Zaskars and Xizangs

[Spudalumps]

Hey all!

Back in the 90s when Zaskars and Xizangs were built in the shops were you given a particular group set or did you have the choice to what you got outfitted with?

Only reason I ask is I a while ago bought a 96 Zaskar fitted with full XTR M910 which was 95 released. The forks were Judy XCs with a threaded steerer too

Two thoughts on this set up:

XTR M950 was perhaps released in mid/ late 1996 and the only XTR group set that was released with an early 1996 ZASKAR LE was XTR M910

The forks had a threaded steerer… we’re some riders put off by Ahead?? or was it perhaps cheaper to have threaded than the newer AHead?? << I found this odd as my 1995 XIZANG Would of come with a AHead pair of Judy SLs << did the XIZANG get newer contracted kit?

Similarly I’ve noticed that between 1995 and 1996 there seems to be a divide between KORE and SYNCROS products was there a shift in GTs contracts in this period of what their bikes would be outfitted with?

I ask because I like to keep my bikes period correct but there’s so much variation in these years I’m not sure what is correct and what was aftermarket bling

 

[malt]

Sounds like the shop just had some frames and built them up to either a customers spec request, or just with what they had in stock.

I was selling GT through the mid 90s when Carratti we the supplier and there were no options other than off the peg or a frame set.

 

[d8mok]

First question is probably what date stamp and colour is the 96 Zaskar?

A LE wouldn’t have come with Judy XC is my first thought.

 

[legrandefromage]

Have a look at the catalogues!

Catalogues | GT Archive | Retrobike

That way you can see what was actually offered. Individual shops could then do what they liked with their stock

Threaded steerers were the way of the dodo very early on with Tioga Avenger threadless headsets used for the 1993 GT model year

My own bike was an LE but with threadless MAG21 and M735, purchased in late 1993. To have gone back to a threaded steerer would have been a huge backward step at the time.

 

[Archangel]

I assume that the shop had built some frame-only sets with something they had in stock - hence the fork with a threaded steerer.
As Zaskar always came with XT and LE was the XTR equipped model, this also would indicate that the Zaskar you're referring to was built by the shop from the frame up.
Regarding variations in specs, sometimes the specs varied from what was stated on the catalogs, mostly during the model year change time so the early manufactured ones might have been specced a bit otherwise if some planned components were not yet available to the manufacturer.

 

[Spudalumps]

Cool cool! So sounds like GT provided a structure and then shops had the ability to do something else given the opportunity

 

[mtbdave]

You had 3 options

Buy a frame and build with new parts (or parts you swapped off an old bike your had or raced at the time, so a frame upgrade if you like with your old kit)

Or buy a off the peg Zaskar with Xt on or a Zaskar Le that was full Xtr group, m900/m950 etc depending on the model year

The Xizang was offered as a frame set only except for
1989 when it was steel, suntour/browning/beast electric shifting accushift gearing.
1990 first year titanium framed, full Xt m750
1994 with m900 XTR and rockshox Mag 21 SLTI fork
1999 painted titanium frame, also Xtr group not sure of spec as I don’t have the catalogue

See photos below of 89-90-94 bikes in catalogue’s

 

[mtbdave]

Photos of Xizang’s here plus tech spec’s too

 

[Spudalumps]

That steel Xizang, thing of… legend are they not

 

[mtbdave]

That steel Xizang, thing of… legend are they not

They made a few with the correct groupset on I believe they had problems with it, not sure if technical or supply problems.

I have seen one or two floating round also with full XT on too.

It’s the 91 ti/chrome version that’s hens teeth!!