GT STS-2 (1997)

19/7/15 update - more betterment. Tyres updated, forks decalled, stem and seat post now Thomson, bars are guess carbon fibre with a weave that looks exactly like the thermoplastic on the frame, speaking of which, the frame now has the proper cytec thermoplastic decal as well. Saddle updated to a flite carbonio, and the rear shock is now a fox RL from a Jekyll, with a modified trunnion thanks to Rampage. Grips now Token lock on with blue clamps, seat post clamp a blue hope, and the bottle bosses have been planked with some nice blue bolts too. Oh, and the bushings have been replaced all round with the BETD bearing upgrade. I think that's it.......




Spec:

Frame: GT STS-2 Thermoplastic (GTs take on carbon fibre) - 18 inch. Full BETD goldtech bearing upgrade kit.
Rear shock: Fox Float RL

Fork: Fox Float 100 RLC (FIT 2012) - New

Headset: Black Chris King
Stem: Thompson Elite
Handlebar: Guess Carbon fibre risers
Grips: Token Lock on with blue anno clamps
Barends: N/a

Brakes: XTR M970 with XTR carbon fibre booster
Brake Pads: Black standard compound
Brake Cables: Black shimano (new)
Cantilever cable hangers: N/a
Brake Levers: XTR M970 (NOS)

Shifters: XTR M970 (NOS)
Front Derailleur: XTR M970 (NOS)
Rear Derailleur: XTR M972 shadow (carbon fibre) with silver alloy jockeys (NOS)
Derailleur Cables: Black Shimano (new)
Cassette: Shimano XTR M970 (NOS)
Chain: Shimano HG93 (new)
Cranks: XTR M970 (NOS)
Crank Bolts: XTR M970 (NOS)
Chainrings: XTR M970 (NOS)
Chainring bolts: XTR M970 (NOS)
Bottom Bracket: XTR M970 (NOS)
Pedals: Crank Bros Candy SL (New)

Hub Skewers: Spinergy Xyclone Race (New)
Rims: Spinergy Xyclone Race (New)
Hubs: Spinergy Xyclone Race (New)
Nipples: Spinergy Xyclone Race (New)
Spokes: Spinergy Xyclone Race (New)
Tyres: Schwalbe Rocket Ron F&R
Tubes: Specialized (New)

Saddle: Flite Carbonio
Seatpost: Thompson elite
Seatpost Binder: Hope in anno blue


13/03/14 update - changed a few things to 'make it better' - Forks, bars, stem, rear shock. Updated pics and spec below - old kept to remind me how she was before I became all surgeon like and gave her a face lift.





Frame: GT STS-2 Thermoplastic (GTs take on carbon fibre) - 18 inch.
Rear shock: Fox Vanilla Air

Fork: Fox Float 100 RLC (FIT 2012)

Headset: Black Chris King
Stem: USE with Ti fixings
Handlebar:FSA K-Force XC carbon risers
Grips: 'THE' lock on red/black
Barends: N/a

Brakes: XTR M970
Brake Pads: Black standard compound
Brake Cables: Black shimano
Cantilever cable hangers: N/a
Brake Levers: XTR M970

Shifters: XTR M970
Front Derailleur: XTR M970
Rear Derailleur: XTR M972 shadow (carbon fibre)
Derailleur Cables: Black Shimano
Cassette: Sram 9.0 (soon to be M970)
Chain: Shimano HG93
Cranks: XTR M970
Crank Bolts: XTR M970
Chainrings: XTR M970
Chainring bolts: XTR M970
Bottom Bracket: XTR M970
Pedals: Crank Bros Candy SL

Hub Skewers: Spinergy Xyclone Race (NOS)
Rims: Spinergy Xyclone Race (NOS)
Hubs: Spinergy Xyclone Race (NOS)
Nipples: Spinergy Xyclone Race (NOS)
Spokes: Spinergy Xyclone Race (NOS)
Tyres: Front IRC Missile 2.2, Rear IRC El-Gato - both red wall
Tubes: Specialized (NOS)

Saddle: USE Carbon Pro
Seatpost: Ringle Moby Deuce
Seatpost Binder: GT

Weight: Much lighter with the new forks and air rear shock

The way it was:

I've always fancied one of these, and it cost me a dekerf and a yo-eddy in trading to get the frame ad wheels, but I am rather pleased with how it came out. It may not be to everyone's tastes, as it has modern bits on it, but the frame is the soul of the build, and it is a lovely example of a fantastic thermoplastic GT.

