GT Avalanche Sport (27.5) (2018) - Review

The Avalanche Sport (27.5) is built on a T6 661 Aluminium frame. This frame has a slanting top tube making sure the rider gets extra stand over clearance, which helps when riding on rough and bumpy trails. The triple triangle frame design is unique tech to the frame. This makes sure the frame weight is distributed evenly and the frame itself absorbs a good amount of vibration.The Suntour XCT Suspension fork on this hardtail MTB comes with a 1mm travel which worked smoothly during the test ride. The easily operable suspension lockout feature is useful to make the fork rigid to ride faster on flat surfaces.

This bicycle comes with Shimano Altus at the front and Alivio at the rear. These are mid-level performance focused derailleurs from Shimano, which were smooth in performance and had no lags in shifting during the test ride. The 27-Speed Shimano Altus shifters were easy to use on both sides with responsive clicks.

The bicycle which I test rode came in a full black frame with bright orange graphics. The matte finish paint job was top notch in quality and the smoothness enhances the aesthetics. The triple triangle frame design, which is unique to GT scores both on the technical and design front. The wide handlebars, colour coded rims and the heavy treading on the tires make this one stylish hardtail MTB.

Shimano's BR-M315 Hydraulic Disc Brakes handled the braking on the Avalanche Sport (27.5) 218. These brakes were powerful and balanced during the test ride and felt safe to use even on wet surfaces. One can confidently ride fast on rugged trails and depend on the brakes to keep your feet off the ground.The 661 aluminium handlebar on this MTB measured 68mm in width. The handlebar felt wide and was suitable for the rider to keep the bicycle in control on fast paced trail rides.

The Avlanche Sport (27.5) (2018) rolls on a pair of Kenda's Slant Six MTB tires which measured 27.5” x 2.1”. These are high-end performance tires from Kenda and the tread patterns and thickness were proof of that. One can confidently take those fast corners on muddy trails without any worry about the traction or balance; such is this tire's quality. The stock GT Saddle has been designed for MTB's. The width and padding was perfect and keeps the rider comfortable.