About GT Bicycles
GT HISTORY 101
For those of you who flunked history, GT’s story is simple: speed, speed and even more speed. From GT’s namesake Gary Turner designing one of the first BMX race bikes in 1973 to our modern carbon fiber creations that redefine fast-as-hell, we’ve built a long legacy of racing and winning, yet never taking ourselves too seriously. As a company, we’re 36 going on 18. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
A darn fast history lesson
1973
Gary’s son gets addicted to BMX racing. But the bikes are heavy and Gary, who cut his teeth welding drag racing cars, knows there’s a better way. He makes the first frame so his kid can start crushing it on the So Cal circuit. Gosh, thanks, Pop.
1974–1980
Richard Long and Gary team up and GT is born. Richard is the business guy, selling frames, sponsoring riders and generally doing his level best to become the biggest name in BMX. And Gary? He’s making it possible with the most innovative frames in the business.
1981–1986
GT owns the BMX world with more wins, more riders and more clout than any other. So much so the company earns the nickname “The Firm.” Cool note: Cycling legend Hans Rey signs with GT in 1986 – 23 years and counting.
1987–1994
BMX wanes but mountain biking takes off. And, no surprise, GT leads the way. Mountain biking legends like Juli Furtado, Nicolas Vouilloz and Rishi Grewal come on board to fly the colors – and win big.
1995–1998
GT officially becomes criminally fast when the UCI bans nearly every feature designed for the Project ‘96 bikes (Insert proud smirk here). On the dirty side, 4-bar linkage bursts on to the scene and the LTS sports the infamous Fox ALPS 5. But the good times come with a loss. Richard Long is killed in a motorcycle accident on his way up to the ’96 NORBA Championships in Big Bear.
1999–2002
A whole new era of mountain innovation (and winning results) dawns. GT introduces i-Drive® suspension to rave reviews and the LOBO DH bike hits the slopes. Suspended bikes make up 80% of the models over $1000. Oh yeah, and the Saturn and Lotto Pro Cycling teams take turns riding GT road bikes over a couple seasons.
2003–2006
The innovation continues as the Ruckus i-Drive® becomes the new standard in free riding – until, of course, the i-Drive® 7 in 2007. Other notable models include the IDXC and the first production gearbox design, the IT-1.
2007–2009
GT is back on the podium! Brian Lopes is the 2007 4x World Champion. In 2008, Burry Stander becomes the U23 XC World Champion. In the inaugural Olympics for BMX race, Mike Day takes home silver; Jill Kintner, bronze. In 2009, Mick Hannah podiums (again and again) on the ground-breaking Fury carbon downhill bike.
