If you're interested in any of the parts I used to upgrade this bike or gear I use in general, check out the links in the description! Thanks for watching everyone, hope this helped you!
Amen! Folks in this lifestyle are terrible about being condescending if you havent spent at least 2k on a bike. Not everyone has that budget. Wish more would watch this. Be safe and have fun bud.
This is my sport. Im the opposite. I found good bikes as cheap as possible, I mean peanut dirt cheap used Big brand bikes. You dont need to spend an arm and leg to enjoy this sports. Like i said, I spent peanut dirt cheap in this sports and I enjoy this sports as much as the big spenders.
I have never considered GT as a "department store" bike. It's a quality bike Sold at sporting good stores! And the good thing about that, is that these big stores can afford to put them on sale at great prices that you may not see at a specialized bike store. Great video.
Great video. I bought that same bike in April and love it. I beat my friends on their 3k bikes on the trails any day. It's the rider not the bike 80% of the time👍🏿!
both my mtn bikes are from the 90's. trek and giant (not even top end for their era) hardtails, and for our terrain in this area..more than sufficient at the end of a day..its a metal frame with wheels, rubber, and a few cables. my bikes are a blast and dependable. the fact you are out there doing it puts you ahead of the guy with his 3,000 unifork cannondale gathering dust in tje garage.
Still have and ride my all original (except tires). 1989 Diamondback Apex full rigid but recently bought a big box bike full suspension with plans to upgrade components . But the old Apex looks good, and even after all this time, it's bombproof. Steel and Shimano Deore ruled back then.
I wish everybody looking to get into mountain biking watched this video first. While the mtb community is amazing, elitism is a real thing. I have ridden in groups on this exact bike, been almost laughed at initially and then got bored waiting for those guys at the bottom. As long as your smiling and improving you are doing everything right. Love the videos. If you are ever near Atlanta (or ellijay) would love to link up for a ride. Do you have a patreon? would be more than happy to support someone doing this for all the right reasons.
Leslie Page - I was actually just riding at Allatoona Creek earlier this week. I’m hoping to make another trip down there to ride bakers creek. I appreciate your willingness to give! I do have a patron account but I have no promoted the page because I feel that I have not been able to give enough extra value to make it worthy to charge. If you still feel the need to give, you can search for MTB Trail Rider on patreon. But know that sharing my videos are payment enough. :)
Great comment, I'm getting into the sport now.I refuse to be one of those types I see in the gun world (i.e. laugh at Glocks and insist on 1911's and Kimber's but can't shoot them for squat but think they can bc they dropped a couple grand on a pistol) Almost pulled the trigger on a Nishiki Colorado Comp today for 599.00 but the frame was too big..great reviews but no dice so back to the drawing board..My folks have a place near Elijay..I'll hit you up if I'm down there and you can show me the ropes!
Leslie Page why was they laughing at you? And was you outriding them with this bike? My budget will only allow me to buy this bike for me and my wife... looking to buy for Christmas
Hey man, great review. This helps a lot. I'm upgrading my daughters bike. She's going from a Louis Garneau F24, 7 speed. (She has greatly outgrown). She has recently liquidated a few things (her old LG f24 being one of them, she's now riding my mtn bikes, shes 13)! Anyway I may have found a great deal for this same bicycle as a new old stock. I think this GT will set her up for years to come! Again, thanks for the great review. Go put the fun between yo legs! Ride yo bike! Cheers!
Im riding a base Specialized Pitch, extremely similar to this GT bike in the video. I am hitting intermediate single track no problem. Bike has held up well. It was $450.
Thanks! I usually find myself wanting to change out parts even if I ride an expensive bike anyway so why not get a "budget friendly" base to work from?
Kudos to you MTB Trail Rider! I did the exact same thing. I bought a 2018 GT Aggressor Comp in the fall of 2017 for 400 bucks and slowly upgraded it over time; as and when I felt the need. If you are getting into mountain biking for the first time this method is the best in my opinion. And this is coming from a serious BMX’r-although that was long ago. I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted in an MTB but I wasn’t sure how seriously I was going to take it at first. After a year and a half of being totally stoked I am ready for a more serious bike but my existing bike got me there in the best way! When you upgrade your bike yourself you learn so much not only in riding skills but also in understating bike specs and what really enhances the performance according to HOW AND WHERE YOU RIDE. Its worth every penny and is actually just as economical as buying a similarly spec’d bike to what you have arrived at once you’ve tricked out the stock one you bought. This also puts you in the best position to consider your next bike and get what YOU REALLY NEED. The list below is in the order I upgraded: 400 GT Aggressor Comp 0 Chain tensioner (converted seatpost reflector mount). Necessary without a clutch deraileure; which you wont find until you get to a 10speed. 140 Rockshox 30 Sliver coil fork 135 KS eten 100mm internal dropper post 125 Maxxis tires and tubeless conversion 100 RaceFace handlebars and stem, grips 36 Crankbrothers Stamp1 plastic flat pedals 125 SRAM Level hydraulic brakes 20 Shimano rapid fire shifters (due to converting to hydraulic brakes[stand alone levers]) 1082 bucks Total The dropper post, tires and cockpit components proved to be the most important as far as performance was concerned. I find the coil spring fork more than adequate (plus no special pump required)and it still has lock out, damping and preload controls. Where I realized I hit the limit on upgrading this bike was with the hydraulic brakes; holy moly they give you so much leverage and allow you to brake waaaay later! But they also expose the weak points in the design of this bike, which is flex. The qr skewer axles and straight steerer tube forks just can’t handle the bigger forces when you are flying at full speed and break hard, so this is where I have hit the limit on this bike but it took me 18 months and a ton of stokage miles and wrench spinning to get there! Its time for through bolt axles, stiffer fork, and a 1x drive train with a clutch deraileure. I have decided to pull the trigger on a 2019 Santa Cruz Chameleon and low and behold the geometry is very similar! Proving even further that the pedigree of GT is worth it and the Aggressor is a wolf in sheep’s clothing its price point.
Nikolai Bohachevsky - this is awesome!! Thanks for sharing Nikolai. The upgrades you did and the process is spot on! I hope others can see your comment and use that grow as well. I actually just got a new sponsorship this last week and they purchased me a new Santa Cruz bike which I’m releasing this Monday in a new video. I’ve loved the GT Aggressor and like you said, it’s time to move on.
MTB Trail Rider nice one! Looking forward to your “release” on Monday and your ongoing progression....subscribed, pure stoke! Another plus is now you’ll have the Aggressor to share with buddies that want to get into the sport or sell on to someone for a really good deal to them!
piliosn - yes, the maxxis Aggressor tires are tubeless ready but the stock rims are NOT. I had to apply rim tape to seal the rims and that worked. I had a hard time trying to get the tires to seat properly because the lip of the rim wasn’t grabbing very well, but yes, tubeless with stock rims and maxxis tires.
Right now, I’m using a Giant Talon 2 2021. I just got into mountain biking and I honestly love this bike! Not everyone can buy a $1000-$2000 Dollar bike. As long as your having a blast and your shredding, keep it up!
Absolutely! I like the talon 2 bike. A friend of mine has that bike. Just get out on the trails and buy what you can afford. Thanks for taking the time to leave your comment 🤙🏼
Been riding this bike for 5or 6 years now. Slowly upgraded everything but the wheels and front brakes. Not an advanced rider but very satisfied with it for what I have invested and have gotten an education on bike mechanics.
This is a great video! I want to get back into Mountain biking and I've been on the fence about this bike. You just convinced me to pull the trigger on this bike. Have a great rest of your season.
Great video! Captured many of my thoughts about mountain biking. I actually ride the same exact bike on the same trails. I converted to a 1x, upgraded the pedals and crank arms, tires, seat and RockShox Judy fork and I’m really happy with it. Plan to ride it for years to come.
Awesome! The frame is a great build. Glad to see others enjoying the GT Aggressor. We need to change our mindsets to the frame being the bike and not all the components. You look at higher end bikes and they have 5 different builds but the frame is exactly the same just different components. Doesn’t change what the bike is. I bet with all the parts you switched out you got a really fun hard tail to shred with.
I was looking at the GT Aggressor, but ended up getting a Trek Marlin 5 which is similar to the GT Aggressor instead for $450 from my local bike shop. I'm glad I supported my local bike shop because most bike shops give you a free life time adjustment and I needed one badly after not riding it all winter long.
That's awesome. It wasnt until after I got the GT did I come across the Trek Marlin, but also, when I bought my bike I was able to get it for under $300. At the time, I wasnt sure if I was going to get into mountain biking like I have. Trek is a solid brand. I love the Trek Remedy
JustAnotherOne1 i am thinking about the marlin5, with upgrades on both bikes, i am wondering which is better, i want sub 600, so i can immediately upgrade tires, pedals, any advice would be most helpful guys
Thanks for this video. Happened to find it searching for info on our bikes. We were using Walmart special's (Schwinn) and were watching videos of other casual MTB riders and realized that we were way behind the curve. Last year we figured out that Dick's had some decent "starter" MTB bikes and bought our Aggressor Pro's since they had the same basic parts our friends were using. So far it's completely changed our playing field. We finally feel like the bike is far beyond our skill level and after watching your videos, we know it. We subbed so we can see what you do with the Aggressor Pro and will probably be mimicking some of your upgrades. For instance, we noticed the tires were "weird" as soon as we bought the bikes. "Squishy" is one word... over all just seemed weak but we were new to these things and weren't sure. Thanks again for the confirmation on our purchase decision!
RV Fishing Adventures that is awesome! I’m glad you’re excited about your recent bike purchase and hope to serve you more in the future! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. 🤙🏼
I have a GT Temptest. I paid about 800 USD about 18 years ago. I still use it. A great hard tail. Done many type of trails. Hard tails rule. I have newer and better bikes but the tempest is my baby.
