what year is this Zaskar please?

[sk6strng]

Hello all.
Here is a GT Zaskar I recently purchased. The frame is stamped with a serial number and the opposite dropout has '16' and 'BLEM' stamped on it.
I would really appreciate any expert who can shed light on the year and history of this bike.
Thanks and have a great day.

 

[biggins]

made July 1994

 

[sk6strng]

zaskar

What do you think of the 'BLEM' stamping? I have been looking over the bike to find a flaw....any ideas what GT might have been calling a BLEM in'94?

Thank so much

 

[retrocomeback]

BLEM stamped into the frame is sometimes added by a manufacturer to a frame with some form of blemish (minor dent, flawed paintwork, etc) that means that it cannot be sold as a perfect 'new' model, but is completely safe to ride. A bicycle 'seconds' if you will! Hope that helps

 

[MADJEZ]

I've seen BLEM on ano frames but not a ball burnished one before.
As above think it just relates to the finish.

 

[sk6strng]

zaskar

Thanks to you posters.
Would this be the correct sticker kit for this bike?
Also is there any kind of clearcoat over the top or can I just remove them with a heat gun if I chose to replace them?
thx

 

[Charlieboy28]

hi ya , im no expert but them decals are not original, but they will peel off easy with a heat gun.

I have seen clear coat applied over decals on a bare aluminium frame, but never on a Zaskar.

see here for proper decal for the year.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/v/M ... atalogues/

you can get the correct decals made or you may even be lucky enough to find originals. They seem to be quite robust so no real need for clearcoat.

and polishing the frame seems to be part of the territory with a zaskar, a clearcoat would deny you this pleasure

GM is our resident GT expert, he might be able to advise you on where to get decals your side of the pond

 

[merckx]

those decals are original. they are just a little beat up, and the "ALL TERRA" has been removed from the down tube at some point.

there is some originals available on ebay currently, that are very similar. i have them on my bike, they are black and white, but 95 era from what i understand.

its very hard to find original decals from 94 or earlier these days.

otherwise, your options are re pro, of which gil m on here is extremly good.

 

[sk6strng]

zaskar .... rear tire clearance

Hello.
I had a loose plan to install my rigid GT fork and large slick/cruiser tires and run this bike as an urban bomber. Can anyone advise me how wide I could go on my rear tire? I did a quick measurement and it seems like a 2.5 might just fit (like a Maxxis hookworm) There are also lots of cool looking 2.35 tires around...just wondering.
Thank you and have a great day.
Best of luck to those in in path of hurricaine Sandy.

 

[Blackstar]

Just so you know, the numbers on the frame relate to when they were produced.

Some frames later in the year were sold with the following years spec and decals.

This one would be 94.

With big tyres, be careful with sizes bigger than 2.15-2.2. Some brands fit, others won't.