mtb-timeline

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<div column 50% #intro>
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===== GT Bicycles =====

GT was founded in 1979 by Gary Turner((Gary had previously been making his own custom "Gary Turner" BMX bikes from his Santa Ana garage since 1972.)) and Richard Long in Annaheim, CA, as a maker of BMX bikes.  In 1984 they entered the more lucrative mountain bike market with their Timberline MTB and GT soon began making more MTBs than BMX bikes.
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GT's standout design element has been their Triple Triangle™((The Triple Triangle™ was trademarked in 1988: [[https://uspto.report/TM/73752964|uspto]])) frames, where the seat stays attach to the top tube forward of the seat tube.  Introduced by GT in 1987, GT wasn't the first or only maker whose seat stays miss the top.  Other MTB makers include [[3rensho:start#s1987|3Rensho]] and perhaps the [[mantis:start|Mantis]] X-frames.  The frame style is known as //Hellenic// as is occasionally found on older road bikes.
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GT sold itself to Schwinn in 1997 and today the [[https://www.gtbicycles.com/usa_en/|GT]] brand is alive and well and owned by [[https://www.dorelsports.com/our-brands|Dorel Sports]].  Gary Turner retired from GT in 1999, a few years after business partner Richard Long died in a motorcycle accident.  After 20 years of retirement, Gary Turner has returned to making "Gary Turner" BMX bicycles with his son Craig.  See: [[https://gt1972.com/|GT1972]].
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Info from:
[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GT_Bicycles|wikipedia]],
[[https://www.facebook.com/GaryTurnerBMX/|facebook]],
[[https://www.orangecoast.com/features/the-return-of-o-c-s-gary-turner-and-his-bmx-bikes/|orangecoast]],
[[https://mmbhof.org/richard-long/|mmbhof]], and
[[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/gt-bicycles-history/|fundinguniverse]].



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<div column 45%>
{{gary.jpg?440|Gary Turner and Richard Long, 1981}}
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Gary Turner and Richard Long, 1981
[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GT_Bicycles|wikipedia]]
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<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 Timberline =====
SunTour MounTech 4900 (1982-4).
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<div column 45%>
{{1984.jpg?300|1984 Timberline }}
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1984 Timberline
[[https://www.360-cycles.com/product/1984-gt-timberline-first-gen-21-large/240?cp=true&sa=true&sbp=false&q=false|360-cycles]]
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<div column 50% #s1985>
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===== 1985 Timberline =====
The drop frame seat tube gusset is a forerunner of the triple triangle to come later in 1987.  Dia-Compe brakes a step backwards towards its BMX roots.  1985 as per serial number.  SunTour MounTech GTL (1982-84).
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<div column 45%>
{{1985.jpg?300|1985 Timberline }}
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1985 Timberline
[[https://ratrodbikes.com/forum/threads/1984-gt-timberline-done.24994/|ratrodbikes]]
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<div column 50% #s1986>
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===== 1986 Backwoods =====
From Dec 1986 Mountain Biking magazine review: $489, 28.5 pounds.
SunTour MounTech II, SunTour rollercam brakes.
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<div column 45%>
{{1986.jpg?300|1986 Backwoods }}
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1986 Backwoods
[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/GT.html|mombat]]
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<div column 50% #s1987>
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===== 1987 Avalanche =====
The triple triangle makes its debut, along with a non-bmx stem and awkward rear brake cable routing which is both internal and rubbing against the seat tube.  Later models used cable guides around the seat tube (or added a cable stop on the seat tube.)  Straightforward rear cantilevers have not been seen on a GT since 1984.  See the 1993 RTS-1 brake detail below.
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SunTour XC 9010 (1987-88), 1987 as per serial #G7K00153.
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<div column 45%>
{{1987.jpg?300|1987 Avalanche }}
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1987 Avalanche
[[https://www.picuki.com/media/2807291367078391498|picuki]]
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<div column 50% #s1988>
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===== 1988 Avalanche =====
SunTour XC 9000 (1987-88).  1988 as per serial #T8021.
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<div column 45%>
{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Avalanche }}
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1988 Avalanche
[[https://www.oldschoolracing.ch/mountainbike/1988-gt-avalanche/|oldschoolracing]]
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<div column 50% #s1989>
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===== 1989 Tequesta =====
1989 Tequesta Catalog shot.  SunTour XCD rear derailleur.  32.3 pounds, $440.
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<div column 45%>
{{1989.jpg?300|1989 Tequesta }}
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1989 Tequesta
[[https://www.bikeforums.net/22445976-post327.html|bikeforums]]
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<div column 50% #s1990>
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===== 1990 Karakoam =====
"Purple Haze" color scheme.
Shimano Deore LX (1990-92)
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<div column 45%>
{{1990.jpg?300|1990 Karakoam }}
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1990 Karakoam
[[https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/411406357392307/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A78b323f9-ef4f-4924-ba3b-02ff8818897d|facebook]]
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<div column 50% #s1991>
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===== 1991 Xizang =====
Partial titanium frame with chromoly forks and bolt-on rear triangle.  Internal cable routing.  Available with either XT or XC-Pro gruppos.  "Xizang" is Chinese for [[https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/t/Tibet.htm|Tibet]].

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<div column 45%>
{{1991.jpg?300|1991 Xizang }}
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1991 Xizang
[[https://wdlabo.tumblr.com/post/183095863372/gt-bikes-bi-metal-xizang|tumblr]]
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<div column 50% #s1992>
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===== 1992 Zaskar =====
Fully aluminum.  Deore XT.
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<div column 45%>
{{1992.jpg?300|1992 Zaskar }}
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1992 Zaskar
[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1992-zaskar.240246/|retrobike]]
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<div column 50% #s1993>
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===== 1993 RTS-1 =====
It's impossible to find pics of a 1993 model with the original Mag-21's on the front, as they steered like wet noodles and blew out seals on alternate rides.
Noleen coil-over rear.  Shimano XTR throughout.
Most components have been swapped in this pic.
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{{1993b.jpg?300|1995 RTS }}
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Tricky brake routing detail from a 1995 RTS.

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<div column 45%>
{{1993.jpg?300|1993 RTS-1 }}
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1993 RTS-1
[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/mtb-daves-gt-rts1-for-sale.215499/|retrobike]]
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