A Cult Classic Restoration - 1998 GT Zaskar

The GT Zaskar bikes from the 90's have a cult following that is totally justified. I am so stoked to have this as part of my collection. It was awesome fun to build up and rides like a dream. I hope you enjoy the build and the little extra chatting as I sorted out what parts to use and a bit of an explanation of what has kept me busy since the last video.
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Taking Me High, Taking Me Low - by Gold Flow
#restoration #RockShoxSid #ParkToolBlue

[@mtb717]

I’m 18 years old and I love raw aluminum bikes. Nice restoration. Love you. Hello from Ukraine

[@koyapol]

god i miss this channel. welcome back sir. nice shop!

[@oldshovel]

Thank you my friend

[@Dexter00000]

Same here!

[@christopherwebb3517]

Welcome back! I'm glad to see Old Shovel videos again.

[@SOSRestorations]

samzies!

[@Tylergilmour857]

ayyyyyyye that's my bike!! I literally ride it every single day!!! my brother bought it new and it got handed on to me and I will have it until my last day on this earth!

[@Walking_Death]

I have someone coming around to buy a rescued bike in about an hour. I've done at least 20 since you inspired me.

[@Oldmtbdad]

I was a poor college kid starting in mountain biking and lusted over Zaskars. I had to settle for a 94 Pantera. Still have it and converted it to what my friends call a monster gravel cross bike with drop bars and 3x7.

[@oldshovel]

They are so awesome

[@Dexter00000]

Do you have any pictures? Sounds awesome!

[@SONOFMANORIGINALS]

I have a pantera and I think it’s better

[@bradleyhyland2953]

Not much hype for gt any more. This was the bike! Back in the day. Just brought my son a gt aggressor for he’s birthday I think I like it more than he does 😂

[@jp_hl]

The best and most beautiful mtb frame ever built! That was with Shimano XT in those years...and the yellow Rock Shox in the middle of the top line.

[@barbaremotus]

Great work as always, I'm french and it's still a pleasure to see your videos. Thanks for all Sir.

[@matthi2358]

recently bought an polished-alu 90s Zasker X from one of my coworkers. Will re-polish it for sure. such an awesome frame.

[@PaperKiller79]

Just finished a ‘94 Zaskar build. Vintage SID fork, and full xtr groupset. Black frame and fork.

[@oldshovel]

Awesome

[@komoonkh]

Thank god, Oldshovel is still alive! Great to see some new stuff man! Always looking forward

[@munztho]

Very cool! My first MTB was a 1991 GT Avalanche. 33 Years ago.

[@tecdesigns8183]

Love Zaskars. Great video a good thing to help remove stickers is a toffee wheel on a drill. Over in the UK we use a product called autosol metal Polish for Polished surfaces works well

[@dwillms]

Nice to have you back! Could we get a new shop tour video sometime? Would love to get ideas from your layout to help revamp my workspace. Cheers

[@davomoto42]

Every time you chose a component I was like "YES!" That's exactly how I would have spec'd it, except for maybe the gravel kings, but they do look good on it. Awesome to see you back!

[@bobtilton3024]

Beautiful! I had the red anodized '97 GT Zaskar (XT group set). It was my first bike after college when I got an adult job. Still have the Mavic 217/GT hubs wheelset from that bike. Also had a '97 Xizang which was an absolute blast to ride.

[@oldshovel]

Ooo a Xizang is on my list to collect… awesome

[@JohnBarrow1961]

Beautiful bike. My first MB was an Avalanche from this era and with the same ball-burnished finish. I wish I still had that bike. Cheers.

[@peteozias2760]

Looks like the bike I used to have. Nostalgia vibes

[@Pillokun]

I love Zaskars, my club mate when I was in high school had an blue GT uner the Zaskar model, and every time we were done with training when we cycled home we stopped by a bicycle store to dream about our dreambikes, like the zaskar, kleins, cannonades and such. Good times. I had a crappy steel frame with indy xc forke but at least it was full xt and had cross max 1st gen wheel at a total weight of 10.5kg :D

[@johndef5075]

When in doubt XT. My first real mtb, a 89 Raleigh Peak, had 7 speed XT and my new S-Works Epic build has 12 speed XT. Really cant go wrong. The 26" GT hardtails are the best looking ever made imo. And the early ones had incredible paint jobs too. Some with matching stems.

