GT BMX catalog differences on production bikes

This video we will discuss some of the differences between the bikes shown in the 80’s and 90’s GT catalogs and the actual production bikes you received when ordering them or picking them up from your LBS.

[@monkist]

Tony, this is amazing! Love the insights and the attention to detail you present them with! Thank you!

[@atrains]

Glad you liked the video! I probably could have kept going into 91, 92 and 93 but to be honest the catalogs started getting more accurate as the years went on. I’m also not an expert on mid 90’s GT and Dyno. I figured I would stay in my lane. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@monkist]

@@atrains that is what you do best, I even dare to say you know it best - and that is why we are here 😉

[@dumpsterjerry3577]

GT wanted to show us the new pro performer but Eddie didnt want to 🤘

[@bmxbandito9]

I like the blank face sprocket vs the wing logo

[@Razzal00]

You are so informative and your circles are the best

[@atrains]

You love my circles! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Great info as usual. Keep up the good work brother! 😎

[@cheapciggies]

Fascinating, very informative not only on the errors but also on the parts involved. I want a bubble font chain now! 🤘🤘🤘

[@atrains]

The bubble font logo chain you see in the video was custom made by me for Michael Fockler. He supplied me with 3 chains so I could harvest the GT logo links from them to make a 100% complete GT logo chain. The reason this is required is because each chain only contains less than half of the links with the logo and the rest are blank. There is a video I made on the restoration process. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn-rlGmfe7SKetEsi=y1_Wj66GKzTObL2n Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@cheapciggies]

Wow, will watch that...yes i went straight over to Ebay...not cheap! I have a midschool GT i very recently bought, but am a rider from the 80s' (54). I'd almost forgotten what a fantastic hobby all things bmx was and now still is with you and your fellow youtubers content and passion. So cool. Fun resto times ahead for us all. 👌🤘

[@hirthirthirt1693]

There are some obscure versions. I, for example, have seen a single-bend day-glow red....I never saw this color ever again. the GT wholeseller in Austria had it between all the other GT bikes. Also, I thnk there were a dozne of pink to lavender-colors available...at least for the seatposts

[@techjunkie68smusicandtech56]

Not BMX related but still GT related, I own a 1998 GT Tempest, which in the catalogue states the frame is 7005 series Aluminium (I live in UK, hence different spelling). However my GT Tempest is stamped and stickered as 6061 Custom Blended and butted, I don't know how many of these still exist. I have seen people selling and showing off the same year Tempest with 7005 aluminium. Maybe the 6061 were left over from Avalanche models, although the main distinction is that my Tempest frame doesn't have an integrated seatpost clamp and externally reinforced headtube. Other than that it's a great bike to own and ride. I bought it as a frame and built it up like a BMX/MTB hybrid as I need gears to ride up and down hills.

[@atrains]

Interesting

[@jacksonfive5478]

Red dyno pro compe is awesome

[@atrains]

Yes it is. The bike was made by BMXMUSEUM member Dynotherium. bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=711744 It was made to mimic the Dyno catalog bike but to my knowledge that bike was not a production bike per se. It’s another reason I included it in the video, foreshadowing. Dyno is GT and we’re not immune to catalog discrepancies. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@TRAY-ij3zw]

Not a production bike ? What does that mean exactly ? Thanks brother

[@atrains]

@@TRAY-ij3zw Affectionately known as a "Catalog Voelker-Build", simply because when you open up a 1988 Dyno Product Guide you'll see Dave Voelker on the inside cover kneeling down behind a Pro Compe Team just like this one. By the time the '88 models hit the showrooms though they didn't look like what was pictured in the catalog as several parts were swapped out by then for newer styles (i.e. different seat, different grips, no more GT "mallet" stems, etc.). But probably the most significant change was that those "graffiti"-style decals never made it onto Production bikes. The story that I've heard is that GT Bicycles elected not to go with the "graffiti"-style lettering because it was too morphed from the registered identifiable logo of the Dyno brand.] Read all about the build here bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=711744

[@Haterade888]

There are many 1989 PFT models at the Museum with welded 990 mounts on the bottom of the chain stay. Some noted serials in 89 too. You said that in 88 GT used the 2188 seat. The one you showed does not have the bubble font logo on the seat. Your 2188 example had the slanted block font logo on the seat (6:08 mark). That style logo doesn't appear on bikes until 1990...including frame decals.

[@atrains]

Hey thanks for watching and commenting. Yeah there are a few people who claim that they have factory 1989 PFT and TM without the 990 mounts from the factory. Everything I’ve seen has 990 mounts. I think this all stems from the explosion of bikes wanting to use the DC990 which was relatively new in 1987. GT had to switch to the Axiom for 1988 in some cases. There weren’t enough DC990 to go around between Haro and GT and everyone else. So the myth has some validity that they would have abandoned the mounts and put the brake on the top like the catalog shows but I’ve not seen proof of this. I did see the 1989 Dayglo yellow PFT frame set though. So there is that. I have a 1989 PFT (5/89) and it has 990 mounts. Onto the seat. Yes I showed the 90’s GT seat for comparison. Doesn’t matter it’s still a 2188 Viscount. My point was the 2123 is 1987 only. The 2188 was ‘88 and well into 1993.

