GT Grade Review | One of the best 2020 gravel bikes?
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- čas přidán 19. 10. 2019
- The latest iteration of the GT Grade is a £2000 carbon gravel bike with a few cool tricks up its sleeve. Dave gives you his thoughts.
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Another top class review Dave.
Thank you.
love that they kept the classic triple triangle design, looks so good.
Awesome Dave. Trust your review every time. Well done mate!
That external routing is perfect
Very good review. As a "GT Guy" owning 21 different models ranging from an '89 Avalanche that I converted into a drop 26er to a 2018 Pantera with plus sized tires, I'm torn on the new revision of the Grade. I have a 2014 aluminum 105 that I absolutely love. GT has extended the reach on the new model to be more aggressive and has retained the hideous press fit BB. I've been considering buying the new aluminum 105 model, but it has a square-tapered BB and I don't like the gearing. I'll probably just stick with my 2014 model. Also, as a side note, GT never stopped producing bikes with the triple triangle design. Some road models and full suspension bikes lost it, but the hardtails did not.
Excellent review, very helpful. A nice touch would be if you mentioned how tall you are and what size you tested. Nowadays lot's of bikes are bought online so there's always good to get some perspective on size. Cheers!
Excellent review enjoyed the ride
Just bought one !!! Love the review !!
Very reminiscent of the terrain I regularly ride on my CX and gravel bikes (both Boardman) but done a lot quicker by a younger bloke....Hahaha !! I'm a quite old mountain biker who still rides MTB's but got into off-road stuff on drop bars about 4 years ago....and I love it through all 4 seasons.
My only advice is to fit the biggest tyres you can on your drop bar bike for the comfort (at least 40c) and, if you get one of these GT's (in my dreams anyway), that'd be brilliant with the compliance on the back end and the fact that you can alter the geometry and choice of 650b wheels....perhaps some Lauf forks would turn it into a high end late 90's full suss MTB.....what a thought ?
I'm liking this crossover stuff from MTB's to fat tyre drop bar bikes that's become trendy this past few years.....Roadies should try getting off-road and MTBers should try it with drop bars........it'll improve anyone's bike handling skills.....
I have a gt sensor mtb so tried out the 2017 carbon grade... Loved it instantly... Smooth rear end and felt planted and poised... Due to being on a budget i ordered the aluminium version... Was amazingly cheap! £800... Good job gt....👊🤙
I'm shocked how flexible the rear triangle with seatpost are as shown at 4:25 . It's almost like a damper. Really great use of longer "tubes" in that GT triple triangle. And it looks sick, everyone would think you're crazy riding rough terrain on such flimsy looking thing. I really like GT bikes (who's not?) and I'm thinking of getting a proper all-round modern drop bar bike, instead of riding my trekking Dawes hybrid or rigid retro GT timberline(no drop bars eh) depending on terrain. What's the guarantee on that frame? I wonder how will this frame hold after eg. 5 years of some nasty off-road backpacking rides.
Absolutely love my 2020 Grade Carbon Pro!
Electronic shifting on the Pro?
@@madmatt222 yes, it is Ultegra Di2. I'll never own another drop bar bike without it!
Just ordered mine, can't wait to go out on it! Great review!
thanks hope it was helpful for you
Just ordered the GT GRADE ELITE CARBON 2020. Cost £1800 getting it around 3 wks time so bout 21/22 June. once get the bike i will get some footage of me on it & put it up.This is my 1st Gravel/ road bike so looking forward to riding it around London & not worrying about off road with thin wheel :). Will put up a note when vid up of me on the bike.
Thank you for the review
Was about to dive in and get the cannondale topstone carbon 105 but not sure now. Any thoughts? Which is more compliant or comfortable. Cheers
Any idea when it will be equipped with GRX components?
Do you think there is a huge difference with the carbon and aluminum model? There's one selling for a good price here. Thinking of getting it as my entry level gravel bike.
GT says Grade is "enduroad" as category. What about to use it as an endurance bike, 28-30mm tires. Is it good for a all-day travel? It is a good bike for us that desire having fun in both worlds: Endurance (Audax) and gravels?
What is it like on steep hills? I have a 10 year old full suspension Boardman, and frame has just broke. I don't really need full suspension, as I have got older I stick to forest cart tracks and foot paths and tarmac. My concern is that the Boardman has 27 gears and the GT has 22. I know it is not the number of gears, but will the lowest gear be as low as a 27 gear Boardman? Plus I would probably go for the GT Carbon Elite which only has 20 gears, as it's cheaper and the Expert is out of stock everywhere in the UK!
I just pull the trigger based on your review. I got the GT Grade Expert because I was looking for a bicycle that I would use as a fitness/commuter bike and this does it. I am 6ft 5 inches 196 cm 240 lbs 112 kg all muscle that is. I can put a rack , fenders, water bottle holders. I am not happy with the external brake cables but I am new to cycling so it should not matter much. I wish more companies whould put the weight capacity on the websites. This is important information on this category. Thanks for the review, you sold me!
Sorry a little late to this. My local shop has a NOS in an XL (58cm I believe). I’m 76” tall and about 230 lbs, and was wondering what size you got? And if you still have it, do you still love it?
@@powderdude91 Hi Rob, the GT grade bicycle was sold out in my size due to the pandemic. I got a size 60cm and 58 cm and they both fit me very well. The size 60cm gives me a range to make all sort of adjustments to it. The 58 road bike I also use for gravel no problems.
@@stephen4347 thank you for the info and reply on this!
external cables can always be internal, if you're will to drill your frame. Id be happy with external. GT, a great Canadian company.
My wife likes her Grade a lot.
I think I’d be more comfortable taking a MB on those tracks.
Having said that I’m seriously looking at this bike for road use.
Great review. Looking to buy atm. Love the Grade. If only they'd ditch pressfit BB's. Deal breaker for me.
Is the new Specialized Diverge equipped with future shock 2.0 any better than the GT Diverge from the comfort point of view or not really? I find my GT grade VERY comfortable but I still suffer bit at it's front end on realy rough offroad terrain and sometimes I consider buying the new Diverge suposing its front end would be more forgiving. Although I find much more rewarding to pedal the GT grade than a mountain bike, when I am not sure of how the ground of the trail will be like I still tend to pick my hardtail crosscountry bike due to its suspension fork. I wonder if I would ever use again my hardtail cross country bike if I had a Siverge with it's future shock. Could anyone answer me please? Where I live I cannot test ride a Diverge, but only buy one on internet sites.
Interesting, this was on my short list. Went for Orro Terra C with GRX 600 for the better groupset and wheels. Quite a bit of seat post flex on the Terra but I can see the extra seat post flex being a nice feature of the Grade.
The Orro is a great choice, pretty sure it got a 9/10 when we reviewed it last year 👍
External cables for hydraulic brakes in not a good idea (for mechanical, yes) if You cut cabels brake fluid leakage You don't fix this in a remote area. And this many cabels on bike cockpit makes difficult to assembly handlebar bag.
Is it good for on road ? If I go along with my friend that on road bike.
Does full length outers add a bit of friction to the gear shifts? Internal routing is easy with an access cover under the BB, think it would be nicer with it. Bike looks good still.
one benefit of full outer casing is less chance of water/mud getting inside the cables. There might be a tiny bit of increased friction but you'd be hard-pressed to notice during normal use
It's true, why put external cables with a view to easy maintenance but then use a press fit BB?
Still love the triple triangle look though, and the independant seat stays seem to be more than just good looking.
Napunta lng ako dito ksi ito yung bike ni Ian How na bago, lupit khit walang shock smooth p rin❤❤❤❤❤
Can't seem to find sizing info on this bike. Can everyone share what size they are riding? Thx in advance.
Where is it made?
You say you can fit mudguards but there is no bridge between the seat stays? Do you get some kind of adapter?
Yes, you get a small adapter that bolts into two holes on the underside of the seat stays
Which size for 173 cm height do you recommend? 51 or 54? I'm riding a lot on road, so I prefer more sporty position.
Tricky recommending sizes. Do you know the stack and reach of your current bike? That's a good place to start
I want that in Alloy aluminum
Nice bike but I don't like press fit bbs
How durable are those pencil-thin stays? What if you ever drop or crash it?
Ian Butterworth incredibly durable, they are solid, not hollow like most seat stays. Despite being solid, the frames weight is low, only 980g +/- paint in 55cm
What RadDad said! GT has been using these skinny stays since 2015 and we've not seen any reports of issues with them and our own experience of testing several Grade models over the years hasn't shown them to be a concern
So, does GT Grade works well as endurance bike? All-day rides? Comfortable enough?
Definitely yes! Fit some wide slick tyres and it’ll be a good road bike. Fit some mudguards too and it’ll be spot on
I have about 7500 miles on my 2016 Grade (Carbon) and have been on numerous paved centuries and gravel metric centuries. Minor personal tweaks include Redshift ShockStop stem and Brooks C15 saddle.
Don’t love the look of it but I’m sure it’s a great bike to ride
External cables are way easier to work on!
External cables for hydraulic brakes in not a good idea (for mechanical, yes) if You cut cabels brake fluid leakage You don't fix this in a remote area. And this many cabels on bike cockpit makes difficult to assembly handlebar bag.
I'm about to buy a gravel bike, the Jaris Renegade expat. Just not ready to drop $2k on a bike yet.
I dropped 2K on a bike. So happy with the performance.
Is there much difference between the elite and expert?
The gearing on the Elite is Shimano Tiegra, an entry-level system. The Expert (this one) has Shimano 105. I am sure both will do the job, but 105 has proven itself as a durable set, placed in the top tier with Ultegra.
Looks good at that price but what is the weight of the bike
I believe this particular model comes in at 10.9 kg but best check it at your lbs
What GT grade is this?