[@krakey8594]

I love the fork wall, and tbh the whole shop is really looking great. You have really inspired my own bike -hoarding- collecting journey. Thank you for all your videos

[@johne1956]

Nice build, that bare frame just looks the business. I just picked up a failed project from someone whose wife just had a baby so he was never going to complete it. A 2006 Zaskar Pro with Hope hubs and Mavic 717s rounded off with Pace RC31 carbon rigid forks. It has a horrible flat black paint job clearly done by a half blind gorilla so you have now given me the inspiration I needed to strip and polish the frame. I have most of an XT groupset to put on it just need to find some cranks and disc brakes and it will be good to go.

[@JoseGomez-vn7hn]

Im collecting parts for a 1999 Team edition. White with red and blue accents. Great channel sir.

[@silviomelocorrea]

This is a dream bike, especially as it has that shovel sticker on the frame... One day I'll find a way to talk to you and bring one of these to Brazil.

[@onelove4458]

Nice to see you again Missed you and your videos Hope you find time to relax and ride your beautiful bikes Greetings from germany

[@shetho1]

Welcome back it's been a long time 3 months I hope you are back full time i hope everything has been OK and glad to see another bike video

[@steffen_a]

Nice to see you’re back and even with the most beautiful MTB frame ever made. There’s just too many colours on the build for my taste. I think with blue valves instead of red and tan wall/black tyres it would have looked even more awesome.

[@techjunkie68smusicandtech56]

I used to own a 1993 GT Zaskar LE in that year and build it up with some fancy parts. I now own a 2011 GT Zaskar which is also my pride and joy but not quite the vintage of the 90's. Maybe one day I might be lucky to find a decent 90's Zaskar again, but for now I'll enjoy my GT Zaskar Sport. I also own a 1999 GT Tequesta and a 1998 GT Tempest. The GT Tempest has a ball burnished frame like the Zaskar from the 90's and my Tempest has a 6061 HT frame unlike most that were 7000/7005 series aluminium.

[@durden.tyler537]

Delrin scraper blades are a decent tool (Grainger) for removing decals from aluminum. Appreciate the retro Zaskar build. Fantastic frames even today. I still ride my [modded] ‘93 Zaskar regularly.

[@briangrandfield3328]

Glad to see you back in the shop! I really enjoy your process and builds. You have inspired me to do my own restoration video. It's slow-going and many times I've almost just given up on the video aspect of the build just to get the bike done and ride! But then I take a breath and turn the camera back on. I keep reminding myself of the importance of documenting the process and the work that goes into a project like this, if for nothing else to show my friends and family why it took so long. 😆 Thanks for the videos and sharing your experience!

[@brianwalker9793]

Someone in my neighborhood is selling a never built NOS Zaskar reissue just like this. Apparently GT made 500 and this is numbered. It is a small and asking $300, i am 6' but still tempted 😄👍

[@ralfwalch3903]

Hello! Greetings from Bavaria,Germany! Nice to see a new Video.

[@WestsideCruisers]

Good to see you back on. I just picked up my second Zaskar and it is an LE as well. My first one is a Light blue anodized frame. Love these bikes. Enjoyed what you did to this LE. Awesome 👏

[@HUKIT.]

The lower Cane Creek headset cup logo not being centered in the middle would drive my OCD to insane levels.

[@joaoc_PT]

Awesome. And those tires remind me of 90s michelin's wildgriper.

[@benwideman]

Fun to hear you thinking through your decision making process!

[@oldshovel]

Thanks for letting me know. It thought for some it might have been interesting to join in on.

[@gabegoldberg]

@@oldshovel Yeah I like the commentary too!

[@craigbarth7474]

Nice! Used to love my old GTs started with a steel frame then moved to the Alu ball-burnished Zaksar with XTR I think...

[@MuvoTX]

Welcome back!!... Great build. My co worker had this frame back in the late 90s. We'd go on XC rides with my other co wotker group. I still gravel ride a 98 Fisher hoo koo e koo from the era. Its spec'd lower than your build here (STX and XT) but it still rides great. I feel like I time travel back to the late 90s whenever I ride it.

[@simonecozzini3318]

È sempre uno spettacolo guardare i tuoi video, ognuno con la sua particolarità e con la sua storia . In più tu ci metti anima e corpo per trasformare dei pezzi vecchi in bici nuove con elementi di alto livello Veramente molto bravo ,anche questa a volta ti sei superato 👋👋👋👋👏👏👏👏

[@kevintaylor6375]

I had a late 90s GT Backwoods that I modernized with a 1x10 and wider bars thanks to your channel. It must be a lower spec cousin of the Zaskar. The frame is very similar. Unfortunately it ended up underneath a car. I was ok, but a shame to lose the bike and the work I put into it. Was fun and lightweight to ride.

[@01FozzyS]

Welcome back,Rob!