I bought this bike partly because of this video. I would call myself an intermediate level mountain biker and hit trails pretty hard on this bike. Haven’t broken anything yet nor have I lost a chain. Brakes are not the best and 7th gear would skip occasionally when under load now (possibly something I did) but I rarely use the higher gears on trails. Got this bike on sale when it was $299.99 and used a gift card ended up paying $256 out of pocket and now I’ve dumped another $180 into upgrades, some lightly used stuff that I’ve gathered. 1x10 drivetrain, upgraded 100mm forks, and new crankset. Next up is hydraulic brakes. It’s really hard to beat at the $299.99 price point. Don’t think there is any new bike that can compete with it for that price. That being said If it was $400 or more I don’t think it’s worth it and I would look for something else.
Yes. I agree with you. Some of those features you upgraded still don’t come standard on a bike until you hit the $800+ mark and most people looking at this bike tend to be figuring out if they like mountain biking or not. It’s typically easier for people for piece upgrades together over time as it’s not as big of a hit on their budget. Glad you’ve been enjoying the bike so far!
Great video, and 100% agree with what you said here. I recently have gotten into cycling this year as an adult, and bought a Mongoose Switchback Sport 27.5" MTB. Mongoose gets a bad rep for being Wal-Mart trash, but this one was purchased directly off from the Mongoose website and is actually pretty equivalent to the GT Aggressor Pro. I've since made some changes to my bike, such as adding a new saddle, shorter stem, and wider handlebars, and converting to a 1x drive train. It's been a blast to learn how to tinker with bikes, and I'll continue to ride it for a very long time. Goes to show that you don't need to fork out a ton of cash and get the most expensive bike with the latest tech. Would it be nice to have? Sure, but that shouldn't stop someone from wanting to get into this sport/hobby or wanting to improve their skills. The best bicycle is the one that you already own.
Absolutely! Love it! And i understand the idea of riding a "department store" bike. And Mongoose actually has good quality bikes when you go through their website. They have a great Downhill bike called the Boot'r which is equal quality as other branded bikes. They also have a great line up for dirt jumpers. Ive been in communication with some of their reps. I met be collaborating with Mongoose next year on some stuff! Glad you were able to get a bike and get into the cycling world. Enjoy the bike!
I’m happy to see that I’m not the only one that sees equipment the way I do. I have seen so many of these boards that bash... belittle... make a new rider feel like a bullied 7th grader because they don’t have a $5000 or higher bike. I have been mountain biking on Target bikes for years. My 17 year old son has inherited a dual suspension Schwinn S-25 that has been on advanced trails and is still functioning like new. The only upgraded parts are tires and handle grips. He loves it... Mountain biking is his favorite outdoor activity. If you could hear him howl with excitement going down a rocky mountain side with a burn at the bottom. My bike is an entry level 2011Trek wahoo. I’ve upgraded the handle bars, stem, tires, and fork (used rockshox reba sl). But I paid $250 for the bike on craigslist and have done all the work on my bike myself. So total investment is just over $600. Wouldn’t trade this bike for anything. Same SRAM X4 drivetrain that it came with. And the drivetrain will remain the same until it literally falls apart or malfunctions. But, it never skips gears, always switches to the appropriate gear even under load. So why switch? A new 1x12 eagle won’t make the drivetrain do anything better. Sure it will look better, be quieter, but it won’t shift better. Shifting is already flawless. So that leaves the squirrels. Is my chain noise going down hill scaring them? I don’t like squirrels much so... yay. LOL
Sean Porter - I love it!! That’s what’s it’s all about.. get outside and have fun!! I can keep up with most of my buddy’s riding the GT as they were on their $4,000+ bikes. Yes those nicer bikes make for smoother riding but the GT isnt not going to stop me from riding anything.
MTB Trail Rider is in honest, I’m not sure hire much smoother it would be. I mean would I truly get the sense that somehow I’ve been missing out and cheating myself all these years? And in the end, would I have ever gone mountain biking if I had waited until I could buy a $5000 bike?
Sean Porter - I like what you said “would I have ever got into riding...” if I waited to save up that big money Without even knowing if I would like mountain biking - I probably would have never started. I never advise anyone to go into debt and especially to buy a bike. Haha
You speak sense in your approach to MTB. Thank you for sharing this with us. As a new comer I bought an old (2000 model) GT XCR 5000 for £50 ($65) and have been gradually upgrading it as my skills improve (front shock, converting to disk brakes etc.). I'll follow the sound advice you give your viewers as 1. I can't afford to go out and purchase a £2000 MTB and 2. Shopping round and doing the upgrades yourself you gain a more in-depth understanding of the equipment your using and you learn to develop our skills on a much more in depth level compared to going out and purchasing a more expensive MTB capable of trials beyond your skills. I hope you understand the gist of my ill expressed comments!
That's great. I'm glad this video / channel has been able to help you. I do think there comes a point when you do need to upgrade to a newer bike but it doesnt need to be a $2,000 + bike. You can find good used bikes that are just a couple years old that have good base products but the point behind my video is that you dont NEED that to get out and ride and have fun. These newer bikes and products do make certain types of riding easier, but it's not required. I know there are a lot of people out there that shame riders who aren't spending huge amounts of cash in their bike and that's not wise to do if you have to go into debt for it.
Thank you for the review. I am picking one of these up for ½ price tomorrow. Pretty much in brand new shape as well. Haven't ridden a bike seriously in about ten years and I'm really looking forward to hitting some light trails and exploring. Your review makes me more confident in my decision to go with this bike.
I bought this bike and am learning alot thanks to videos like this. I just ordered and adjustable stem since I have only been riding a few months on a paved trail get used to it. For me as a noob I have enjoyed this bike for the price and comfort as a big guy. Great video.
having the skill from an entry bike can make you a much better rider, I learned on a bmx and can just as easily hit any dirt jump on it that I would on a mountain bike
People comments here are great for new to trail mountain bikes like me, i'm a bmx rider growing up. Thanks for the video and for the good comments, this will help me alot as a beginner.
I went ahead and bought it after this video. Pedals, bars and stems. Pretty got so far. Just need to go tubeless on my tires. I keep getting pinch flats. And eventually a dropper and 1 x. The frame isn’t bad at all.
Awsome video. I also started with a cheap bike and in my opinion one upgrade that really made a BIG difference was changing to hydraulic brakes. I've put some 50 bucks hydraulic breaks and was a different bike. Good luck.
You're right! Hydraulic brakes make such a big difference! There are obviously advantages to higher priced bikes for features like this and it's nice to be able to get a budget friendly bike that you can slowly piece together with upgrades you want to prioritize.
I instantly subscribed when you said you didn't feel the need to spend big bucks on a bike. If it was the bike holding back more riders no one would ever buy an entry level bike. If I thought new golf clubs would have dramatically affected my golf game, you can bet I would have the !atest and greatest of clubs
Thanks Don for subscribing to the channel! I do think with new advances in bike design they can make different riding ‘easier’ but that doesn’t mean I can’t be a good rider on an entry level. Similar to golf, having nicer clubs might give you more consistency but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a good golfer with entry level clubs. Also, your golf clubs don’t limit you to what course you can play. Lol Thanks again for the sub!
Love my new Aggressor pro! I’m also 5’11 and went with a large. A Shorter stem is in my near future, as is a new set of forks. I added a secondhand dropper post, carbon saddle, secondhand 1x front crank and ring, and some alloy pedals. Took off the front derailer and shifter. Added a shifter for the dropper in that spot. You might think it’s too much money- upgrades on a cheap bike. But I was I. The market for a Roscoe and ended up,with I feel is the better bike when I upgraded my GT. Thanks for the great video and the tips.
It's a fun bike and like you said, making upgrades to this makes the bike better than the base of something more expensive -- when comparing dollar for dollar. It wont compare to a $2k bike lol
I'm in Canada. Bought the 2018 GT Avalanche Comp 9r model. Picked it up last year as N.O.S. for a song. Upgraded the tires to Specialized Ground Control, Changed the seat and pedals. The stem is a Race Face. Beyond that, the Suntour XCM are garbage. I ride the same type of trails as you. Except I'm 58 and 220lbs. And got skills...meaning I could ride a cruiser in Whistler. Yes an expensive bike makes the ride better, but if you don't have skills. I 5k Stumpjumper won't make you a better rider....great video Bro.
Nice video. Good information. I'm waiting on the rockshox gold air forks to arrive for my GT. I was debating on a shorter stem and now I will. Thanks for a great informative video of this great bike!
I just bought this bike at the pawn shop for $150 - $175 with the tax I was wondering about it ... I love this channel now im going to do this to my bike and add some cool stuff like lights and a back rack ... I love it now I know what parts to get to upgrade it ..
I just got this same bike in blue/orange from Dick's last night. I had an old Walmart brand MTB that I knew wasn't going to last me much longer. I've been riding park off road walk/hiking trails which aren't quite the same, but do have some mud/dirt stuff that's gotten me excited about going to an actual MTB trail. I know my old bike wouldn't hold up, but I can't afford the "nice" bikes. The reviews on the GT Aggressor/Laguna were great. I would have gotten a Laguna except the one they had that would have fit me needed some extra prep, and I just didn't care that much about the differences, and went with that tested great right out the door, so a GT Aggressor it was. Very excited!
That’s awesome to hear Brianna! Glad you were able to get access to a bike that fits you and that you’re excited to hit the trails. I hope it provide you with plenty of joy like it has for many other riders. :)
I’ve found it to be a little harder on this bike than my other bikes. I can easily pop a wheelie on it but can’t ride it. Seems like the seat position makes it a little harder. The seat sits further from the center of the rear wheel meaning you have to lift the front a little more to get to the balance point.
Your bike is better than you think and then proceeds to make it better. 😂😂😂 Don't take my post as insulting , The title and then the video just gave me a chuckle . All the best.
haha No offense taken! I understand the oxymoron here with the title... :/ I guess the idea comes from purchasing this bike at $400 then riding it over drops, rock rolls, jumps, etc and at the time of this video, only upgrading the tires for better grip and wider handlebars for stability. People make those upgrades/changes on $3,000+ bikes also. The whole premise being that you can get a bike that doesnt require debt and still be able to ride and have a good time. :)
@@keidimulleti2168 i use my shifter most of the time and never experienced any problem. Twice I used it in the trail, and brakes were abused during downhill to avoid big tree roots. No issues so far. This will be my 3rd summer havent and been to bike mechanic for maintenance. It aint broke yet so why spend $$$
This is a good bike, but I think recently the price has gone up on this bike. You might want to check out the trek marlin 6 also. I like that bike as a good (better) alternative but will run you closer to the $650-$700 range.
I bought a marlin 6. I love it I hit trails, jumps and the bike takes it great. Paid $669.99 before tax. I’m thinking of upgrading the fork at some point.
I am the lead tech at dicks sporting goods I took the job after closing my bike shop I hated these bikes until I bought one for my dad I bought the pantera which is the 2.8" version of this with a little nicer components I have been riding this thing non stop since I rode it the first time I stoled all my nice components from my full suspension Diamondback and threw them on this bike I absolutely love the bike even with the outdated geometry and the Hardtail I just love it
Good philosophy on choosing a bike--it's not the bike, it's the rider. The Aggressor is a great entry level bike--I personally do not own one, but I do have 21 other GT bikes in my stable, the closest being a GT Pantera Comp which I chose over the aggressor because it had boost with plus tires and a tapered headtube. I own low-end cruiser GT bikes up to high-end bikes and guess what? As long as they shift and you have a smile on your face, that's all that matters. But I will say this, Titanium is my favorite frame material of all--my GT Edge road bike is incredible and my 1990 Xizang is bomb-proof. I own one of Hans "No Way" Rey's carbon Dura-Ace roadies that GT built for him as well as a carbon Golden Race Zaskar which is one of only 15 or so every made. BTW, I'm just north of you in Murfreesboro.
Good stuff! I like titanium bikes too. Here in Chattanooga we have lite-speed and Lynskey bikes. Both local to Chattanooga and build titanium frames. I’ve enjoyed riding the GT
great to get out and have fun, but I will say it for sure isn't " in your head " to a point it is, as in : in your headtube angle. Bike geometry is king, doing drops and what not on a " cross country " geometry bike like the one you have is much more difficult to do than on a bike with slacker headtube that is made for more aggressive trails. Lots of other things to consider as well such as fork travel/offset/rake. It makes a huge difference. Great video, and awesome to just get out a ride a bike
bikerdhill agreed! Definitely can be more difficult but I’m still making the same descent as my other buddies who have super slack FS bikes. It’s harder, and I need to be more aware of the trail and my body position then they do maybe, but I’ll still out there having fun! The point I’m trying to make is that you shouldn’t let your bike hold you back. 👍🏼
Just bought one today at dicks , on sale for 300. Pretty much going to be on paved bike trail or a couple dirt trails. Not into the hardcore mountain biking. Just getting into bike riding. All stock right now
I have the same exact type! And I ride the heck out of them, and they still go down the road! And, I put a lot of miles on them! Got them on sale for about $450 Dollars at Dick's Sporting Goods!
The only issue I've had so far is my chain slipping off in lower gears, other than that, I've been loving riding it! Got it on Black Friday for 329, definitely can't complain!
Shout out to any Canadian's out there! Definitely try the agressor Expert 2018 though. The 2019 comes with mechanical breaks but the 2018 with hydraulic.
simon cutler - yea that seems like a common issue (brakes). Especially now with hydraulic brakes being used so heavily - the brakes on the GT at mechanical and don’t stop as well.
I'm running 2.35 Schwalbe Smart Sams and just ordered some 2.40 Maxxis Ardents, they arrive on Tuesday, I'm praying the rear tire fits, I'm not worried about the front lol.
Thanks for the solid review. I wanted to get the full suspension GT but it’s never in stock. I only do this on the side for fun so it’s best if I save $300.
Great video. Some wise comments in there. The bike doesn't make the rider, although it can hold back someone's progression. Like you said, just get out there and have some fun - just get out there and enjoy the day. First, the bike came with a 'stretched' chain?!?! Unless their sending out bikes with used chains, the chain likely was new and just hadn't been properly fitted to the bike. My guess is they have a bunch o' chains on the assembly line and just slap 'em on. Just like installing a new replacement chain, removing a couple or few links would have been the answer. Second, you're a little forgetful, the prices you note are for the Aggressor, not for the more upscale Aggressor Pro. Third, someone else made the observations here about buying a lesser expensive bike, then spending a bunch on upgrades to get it to a certain level bike one could have gotten on the market for the about the same amount spent on the lesser bike and upgrades. I think what is missing in this purely dollar analysis is the bike is not semi-custom for the rider; they have on it the parts they want on it. Much of the journey in the upgrading is learning about the different parts, learning their nuances and effectiveness, what makes one part better or different than the other. It would be highly unlikely for a rider to find the perfect bike that didn't require any changes to it - the pedals, saddle, tires, grips, etc. I understand why the person wants to 'customize' and more or less build their bike. Fourth, a small criticism, this video length could have been at least a third (or less) of that it is. In school my English teacher used to say, about speaking "Tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them". It appears you had the same English teacher. Although the opinions and perspectives were valuable and valid, after the second time you repeated them I fast forwarded through the video to get to the conclusion. Just making an observation, not dissing you - overall your video is great. Sometimes less is more.
Well, for someone like me. That's good information to have. The major components are pretty much stock; frame, crank, group set, fork, wheels, etc... None of that will affect performance, just fit, with exception to the cassette and chain which, had it not arrived stretched, he wouldn't have had to replace. I just bought one. I bought what I could reasonably afford. Yes, I would have preferred the $800 Trek Marlin 7. But, right now $479 was in my budget. If I improve, I'll probably begin with what he began with too.
Personally torn between buying two of these for me and the wife, or going with the avalanche sport, gt seems to really have upped there game in terms of upgradability, aslong as you have a decent frame, everything can be built up from that foundation
sorry for the late reply but either is a good option. If you have the budget to get the higher priced one it will be a better base for you to upgrade in the future if needed.
Thanks for the great review. I've had an XL aggressor for 2 years and just got my son a medium. Mine's been great, and aside from a cross-threaded pedal (by Dick's) on my son's, the medium seems equally solid. I always have to laugh about the cash that casual (aka non-pros) will put into bikes... the early mountain bike pioneers rode schwinn street bikes on trails and still had a blast. Today's $300 bikes are light-years better than what those guys (and gals) were riding, so yeah, go get a cheap (but solid) bike like this one and have at it! One question though... I converted my rims and tubes to standard valves - I hate prestas! Any thoughts on doing that?
josh1000f - that’s awesome to hear! It’s hard to understand how much people spend on these bikes. In regards to your valve question, that’s no issue at all. It won’t change the performance of your bike at all.
The first mtb bikes were modified beach cruisers and they were only biking down hills. When real mtbs with gears were designed, they were pretty good for the tech back then.
Nice review . I wish the GT was still a $400 bike. They are $599 on sale...regular price is now $799. sad the state we are in now and Inflation is insane. For $400 you get a nishiki or a schwinn. ...thats it
Thanks. It was a great base for a $400 bike! At $800 it is tough to justify it since there are now bikes just a few hundred more that have a better base to build from. And are also good bikes as is.
You are so right bro! I'm doing the budget thing myself. And, older technology isn't necessarily bad. My mainstay is 2004 Giant NRS-2 full suspension with 26" wheels and I can ride anything they throw at me. The GT Aggressor is a great bike. Us low budget folks might have to work a little harder, but we can still have great fun, and that's what it's really about! You do not have to purchase a $6000 mountain bike to have a blast!
Absolutely! Have fun! I’ve seen so many people who want to get into mountain biking but heard that unless you can spend $3,000+ on a ‘nice’ bike it’s not worth it. 🤦🏼♂️ like you said, we might have to work harder for some things, but your bike can do way more than you think it can.
GT still has high end bike production... but they are a massive brand and have the capability of creating entry level bikes like the aggressor to sell in department stores for added profits for the business. The GT Fury, Force and Sensor are high end production bikes that are raced in world cups. The different builds/models are very different as they cater to different markets.
So far on my aggresor I have upgraded the stem, fork and wider handle bars. Im trying to keep it a budget friendly bike till i get a better bike. Still yet I have rode alot of good trails and it has held up well.
Jackie Carpenter that’s awesome! I’m feeling the same thing. A lot of my upgrades I’ve been able to trade for services (I’m a web designer). It’s a fun bike that is definitely budget friendly
@@MTBTrailRider It's really awesome that you gave a completely down the middle review of the bike. I can't say it was my first choice, it wasn't, but there is a major shortage of bikes right now and ended up with this. The guy at Dicks called it either top of the line or close to top of the line with Schwinn being the top of the line. I understand there are bikes out there that are thousands of dollars but those are next level and I don't even count the ones that the average person can't afford. Would you tend to agree with his statement - sorry can't say I know a ton about what Dick's offers but I paid $479.99 and now Walmart has it at $700.
@@MTBTrailRider One other thing - I'm not planning on big time upgrades for this bike. It's going to be mainly city riding, so make what you will of the fact that I have mountain bike tires on a city bike, but that's not that big of a deal to me. However, I can't stand the seat! The seat to me is ridiculous. That's one thing that is un-ignorable for me as someone who doesn't know a ton about bikes. What's a good comfortable seat that I could buy? I don't want to spend a ton and want to maintain the same leverage I have now with the seat's height being the same as the handlebar (I don't know if everyone rides that way or not).
@@timmcgrath1117 $479 was a good price in todays market with bike stock being so low. I wouldnt call this a top of the line bike but maybe he was referencing top of the line with department store bikes??? Its a solid bike that will last a while. Brakes can be weak and the derailleur isnt that great - but you're also paying less than $500 for this bike. If youre riding mostly on the road or not doing any major jumps or drops you wont have any issue.
I have the same bike but mine is blue my first non wal- mart bike lol it’s a good starter bike I could not see myself spending $1,000 plus bike because I just ride for fun
I still have that bike but I just bought a dual suspension Giant Stance 2 as a 2nd bike. So, I now have 2. Still love the aggressor though. The aggressor is just a little dangerous for me when I go downhill. If this bike (the aggressor) goes over a big piece of rock while going down a steep hill then, you're most likely going to mess up 😂 it's scary! That's the ONLY reason why I'm afraid of that bike and mine is still stocked. Other than that, it's 👌🏾
Look at the advent x from microshift. Amazing quality with 11-48 tooth range and it doesn't break the bank. Most you'll spend is about 167 depending which cassette u choose.
That's great! I havent heard of the microshift - I think there might be new build options that offer the microshift drivetrain on some websites with the GT Aggressor. Would be worth it for sure.
Budget aggressive hardcore hardtail frames exist. So far more cheapest i found id Ragley, but chainstay does not grow with the size, but if they added that, and sliding dropouts thar might be perfect budget frame.
I have it, when I got it there was no brake support straps and there was a huge scratch in the G from shipment I think and there is a sound in the pedals that annoy me. It’s the best bike and I got it fixed and it’s super light just stock but it’s good for its price
Appreciate the video, but I will say I owned this same bike for about 6 months until I upgraded to a trek Roscoe. Once I upgraded I realized how much the GT really was holding me back, which was a lot. I did get better to a certain extent on the GT bike, but once you upgrade to a better bike you realize how much it holds you back and how much you really can progress on a better more capable bike
I agree with you. You will definitely improve when/if you get a better bike! What I was hoping to get across was to not use the excuse of “my bike can’t do that so I’m not going to try..” I’ve been on other bikes as a test ride and loved them! Really enjoyed the Trek Remedy! But i don’t believe anyone should go into debt to purchase a $4,000 bike when you can still get on the trails with a cheaper bike.
I appreciate your comment! It’s nice to hear from people who have upgraded and moved on from the Aggressor! I am working on a partnership right now to get a new bike actually....
I have a playlist that has other videos and upgrades I made on this bike. I have a sponsor that bought me a santa cruz 5010 so ive been riding that now. If you have any questions on the GT Aggressor, I'd still be happy to help.
I have a Giant Talon hardtail that is considered a “beginner" hardtail. I have upgraded the fork to a Rockshox TK Silver 30 (coil fork), and upgraded the tires to Schwalbe Nobby Nic, and just did a 3x9 conversion. I love it and don't need a fancy, expensive bike. I have done races with it and commute with it. I'm a dad on a budget and do upgrades as I can afford it. Great video with some great points!
I understand the dad on budget! My wife and son are bigger priorities to me than mountain biking so upgrades in this arena come second. :) just need two wheels to have a fun time!
@@MTBTrailRider yeah I hear you. I love taking my son on rides (though not through the woods). He's two and loves biking with me. When I do ride by myself it's for fun and to de-stress. I love the simplicity of my bike, one of the reasons I went for the coil shock from Rockshox. I can't afford to maintain an air fork every year. It gets me out and into nature, and at the end of the day, that's what it's about.
Matthew Brocke - I love it! My son is 1.5 years old. He has a balance bike but his toes barely touch the floor but he loves to ride on my back when we ride through our neighborhood
I would spend the money you spend on upgrades towards a used bike with better spec eventually ur skills will reach a point where ur bike holds u back. Like u said u want to go to wind rock. I have a gt karakoram and I rode that bike for years but one thing I regret is upgrading it (I put 600 into it . Forks ,bb, 1x,tirers,stem, bars, brakes) finally I bought a full sus for 1000 but I could of got something better if I saved my money. Ride ur bike how it is it's a really good hard tale for the money. Dont upgrade it save ur cash trust me.
Thank you for sharing MTB Trail Rider. I was wanting to get this bike but I was wondering how tall you are and what size frame did you get ( Medium, large, extra large)
I’m 5’11” and I bought a medium frame. I probably could have purchased a large frame but I liked having the medium to allow me to maneuver the bike a little better. I used to ride BMX so initially the large felt big. Also, if you’re kind of in the same situation you could buy a shorter stem to shorten the reach if you went with the large. But I went with the medium.
Kid Beltramosa new pads? Make sure you clean your rotors with a disk brake specific cleaner or rubbing alcohol. Avoid other cleaners as it may contaminate your break pads. Mine squeak occasionally also... unfortunately they are just cheap brake pads.
If you're interested in any of the parts I used to upgrade this bike or gear I use in general, check out the links in the description! Thanks for watching everyone, hope this helped you!
Any idea on the headset size or a link to a recommended upgrade?
Did you put 27.5x2.3 on both tires ?
Any suggestions for a heavy rider? 6’1 320lbs?
In dirt bikes, we have a saying: "it's not the bike, it's the rider; it's 80% rider skill, 20% the bike".
👍🏼
Very true
Yesir dirtbikes 4 life
You’re missing a percentage for the trail.
@@Stuckinpueblo that's where the rider's skills come into the equation
Amen! Folks in this lifestyle are terrible about being condescending if you havent spent at least 2k on a bike. Not everyone has that budget. Wish more would watch this. Be safe and have fun bud.
Clint Summers Well said
i hate that , you can have fun on anything with wheels.
100% agree.We looked for the best bang for your buck for about a year and this is what we got.Well it was a gift from my Dad,Brother,and Grandma.
This is my sport. Im the opposite. I found good bikes as cheap as possible, I mean peanut dirt cheap used Big brand bikes. You dont need to spend an arm and leg to enjoy this sports. Like i said, I spent peanut dirt cheap in this sports and I enjoy this sports as much as the big spenders.
@@chaew1612 if you know how to land a jump properly then yes you can. If you don't know how you'll tear up any bike you get on....
I have never considered GT as a "department store" bike. It's a quality bike Sold at sporting good stores! And the good thing about that, is that these big stores can afford to put them on sale at great prices that you may not see at a specialized bike store. Great video.
Right on!
Exactly.
Yup, I just picked mine up on sale for $400 and original price is now $669
Good job young man....not everyone can buy a 2k bike.....
Its 500 retail for me
AupoX that’s not what he was saying lmao
I got it and I’m 13
Lol Lol Good for you Eddy!
@@LolLol-nn5tn same
Great video. I bought that same bike in April and love it. I beat my friends on their 3k bikes on the trails any day. It's the rider not the bike 80% of the time👍🏿!
Love it!! Keep shredding and don’t go easy on them. Haha
both my mtn bikes are from the 90's. trek and giant (not even top end for their era)
hardtails, and for our terrain in this area..more than sufficient
at the end of a day..its a metal frame with wheels, rubber, and a few cables. my bikes are a blast and dependable. the fact you are out there doing it puts you ahead of the guy with his 3,000 unifork cannondale gathering dust in tje garage.
Still have and ride my all original (except tires). 1989 Diamondback Apex full rigid but recently bought a big box bike full suspension with plans to upgrade components . But the old Apex looks good, and even after all this time, it's bombproof. Steel and Shimano Deore ruled back then.
I wish everybody looking to get into mountain biking watched this video first. While the mtb community is amazing, elitism is a real thing. I have ridden in groups on this exact bike, been almost laughed at initially and then got bored waiting for those guys at the bottom. As long as your smiling and improving you are doing everything right. Love the videos. If you are ever near Atlanta (or ellijay) would love to link up for a ride.
Do you have a patreon? would be more than happy to support someone doing this for all the right reasons.
Leslie Page - I was actually just riding at Allatoona Creek earlier this week. I’m hoping to make another trip down there to ride bakers creek. I appreciate your willingness to give! I do have a patron account but I have no promoted the page because I feel that I have not been able to give enough extra value to make it worthy to charge.
If you still feel the need to give, you can search for MTB Trail Rider on patreon. But know that sharing my videos are payment enough. :)
Great comment, I'm getting into the sport now.I refuse to be one of those types I see in the gun world (i.e. laugh at Glocks and insist on 1911's and Kimber's but can't shoot them for squat but think they can bc they dropped a couple grand on a pistol) Almost pulled the trigger on a Nishiki Colorado Comp today for 599.00 but the frame was too big..great reviews but no dice so back to the drawing board..My folks have a place near Elijay..I'll hit you up if I'm down there and you can show me the ropes!
Leslie Page why was they laughing at you? And was you outriding them with this bike? My budget will only allow me to buy this bike for me and my wife... looking to buy for Christmas
Beautifully said... I have a nice bike but didn’t always... I appreciate new riders and try to encourage them along the way.
Hey man, great review. This helps a lot. I'm upgrading my daughters bike. She's going from a Louis Garneau F24, 7 speed. (She has greatly outgrown). She has recently liquidated a few things (her old LG f24 being one of them, she's now riding my mtn bikes, shes 13)! Anyway I may have found a great deal for this same bicycle as a new old stock. I think this GT will set her up for years to come! Again, thanks for the great review. Go put the fun between yo legs! Ride yo bike! Cheers!
