Zaskar or Zaskar LE - What's the difference?

[Drencrom]

zaskar le came with xtr, zaskar came with xt, but i don't know if there where differances in the frames, i guess not
all zaskars sold as a frame only are badged as zaskar le.

This wasn't the case in the UK, although it may have varied over the years. I have seen adverts offering both frames, with the LE substantially more expensive than the standard Zaskar. I thought the LE was US-built?

I don't know how you tell them apart, but the serial number may be part of it.

In a nutshell, there is no difference between a Zaskar LE and Zaskar frame pre '97.

All retro Zaskars are US built from 6061. Up to '96 there was no difference in terms of the frame itself, from '97 onwards (as cce pointed out) the LE had CNC drop-outs, head tube reinforcement and an integrated seat clamp. The Zaskar retained the same design as the previous year’s LE and regular Zaskar, which is the frame design in the photo BBB posted above. From '98 there was a bit of cross-over with the non-LE Zaskar, both as a frame only and as a bike - there are later '98 models that share the LE design out there. The LE was made from 6061 Easton tubing in '98 incidentally, whereas the Zaskar was the usual 'unbranded' 6061. I'm sure gm1230126 would have the answer as to why the LE was introduced, but I was always under the impression it was brought in for '93 to allow an XTR equipped Zaskar in the line up. The XT equipped Zaskar was therefore the non-LE version.

As Anthony points out, the Zaskar and Zaskar LE were available (in the UK at least) as a frame-only in later years - I bought two standard Zaskar frames new myself when the LE was also an option. In a nutshell, I don't think the serial will help; the serial will tell you the construction date, but alongside the '6061' stamp and flat cap to identify it as a Zaskar (as opposed to an Avalanche, for example) that's about it. The changes to the design such as the replaceable mech hanger in '92 and the moving of the gusset in '96 allow for a rough identification, but I don't think it's possible to tell if a frame was sold as an LE or a regular Zaskar (either as a frame, frame-set or complete bike) pre-97 without having the records from GT themselves.

So, for BBB, there is no difference for the '96 frame between a Zaskar or Zaskar LE.

 

[Barneyballbags]

Thanks Drencrom

As I said in my original post, it doesn't matter to me either way - I just can't wait to get it built up!

 

[merckx]

anyone know why other bikes also became LE? specifically, the Bravado. never available as a frameset, originally just called Bravado, the 1994 model my father owns is called a Bravado LE however.... :?: