A Cult Classic Restoration - 1998 GT Zaskar

[@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!

[@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.

[@munztho]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 😂

[@stuka78]

I just bought a bare frame of a zaskar, 99% like yours, for 50 euro; only differences, I have rear disc mounting points and light grey/black decals. Nothing else is attached, I have to start from scratch, idea is to assemble it with modern XT parts, possibly 1x, modern Judy fork, mullet 27.5/26, and carbon wherever I can (handle bar, seat post, …). Surely not genuine specs, but high level for this beautiful frame, it deserves that!!! Thanks for this video! ❤

[@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

[@JOTAGOMEZ23]

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

[@jlpl_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.

[@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

[@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.

[@RodTyler-t2o]

Sweet build, Thanks for taking us along on the build enjoyed it thoroughly. Take Care

[@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!

[@komoonkh]

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

[@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

[@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

[@dibbsdabble4718]

Out of the 30+ bikes I've built and own I love my GT bikes the most. So much so that I have Zaskar (red anodized), Pantera, Timberline, Palomar, Arette, and an Avalanche.

[@jamesklarevas5091]

I know a lot of the audience is here for the sort of "shop noise" style, but I gotta say that I really appreciate when you talk to camera and we can get a bit of insight into your thought process and approach to your builds. Great video!

[@EFreeman1970]

One of my favs! Thank you, and thanks for the GT compilation. Still searching for my first!

[@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!

[@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!

[@JohnPilling25]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@solisx9743]

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

[@ThomasDiFrancesco-Schäfer]

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.

[@JoseGomez-vn7hn]

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

[@benjocalrision]

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

[@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

[@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!

[@stephenhickey8062]

Thrilled to see a new Old Shovel video

[@davidwildstallionjohnson4458]

It's good to see you back at your passion. You have to do what you have to do to support that passion for sure. nice build.

[@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! ❤

[@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 👋👋👋👋👏👏👏👏

[@matthi2358]

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

[@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.

[@andreaskjrgaard6447]

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

[@PaperKiller79]

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

[@oldshovel]

Awesome

[@TerryW5379]

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

[@Dexter00000]

Love your videos! So relaxing to watch and hear!

[@nigehill]

Great watch. I did a 95 Zaskar LE build on my channel, it came with a mix of LX and Deore parts for some reason but you have to go as high end as possible. 👌 you had me worried when you were deciding what to go for at first. 😂

[@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.

[@JustOneWolf]

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

[@bumlebubbi]

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

[@mc540flip]

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

[@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.

[@TeeLichtet]

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

[@barbaremotus]

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

[@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

[@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 👏

[@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…

[@garyfeltham302]

I've rebuilt over 80 bikes now great fun lots of GTs I own a GT Aggressor sport .

[@ToddChannel]

Great to see you back, missed your builds 👍🏼

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@gman6059]

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

[@paramedicbarber974]

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

[@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.

[@dennisfloyd8514]

So happy to see an Old Shovel video. ❤

[@tedwingate]

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

[@oldshovel]

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

[@ralfwalch3903]

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

[@ichallengemydog]

Such an iconic bike!

[@craigbarth_rsb]

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

[@jkalinna5607]

nice part selection and awesome bike

[@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.

[@LeFrere72]

You're back! Finally. I thought we lost you 😮.

[@halseyknox]

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

[@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 😄👍

[@cliffanderson7544]

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

[@joaoc_PT]

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

[@staffanbrynge7679]

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

[@aaronwermers4160]

So stoked to see ya back, great looking ride!

[@mikejones420]

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

[@rogerhart612]

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

[@byrondot]

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

[@oldshovel]

Thank you Byron 🙌

[@JR-if8yg]

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

[@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.

[@simoneacciarri8538]

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

[@christopherroberts4254]

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

[@hannesbinder4891]

very nice Bikebuild - best regards from Austria Vienna

[@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

[@mickfbr]

You nailed this build brother 👏 looks beautiful

[@andreapatto79]

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

[@molasdesigns7737]

Glad to see you back !

[@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.

[@seanjohnmiami78]

Nice to see you again.

[@peteozias2760]

Looks like the bike I used to have. Nostalgia vibes

[@curtisbotzet7579]

Glad you're back!!

[@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

[@01FozzyS]

Welcome back,Rob!

[@MumfordJim]

Good to see you again. Beautiful build!

[@easyrider75]

Lovely Build. Great to have you back!

[@mountainsnmoore256]

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!

[@leesoo1999]

Unique and Strong!

[@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.