After a fairly long and unpleasant experience with my old GT Timberline 29er, I’m happy to report that GT took care of me and I picked up my Karakoram 29er from Pedal N Paddle in Green Bay, yesterday afternoon.
I haven’t ridden it yet, but I plan to head out in the next couple hours.
The main differences over the Timberline 2.0 are:
- It’s an XL frame, versus the L on the Timberline. I always felt that the Timberline, though a big bike with big wheels, was just a bit too short on the top tube. I could’ve changed the stem to give me a bit more reach but never got around to it. The Karakoram feels good.
- Front forks are better quality, have more travel (100mm) and have a mechanical lock-out, which will be nice for all the road riding I do.
- Hydraulic disc brakes versus the old style brakes on the Timberline.
- 3×9 versus 3×8. Better quality groupset than on the old Timberline, improved shifters and levers.
Front Derailleur: Shimano Altus FD-M370 Rear Derailleur: Shimano, Alivio, RD-M430 Shifters: Shimano SL-M370, Rapid Fire Cog Set: Sunrace CS-M90, 11-34T, 9-Speed Cassette - Better wheels/rims – double wall rims.
- Lighter frame, aluminum bars (feel wider, too)
- Nicer saddle, though I’ll be putting my trusty car seat back on. It has memory foam so every time I sit on the bike I think to myself ‘remember this, sucker’.
Anyway, I’m hoping to get at least 6 months out of this one 🙂
Get some decent peddles.
Hey….
I actually ordered some MTB shoes online. They have holes in ’em which I assume I gotta match to some pedals. And buy some cleats?
That should turn out to be the usual fiasco.
May have to call.
The XCT is brutally heavy (all steel) so I took it off and put a Niner rigid on it. Now I’m “locked out” all the time but I’m 5 friggin’ pounds lighter up front too so it has some pop now instead of laying there like a dead sturgeon!