GT Lightning 1998

Alain C

GT Fan
When you satisfy a children dream twice… It’s time to satisfy a third one!
And when you are a fan of GT Bicycles… It’s inevitably another GT bicycles!
After a thermoplastic STS 1000 DS from 1998 and an alloy GT Zaskar LE “team” from 1999, it’s time for a titanium one! First thing to come is the Xizang! But too expensive for me… So the alternative was the Lightning, a cheapest one but the same tubes than the Xizang but not weld in the USA (Taïwan).

To be honest, I’m not spending time to find it. A friend told me that he looking for a Lightning frame for him, and he asks me some advice regarding the frame size. Sold as a 20”, after a closer look it looks to me like a 18”. After some additional measurements from the seller and additional pictures, my feeling was the right one!
As he pass his turn, I was the second in line… And decide to buy it!

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Here the incomplete spec of the build.

Frame: GT Lightning 18” (199:cool:

Fork: Rock Shox SID Race Titanium (2002)

Headset: Chris King Patriot sotto voce (2017)
Stem: Thomson Elite 110 mm / +5° (?)
Handlebar: Titec Titanium (?)
Grips: ESI Chunky black (2017)
Barends: none

Brakes: Shimano XTR BR-M951 (?)
Brake Pads: Shimano
Brake Cables: noname
Cantilever cable hangers: none
Brake Levers: Shimano XTR BL-M950 (1996-2002)

Shifters: Shimano XTR ST-M952 (1999-2002)
Front Derailleur:
Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR RD-M952 SGS (1999-2002)
Derailleur Cables: Spectra
Cassette:
Chain:
Cranks:
Crank Bolts:
Chainrings:
Chainring bolts:
Bottom Bracket:
Pedals:

Hub Skewers: Kore titane
Rims: Mavic Crossmax SUP Ceramic
Hubs: Mavic Crossmax SUP Ceramic
Nipples: Mavic Crossmax SUP Ceramic
Spokes: Mavic Crossmax SUP Ceramic
Tyres: Hutchinson Python 2 26 x 2.10 Race Ripost XC Tubeless Ready Souple
Tubes: Maxxis Ultralight

Saddle:
Seatpost: Thomson Elite 400 mm length, diam. 27.2 mm.
Seatpost Binder: none

Weight: TbD
 
After a good cleaning with some elbow grease...
And an other big help from Gil to realize a custom decals set!

It's time to begin the built!

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

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As it will be an anachronic "2000's" bike, the first part to show up was a beautifull fork Rock Shox SID Race Titanium from 2002.

As usual, the fork has been fully serviced, please take a look at the pictures below:
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Here's the current status of the bike assembly :!:

➡️ I can't wait to finish it... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

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I know the Hei Hei is probably the most well known GT Titanium frame, but this looks pretty spectacular :cool: they sort of fly under the radar so to speak.

zetecmk2":23r7p5ze said:
nice. one day i will get a ti frame.......one day!

Me too!! :eek: have owned steel, Aluminium, carbon, so only titanium and wood (bamboo) left to try :)
 
jimo746":2v6qdln2 said:
I know the Hei Hei is probably the most well known GT Titanium frame, but this looks pretty spectacular :cool: they sort of fly under the radar.

The Hei hei is a Kona model isn't it? Not a GT.
 

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