mattbrown":3dlficob said:
looking through GT catalogues - Zaskars are featured with 7005 tubing and curved end cap - the LE is the one that was made in the USA,
So some of these might be Zaskars, definately in the 1995 catalogue, there are the 2 types.
Matt you're spouting more untruth about Zaskar's that's just going to spread / spin more misinformation to the pile that's already online.
- Zaskar was first 1990-91 6061 US made Flat top tube end cap
- Zaskar and Zaskar LE 92-99 For the most part very similar frame/the same frame from 92-94 6061 US Made Flat top tube end cap a few other tube butting and dropout differences from 95-99. For the most part very similar frame/the same frame from 92-94 just one equipped with XT and the LE equipped with XTR and sold as a frame set.
- 2001 and after a mix of US made depending upon which model Zaskar, Zaskar Race, Zaskar X, LE or Team and after 2002 pretty much all Taiwan built until the Re-Issue in 2008.
All early Zaskars from 1990 upto 2000 and maybe newer have numeric only serial numbers stamped in the left rear stay, the first four digits signifying month and year of manufacture. All GT aluminum frames that start with an H serial number were built at Taiwan Hodaka. Most of those that start with a T, SA or SAS were built at Taioku or Sanfa with 7005 tubing and are also 7005 and Taiwan built. One exclusion to the flat top tube end cap is the 1992 Pantera which also has a flat top tube end cap but has a serial number on the inside of the left rear dropout starting with an H and dropouts stamped 7005.
Lighter 6061 T6 heat treated tubing on the Zaskars. The import aluminum models Avalanche, Avalanche AL, LE, Pantera, Backwoods, Arrowhead and Tempest were all Taiwan built and 7005 tubing. On most of those that have passed through my hands I have found on most years that the 7005 Taiwan frame weighed 4oz or more in the same size. The 2000 and up Zaskar Race model was out of Taiwan and 7005 was the first Zaskar variation to have a curved end cap (Hence meaning made in Taiwan post GT being in California after the Pacific buyout). This subject has been so beat to death on here...maybe best to use the search field. The bottom line is there are people out there trying to score higher eBay or want ad selling prices by taking a lower end polished, ball burnished or billet finished frame and putting Zaskar decals on it and calling it a Zaskar. This cheats those that are selling legitimate Zaskars at the same time. That's why we in the know call out the bad listers when they put them up. Only protecting the brethren on Retrobike. I've had close up personal encounters with hundreds of them built between 90 and 08. Not tooting my horn but I've probably shipped as many to Europe that past seven years as GT's European distributors imported in the early years, still own quite a few and have a number of NOS and used unbuilt frames yet. I get at least three PM questions a week on here regarding them.