GT LTS 1 1997

[d8mok]

A month or so ago I picked up a pair of LTS’s.

A LTS DH and LTS1. My plan was to build both but in very different ways but unfortunately the DH had a substantial dent which I couldn’t get past so it was sold on.


97 is likely my favourite year of GT overall and particularly the LTS. Likely because I used to drool over the Carrarti catalogue back in the day which made rhe decision to do a almost catalogue build quite easy


The frame was stripped , polished , and rebuilt. New decals added along the way too.

Plan is to be a XT M739 based built , with Hadley hubs. Fork is a Judy SL rather than a XC.

I’m thinking a yellow Kore stem possibly and then some WTB tyres or black Wildgrippers.

I’ll update as it continues

 

[Lhatch4]

I look forward to this build. I think your right about 97 being a great year for GT. That was the year I got my first real mountain bike. It was a 95 GT Tempest that I bought used from my brother's college roommate. In 97 I would go to the bike shop and salivate while looking at all of the bright ball burnished aluminum. That was the start of a nearly 30 year love affair with mountain biking.

 

[getoutofbed]

Could you briefly explain the polishing process?
Polish used, hours taken etc. Going to do my LTS in the next couple of weeks.

 

[zonoskar]

You can use any metal polish I guess. Like Belgom or Sonax or Unipol. Depending on the start state it will take an hour to a couple of days and very black fingers if you don't wear gloves. BTW, nice looking LTS after the polish. I have an RTS that I need to polish sometimes again, it's become a bit dull over the years.

 

[d8mok]

Could you briefly explain the polishing process?
Polish used, hours taken etc. Going to do my LTS in the next couple of weeks.

Don’t just hit it with metal polish as they look terrible if you do that.

Dependant on the start point of the frame I go as low as 80 grade wet and dry.

Use lots of water and work around the tubes.

Work up through the grades and then a polish with mothers mag

The rear end on the LTS I also used a sisal mop and bench polisher to do it as it was impossible by hand.

You need a uniform finish before you actually polish it.

People complain about it dulling but if done correctly they last many years. The ones I have were done 5 years ago and still look the same

 

[markoc]

Looks like a great start for a build.

I love the LTS - both in the looks and how they rode. I think if I was to have a full bouncer it'd have to be one of these (largely as an STS is still silly silly money and I'm not sure I'd trust them even for pootling around on).

Iconic colours as well with a bright yellow SL and Kore finishing kit. GT really were getting it right at that point in their history.

 

[d8mok]

Yeh I’m a fan of the STS as well but they all crack it seems. I’ve had several over the years and the only one that wasn’t cracked was a lobo.

GT nailed it in 97 for sure.