GT Force Carbon Pro test

GT renews its all-mountain par excellence, namely the Force, with much more modern geometries and a new shock-absorbing pattern that perhaps will make some fans regret the “old” i-drive (AOS). The format remains 27,5 "with the possibility of using covers up to 2.6". The travel is 160mm at the front and 150mm at the rear. But can the Force really be defined as an all-mountain with these numbers?

Completely redesigned, even the Force (like its companions Sensor and Fury) abandons a monochrome type system, albeit advanced as the Aos which thanks to the particular Pathlink made the bottom bracket floating, and adopts the new LTS suspension scheme, scheme a quadrilateral that will make a larger slice of bikers happy than the more complex Aos. The Force is a bike with 150mm of travel at the rear and 160mm at the front in 27,5 ”; between all-mountain and enduro, as was the previous version presented in 2015. Martin Maes has already taken it to the podium several times in the Enduro World Series, demonstrating his versatility.

FEATURES

The front triangle of the GT Force Carbon, of course, is in carbon while the wagon is in aluminum: boost 148 × 12 with a flip chip to vary the geometries. The external cable routing is very nice but “embedded” in the frame: aesthetic appeal and functionality, perhaps the best choice ever seen up until now (but only present on carbon frames). Rubber protections on the down tube and chainstays on the chain side. The shock absorber is metric with Trunnion mount on bearings. We find all the most modern solutions on the Force. VERSIONS AND COMPONENTS In Italy we find 3 imported models: the 2 carbon models CARBON PRO and CARBON EXPERT and the aluminum model AL EXPERT. The frame kit is not available in Italy. The test model is the top of the range of the American brand and is available at € 5499, while the assembly can be found on the last page of this test. Just below we find the Carbon Expert at 4199 €: RockShox Pike RC 160 mm fork, RockShox Deluxe RL shock absorber, SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed gearbox, SRAM Guide 200/180 mm hydraulic disc brakes and Stan's NoTubes Flow S1 32H rims. Starting point, the AL Expert with aluminum frame: RockShox Yari RC travel 160 mm fork, RockShox Super Deluxe R rear shock absorber, SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain, Tektro Slate T4 203/180 mm hydraulic disc brakes and WTB ST i29 TCS 2.0 wheels 32H.

GEOMETRY

The Force comes with a typically Enduro geometry, such as a 65 ° head angle, a 435mm rear stay and a very vertical seat angle (75,5 °). The wheelbase is 1192mm, not too long thanks to a very compact reach (440mm). The ground clearance is very low (339mm). The geometry in general does not differ much from the new Stumpjumper by Specialized or Bronson by Santacruz, demonstrating how the new all-mountain bikes are increasingly aggressive. Pay attention to the size because the saddle angle so vertical can lead many bikers to prefer the plus size.

Sizes S, M (test), L, XL
Steering angle Inline
Vertical tube 430 mm
Head tube 110 mm
Rear wagon 435 mm
Wheelbase 1192 mm
Bottom bracket height 339 mm
Reach 440 mm
Stack 599 mm

THE RESPONSE OF THE TEST

The definition of Trail or All-Mountain is changing: as soon as you get on the Force you realize how the position is collected. Compact reach (440mm in size M) combined with a very vertical saddle angle (75.5 °), make it very short in the pedaling position and many bikers will find it better to stay on the plus size. The very low stack (599mm) then does not help riders with a high horse or who want a more comfortable / downhill position, but this "problem" is easily solved with a nice 30 / 35mm rise (which I still recommend mounting in any case). The very vertical saddle angle allows you to have a bike that climbs very well, which does not tend to wheelie even if the open suspension bobbing effect is slightly noticeable.
It should be noted that in any case a very vertical saddle angle allows the bike not to rear up and have less bobbing effect, but on the other hand not to be fully pushed with the legs, especially in people with very long levers who find themselves too above the pedals. So in pedaling the Force is good but do not expect a super performing bike from this point of view: it does not tend to Trail but to Enduro, indeed it falls fully within the latter category. If we change the parameters and evaluate the Force as an Enduro, we can say that it is well pedaled, a matter of points of view and what we expect from the bike. With the new Force you do not have to be abundant in SAG otherwise you will not exploit its potential: the canonical 25/30% will lead you to have a bike that is not fully performing in pedaling and with an easy bottom-out. Better to stay on 20%. The Force is an atypical all-mountain, or rather in line with the trend of all the new models in this category: very aggressive geometry that makes it a mini enduro (after the enduros, years ago, had taken the name / direction of mini DH). Downhill the first impression is that of a good absorption capacity in the first part. The progression curve is quite linear, there is no big peak of progressivity in the final part and this makes it easily usable by any type of biker. The suspension is decidedly plush, it has nothing to do with the previous Force or with the Sanction: the bike is less reactive but, what is most noticeable is the ability to cushion even with the brakes on, this is clearly felt and it will make happy even the less entangled bikers who perhaps suffered on models like the Sanction, or rather did not find the full feeling. In terms of handling, given the 27,5 ”size and compact reach, it is at excellent levels and is well centered on the bike, which makes it excellent even in the aerial phases. The excellent centrality on the vehicle, and the very plush shock absorbing pattern, make it very stable in fast breakdowns. Too bad only for the Sram Guide R brakes which, in a top-of-the-range model, we would have preferred to have been replaced with a more refined / downhill model.

Weight (without pedals) 14,0kg
Fork FOX Float Factory 36, 160mm, Kashima, FIT4 Damper, 3-Pos Adj, 15x110mm, tapered steerer
Shock absorber FOX Float Factory DPX2 EVOL, 185x55mm, Metric Trunnion
wheels STAN'S NoTubes Flow MK3, 32h, tubeless ready with ALL TERRA Alloy Disc hubs 15 × 110 front, 12 × 148 rear, 6 Bolt
Service SCHWALBE Magic Mary Performance, 27.5 x 2.35 ″, tubeless ready
Rolling mill chocks TRUVATIV Descendant 7K, Dub, 32T
Rear gearbox SRAM X01 Eagle
commands SRAM GX Eagle, 1 × 12
Brakes SRAM Guide R hydro disc, 200 / 180mm Centerline Rotors
Buy Boxes SRAM XG-1295, X01 Eagle, 10-50, 12-speed
Headset FSA Orbit C-40-ACB
OFFENSE RACE FACE Aeffect, 6061 Alloy, 35mm clamp, 40mm
dumbbell RACE FACE Aeffect, 35mm clamp, 20mm rise, 9 ° sweep, 5 ° rise, 780mm
seatpost KS LEV Ci Carbon dropper, Southpaw remote, 31.6, 100mm (S) 125mm (M), 150mm (L / XL)
Sella FABRIC Scoop Shallow Sport
Color Azzurra

Verdict

BUT, NOT BAD
The GT Force is the classic bike that, in every situation where we will use it, we will come up with a "but, not bad". Not out of place in any situation: good climber, good downhill skier, good quality / price ratio. Pay attention to the choice of size: if you want to use it in pure all-mountain spirit, it presumably requires an extra size. Suitable for those who want to go up and then open the throttle, or simply have fun, downhill. It is not a bike to be used to get excited when pedaling, we find the Sensor in the GT house.