Im riding a base Specialized Pitch, extremely similar to this GT bike in the video. I am hitting intermediate single track no problem. Bike has held up well. It was $450.
wheezin_mtnbkr did u make any upgrades yet
whats the difference between the pitch and rockhopper?
Awesome video! I think it’s waaay more fun to buy a budget bike and then upgrade as you go. Truly customize it. It’s exciting.
Thanks! I usually find myself wanting to change out parts even if I ride an expensive bike anyway so why not get a "budget friendly" base to work from?
Kudos to you MTB Trail Rider! I did the exact same thing. I bought a 2018 GT Aggressor Comp in the fall of 2017 for 400 bucks and slowly upgraded it over time; as and when I felt the need. If you are getting into mountain biking for the first time this method is the best in my opinion. And this is coming from a serious BMX’r-although that was long ago. I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted in an MTB but I wasn’t sure how seriously I was going to take it at first. After a year and a half of being totally stoked I am ready for a more serious bike but my existing bike got me there in the best way! When you upgrade your bike yourself you learn so much not only in riding skills but also in understating bike specs and what really enhances the performance according to HOW AND WHERE YOU RIDE. Its worth every penny and is actually just as economical as buying a similarly spec’d bike to what you have arrived at once you’ve tricked out the stock one you bought. This also puts you in the best position to consider your next bike and get what YOU REALLY NEED. The list below is in the order I upgraded:
400 GT Aggressor Comp
0 Chain tensioner (converted seatpost reflector mount). Necessary without a clutch deraileure; which you wont find until you get to a 10speed.
140 Rockshox 30 Sliver coil fork
135 KS eten 100mm internal dropper post
125 Maxxis tires and tubeless conversion
100 RaceFace handlebars and stem, grips
36 Crankbrothers Stamp1 plastic flat pedals
125 SRAM Level hydraulic brakes
20 Shimano rapid fire shifters (due to converting to hydraulic brakes[stand alone levers])
1082 bucks Total
The dropper post, tires and cockpit components proved to be the most important as far as performance was concerned. I find the coil spring fork more than adequate (plus no special pump required)and it still has lock out, damping and preload controls. Where I realized I hit the limit on upgrading this bike was with the hydraulic brakes; holy moly they give you so much leverage and allow you to brake waaaay later! But they also expose the weak points in the design of this bike, which is flex. The qr skewer axles and straight steerer tube forks just can’t handle the bigger forces when you are flying at full speed and break hard, so this is where I have hit the limit on this bike but it took me 18 months and a ton of stokage miles and wrench spinning to get there! Its time for through bolt axles, stiffer fork, and a 1x drive train with a clutch deraileure. I have decided to pull the trigger on a 2019 Santa Cruz Chameleon and low and behold the geometry is very similar! Proving even further that the pedigree of GT is worth it and the Aggressor is a wolf in sheep’s clothing its price point.
Nikolai Bohachevsky - this is awesome!! Thanks for sharing Nikolai. The upgrades you did and the process is spot on! I hope others can see your comment and use that grow as well. I actually just got a new sponsorship this last week and they purchased me a new Santa Cruz bike which I’m releasing this Monday in a new video. I’ve loved the GT Aggressor and like you said, it’s time to move on.
MTB Trail Rider nice one! Looking forward to your “release” on Monday and your ongoing progression....subscribed, pure stoke! Another plus is now you’ll have the Aggressor to share with buddies that want to get into the sport or sell on to someone for a really good deal to them!
Did you use the stock rims to go tubeless?
Did you go tubeless with those aggressor tires?
piliosn - yes, the maxxis Aggressor tires are tubeless ready but the stock rims are NOT. I had to apply rim tape to seal the rims and that worked. I had a hard time trying to get the tires to seat properly because the lip of the rim wasn’t grabbing very well, but yes, tubeless with stock rims and maxxis tires.
Right now, I’m using a Giant Talon 2 2021. I just got into mountain biking and I honestly love this bike! Not everyone can buy a $1000-$2000 Dollar bike. As long as your having a blast and your shredding, keep it up!
Absolutely! I like the talon 2 bike. A friend of mine has that bike. Just get out on the trails and buy what you can afford. Thanks for taking the time to leave your comment 🤙🏼
Been riding this bike for 5or 6 years now. Slowly upgraded everything but the wheels and front brakes. Not an advanced rider but very satisfied with it for what I have invested and have gotten an education on bike mechanics.
This is a great video! I want to get back into Mountain biking and I've been on the fence about this bike. You just convinced me to pull the trigger on this bike. Have a great rest of your season.
Thanks! Glad I could serve you. Enjoy the bike!
I bought this one as an entry level. Made some upgrades and love it so far!!!
Awesome! 🤙🏼
I just bought one of these. My dad and friend have one and I have ridden them and they are a great bike doing what trails that I am doing
good to hear! glad the family is all enjoying the bike
Great video! Captured many of my thoughts about mountain biking. I actually ride the same exact bike on the same trails. I converted to a 1x, upgraded the pedals and crank arms, tires, seat and RockShox Judy fork and I’m really happy with it. Plan to ride it for years to come.
Awesome! The frame is a great build. Glad to see others enjoying the GT Aggressor. We need to change our mindsets to the frame being the bike and not all the components. You look at higher end bikes and they have 5 different builds but the frame is exactly the same just different components. Doesn’t change what the bike is. I bet with all the parts you switched out you got a really fun hard tail to shred with.
Were you able to keep your stock wheels with the 1x gear set ? Which set did you use?
This is so true don’t worry about the bike it’s you
True, ty.
True, but you need a good bike though
I love your philosophy. Thinking about buying my son one of these.
Its a good, fun bike at a low price.. Will be good for him to develop his skills with.
I was looking at the GT Aggressor, but ended up getting a Trek Marlin 5 which is similar to the GT Aggressor instead for $450 from my local bike shop. I'm glad I supported my local bike shop because most bike shops give you a free life time adjustment and I needed one badly after not riding it all winter long.
That's awesome. It wasnt until after I got the GT did I come across the Trek Marlin, but also, when I bought my bike I was able to get it for under $300. At the time, I wasnt sure if I was going to get into mountain biking like I have. Trek is a solid brand. I love the Trek Remedy
JustAnotherOne1 how is the marlin 5 holding up for you?
David Bartsch - a friend of mine has the marlin 5 and he’s been loving it.
JustAnotherOne1 i am thinking about the marlin5, with upgrades on both bikes, i am wondering which is better, i want sub 600, so i can immediately upgrade tires, pedals, any advice would be most helpful guys
Thanks for this video. Happened to find it searching for info on our bikes. We were using Walmart special's (Schwinn) and were watching videos of other casual MTB riders and realized that we were way behind the curve. Last year we figured out that Dick's had some decent "starter" MTB bikes and bought our Aggressor Pro's since they had the same basic parts our friends were using. So far it's completely changed our playing field. We finally feel like the bike is far beyond our skill level and after watching your videos, we know it. We subbed so we can see what you do with the Aggressor Pro and will probably be mimicking some of your upgrades. For instance, we noticed the tires were "weird" as soon as we bought the bikes. "Squishy" is one word... over all just seemed weak but we were new to these things and weren't sure. Thanks again for the confirmation on our purchase decision!
RV Fishing Adventures that is awesome! I’m glad you’re excited about your recent bike purchase and hope to serve you more in the future! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. 🤙🏼
I have a GT Temptest. I paid about 800 USD about 18 years ago. I still use it. A great hard tail. Done many type of trails. Hard tails rule. I have newer and better bikes but the tempest is my baby.
Love it!
I bought this bike partly because of this video. I would call myself an intermediate level mountain biker and hit trails pretty hard on this bike. Haven’t broken anything yet nor have I lost a chain. Brakes are not the best and 7th gear would skip occasionally when under load now (possibly something I did) but I rarely use the higher gears on trails. Got this bike on sale when it was $299.99 and used a gift card ended up paying $256 out of pocket and now I’ve dumped another $180 into upgrades, some lightly used stuff that I’ve gathered. 1x10 drivetrain, upgraded 100mm forks, and new crankset. Next up is hydraulic brakes. It’s really hard to beat at the $299.99 price point. Don’t think there is any new bike that can compete with it for that price. That being said If it was $400 or more I don’t think it’s worth it and I would look for something else.
Yes. I agree with you. Some of those features you upgraded still don’t come standard on a bike until you hit the $800+ mark and most people looking at this bike tend to be figuring out if they like mountain biking or not. It’s typically easier for people for piece upgrades together over time as it’s not as big of a hit on their budget. Glad you’ve been enjoying the bike so far!
Great video, and 100% agree with what you said here. I recently have gotten into cycling this year as an adult, and bought a Mongoose Switchback Sport 27.5" MTB. Mongoose gets a bad rep for being Wal-Mart trash, but this one was purchased directly off from the Mongoose website and is actually pretty equivalent to the GT Aggressor Pro. I've since made some changes to my bike, such as adding a new saddle, shorter stem, and wider handlebars, and converting to a 1x drive train. It's been a blast to learn how to tinker with bikes, and I'll continue to ride it for a very long time.
Goes to show that you don't need to fork out a ton of cash and get the most expensive bike with the latest tech. Would it be nice to have? Sure, but that shouldn't stop someone from wanting to get into this sport/hobby or wanting to improve their skills. The best bicycle is the one that you already own.
Absolutely! Love it! And i understand the idea of riding a "department store" bike. And Mongoose actually has good quality bikes when you go through their website. They have a great Downhill bike called the Boot'r which is equal quality as other branded bikes. They also have a great line up for dirt jumpers. Ive been in communication with some of their reps. I met be collaborating with Mongoose next year on some stuff! Glad you were able to get a bike and get into the cycling world. Enjoy the bike!
Mongoose is a bmx brand that moved to MTB They are not a Walmart trash level bike. They just sell a lot of entry level bikes.
I’m happy to see that I’m not the only one that sees equipment the way I do. I have seen so many of these boards that bash... belittle... make a new rider feel like a bullied 7th grader because they don’t have a $5000 or higher bike. I have been mountain biking on Target bikes for years. My 17 year old son has inherited a dual suspension Schwinn S-25 that has been on advanced trails and is still functioning like new. The only upgraded parts are tires and handle grips. He loves it... Mountain biking is his favorite outdoor activity. If you could hear him howl with excitement going down a rocky mountain side with a burn at the bottom. My bike is an entry level 2011Trek wahoo. I’ve upgraded the handle bars, stem, tires, and fork (used rockshox reba sl). But I paid $250 for the bike on craigslist and have done all the work on my bike myself. So total investment is just over $600. Wouldn’t trade this bike for anything. Same SRAM X4 drivetrain that it came with. And the drivetrain will remain the same until it literally falls apart or malfunctions. But, it never skips gears, always switches to the appropriate gear even under load. So why switch? A new 1x12 eagle won’t make the drivetrain do anything better. Sure it will look better, be quieter, but it won’t shift better. Shifting is already flawless. So that leaves the squirrels. Is my chain noise going down hill scaring them? I don’t like squirrels much so... yay. LOL
Sean Porter - I love it!! That’s what’s it’s all about.. get outside and have fun!! I can keep up with most of my buddy’s riding the GT as they were on their $4,000+ bikes. Yes those nicer bikes make for smoother riding but the GT isnt not going to stop me from riding anything.
MTB Trail Rider is in honest, I’m not sure hire much smoother it would be. I mean would I truly get the sense that somehow I’ve been missing out and cheating myself all these years? And in the end, would I have ever gone mountain biking if I had waited until I could buy a $5000 bike?
Sean Porter - I like what you said “would I have ever got into riding...” if I waited to save up that big money Without even knowing if I would like mountain biking - I probably would have never started. I never advise anyone to go into debt and especially to buy a bike. Haha
Love your additude. That makes me not want to buy a new bike, but rather upgrade my gt aggressor
You speak sense in your approach to MTB. Thank you for sharing this with us.
As a new comer I bought an old (2000 model) GT XCR 5000 for £50 ($65) and have been gradually upgrading it as my skills improve (front shock, converting to disk brakes etc.). I'll follow the sound advice you give your viewers as
1. I can't afford to go out and purchase a £2000 MTB and
2. Shopping round and doing the upgrades yourself you gain a more in-depth understanding of the equipment your using and you learn to develop our skills on a much more in depth level compared to going out and purchasing a more expensive MTB capable of trials beyond your skills. I hope you understand the gist of my ill expressed comments!
That's great. I'm glad this video / channel has been able to help you. I do think there comes a point when you do need to upgrade to a newer bike but it doesnt need to be a $2,000 + bike. You can find good used bikes that are just a couple years old that have good base products but the point behind my video is that you dont NEED that to get out and ride and have fun. These newer bikes and products do make certain types of riding easier, but it's not required. I know there are a lot of people out there that shame riders who aren't spending huge amounts of cash in their bike and that's not wise to do if you have to go into debt for it.
A lot of people buy bikes not knowing the terrain they are going to ride...
Great non bias view point. Great advice.
👍🏼
Thank you for the review. I am picking one of these up for ½ price tomorrow. Pretty much in brand new shape as well.
Haven't ridden a bike seriously in about ten years and I'm really looking forward to hitting some light trails and exploring. Your review makes me more confident in my decision to go with this bike.
Hope you enjoy it!
Thank you! I was gonna buy a pricey bike. you changed my mind HUGE PLUS IT WAS ON SALE!!!! few questions where did you get the bars??
Jamiah Shaw - I bought the handlebars and shorter stem from backcountry.com
Thank you! Great video btw
Thank you
I bought this bike and am learning alot thanks to videos like this. I just ordered and adjustable stem since I have only been riding a few months on a paved trail get used to it. For me as a noob I have enjoyed this bike for the price and comfort as a big guy. Great video.
Thank you, I have a playlist that has other videos and upgrades I did on the GT. Hopefully you find them helpful.
@@MTBTrailRider I have liked and subscribed I will check everything out in due time 😁 thanks again!
Good review. Very informative. I just got this bike for my first MTB. I upgraded the tires already to Maxxis aggressor pro. Should be fun.
Thanks. You should really enjoy the aggressor tires. Big upgrade from stock tires and will improve your riding.
having the skill from an entry bike can make you a much better rider, I learned on a bmx and can just as easily hit any dirt jump on it that I would on a mountain bike
People comments here are great for new to trail mountain bikes like me, i'm a bmx rider growing up. Thanks for the video and for the good comments, this will help me alot as a beginner.
Happy to hear this has been helpful for you!
I went ahead and bought it after this video. Pedals, bars and stems. Pretty got so far. Just need to go tubeless on my tires. I keep getting pinch flats. And eventually a dropper and 1 x. The frame isn’t bad at all.
Great to hear!
He is right. I have a 2018 hardtail and I pushed it to its limits and it still is going strong.
That’s awesome!
Nice man, just got one the other day for my birthday. Just simple regular ass trails but I can see that it’ll be fun! Thank you
Awsome video. I also started with a cheap bike and in my opinion one upgrade that really made a BIG difference was changing to hydraulic brakes. I've put some 50 bucks hydraulic breaks and was a different bike. Good luck.
You're right! Hydraulic brakes make such a big difference! There are obviously advantages to higher priced bikes for features like this and it's nice to be able to get a budget friendly bike that you can slowly piece together with upgrades you want to prioritize.
I instantly subscribed when you said you didn't feel the need to spend big bucks on a bike. If it was the bike holding back more riders no one would ever buy an entry level bike. If I thought new golf clubs would have dramatically affected my golf game, you can bet I would have the !atest and greatest of clubs
Thanks Don for subscribing to the channel! I do think with new advances in bike design they can make different riding ‘easier’ but that doesn’t mean I can’t be a good rider on an entry level. Similar to golf, having nicer clubs might give you more consistency but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a good golfer with entry level clubs. Also, your golf clubs don’t limit you to what course you can play. Lol
Thanks again for the sub!
Love my new Aggressor pro! I’m also 5’11 and went with a large. A Shorter stem is in my near future, as is a new set of forks. I added a secondhand dropper post, carbon saddle, secondhand 1x front crank and ring, and some alloy pedals. Took off the front derailer and shifter. Added a shifter for the dropper in that spot. You might think it’s too much money- upgrades on a cheap bike. But I was I. The market for a Roscoe and ended up,with I feel is the better bike when I upgraded my GT. Thanks for the great video and the tips.
It's a fun bike and like you said, making upgrades to this makes the bike better than the base of something more expensive -- when comparing dollar for dollar. It wont compare to a $2k bike lol
I have 500+ miles on mine and I beat on it and I haven’t replaced anything.
Awesome!
you have the same alterra wheels? have they stayed true?
I'm in Canada. Bought the 2018 GT Avalanche Comp 9r model. Picked it up last year as N.O.S. for a song. Upgraded the tires to Specialized Ground Control, Changed the seat and pedals. The stem is a Race Face. Beyond that, the Suntour XCM are garbage. I ride the same type of trails as you. Except I'm 58 and 220lbs. And got skills...meaning I could ride a cruiser in Whistler. Yes an expensive bike makes the ride better, but if you don't have skills. I 5k Stumpjumper won't make you a better rider....great video Bro.
Thanks for the comment! Upgrading the fork from the suntour XCM was a HUGE improvement to this bike. I hope i'm still shredding the trails at 58!
Nice video. Good information. I'm waiting on the rockshox gold air forks to arrive for my GT. I was debating on a shorter stem and now I will. Thanks for a great informative video of this great bike!
David DePuy thank you! I now have the RockShox 30 Gold installed and love them. I’m glad i was able to give good feedback for you.
I just bought this bike at the pawn shop for $150 - $175 with the tax I was wondering about it ... I love this channel now im going to do this to my bike and add some cool stuff like lights and a back rack ... I love it now I know what parts to get to upgrade it ..
Awesome!! I hope you enjoy you’re new bike!!
That's a steal bro good job I got mine for 300$ at Dick's sporting goods and that's the lowest I've ever seen it go
You should have bought it directly from the junky who stole it they will sell them for like $5.
I just got this same bike in blue/orange from Dick's last night. I had an old Walmart brand MTB that I knew wasn't going to last me much longer. I've been riding park off road walk/hiking trails which aren't quite the same, but do have some mud/dirt stuff that's gotten me excited about going to an actual MTB trail. I know my old bike wouldn't hold up, but I can't afford the "nice" bikes. The reviews on the GT Aggressor/Laguna were great. I would have gotten a Laguna except the one they had that would have fit me needed some extra prep, and I just didn't care that much about the differences, and went with that tested great right out the door, so a GT Aggressor it was. Very excited!
That’s awesome to hear Brianna! Glad you were able to get access to a bike that fits you and that you’re excited to hit the trails. I hope it provide you with plenty of joy like it has for many other riders. :)
bro i started wheelies on this bike and i got it in like a week, if u wanna learn its awesome for it
Ben Wiles - wheelies are a lot of fun to learn!
I’ve found it to be a little harder on this bike than my other bikes. I can easily pop a wheelie on it but can’t ride it. Seems like the seat position makes it a little harder. The seat sits further from the center of the rear wheel meaning you have to lift the front a little more to get to the balance point.
Konnor Kendrick i had never tried on another bike thx for letting me know tho
Your bike is better than you think and then proceeds to make it better. 😂😂😂
Don't take my post as insulting , The title and then the video just gave me a chuckle .
