Who can tell me which model of GT this titanium frame is? I've never seen before.

[Twozaskars]

I won't reply to future posts.

What I want is information or data, not to spend all my energy explaining that I'm not a liar, or introducing China's titanium alloy industry to dispel misunderstandings. If you still don't believe me, then so be it. However, I don't think this seller provides international shipping.

That lasted long.

 

[Gtpulse]

The idea of this really got my attention. I remember when I first got a Zaskar in the now retro period and wondering if there was a titanium version then found out about the Xizang and Lightning. Ironically if I remember correctly my first ever post on here had some scepticism as I’d posted a link to what turned out to be Lightning in a pile of junk!

Anyway something looks right but not quite right about this I’m calling copy on it. I keep looking at the photo where you can see the end cap and at the spring mounts for the rear brakes, they look unfinished with really sharp corners. To me that says copy of something rather than someone who has created something.

 

[henrysthreeironbands]

Titanium alloy GT Zakar sample frame? A GT Titanium 26 frame I've never seen before, perhaps a 1993 sample frame. I found it in a vintage MTB collector's collection. According to him, he doesn't know if it's a titanium frame produced by GT either. But there's no doubt that, except for the metal material, the dropout, the rear upper fork connecting plate, and the top tube of this frame are exactly the same as those of the 1993 Zakar AL. Moreover, it's very heavy... Both he and I are curious to know if this frame is a sample frame from GT. Maybe it was an attempt by GT to produce it but they didn't release it because they found it was overweight?

My guess it is not a vintage mtb collector at all.

It's just a warehouse stuffed with vintage parts bought on ebay and other places for the purpose of analyzing them and copying, to whatever extent.

Now in the process of unloading, but "not shipping abroad, just make yourself a taobao account and check yourself".

 

[Betsy]

Although the OP says the welding isn't up to contemporary Chinese standards,

China is a big old place.. i know the folks are compliant and all.. but are we to beleive they have a 'welding standard' which everyone adheres to.. or is it much like every other country on the planet where standards are variable

 

[ferrus]

I don't get this fixation with it being a fake. IT'S NOT A FAKE, COPY, HOAX OR COUNTERFEIT OF ANYTHING!!!!!
-You don't try to make a fake stainless steel Seiko by spending far more on materials and manufacture than the original and getting it machined out of titanium!

People seem to have been pissed by the suggestion that it might be a proto GT and have got hung-up on that when it was never likely.

 

[ferrus]

When someone gets a custom Chinese Ti frame made by say XACD they often want the exact geometry and dimensions of their old faithful steel Raleigh tourer or whatever.
The Zaskar was a very popular bike! It seem likely to me that someone who had a frame commissioned just really fancied their Zaskar reproduced in titanium for the relatively cheap prices these factories charge. (I looked into getting a Ti Slingshot made years ago).

I wish we could move past this fake nonsense. If you've lost all interest because it's not an ultra rare one-off GT proto´, fair enough but that should've been immediately obvious.
Can't we discuss when this was most probably made. Were Chinese factories even doing these commissions BITD ....or was this the request of a serious retrobike enthusiast* many years later?

*someone who loved a Zaskar's design themselves, and wasn't the slightest bit interested in faking, counterfeiting or deceiving anyone...

 

[henrysthreeironbands]

little logic to make it like that, for a maker like GT, or a competent client. it will be heavy and stiff. welds and finish look like early 90s eg litespeed wo polish, but could easily be 2020s in an amateurish shop. the machined bosses look like 90s TW to me. the fact thst it is in CN though, makes me think a CN manufacturing test frame.

 

[henrysthreeironbands]

if it was made or ordered by gt i doubt they would let it leave the company. a competent brand would cut it up so it could not be mistaken for a real frame.

 

[ferrus]

if it was made or ordered by gt i doubt they would let it leave the company. a competent brand would cut it up so it could not be mistaken for a real frame.

Yeah and we'd have heard something before from someone. And the welds would look like GT welds!

 

[ferrus]

Apparently it weighs a ton. Anyone who knew what they were doing (or cared) would have known the weight was going to be excessive before it was built from the weight of the tubes, plates etc. Makes me incline to the 'enthusiast' commission idea