In the mid 1990′s I did a lot of mountain biking. I hit the trails a couple of times a week with friends or with the Queen’s University of Belfast mountain bike club (I was one of the first ever members) and even entered a few races. I hand built my own high specification (for the time), hardtail cross country (XC) mountain bike around the GT Zaskar LE aluminium frameset. But soon after completing the build I left university, life got more complicated in the way that it does, the mountain biking fell away and the Zaskar was confined to storage.
Now, more than a decade later, I’ve got it back!
My GT Zaskar LE (1995) hardtail XC mountain bike on it's first day back out of storage
More photos are available on my GT Zaskar LE 1995 web album.
The Zaskar’s specifications are as follows:
- GT Zaskar LE aluminium “triple triangle” frameset
- Pace RC36 front suspension forks
- Full Shimano Deore XT 7-speed transmission with Rapid Fire shifters
- Shimano XT V-brakes and levers
- X-Lite bar ends and miscellaneous finishing kit
A cursory inspection reveals a lot of time gathered crud on everything and all the moving components will undoubtedly need to be stripped down and given a thorough lubing. Nothing seems to have seized though and the bike looks to be generally in remarkably good condition considering it’s history. However, some corrosion is evident on one of the suspension fork stanchions, which is a worry. I’m hoping it’s as superficial as it looks.
The Zaskar needs a full inspection and service yet and I’ll have to somehow wrangle budget for any repairs and upgrades that are forthcoming, before there’s even a chance of getting it back into the mud.
But for now I’m just happy to have it back!
I have Zaskar LE too. I just bought a Kona Stinky for dirt cheap in Halfords in Drogheda, collecting it tomorrow. I took out my old Zaskar earlier and I am going to fix her up. I have the same LX cranks as you do, but they are from a Schwinn Paramount, as are the wheels. I had DX thumb shifters on it but they are missing. I have a gorgeous set of Paul Components love handles in red on it too, (brake levers). The Zaskar is so light, I love it. I was looking for the decals and I found them today. Some guy in the U.S found them in an old disused factory and I am buying them off him. I am 38, almost 39. Where do the years go?
Donal.
not as nice as my 1.
Hey,
The Zaskar Le is one of the best, if not THE best hard-tail frame ever made for heavy duty :)
I own a 20″ Zaskar LE, ball burnished, since 1994 ( `93 model ) with all the goodies of that time. Titanium whereever I could and suitable( all axles, crankshaft, seatpost, clamp ), RaceFace crank and some nice hubs ( Hügi/rear and Ringlè/front ), Syncros stem, Ritchey haedset, and last but not least Magura hydr. brakes.
This bike has done service for 16 years now..and still a beauty of its own.
Thanks GT for such a precious piece of craftsmanship.
As I see now, the true Zaskar LE is one of the most seeked frames in ebay and other MB forums.
NEVER gonna sell mine :)
Lars
i also have the zaskar le, but with Pace RC 35 forks from the mid 90′s. ive just stripped it down repolished and upgraded most of the parts at a cost of £750! Great bike!!!