xizang's
From what I remember, and this is not the gospel:
I believe the original GT Xizang was produced in 1989 and actually had a titanium front triangle with a bolt on chromoly rear triangle. The Xizang was last produced in 1999. The 1990 and 91 models had internally routed rear brake cables. The original Xizang's were welded by Maurice Lavoy (maybe Lavoie), It is my understanding that beginning in late 91 they were produced at Sandvik, (which later became TiSports). I have seen comments that GT produced them in house in the later years. Despite having seen a Ti welding station at GT Santa Ana in 1995 I believe it was only there for GT's product team for prototypes. Despite rumors you see flying around the internet and posted in some eBay listings the Xizang was never built by Litespeed The original Xizang's had a solid laser cut looking rear dropout that which was neatly curved to cap the chainstays and seat stays. In later years GT used a GT signature dropout, (If memory serves me right I believe this dropout started in the 94 or 95 model year). All Xizangs were TIG welded 3AL/2.5V ti tubing. They were produced in 14.5, 16, 18 and 20" frames measured from the center of the BB to the center of the top tube. They were produced in a high polished finish only except for the 199 model year when they had a white painted frame with Red and blue graphics. Many to this day feel that the Xizang was one of the best hardtail mountain bike frames ever produced. Most people that have them hang on to them. Most people that have owned them and sold them regret the fact that they ever parted with them. I'm lucky enough to have owned one since 1991 when I worked in a shop that sold them. I was also lucky enough to pick up a used one for my son. I've ridden lots of bikes/frames over the years and can honestly say that I've never ridden anything else that rides as nice or is as forgiving. They are still highly sought after. They are tough to find used. The last three 18" frames that have sold on eBay.com all went for between 700-900 dollars. I saw one a few months back that closed on eBay.UK that went for the pound equivalent back then of US$958 and that was for the frame only. Lately it seems as though people from Spain have been the high bidders. GT also produced the Lightning Titanium as a complete bike only in 1997 and 1998. Spec wise the Lightning and the Xizang are very much the same frame but the Lightning complete bike was imported from Taiwan and was sold in a bead blasted natural Ti finish only. I've personally bought and resold 13 Xizang's and Lightnings in the past 14 months. 11 were sold to people in Europe. 4 to Germany, 3 to the UK,
2 to Spain, 1 to Sweden, 1 to the Netherlands. I've seen a number of them posted on this site after they were built up.
The Xizang was ridden by GT's famous "Team Scream". With riders like Rishi Grewal, Juli Furtado, Gerhard Zadrobilek, Chantal Daucourt, Tom Rogers and Susan DiBiase that raced on Xizang's.