[@MorbidThrasher666]

Nice details! I also forgot the pft had the gen 1 forkstanders in that 1 pic,good eyes👍

[@dosgos]

Parts suppliers continually changed (especially brakes IME). Those changes might be for better performance, reduced cost, parts shortages, new parts suppliers, etc.

[@hirthirthirt1693]

The early single-bend-Performers and World Tours are the the most iconic....the S-Bend was nothing but a lack of new ideas

[@atrains]

Well that’s certainly your opinion and you are entitled to it. I’m basing my opinion on the sheer number of 1987 PFT that are restored and built up on the BMXMUSEUM, Fatlip BMX, Harvester BMX, C4 labs, Ernie’s and others. Heck I’ve got 5 S-Bend frames. Especially the DGP. It was said that Eddie wanted the single bend frame as they were pretty much riding the Mach 1 for a freestyle bike before the Performer. Gary didn’t even think it would be strong enough according to Eddie’s account. Thank goodness Gary went for it. The rest is history. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@michaelfockler1164]

That's my GT chain. Love to be a part of the video

[@atrains]

Yes sir it is. Three chains plus to make it 100%. Not sure how many more are out there like that. The most unique GT chain ever! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@michaelfockler1164]

@atrains super cool that you know about it 100%. Love to watch your clips. Keep up the good information brother

[@matthewgates4130]

I love this 😂😂😂😂 Yank that veil!

[@atrains]

Whatcha talking about Willis?

[@joejohnson8656]

I had the neon pink model and it did have the 990 mounts on it

[@atrains]

Joe Johnson I assume you mean in 1989. I’ve never seen them without the 990 mounts from ‘87-89. There was definitely an argument that they were removed for a period of time in 1989 but I’ve not seen evidence of this.

[@timanon7149]

Superb video mate, I'm lucky enough to have an 85 Pro performer, refurbished it so it lasts another 40 years.

[@atrains]

85’s are dope too. I couldn’t find a 1985 catalog or I would have included it in the video. I’ve actually never seen a 1985 GT catalog but I have a 1983 catalog so I know they exist. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@timanon7149]

@atrains send me your email address and I'll send you some pics of it , watching from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@ragereset1829]

Noticed at 3.40 they used the 86(?) GT headset as opposed to the printed 87

[@atrains]

Early ‘87 GT used the engraved Epoch headset. I could make a video on this subject matter all by itself. Since the gyro debuted in 1987 for all the GT freestyle bikes, 1986 Epoch headset are not possible to use with the gyro. It’s all because the upper gyro plate thickness has to be compensated for and so the Epoch was revised to be “shorter” making the cap smaller height wise. Only GT knows why they switched from the engraved revised caps to the thinner/cheaper caps with the silk screen printed logos. Cost I imagine. Now here is where it gets tricky because late, late 1986 PFTs came with the gyro. It was not common but it happened. However it’s irrelevant to this conversation because you wouldn’t have seen the headset in the ‘86 catalog. Clear as mud?

[@ragereset1829]

@@atrains Great info! Definitely make a video on this please

[@atrains]

I have it on my list. Trouble is I need all the Epoch headsets to take measurements and make everything OCD correct. I only have the silk screen versions in my possession. I need the race versions as well. One day!

[@francissobotka8725]

It was usually 2 years from start to finish .

[@atrains]

Can’t be. Doesn’t add up part timing wise. Odyssey gyro came out in late 1986. It’s in the 1987 catalog. Dia Compe 990 came out late 1986, it’s in the 1987 catalog. Two years to make the catalog, no way.

[@ilikesnow]

I just picked up a purple 94 Auburn on Marketplace for $50 an can't find much info on them. Do you know anything about their history, etc? They don't get mentioned often even though they hold value and are straight off the GT floor. Thanks!

[@atrains]

Sorry I do not know much about Auburn other than GT acquired them in the late 80’s. Check on the BMXMUSEUM for helpful info and history.

[@jhwin30]

Can you do the MACH 1?

[@atrains]

I will put it on my request list for future videos. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@ragereset1829]

I'd like to know what pedals the 87 PFT wore in the catalogue.

[@atrains]

Mix of Shimano DX and SR 474

[@ragereset1829]

@@atrains Cheers bud

[@badcommentbot8349]

Do haro sport bashguard next

[@atrains]

Here is the thing….I am not a Haro person. Know very little about the Haro bikes. Chances of a video about them is slim. But I did do a Diamond Back Cool Streak video so you never know. Thanks for watching and commenting.