Where were these when I was a kid? GT content

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

I picked up this 95 model year 24" wheel GT Zaskar frame kit off eBay NOS when it was 13 yrs old. Included the frame Ballistic elastomer fork and flip flop stem. I built it up for my daughter who rode it a couple years before jumping up to a 14.5" frame Zaskar. I found a rare set of GT CNC 155mm triple cranks and did some updates. Laced up some new wheels with NOS Araya RM20's with XTR M900 hubs. Dream bike for a kid that enjoys mountain biking. If only these had been around when I was a kid... all I could get was a Huffy Cheater Slick or a Schwinn... GT-Steve this is a real kids Zaskar.

Frame: 95 model year GT Zaskar 14.5" for 24" wheels 7005 alloy
Fork: Ballistic alloy elastomer 50mm travel w/leading edge dropout
Headset: Dia Compe Aheadset
Stem: GT Flip Flop chromoly
Brakes: Shimano LX (the bike needed some black) with XTR cartridge type pads
Brake Levers: Dia Compe MX99 (better for small hands)
Shifters: Deore XT SL-M740 8 speed
Handle Bar: GT Alloy cut way down
Grips: Odyssey mini
Crank: GT CNC 155mm with Shimano 46/36/24 rings
Frt Derailleur: XTR M900
Rear Derailleur: XTR M900
Cassette: XTR 12-30T
Rims: Araya RM-20 Double wall
Hubs: XTR M900
Spokes: Sapim 14/15 DB SS
Tires: Ritchey WCS Z-Max black
Seat Post: Syncros
Saddle: Sella Italia Flite

 

[legrandefromage]

kids are sure spoilt...

although I could have that as a keyring.

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

GT offered the 24" wheel and a 20" wheel Zaskar frame kits in their catalogs in 1995 and 96. There were 150 of the 24" wheel frames built. I've seen three others come up for sale on the bay or craigs in the past four years. Couple more pictures...

 

[legrandefromage]

All I had was a Puch 'Mini-Sprint' - non of this posh Zaskar stuff.

it looks like mine when I first bought it and its shrunk in the wash...

 

[stevetait]

Thats simply awesome!

 

[DM]

That is one impressive kids' bike.

 

[Pickle]

Dare I ask the price of that?

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

Dare I ask the price of that?

I originally landed the NOS frame and fork kit for ~$200. The first time I built it up with newer Deore 9spd bits and Deore 28 hole hubs w/ Ritchey Comp rims from First Flight I had $584 into it. These wheels cost a lot more, but those GT CNC 155mm crank arms were a mild $35 surprise. (Acted like a woman shopped didn't hunt) I actually found the left and right arms from two places 2000 miles apart. At the time I decided to upgrade it I was constantly getting outbid on hubs. Last year the BMXers were paying nutty prices on the 24" tires. The XTR/XT stuff I had lying around but is naturally worth something. I'd be guessing to say if one were going to do one with similar spec from scratch you'd put 850-1000 in it easy. ...if you could find the frame kit.
At today's prices that's a 300 dollar wheel and tire set and that's if you get lucky. I offered trades on 32 holes XTR hubs for months before gradually winning some single hub auctions.