GT upgrades

Right then, after looking into replacing my ’96 GT Tequesta with something more modern I have decided that at the minute I don’t want to spend £600 on a bike to replace it, so I may up grade mine.

Am i right in thinking some v-brakes will fit in the stock canti locations, they look like they will. I would also like to add some front forks, but have no idea about how to go about this, someone mentioned headset sizes, and another whether it was threaded or non threaded?

My housemate has just bought a new specialized for £400 and the shocks on this seem suitable, just wondering whether I can retro fit these new style of forks to an old bike?

If in the long run this costs too much I’ll abandon it, as I’m costing up the whole upgrade process now, just seems a shame as aside from a few rust spots and scuffs my GT bike is a peach and the ride is mint!

Please help

R

Hi Roy,

Welcome to the forum (I'm a newbie myself )

Yes, V-Brakes will fit onto the brake mounts just fine.

You can change to suspension forks, although the extra length of them will affect the handling of the bike (it will make the steering less responsive at low speed, but more stable at high speed). Seeing as your bike is a '96, I wouldn't go above an 80mm travel suspension fork.

Perhaps look on here for a good pair of Rockshox Judys or something similar? You should be able to pick up a pair fairly cheaply.

Your bike more than likely has an 1,1/8" headset. I'm not sure whether it has a threaded headset or an unthreaded one. Someone else reading this will be able to advise you.

You need to make sure that your new forks have at least the same length STEERER TUBE as your current ones. The steerer tube is the bit that goes from the top of the fork, up through the frame.

I actually have a pair of Rockshox Judy SLs which may need a new home shortly (I'm going the other way, and going back to a rigid fork!), so watch this space

Hope this helps.
Mark

cheers for the advice mate, its rory BTW

will dismantle the ahead set this weekend to investigate further, and also to measure my forks for steerer tube length.

will see if i can pick up some second hand ones from the bay.

Ah, I didn't realise that it was an Aheadset - In that case it's unthreaded

Like I said before, just make sure that you measure the steerer tube length of your old forks before you buy new ones, so you know what to look for!

And sorry about getting your name wrong, I blame the lack of caffeine this morning when I wrote the message

at least i think its an ahead set....whats the difference

scratch that, i'll look it up on wikipedia

went out with my housemate on the GT last night, he was on a brand new 2010 specialised.....the GT's still got it

Hi Rory,

A normal headset is threaded - To remove play from the bearings you need to tighten the 2 nuts at the top, underneath the stem.

An "Aheadset" is unthreaded. To tighten them, you just need to slacken off the pinch-bolts on your stem, and tighten the allen key bolt at the top. Then tighten the pinch bolts back up

I know what you mean about the old bikes still cutting it against the new ones - There are a few places where you benefit from all the latest gadgets and gizmos, but for the most part, a well-maintained old MTB will more than happily keep up, and it's such a nice feeling when they do!

Hi there to both newbies

Hello

You're actually the first person who's said hi - A lot of the regular posters on here seem to be a bit too far up their own arses to bother with a dumb newbie like me :?

If we offended then I'm sorry. Normally participation and replies are welcome enough I hope. Otherwise we end up with loads of threads with little else but people saying hi, which isn't exactly compelling reading

To be fair there are only a few people that seem to be up their own bums... Not mentioning any names!!! I'm sure as I learn a little bit more (I like to think I know my stuff about new bikes, but I'm a dunce on the retro stuff compared to the regulars on here!!), I'll be able to make a bit more of a contribution to the forums