Is all models good or just the one he is reviewing??
We had the GT grade Carbon Expert, which Dave rated really highly. The points he talked about should transfer to the lower priced models
Hello Dave what is your height and inseam ? I am trying to figure out sizing
Dave is 5 foot 11, not sure on his inseam
@@roadcc thank you very much, and what is the size of tested bike ?
@@tomastextoris963 It's a size M (see 4:32)
How heavy is it?
It came in at 9.7kg in this build. The frame weight is 980g
Has anyone had one of these for a few years..? Just feel uneasy about those skinny seat stays. Are they robust enough to last years of riding......?!
I haven’t experienced any seatstay issues on my 2016 Carbon. It has been through about 7500 miles of pavement and rough gravel and I weigh 160lbs. Granted, the first generation is a little different design, but still has the very skinny seatstays. Both generations use a fiberglass core wrapped in carbon.
GT GRADE EXPERT IS WEST COAST SEXY. THE STAR OF THE VID IS THE AREA YOU'RE RIDING.
A bike pede para andar 😍
If money wasn’t an issue. Which Gravel bike would you choose today please Dave?
Really tricky question! I think the Open WIDE would be on the list, so too the Cannondale Topstone Carbon and the Specialized S-Works Diverge. How about you?
david arthur Thank you very much replying David! It’s a really tricky question, which is why I asked a man of your expertise and knowledge. I’m in the market to buy a gravel bike, for commuting and pleasure and struggling to choose which one. I liked your GT Grade review, I like the look of the Open WIDE and the future shock sounds beneficial on the Diverge. If I were to really push you for an answer out of the ones you’ve mentioned, considering it to be used 3/4 days a week in all weathers (I live in the north) which would it be? Side note: I’ve even thought about a custom built ti frame??
@@Strengthoftenmen Will you be using it primarily off-road, or will it be used on the road as well? Because I think that makes a difference. Have you considered trying to arrange a test ride on some of these bikes as well? especially if you're spending some serious cash!
david arthur Great point. My commute is 80% off road. If I can boil it down to two possibly three bikes I can look about getting a test ride. With that being said which would you favour for more off road use please David?
How do you reckon this stacks up against something like the Enigma Escape? You’re clearly a fan of both.
This bike was really easy to assemble czcams.com/users/postUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA and required very few adjustments out of the box. The wheels did not require any truing/adjustments. The frame had some small scratches, but nothing major.I did replace the seat though - the seat it came with was very uncomfortable. The tires need to be re-inflated every 4-5 days, but this appears to be quite common for the narrow 700x25 tires.Overall, in my opinion, this bike looks and rides like a much more expensive bike.
Press fit is no go.
While this kind of review shows roadworthiness, it has no subjective comparisons to current competitive bikes, and that is what viewers are likely interested in.
A comparison element is definitely something we should be mentioning more prominently
Internal cables are a must at this price point..
I think almost everything is right on this bike. If cabling was internal to the frame and the bike had a fully integrated cabling on the handlebars and the stem, this would be the bike to buy immediately. I have the 2015 GT Grade Carbon and the cable housings are collecting dirt and grass underneath the down tube like a magnet. This is a 2020 model, completely internal cabling please!
Surprised I hear a few people are asking for bikes with internal routing through the bars, but looks more trouble than it's worth to me.
@@endianAphones Haha yes I'll grant you that. No doubt some will be easier to work on than others - internal frame routing has been ok on my MTB.
Like for bike🙏
Too bad you can't buy it in this color in 2022. The beige color with the awful teal stripe probably resulted in less sales.
Durbilitly of that backend would be all im concerned about, epscailly if it sees a lot of off road use
gaza4543 no rider weight limit on the frame and those stays are solid core, not hollow, should be more durable than a typical carbon lightweight XC hardtail
Obviously you're not in buckinghamshire - there's no footpath only, no cycling signs and not a dog walker every 30 yards.
You're right. We're based in Bath and the surrounding area
430mm chainstays are a deal breaker for me, cannondale 415mm, cervelo 420mm, both would be more suitable for a road riding on 25mm tyres.
In the first few seconds...I burst laughing and said - Gosh, this is fugly. And not to mention costly... CX bike for me.
it just needs a futureshock or something
I think you mean a Redshift ShockStop :)
Or a Lauf fork...
No baggage carrier. Dissapointing.
outside routing cables in 2022 is the reason that I dont buy this bike.
looks horrendous
A proper gravel bike can fit 700x50's.
Darrin Schwarz you're very unlikely to find anything with a narrow q factor (road) crankset with tyres like that, you'd either need really long or elevated chainstays or a mountain bike crankset/q factor.
@@hogdog567 my Veloheld (german steel frame) fits 700x50s without fancy elevated chainstays, but yes, its the upper limit that will work with a road front deraileur and crank. not that much space between the front derailleur cage and the tire in the small ring. 1x wouldnt be a problem though.