All the best.
haha No offense taken! I understand the oxymoron here with the title... :/ I guess the idea comes from purchasing this bike at $400 then riding it over drops, rock rolls, jumps, etc and at the time of this video, only upgrading the tires for better grip and wider handlebars for stability. People make those upgrades/changes on $3,000+ bikes also. The whole premise being that you can get a bike that doesnt require debt and still be able to ride and have a good time. :)
Totally agree! Start with the basics then make your way bit by bit. Had the same GT Aggressor Pro and very happy with it!
Excellent!
Is this bike light? I need a new bike and was wondering if it could also be used as an everyday bike.
@@keidimulleti2168 its light considering i got the large frame. Very versatile bike I used it mostly on the road. Haven't done any upgrades yet.
@@MikelRChannel was there any problems with the chain falling out consistently and the brakes being not the best?
@@keidimulleti2168 i use my shifter most of the time and never experienced any problem. Twice I used it in the trail, and brakes were abused during downhill to avoid big tree roots. No issues so far. This will be my 3rd summer havent and been to bike mechanic for maintenance. It aint broke yet so why spend $$$
Thanks for the advice, i honestly cannot afford an expensive bike and this bike looks awesome. I cant believe its only 400
Awesome video, thanks for the honesty!
Absolutely! Thank you
you got a hell of a deal on the GT.
Yea, for sure! I got it cheaper than some of the bikes i've seen for sale in walmart. haha
Awesome video !
Thanks for content .
Absolutely. Thanks for watching!
Great video. I just got the gt aggressor pro a few days ago and it's an awesome hardtail bike. I spent only $300
Raptor JEKZ - fantastic!
Where did you get it for 300$?
@@JxRxuiz dicks sporting goods was having a sale on GT bikes
@@juanchavezsalazar3308 lies
@@FreeOfTheLoop They were sometime last year.
My budget is at about $400-700...This is perfect.
This is a good bike, but I think recently the price has gone up on this bike. You might want to check out the trek marlin 6 also. I like that bike as a good (better) alternative but will run you closer to the $650-$700 range.
I bought a marlin 6. I love it I hit trails, jumps and the bike takes it great. Paid $669.99 before tax. I’m thinking of upgrading the fork at some point.
Nice vid man. Pretty sure this is the bike for me
Alex yo u can learn to wheels quick on it
I got the same bike at Dicks in Mooresville, NC a couple years ago. Love it.
Awesome! it's a great entry into the sport and a solid base if you ever want to upgrade parts over time.
nice job upgrading
i have a gary fisher joshua with manitou pro x shocks on front and rock shox in the rear its an awesome bike
Nice!
I am the lead tech at dicks sporting goods I took the job after closing my bike shop I hated these bikes until I bought one for my dad I bought the pantera which is the 2.8" version of this with a little nicer components I have been riding this thing non stop since I rode it the first time I stoled all my nice components from my full suspension Diamondback and threw them on this bike I absolutely love the bike even with the outdated geometry and the Hardtail I just love it
Good philosophy on choosing a bike--it's not the bike, it's the rider. The Aggressor is a great entry level bike--I personally do not own one, but I do have 21 other GT bikes in my stable, the closest being a GT Pantera Comp which I chose over the aggressor because it had boost with plus tires and a tapered headtube. I own low-end cruiser GT bikes up to high-end bikes and guess what? As long as they shift and you have a smile on your face, that's all that matters. But I will say this, Titanium is my favorite frame material of all--my GT Edge road bike is incredible and my 1990 Xizang is bomb-proof. I own one of Hans "No Way" Rey's carbon Dura-Ace roadies that GT built for him as well as a carbon Golden Race Zaskar which is one of only 15 or so every made. BTW, I'm just north of you in Murfreesboro.
Good stuff! I like titanium bikes too. Here in Chattanooga we have lite-speed and Lynskey bikes. Both local to Chattanooga and build titanium frames. I’ve enjoyed riding the GT
Getting ready to buy one from a friend. Wasn’t sure but. Now I am. Great video and info. Want to get a good looking frame and build up. Thanks again
All The WadeUp - awesome! It’s a fun cheap bike to ride
I have the same bike. I ride it 5 miles from home to work Dailey and i love it
Awesome!
great to get out and have fun, but I will say it for sure isn't " in your head " to a point it is, as in : in your headtube angle. Bike geometry is king, doing drops and what not on a " cross country " geometry bike like the one you have is much more difficult to do than on a bike with slacker headtube that is made for more aggressive trails. Lots of other things to consider as well such as fork travel/offset/rake. It makes a huge difference. Great video, and awesome to just get out a ride a bike
bikerdhill agreed! Definitely can be more difficult but I’m still making the same descent as my other buddies who have super slack FS bikes. It’s harder, and I need to be more aware of the trail and my body position then they do maybe, but I’ll still out there having fun!
The point I’m trying to make is that you shouldn’t let your bike hold you back. 👍🏼
Had mine for 2 years its a nice bike.
Just bought one today at dicks , on sale for 300. Pretty much going to be on paved bike trail or a couple dirt trails. Not into the hardcore mountain biking. Just getting into bike riding. All stock right now
I have the same exact type! And I ride the heck out of them, and they still go down the road! And, I put a lot of miles on them! Got them on sale for about $450 Dollars at Dick's Sporting Goods!
Nice! Good to see others shredding this bike too
$299 for this at Dicks now
The only issue I've had so far is my chain slipping off in lower gears, other than that, I've been loving riding it! Got it on Black Friday for 329, definitely can't complain!
Hey man that happens to me a lot how can O fix this
Shout out to any Canadian's out there! Definitely try the agressor Expert 2018 though. The 2019 comes with mechanical breaks but the 2018 with hydraulic.
Wow! If you can get this with the hydraulic brakes that would be fantastic! Definitely would add big value to this bike.
Good job on your review.Liked and Subscribed.
Thanks!
Great video and a greater message. Give me Dale Earnhardt in a Charger vs. my neighbor in a Ferrari.
haha thats a good analogy.
I have a 2010 GT outpost hardtail and it's been a good bike the only problem I had was with the front brake disc
simon cutler - yea that seems like a common issue (brakes). Especially now with hydraulic brakes being used so heavily - the brakes on the GT at mechanical and don’t stop as well.
I'm running 2.35 Schwalbe Smart Sams and just ordered some 2.40 Maxxis Ardents, they arrive on Tuesday, I'm praying the rear tire fits, I'm not worried about the front lol.
Thanks for the solid review. I wanted to get the full suspension GT but it’s never in stock. I only do this on the side for fun so it’s best if I save $300.
Good choice!
Great video. Some wise comments in there. The bike doesn't make the rider, although it can hold back someone's progression. Like you said, just get out there and have some fun - just get out there and enjoy the day. First, the bike came with a 'stretched' chain?!?! Unless their sending out bikes with used chains, the chain likely was new and just hadn't been properly fitted to the bike. My guess is they have a bunch o' chains on the assembly line and just slap 'em on. Just like installing a new replacement chain, removing a couple or few links would have been the answer. Second, you're a little forgetful, the prices you note are for the Aggressor, not for the more upscale Aggressor Pro. Third, someone else made the observations here about buying a lesser expensive bike, then spending a bunch on upgrades to get it to a certain level bike one could have gotten on the market for the about the same amount spent on the lesser bike and upgrades. I think what is missing in this purely dollar analysis is the bike is not semi-custom for the rider; they have on it the parts they want on it. Much of the journey in the upgrading is learning about the different parts, learning their nuances and effectiveness, what makes one part better or different than the other. It would be highly unlikely for a rider to find the perfect bike that didn't require any changes to it - the pedals, saddle, tires, grips, etc. I understand why the person wants to 'customize' and more or less build their bike. Fourth, a small criticism, this video length could have been at least a third (or less) of that it is. In school my English teacher used to say, about speaking "Tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them". It appears you had the same English teacher. Although the opinions and perspectives were valuable and valid, after the second time you repeated them I fast forwarded through the video to get to the conclusion. Just making an observation, not dissing you - overall your video is great. Sometimes less is more.
I have the same bike and I’m 280 pounds and have jumped a lot on the stock front shocks and have had no problems with the front shocks
excellent! good to hear.
Video: "Replaced, bars, grips, cassette, chain, tires, stem, etc etc"
Also video: "Pretty much stock bike."
lolwut?
Well, for someone like me. That's good information to have. The major components are pretty much stock; frame, crank, group set, fork, wheels, etc... None of that will affect performance, just fit, with exception to the cassette and chain which, had it not arrived stretched, he wouldn't have had to replace. I just bought one. I bought what I could reasonably afford. Yes, I would have preferred the $800 Trek Marlin 7. But, right now $479 was in my budget. If I improve, I'll probably begin with what he began with too.
People replace those parts on two thousand dollar bikes as well from looking around UA-cam.
He should have spent the money on a better bike lol.
What is a fork? I just got this bike last week and I am very new to biking so I need help
OmegaWolf 5 it’s the shiny part that the front wheel is connected to. The two tubes on either side of the wheel.
Personally torn between buying two of these for me and the wife, or going with the avalanche sport, gt seems to really have upped there game in terms of upgradability, aslong as you have a decent frame, everything can be built up from that foundation
sorry for the late reply but either is a good option. If you have the budget to get the higher priced one it will be a better base for you to upgrade in the future if needed.
Thanks for the great review. I've had an XL aggressor for 2 years and just got my son a medium. Mine's been great, and aside from a cross-threaded pedal (by Dick's) on my son's, the medium seems equally solid. I always have to laugh about the cash that casual (aka non-pros) will put into bikes... the early mountain bike pioneers rode schwinn street bikes on trails and still had a blast. Today's $300 bikes are light-years better than what those guys (and gals) were riding, so yeah, go get a cheap (but solid) bike like this one and have at it!
One question though... I converted my rims and tubes to standard valves - I hate prestas! Any thoughts on doing that?
josh1000f - that’s awesome to hear! It’s hard to understand how much people spend on these bikes. In regards to your valve question, that’s no issue at all. It won’t change the performance of your bike at all.
The first mtb bikes were modified beach cruisers and they were only biking down hills. When real mtbs with gears were designed, they were pretty good for the tech back then.
Nice review . I wish the GT was still a $400 bike. They are $599 on sale...regular price is now $799. sad the state we are in now and Inflation is insane. For $400 you get a nishiki or a schwinn. ...thats it
Thanks. It was a great base for a $400 bike! At $800 it is tough to justify it since there are now bikes just a few hundred more that have a better base to build from. And are also good bikes as is.
299 rn
Thanks for a very encouraging video !!
You're welcome
Thanks for the video
You are so right bro! I'm doing the budget thing myself. And, older technology isn't necessarily bad. My mainstay is 2004 Giant NRS-2 full suspension with 26" wheels and I can ride anything they throw at me. The GT Aggressor is a great bike. Us low budget folks might have to work a little harder, but we can still have great fun, and that's what it's really about! You do not have to purchase a $6000 mountain bike to have a blast!
Absolutely! Have fun! I’ve seen so many people who want to get into mountain biking but heard that unless you can spend $3,000+ on a ‘nice’ bike it’s not worth it. 🤦🏼♂️ like you said, we might have to work harder for some things, but your bike can do way more than you think it can.
GT is used to be once a top notch mountain bikes they were good like Gary fishers and khs they were sold out of bike stores long time ago
GT still has high end bike production... but they are a massive brand and have the capability of creating entry level bikes like the aggressor to sell in department stores for added profits for the business. The GT Fury, Force and Sensor are high end production bikes that are raced in world cups. The different builds/models are very different as they cater to different markets.
So far on my aggresor I have upgraded the stem, fork and wider handle bars. Im trying to keep it a budget friendly bike till i get a better bike. Still yet I have rode alot of good trails and it has held up well.
Jackie Carpenter that’s awesome! I’m feeling the same thing. A lot of my upgrades I’ve been able to trade for services (I’m a web designer). It’s a fun bike that is definitely budget friendly
what forks did you upgrade to?
Braden Mackey - RockShox 30 Gold -
www.worldwidecyclery.com/products/rockshox-30-gold-rl-fork-27-5-100mm-solo-air-qr-1-1-8-aluminum-steerer-gloss-black-a2
I just got then bike and don’t have the experience this guy has but I can say I really like it.
Glad you enjoy the bike!
@@MTBTrailRider It's really awesome that you gave a completely down the middle review of the bike. I can't say it was my first choice, it wasn't, but there is a major shortage of bikes right now and ended up with this. The guy at Dicks called it either top of the line or close to top of the line with Schwinn being the top of the line. I understand there are bikes out there that are thousands of dollars but those are next level and I don't even count the ones that the average person can't afford. Would you tend to agree with his statement - sorry can't say I know a ton about what Dick's offers but I paid $479.99 and now Walmart has it at $700.
@@MTBTrailRider One other thing - I'm not planning on big time upgrades for this bike. It's going to be mainly city riding, so make what you will of the fact that I have mountain bike tires on a city bike, but that's not that big of a deal to me. However, I can't stand the seat! The seat to me is ridiculous. That's one thing that is un-ignorable for me as someone who doesn't know a ton about bikes. What's a good comfortable seat that I could buy? I don't want to spend a ton and want to maintain the same leverage I have now with the seat's height being the same as the handlebar (I don't know if everyone rides that way or not).
@@timmcgrath1117 $479 was a good price in todays market with bike stock being so low. I wouldnt call this a top of the line bike but maybe he was referencing top of the line with department store bikes??? Its a solid bike that will last a while. Brakes can be weak and the derailleur isnt that great - but you're also paying less than $500 for this bike. If youre riding mostly on the road or not doing any major jumps or drops you wont have any issue.
@@timmcgrath1117 Look for a local bike shop. Many of them will let you "test ride" saddles before you purchase them.
good stuff man
I have the same bike but mine is blue my first non wal- mart bike lol it’s a good starter bike I could not see myself spending $1,000 plus bike because I just ride for fun
I agree. It's a great starter bike thats easy on budget. Enjoy!
I still have that bike but I just bought a dual suspension Giant Stance 2 as a 2nd bike. So, I now have 2. Still love the aggressor though. The aggressor is just a little dangerous for me when I go downhill. If this bike (the aggressor) goes over a big piece of rock while going down a steep hill then, you're most likely going to mess up 😂 it's scary!
That's the ONLY reason why I'm afraid of that bike and mine is still stocked. Other than that, it's 👌🏾
Rock on ! The bike holds up really well. 🤘🏼 giant trance is nice second bike too
Look at the advent x from microshift. Amazing quality with 11-48 tooth range and it doesn't break the bank. Most you'll spend is about 167 depending which cassette u choose.
That's great! I havent heard of the microshift - I think there might be new build options that offer the microshift drivetrain on some websites with the GT Aggressor. Would be worth it for sure.
Budget aggressive hardcore hardtail frames exist. So far more cheapest i found id Ragley, but chainstay does not grow with the size, but if they added that, and sliding dropouts thar might be perfect budget frame.
Just bought this bike yesterday let's see how it goes
Awesome! Enjoy
I have it, when I got it there was no brake support straps and there was a huge scratch in the G from shipment I think and there is a sound in the pedals that annoy me. It’s the best bike and I got it fixed and it’s super light just stock but it’s good for its price
Sorry to hear about the shipping damages. Like you said, it's a fun a decently light bike, especially for the price. Hope it serves you well
Appreciate the video, but I will say I owned this same bike for about 6 months until I upgraded to a trek Roscoe. Once I upgraded I realized how much the GT really was holding me back, which was a lot. I did get better to a certain extent on the GT bike, but once you upgrade to a better bike you realize how much it holds you back and how much you really can progress on a better more capable bike
I agree with you. You will definitely improve when/if you get a better bike! What I was hoping to get across was to not use the excuse of “my bike can’t do that so I’m not going to try..” I’ve been on other bikes as a test ride and loved them! Really enjoyed the Trek Remedy! But i don’t believe anyone should go into debt to purchase a $4,000 bike when you can still get on the trails with a cheaper bike.
I appreciate your comment! It’s nice to hear from people who have upgraded and moved on from the Aggressor! I am working on a partnership right now to get a new bike actually....
Hey I got the same bike as yours and wanted to do those upgrades as well. I want to see more upgrades you do do on that bike. 👍🏼
I have a playlist that has other videos and upgrades I made on this bike. I have a sponsor that bought me a santa cruz 5010 so ive been riding that now. If you have any questions on the GT Aggressor, I'd still be happy to help.
Subscribed.
Al Locke thanks!
those forks are better than what my friends have
I have a Giant Talon hardtail that is considered a “beginner" hardtail. I have upgraded the fork to a Rockshox TK Silver 30 (coil fork), and upgraded the tires to Schwalbe Nobby Nic, and just did a 3x9 conversion. I love it and don't need a fancy, expensive bike. I have done races with it and commute with it. I'm a dad on a budget and do upgrades as I can afford it. Great video with some great points!
I understand the dad on budget! My wife and son are bigger priorities to me than mountain biking so upgrades in this arena come second. :) just need two wheels to have a fun time!
@@MTBTrailRider yeah I hear you. I love taking my son on rides (though not through the woods). He's two and loves biking with me. When I do ride by myself it's for fun and to de-stress. I love the simplicity of my bike, one of the reasons I went for the coil shock from Rockshox. I can't afford to maintain an air fork every year. It gets me out and into nature, and at the end of the day, that's what it's about.
Matthew Brocke - I love it! My son is 1.5 years old. He has a balance bike but his toes barely touch the floor but he loves to ride on my back when we ride through our neighborhood
@@MTBTrailRider my son is 2 and he loves his balance bike! He's starting to lift his feet and actually balance!! It's awesome to see the progression
I would spend the money you spend on upgrades towards a used bike with better spec eventually ur skills will reach a point where ur bike holds u back. Like u said u want to go to wind rock. I have a gt karakoram and I rode that bike for years but one thing I regret is upgrading it (I put 600 into it . Forks ,bb, 1x,tirers,stem, bars, brakes) finally I bought a full sus for 1000 but I could of got something better if I saved my money. Ride ur bike how it is it's a really good hard tale for the money. Dont upgrade it save ur cash trust me.
Thank you for sharing MTB Trail Rider. I was wanting to get this bike but I was wondering how tall you are and what size frame did you get ( Medium, large, extra large)
I’m 5’11” and I bought a medium frame. I probably could have purchased a large frame but I liked having the medium to allow me to maneuver the bike a little better. I used to ride BMX so initially the large felt big. Also, if you’re kind of in the same situation you could buy a shorter stem to shorten the reach if you went with the large. But I went with the medium.
Ok thank you
I have the same bike. Great riding, only issue is squealing breaks. Suggestions?
Kid Beltramosa new pads? Make sure you clean your rotors with a disk brake specific cleaner or rubbing alcohol. Avoid other cleaners as it may contaminate your break pads. Mine squeak occasionally also... unfortunately they are just cheap brake pads.
Don't know a lot about current disc brakes but the old cantilevers squealed like mad all the time. I wouldn't worry about it.
GT Agressor Pro here too. Maxxis 2.5 WT EXO front and back, stock rims, zero rub. Wouldn't go any bigger. Video of my bike and upgrades on my channel.
Yea, 2.5 is about the widest I’ve seen on this bike