Should I add disk brakes?

[Gotte]

I've got a GT LTS 3000 DS, which I've recently started riding again after a long time (moved to a place where there's a lot more trail riding to be had). I always liked my LTS, though mainly for looks, as it didn't see much dirt in the city. Now though, I'm wondering about adding disk brakes. I can add them straight to the RTS High 5 fork, as there's a boss, but not to the back. this would need some sort of addon kit - maybe one of those that bolts to the V-brake boss.
The brakes are okay (ish), as is, but I just don't know whether to keep it true vintage (as everything is), or beef it up to modern spec, brakes-wise.

Just looking for opinions, really.

Thanks

 

[Chute55uk]

ha! im thinking of doing the exact opposite on my lts. it has hope c2's im thinking put a xt v on the back as it should be.
the rear "kit" is a bit heath robinson in my opinion with a long bar going to the boss and some strange axle setup for the caliper.
so my answer...
no

 

[Matthews]

I'd say yes having just done it (Hope C2's again) on my E3, even better if you can get the full kit for the back (caliper,brace, hub, axle) I modified the caliper with a friends milling machine to clamp in on a standard (but modern cartridge bearing type) axle and it seems to work rather well, big test will come at the weekend on it's first outing proper on a retro ride.
Matthew

 

[retrokona]

stick on Maguras, you won't be sorry.

 

[dyna-ti]

stick on Maguras, you won't be sorry.

Cant go wrong with......RIMCRUSHERS

 

[GTom]

I've just been doing some research on what my '96 Zaskar is worth and happened across this...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-GT-Zask ... 2323816f26

In the description it says it will fit the LTS.

If you decide to go the disk route it could be a neat alternative to the usual contraptions?

 

[Gotte]

I've just been doing some research on what my '96 Zaskar is worth and happened across this...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-GT-Zask ... 2323816f26

In the description it says it will fit the LTS.

If you decide to go the disk route it could be a neat alternative to the usual contraptions?

Thanks for the input, all.

I'm undecided (I'm a bit of a purist, at heart), but the pragmatic side of me says if I've got the boss (on the front, at least), and the forks were original, then I should use it, even if it wasn't on the bike when I bought it.

The only problem is the rear. My LTS doesn't have the holes for the adaptor mount. So it either means drilling it, which I would be wary of (not sure if there's a difference in the original drilled and non drilled, design-wise, and wouldn't like to find out the hard way), or the V-brake converter, which looks ugly to me.

I was thinking about just putting a disk on the front, and leaving a V on the rear. I used to have a Kona with the same setup, and it seemed to work fine.

Again, thanks for the input.

 

[dyna-ti]

I've just been doing some research on what my '96 Zaskar is worth and happened across this...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-GT-Zask ... 2323816f26

In the description it says it will fit the LTS.

If you decide to go the disk route it could be a neat alternative to the usual contraptions?

Thanks for the input, all.

I'm undecided (I'm a bit of a purist, at heart), but the pragmatic side of me says if I've got the boss (on the front, at least), and the forks were original, then I should use it, even if it wasn't on the bike when I bought it.

The only problem is the rear. My LTS doesn't have the holes for the adaptor mount. So it either means drilling it, which I would be wary of (not sure if there's a difference in the original drilled and non drilled, design-wise, and wouldn't like to find out the hard way), or the V-brake converter, which looks ugly to me.

I was thinking about just putting a disk on the front, and leaving a V on the rear. I used to have a Kona with the same setup, and it seemed to work fine.

Again, thanks for the input.

Absolutely no problem setting it V and disc,its been fitted like that many times over and i dont think ive ever heard a bad report on that type of set up.
As to drilling :? this pic shown in the link is a serious bit of bodging that as far as i can see could very well end in tears.In the pic you can easily see where the holes are drilled and if the dropout isnt solid then youll be left with only a tiny bit of metal left to hold that sides entire dropout on.Not safe whatsoever.Personally id only think about drilling through a dropout only if it was solid and there would still be plenty of intact metal not to fail.

 

[Gotte]

Thanks for that. The idea of drilling only surfaced in my mind momentarily. I'd never have the guts to try it for fear of the worst happening.

Luckily, my brother in law's got a frame with a disk brake on the fork he's willing to give me for nothing. Now all I need is the wheel, and I'm off.

Again, thanks

Phil

 

[ba57ards]

that adapter isnt for lts frames without disc tabs

top end lts the 1000ds came with holes and bracing for discs
thats jus like a post mount to is mount

dont drill holes in ur frame it wont work can cause problems