GT announces all new Helion Carbon Pro, Force X and Sensor X for 2015
The GT Helion Carbon Pro is a new XC bike that seeks to expand the definition of cross country into something a bit more aggressive than the old school definition. With 110mm of rear travel and 27.5″ wheels, the Helion uses GT’s AOS (Angle Optimized Suspension) that their current Sensor and Force models use. In creating a bike that is more capable in multiple conditions, there are certain design traits that are in style, these days that include:
- A slacker head angle
- Low bottom bracket height
- Longer top tube
- Wider handlebars
- Shorter chainstays
The GT Helion possesses all of these. The frame itself is GT’s FOC Ultra Carbon with 110mm of travel using their Independent Drivetrain design. It has forged linkages, tapered integrated head tube, 12x142mm Maxle dropouts. The Helion Carbon Pro features Fox 32 Float 27.5 CTD fork with Remote FIT and Fox Float CTD rear shock with remote. It is equipped with Stan’s Crest ZTR Tubeless wheels with DT Swiss hubs and spokes. The drivetrain is Shimano XT 1×10 but GT also provides an e*Thirteen 42 tooth cog with each bike.
In this video, Chris Hopwood, GT Marketing Manager, goes over the highlights of the Helion Carbon Pro, Force X, Sensor X and Sanction.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTiEJMPSvGg
The Helion will be available in 6 model levels with the Carbon Pro the top level (there is a Helion Carbon Team that is even higher, but it is not available in the US). The Helion Carbon Pro comes in 4 sizes (SM, MD, LG, XL) and has an MSRP of $4999. It will be available around September of this year. There is one other carbon model and 3 alloy versions (available August 2014) for model year 2015:
- Helion Carbon Expert $4099
- Helion Expert $3199
- Helion Comp $2349
- Helion Elite $1549
In this video provided by GT, Director of Product Management Todd Seplavy explains how the Helion came about. “Made for your every day cross country rider.” (Norcal locals, can you name the trail that this video was filmed at?)
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6dM1gE_M2s
Check out more photos of the Helion Carbon Pro as well as the new Force X, Sensor X and the Sanction (previously seen earlier this year at the Sea Otter Classic. Note: the Sanction will be sold as a frameset only in the US).
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