GT Bicycles / Sports article manufacturer

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GT Bicycles Inc. (briefly: GT, which for Initianlien of the founder Gary Turner stand) is an US-American bicycle manufacturer.

History

The history of GT Bicycles took its beginning into the 1970er year in the USA. Gary Turner originally repaired trumpets and drove in its spare time motorrace. Beginning of the 1970er years destroyed its son, a passionierter Biker, several times its wheel. After a further bad Crash Turner of a friend borrowed a pipe bending machine and designed a framework, which was more rigid durable and than the then available Fahrradrahmen. Soon Turner in its garage for the entire neighbourhood in Fullerton (California) produced Fahrradrahmen.

On an nearby BMX course Turner Richard Long became acquainted with. Long possessed a Bikeshop in Anaheim and the two men became friends. Both divided frustration over Bike products available at the market, particularly in the segment straight of the developing BMX market.

Finally the two friends developed a vision for the establishment of a Bike company, which could satisfy the needs of all age groups and at the same time the quality and durability was to supply able, as it was necessary for BMX and Mountainbikes. Since the demand for Turners did not leave handmade framework, the two decided to bring their own company into being.

1979 sold Long its Fahrradshop and GT Bicycles (GT stands for the initials of Gary Turner) were created. In the next decade the two partners expanded their line beyond of Bikes for young people, with special adjustment on Mountainbikes.

Long and Turner led GT Bicycles until 1993 as private business. In this year they sold the majority of the portions to the Bain Capital company. Bain Capital brought GT 1995 to the stock exchange.

In July 1996 Richard Long died in a motorcycle accident on the way to the NORBA running in Big Bear, California.

1997 produced GT Bicyles of bicycles of the marks GT, Powerlite, Robinson and Dyno in Santa Ana and Huntington Beach, had about 700 coworkers and proceeds of scarcely 200 million dollar per year. Gary Turner was at this time further in the company active, was occupied however mainly with special Design projects and arisen with advertising meetings.

By the death of Richard Long, which had organizational held GT together Bicycles up to then, comes the company slowly into an inclination, by which outward however still nothing was visible, since the financial means were plentifully present still. Sales figures were not reached, for prognoses were appropriate wrongly, the distribution of the Bikes retarded and substantial recall actions took place. The reference numbers worsened and the share fell.

In the summer 1998 Questor, the backer of Schwinn Cycling & Fitness, bought the company GT Bicycles for 175 million dollar. Schwinn and GT Bicycles fused to a global company with two strong marks, which were in some Bike and Fitness segments market leaders.

In the spring 2001 it became clear that Questor and the banks had decided to pull itself back. Investments were stopped and adjusted payments at suppliers and subcontractors. Schwinn GT Inc. bankruptcy announced on 27 June 2001.

The once powerful duo was sold by the court of bankruptcy on 11 September 2001 for 86 million dollar at Pacific Cycle. This meant a loss of nearly 175 million dollar for Questor and was an impact for the entire industry. Been subject competitor in offer-suppl.-fenced around GT-Schwinn was Huffy, producer particularly from favorable Bikes for the mass-market. To Pacific among other things also the Bike mark Moongoose belongs.

Models (selection)

Among the most well-known Mountainbike models rank:

Zaskar (Kulthardtail)
Xizang (Titanhardtail)
RTS (one the first full-fitted with springs MTBs)
LTS (one the first Viergelenker Fullys)
STS thermoplastic series with the models LTS, DS, DH, Lobo and XCR (outrider for the today's Carbonbikes)
Lobo DH, DHi (Downhill Fullys)
i-drive series (patented drive component, meanwhile in the second generation)
iT-1 (Downhill transmission Fully)
Ruckus (Hardtails and Fullys freerideorientierte)

Admitted sportsman with GT-equipment (selection)

Naturally GT Bicycles engaged itself like other bicycle manufacturers in the cycle racing and supported many sportsmen and teams in the Mountainbike, racing cycle, BMX, course cycle racing range and in the Triathlon. Among the sportsmen many land and world champion rank among other things, among them: