GT Helion Carbon Expert 9R Complete Mountain Bike 2017

For many of us, the name GT brings back memories of scouring the neighborhood on burly BMX bikes in search of the best curb jumps and parkside playgrounds. Now that we're all grown up and looking for a new ride, the 2017 GT Helion Carbon Expert 9R Complete Mountain Bike blends that playful abandon we so sorely miss with modern technology built to handle full sized trails. Possibly best conceptualized as a whip fast 29er XC bike that can push into burlier territory, the Helion's 110mm of rear travel and 100mm travel up front soften the bumps just enough without feeling too squishy to go fast. GT crafts the Helion Carbon with its Force Optimized Construction FOC Ultra carbon, which is a weave of lightweight and exceptionally strong high modulus carbon fibers that results in a balance of lateral rigidity, impact resilience, and minimal weight. This translates to real life as a confident, capable, and responsive ride. The Helion's Angle Optimized Suspension AOS utilizes a high mount pivot that helps boost the suspension's shock absorbing capabilities. It's paired with GT's PathLink, which cradles the crankset to limit power sapping chain extension. Essentially, AOS isolates rear axle travel from pedaling input, which means the Helion can charge over singletrack and jump off the line without any disheartening pedal bob.