[@andreaskjrgaard6447]

I really enjoy your videos. Great to see you posting again. Btw the TLC logo on the gravelking tires stands for Tubeless compatible.

[@andreapatto79]

Great! ...wonderful restore GT bike!!! Awesome

[@Peo_Sahlin]

Wow, front derailleur!?! That was unexpected, but very nice. 👍

[@TerryW5379]

I always enjoy watching a professional do what they’re good at. Thanks for the video!

[@mickfbr]

You nailed this build brother 👏 looks beautiful

[@solisx9743]

One of my favorite KZbin channels always be watching your old videos all the time lol amazing build like always

[@monkist]

It’s been a while! And what a bike to make a comeback with! I love that you made it look like they did back in the late 90s, and the greenish Panaracer is the perfect match, reminds me of the green Michelin Wildgrippers I have seen at the Grundig World Championships on these bikes…

[@garethhelliwell9736]

I used to sell GT bikes in the shop I worked in in the U.K back in the 90's. This brought happy memories of building them up ready to be sold. Love the build, especially the wheels. Great work dude.

[@MartinAtanasu]

Oh,Oh,Oh, the Ghost of my beloved Zaskar. Had the same XT, XTR set up with MarZ Bomber up front. Sold it to a friend in Kamloops, seeing this is pure regret. Is that my old Klein Pulse Comp hanging up? Love the rebuilds, Keep Spinning

[@Cmnore]

Im restoring a '98 Zaskar LE that I acquired from a friend's Dad. It had sitting outside for a few decades just waiting for some love. Original owner had used 900 series XTR groupset on it and its all there still. Beautiful design and stellar build quality. Also have a 97 Ricochet. GT for the win!

[@JustOneWolf]

great build and video (as always). the polished aluminum looks amazing. the big TLC near the panaracer logo means tubeless compatible btw!

[@mc540flip]

Beautiful build. Nice weight too! There a great gravel network in Scottsdale, this bike would be perfect there.

[@Dexter00000]

Love your videos! So relaxing to watch and hear!

[@silviom72]

My dream bike, I have a Richey P21, but this is the one I wanted to have! I live in Brazil !

[@oldshovel]

Ooo a Ritchey P21 is on my short list of dream bikes.

[@halseyknox]

I have a nice shape acid green LE 97/98.....love vintage hardtail restorations as well as my modern intense....

[@staffanbrynge7679]

Nice bike! The IKEA Bolmen stool should come in black for shop use 😎

[@scottsprojects658]

I finally found a GT Zaskar after 3 years of looking and I bought it on Holy Thursday. I'm excited to restore it!

[@Fallington]

This is amazing for two reasons: 1. This was my dream bike when I got into mountain biking in the 90s and only had a paper round so couldn’t afford anything decent. 2. It’s been waaaaaay too long since you made a video - good to have you back Rob! ❤

[@hannesbinder4891]

very nice Bikebuild - best regards from Austria Vienna

[@1969mtb]

that bike would look awsome in gravel mode!

[@jkalinna5607]

nice part selection and awesome bike

[@Adam_Antium]

The amazement with this exact frame/bike really got me into bicycles when I first saw it in a shop I did an intership in in my teens. Hearty thanks from Germany for bringing back those memories. Well done!

[@gman6059]

Beautiful bike, great build. I wish it had the tan walls and tubes though.

[@the_nondrive_side]

I smiled when you were looking at the cranks and said the LX are hard to find... my 95 930 in ice green to ice violet has a blue Manitou SX and I'm running cheap mech discs with a plate rear.. 750 XT mechs with LX 9 speed shifters and crankset .. it's currently a 3x7 with cheap levers... 27.5 wheels I'm not 100% on the 7 speed but I do actually like the gears... I just want to match the LX levers up and don't have the right wheelset yet. love the way this turned out. I don't regret taking the STX RC parts off the 930 for my Rocky Mountain Cardiac rebuild last year. I bought a police bike with theft damaged frame.. still had the car jack wedged in... sold the 475 parallax wheels off right away and built the 930 with everything else.. 1999 thin blue line Comet.. ever heard of those? it was ugly but a GREAT DONOR RIP

[@ADVtheMISSIONARY]

Good to see another video. If it's any consolation the weather is getting colder and wetter here, so that means summer is on its way to you up there.

[@WorldwideDarts]

Wow! Such a classic bike from back in the day! I nearly bought one back in the day but they opened up a brand new skate park in 1997 so I went with the GT Show instead. Man, I wish I still had that thing!

[@bumlebubbi]

The manitoo and swabel gets me everytime. Keep up the good work!