The build was turned around in not much more than a week, which for me is swift as I normally dither on part selection, change my mind, procrastinate etc, but not this time. Took it for a ride today (short shakedown) and everything was perfect. Crisp shifting, front and rear bounce, braking was on the money, even the seat height was bang on - it was meant to be.

Build spec as below:

Frame: GT STS-2 Thermoplastic (GTs take on carbon fibre) - 18 inch.
Rear shock: Rock Shox Coupe Deluxe

Fork: Fox Float Talas RLC

Headset: Black Chris King
Stem: Nos black Syncros
Handlebar: Profile carbon fibre (though looks exactly the same as the thermoplastic frame)
Grips: Onza Ules
Barends: Answer hyper ends (black)

Brakes: XTR M970
Brake Pads: Black standard compound
Brake Cables: Black shimano
Cantilever cable hangers: N/a
Brake Levers: XTR M970

Shifters: XTR M970
Front Derailleur: XTR M970
Rear Derailleur: XTR M972 shadow (carbon fibre)
Derailleur Cables: Black Shimano
Cassette: Sram 9.0
Chain: Shimano HG93
Cranks: XTR M970
Crank Bolts: XTR M970
Chainrings: XTR M970
Chainring bolts: XTR M970
Bottom Bracket: XTR M970
Pedals: Crank Bros Candy SL

Hub Skewers: Spinergy Xyclone Race (NOS)
Rims: Spinergy Xyclone Race (NOS)
Hubs: Spinergy Xyclone Race (NOS)
Nipples: Spinergy Xyclone Race (NOS)
Spokes: Spinergy Xyclone Race (NOS)
Tyres: Front IRC Missile 2.2, Rear IRC El-Gato - both red wall
Tubes: Specialized (NOS)

Saddle: Flite Transalp
Seatpost: Silver, not sure on make/model
Seatpost Binder: GT

Weight: No idea, nor do I care

Well, that's it for now. Comments/feedback on build always welcome. In an ideal world the forks would be black, but they do sort of tie in with the grey/blue XTR colour, so I won't be losing any sleep over it. I might get some new decals, but the only ones I can find have red as the shadow, and I kind of like the blue.

I now need to make it up to my RTS, which was the donor of some of the parts that now adorn the STS. M952 or M900?

Looks great proper wacko, in a cool way

I especially like the wheels ... ;-)

WD

LORDY :shock:

Now that is how you build an STS,

Love this, bet it rides amazingly well. Congrats on the build, glad it turned out how you wanted it to. I like the modern bits on it, they work with it I think. The wheels are the creme on top!

Very nice
Do you like it ?

mikee":3vgf87dy said:

Very nice

Click to expand...

Thanks Mikee

mikee":3vgf87dy said:

Do you like it ?

Click to expand...

Looks wise - oh yes. If I were to change anything it would be the seat post, would try a black, but aside from that, looks better than I hoped, and I hoped for something good!

Ride wise - first impressions are also good. No complaints and it way smoother at the rear than I expected.

I fettled the 'droop' during the build and think I've got it bang on.

Now I've ridden it I think I can say that the front mech issue is resolved by the suspension sag, so all good all round.

Hope to get a longer ride in later today if I can swing it.

I always wanted a high end STS build with a modern twist,you nailed it.BOTM?Incidentally,M900 gets my vote for the RTS with a smattering of Syncros.

66 triumph daytona":10mtam4c said:

I always wanted a high end STS build with a modern twist,you nailed it.BOTM?Incidentally,M900 gets my vote for the RTS with a smattering of Syncros.

Click to expand...

Thanks, not sure it would be worthy of BOTM, but I may be swayed by feedback to this thread.

Thanks for the thoughts on the RTS, I was going to go controltech bars, stem and post, flite saddle then the decision needs to be made, so possibly m900.

Build has a few updated - saddle, post and rear shock:

Not been ridden since and further fettling is in order - feel free to chip in suggestions (what I really mean is help an indecisive bloke decide) here: http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... p;t=285993

Nice build, I like it... and no tri spoke wheels either, excellent stuff.