Forum menu
Hi there,
Im fairly novice when it comes to mountain bikes, ive owned a GT mountain bike in the past loved it.
Ive found a GT Avalanche 3.0 local to me on ebay, but it requires some work (a new pedal crank arm) and a good service apparently, its up for 70 quid which seems pretty cheap to me.
Is this a good deal? also how difficult it is to replace a pedal arm on a GT? is it just a simple bolt as usual?
Also anything special i need to know?
From the description I would say it is the bottom bracket that needs replacing if there is play in the cranks. You will need a crank puller tool and then a BB tool. Again if all threads are fine and you have the tools, than it's a 10-20 minute job. New BB will cost around £10-15. You need to think what condition the drivetrain is in if the bb has play in, if it needs replacing than that costs money again.
It's not a bad bike for £70 (depending on condition) however if you do not know how to replace cables, adjust stuff etc it will soon cost you more than £70 counting in service charges from a bike shop so count that in.
Also if it's a XL frame you need to be pretty tall as well.
Considering all the work it will need and cost of parts you would be probably looking at something like £130 all in with service costs, more if the chain/cassette/chainrings are shot. I would consider other brands and if you are just learning bike maintainance then I would get something in a ready to ride condition.
Hi Mieszko,
Many thanks for your quick reply, i would much rather have another GT as ive had good experiences with them, also this bike is local to me.
So if I was to do the work myself im looking about £20-30 for crank arm and cables? im fairly confident i could do the work myself and set it up correctly.
so for say £100 would this be a good purchase? or can i get a better GT for that kind of money?
PS* i know its an XL frame, im 6ft 4
If there is play in the bottom bracket then the crank arm will not need replacement, only the bottom bracket. If it's a square taper one than £10-15 for it, then if You don't have the tools, than it would be probably around £10-15 for bb tool and crank puller. New cables and outer cables would be about £15 for gears and brakes.
Have a go on the bike then and see if the gears skip and check drivetrain condition, how the fork work as the basic Suntour forks are not that well sealed and might need some work on it. You can always haggle a bit if You buy it off eBay, saves the guy ebay and paypal fees so a £10 discount off asking price would be doable.
its a starting bid of 70 quid not a buy it now
ok many thanks for all your advice and comments, im going to contact the seller and see what he will take for cash, if not i will find another one.
cheers
Ive contacted the seller and he assures me that it doesnt need a bottom bracket and its just the left hand crank that needs replacing.
Just a quick question, with the work needed what would be the most that I should pay for this bike?
I had a 2007 avalanche 1 bought on the strength of an MBR review (10/10) score. It looks the same as the picture here so the 4 years old is about right. However this is a 3 (lower spec) and it will have some very basic parts. Square taper bb. rubbish forks, rubbish cable disk brakes, heavy wheels and would have been not much more than £250 new.
On the plus side as a budget bike it is a really good xc frame (I assume the frame was the same through the range), light weight but with the stiffness and flex in the right places hence 10/10 for the top model and it will still build up into a good bike.
You get what you pay for.
Hi uwe-r,
Thanks for you input, I have previously had a GT avalanche a few years ago and absolutely loved it (until the theiving scrotes got their hands on it) thats why im very keen to get another avalanche.
Im fairly novice when it comes to parts etc, but even what you consider as crap is still probably alot better quality than a £100 halfords bike?
As long as it gets me from A-B safely and comforatbly then im happy, i wont be using the bike for any offroad, just the usual boring commute to work.
Ive offered the guy £80 to sell offline, just waiting a reply.
My budget is about 150 maximum so im thinking 80 for the bike and 70 to replace any parts needed should get me a quality GT.
But im hoping to get it all in for about £100, then it would be a bargain?
Thankyou everyone for your input...
Could do a lot worse for £100 and it's a solid frameset to build on in the future if you felt the desire ;o)
Yes i was thinking that Jack, plus im 6ft4 and fat lol... so the fact that is a XL frame is why i want it.
Where is a good place to buy spares / new parts to build from?
Im in Thurrock, Essex.