G2 brakes on a bike, yet they seem to suit the ride. I don’t ever feel out of control or on my limit at speed because it’s so responsive and nippy. I don’t have that need to emergency brake, something I never feel confident with on G2s. 

The GT Sensor ST Pro has a perfect balance of components to make it a competitive price without ruining the ride quality. 

Overall

The GT Sensor ST Carbon Pro is a great reminder of how capable modern trail bikes are, especially if you get the geometry at such perfect balance. Comfortable and efficient pedalling, agile on technical terrain and aggressive on descents. I can’t help but wonder if the shorter travel is what makes this bike so much fun. It’s very consistent and predictable, and I think that could translate to being rather dull with more travel in the frame.


GTspeak:

DOWN FOR WHEREVER

Their all-new Sensor ST is a purpose-built pedal machine that knows how to have fun. 120mm of travel paired with progressive geometry makes this a bike perfect for the all-day adventurer or anyone looking for a playful and responsive ride.

Rear wheel travel

Sensor ST’s 120mm of rear wheel travel provides a few key benefits: Efficiency, Responsiveness, and Agility.

Linkage Tuned Suspension

Featuring our signature Linkage Tuned Suspension that has been remixed with a pedal pushing mentality.

All around

Equipped with a lightweight carbon frame, trail tuned geometry and kinematic, tube in tube cable routing, and integrated frame protection.


GT Sensor ST Pro Spec

  • FRAME // Sensor ST Carbon 29” Frame, 120mm Travel, BSA 73mm, LockR Pivots, Tapered
  • Head Tube, Boost 12×148 Thru-Axle, UDH, 185×47.5mm Trunnion Shock Mount, ISCG05
  • FORK // RockShox Pike Select + RC2, 140mm, Charger 3, Debonair +, 44mm Offset
  • SHOCK // RockShox Deluxe Select + RT, 185 x 47.5mm, 2-Pos Adjust
  • RIMS // WTB KOM Trail i27, 32h, Tubeless Ready
  • FRONT HUB // Formula, 15x110mm
  • REAR HUB // Formula 12x148mm, HG Freehub Body
  • FRONT TYRE // Maxxis Dissector, 29 x 2.4”, 3C Maxx Terra, EXO
  • REAR TYRE // Maxxis Rekon, 29 x 2.4”, 3C Maxx Terra, EXO
  • CRANKSET // Truvativ Stylo 6K, Dub, 32T
  • CHAIN // SRAM NX Eagle, 12-Speed
  • CASSETTE // SRAM PG-1230, 11-50T
  • DERAILLEUR // SRAM GX Eagle
  • SHIFTERS // SRAM NX Eagle, 12-Speed
  • HANDLEBAR // GT Alloy Riser Bar, 20mm Rise, 780mm Wide, 5° Rise, 8° Back
  • GRIPS // GT Mushroom LockOn
  • STEM // GT Alloy, 45mm
  • HEADSET // FSA No.42
  • BRAKES // SRAM G2 RSC Hydro Disc, 180/180mm Centerline Rotors
  • SADDLE // WTB Silverado
  • SEATPOST // GT DropKick, 31.6mm, (S – 125mm, M – 150mm, L/XL – 170mm)
  • SIZES // SM, MD, LG, XL
  • PRICE // £4,000.00

GT Sensor ST Carbon Elite, £3,350

GT Sensor ST Carbon Elite, £3,350

Spec highlights: Marzocchi Bomber Z2 140mm fork, Fox DPS Performance rear shock, SRAM NX Eagle Drivetrain.


Review Info

Brand: GT
Product: Sensor ST Carbon Pro
From: GT
Price: £4,000
Tested: by Amanda for 2 weeks
Author Profile Picture
Amanda Wishart

Art Director

Amanda is our resident pedaller, who loves the climbs as much as the descents. No genre of biking is turned down, though she is happiest when at the top of a mountain with a wild descent ahead of her. If you ever want a chat about concussion recovery, dealing with a Womb of Doom or how best to fuel an endurance XC race, she's the one to email.

More posts from Amanda

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)
  • GT Sensor ST Carbon Pro: First Ride Review
  • weeksy
    Full Member

    It’s seems GTs new models have scuppered my chance of an Eeeb. The boy appears to want a new Fury frame instead. Harsh…. it’s tough being a parent 🙂

    Was just watching a video and the bike looks cool. In pics… it looks a little … unusual.

    sharkattack
    Full Member

    Regarding the logo and text etc. Yeah, I wouldn’t even notice it if it wasn’t so bad. It’s pretty awful.

    I don’t pay that much attention to GT but as far as I know they haven’t made a desirable bike in a very long time. File them next to Cannondale for being one of the original MTB companies with impeccable heritage that have descended into ‘meh’.

    nickc
    Full Member

    I know it shouldn’t matter that looks ugly and uninspiring, and despite Amanda high praise, it’s a reminder why those things are important, as otherwise I’d walk right past that in the shop.

    leafythebear
    Free Member

    I realise I’m probably in the minority here but I quite like the subtle branding. I really dislike massive shouty logos and all those BS statements, acronyms and slogans that bike brands love to stick all over their frames. I personally prefer the colours of a couple of the new longer travel Sensors but these all seem like a good solid range of bikes that aren’t silly money.

    finbar
    Free Member

    I like the logo but then I like GT bmxes from the 80s, which is where the typeface is from.

    ThePinkster
    Full Member

    If it’s anything like my few years old Alu Sensor it will be an excellent ride.

    But yeah, those graphics are gopping. The nice metal head tube badge on mine is much more classy.

    On the subject of colours I had a GT ID5 for years in what was called British Sky.

    It was actually a dull silvery grey.

    chakaping
    Free Member

    How come everyone’s slagging the logo off when the frame is the real aesthetic horror here?

    I imagine they are trying to preserve their old “triple triangle” thing, but they really need to let it go IMO.

    The geometry on this makes more sense than the 140mm version though.

    doomanic
    Full Member

    On the subject of colours I had a GT ID5 for years in what was called British Sky.

    It was actually a dull silvery grey.

    Seems reasonable.

    matt_outandabout
    Full Member

    How come everyone’s slagging the logo off when the frame is the real aesthetic horror here?

    I imagine they are trying to preserve their old “triple triangle” thing, but they really need to let it go IMO.

    They need the triple thing to differentiate between it and a Trance from about 2010. 😉

    Edit: I stand corrected, 2006..

    Agreed on the colour and logo is just ‘meh’.

    The shock-paddling pool is a likely sign of other things not designed for damp conditions – I had to drill a hole in the bottom bracket shell of my Marin – it slowly filled with water on rides, and basically would ‘top out’ at the dropper cable inlet…

    johnnystorm
    Full Member

    File them next to Cannondale for being one of the original MTB companies with impeccable heritage that have descended into ‘meh’.

    Dorel to blame for that? A few other faded brands under their wings for a good while. Albeit Dorel have since sold out to Pon.

    GT is a division of the Dutch conglomerate Pon Holdings, which also markets Cannondale, Schwinn, Mongoose, IronHorse, DYNO, and RoadMaster bicycle brands;

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

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