[@benjocalrision]

Mix of XT/XTR is a great choice. Joy to watch the restoration of a stunning frame 🫶🙏

[@user-lr9wy6wb7n]

Good to see you back building beautiful bikes. The Zaskar always was an still is an oustanding bike, the triple triangle design...i love it.

[@JohnPilling25]

You are so lucky to find that Zaskar and a really nice and well stocked parts bin with all the quality vintage parts 😊👍👍👍❤️

[@CSIPSD]

I will have one of these someday! I have a few projects to finish up, namely a Proflex and Cannondale Super V... Then I will find this!

[@tedwingate]

Wonderful build. Excellent geometry for a flat bar gravel bike.

[@oldshovel]

Lol yep. And that flat bar is way better than any dropbar. 😁

[@JOTAGOMEZ23]

Loving this frame, since nineties!! Amazing job!! 👌👏👏👏

[@byrondot]

Glad to see you again with that beauty! Nice work!

[@oldshovel]

Thank you Byron 🙌

[@stephenhickey8062]

Thrilled to see a new Old Shovel video

[@RatFink5912]

GREAT VID as always--glad your back, but definitely understand a heavy work schedule... :)

[@christianmarionsunga6226]

Welcome Back! 🙌

[@SJMCycles]

So good ❤

[@morphius7777]

It's nice to see you back Rob. You have been an inspiration for me to take on building my own 90s bikes. So far, I have a polished '97 Klein Pulse Pro, '98 Gary Fisher SIlver Series and unknown oval tube Fox Racing MTB.

[@allhailhastur1872]

Would love to see a Xizang build on this channel. beautiful classic though.

[@oldshovel]

I would too. It’s high on the list to find one.

[@bozstitch]

So cool! Great to see a new build up on YT. Dead curious to know what you do for a living though 😉

[@alvinmcgee-xu6df]

I used to have that bike good job looks good

[@karenburns3516]

I love your channel so much thank you.❤

[@Darchful]

Legends never die!!

[@dennisfloyd8514]

So happy to see an Old Shovel video. ❤

[@jonathantyler7327]

Nice build. ❤

[@TeeLichtet]

I really like that the tires nicely resemble those vintage, green, silica-based Michelin CC-tires.

[@mountainsmoore3657]

Good to see you back again! I realize how hard this whole KZbin thing is...I fear that more & more of my favorite channels are going to end up going away. It just seems as though there just simply isn't enough revenue for those channels with less than a million subscribers to justify hiring the help that is needed to keep those creators from burning out. I don't have an answer. I've aced it myself and have stepped back a bit, but now we have added a podcast to the list of responsibilities. SMH. We have fun with it, though. I guess that is how I need to look at it. Anyway, I have rambled enough, glad to see some new stuff from Old Shovel again!

[@rogerhart612]

Very cool build. Glad you're back. Looking forward to the next.

[@JR-if8yg]

This one ended being one of my favorites. Love how that bike looks. Congrats!

[@ichallengemydog]

Such an iconic bike!

[@mikejones420]

Yeah, oldshovel video, was wondering when I would see a cool build again, love it.

[@tongpocalypse151]

I sympathize with the build dilemma. Some frames deserve a proper build and not just what the parts bin allows. Then the vintage LX, XT, XTR bits are all quality, but there is a strong temptation to just go 1 x 10 with all of these retromod builds (my thinking is if I wanted to stay period correct, then why break it down in the first place and what really am I improving if I'm just keeping the original or similar grouppo). Plus i moved on from square taper long ago and don't really want to look back🤣 Glad you went with the SID though the Bomber wouldn't have been wrong, either. My old Zaskar had a SID and my Lightning has a Bomber and I enjoyed both. As for the tires, you could have used a tube but the GKs look good on that bike (it says TLC on the sidewall so yeah, they're tubeless). I didn't now they came in 26". Great build. Might be able to drop a bit from 24lbs but that's still a bit lighter than my Lightning (pretty sure it's the Bomber fork weighing me down). Makes me want to ride my Lightning now😁

[@paramedicbarber974]

I use to own a Zaskar LE myself way back when, was such a nice bike

[@cliffanderson7544]

Cool build! Im re doing a 2005 Gary Fisher Cake right now!

[@simoneacciarri8538]

I missed your amazing restorations! welcome back! Hello from Italy

[@christopherroberts4254]

Great to have you back. Loved this build. Looking forward to more.

[@paultaylorbikes]

Very cool!!!

[@samblenkharn8099]

Sweet ride. A pure race machine that would have been back in the day. When youve worn out those green tyres how about a pair of panaracer fire XC 2.1s in blue? With the silver frame, yellow decals and blue grips I think that would be gorgeous, and about period correct too!