Hans Rey‘s a true mountain bike legend. Forget the fact he brought trials to a mainstream audience and founded the Wheels4Life charity – anyone who has a chimp for a riding buddy and can open beer bottles with a spinning wheel is alright with us! He’s been with GT Bicycles for 25 years now and they’ve rewarded him with his own signature range for 2013.
Perhaps the biggest surprise from a man who once rocked a blond mullet, not to mention some truly abominable fluoro Lyrca, is that the Zaskar 100 Hans Rey full-sus, Avalanche Hans Rey hardtail and Karakoram Hans Rey 29er all sport a surprisingly tasteful ‘pearl white’ finish with gold highlights.
The Zaskar’s the ‘showcase’ bike, with a US$6,100 pricetag (no word on UK pricing yet). It’s only got 100mm of rear travel but Hans has made it more trail-friendly by speccing a longer fork up front and a dropper post. The Avalanche and Karakoram slot in towards the budget end of the market but are great-looking bikes for the price, with finishing kit from his sponsors CrankBrothers. Way to go, ‘No Way’ Rey!
GT Zaskar 100 Hans Rey
Quick spec:
- Frame: Carbon fibre w/ Independent Drivetrain suspension
- Rear shock: Fox Float CTD Boost Valve w/ Trail Adjust, 100mm travel
- Fork: Fox 32 Float 120 FIT CTD w/ Trail Adjust, 120mm travel
- Transmission: Shimano Deore XT
- Brakes: Shimano Deore XT M785
- Wheels: CrankBrothers Cobalt 2, Kenda H-Factor tyres
- Finishing kit: CrankBrothers Cobalt 2 bar, Iodine 2 stem and Kronolog dropper post; own-brand saddle; Ergon GA1 lock-on grips
- Price: US$6,100
GT Avalanche Hans Rey
Quick spec:
- Frame: Hydroformed & butted aluminium, Triple Triangle design
- Fork: RockShox XC30 TK Mg, 100mm travel
- Transmission: Shimano Deore/Alivio/Acera mix
- Brakes: Shimano M395
- Wheels: Alex MD17 rims on own-brand All Terra hubs, Kenda H-Factor tyres
- Finishing kit: CrankBrothers Cobalt bar, stem and seatpost; own-brand grips and saddle
- Price: US$1,050
GT Karakoram Hans Rey 29er
Quick spec:
- Frame: Hydroformed & butted aluminium, Triple Triangle design
- Fork: RockShox XC28 TK Mg, 100mm travel
- Transmission: Shimano Deore/Alivio/Acera mix
- Brakes: Shimano M395
- Wheels: Alex TD17 rims on own-brand All Terra hubs, Kenda H-Factor tyres
- Finishing kit: CrankBrothers Cobalt bar, stem and seatpost; own-brand grips and saddle
- Price: US$1,100
More info at www.gtbicycles.com.