2000 GT Speed Series UltraBox XL - BMXmuseum.com

 

When I first saw a picture of the 2000 GT Speed Series UltraBox frame in the September 1999 BMX Plus! magazine, I was beside myself.  Sure, Powerlite had its Coqpit, Haro had its Monocoque and SR-71, and Mountain Cycle had its AfterShock, but the UltraBox was different.  And I wanted one!

 

With an initial price tag of $699.99 USD, the 2000 GT UltraBox was by far the most expensive frame you could purchase back in December 1999 (Source: Dec. '99 BMX Plus!, p. 24).  It featured custom Easton butted 6061-T6 aluminum tubes, an oversized 1-3/4" outer diameter (O.D.) CNC-machined head tube, a new formed top tube with a full-length internal cable guide, sleeker and lighter chain stays, a new monostay back end, and completely redesigned dropouts.  And to top it off, this lightweight, responsive, precision engineered frame was made in the USA at GT's factory in Santa Ana, California.  Here are some highlights of the 2000 GT Speed Series UltraBox frame (Source: Sept. 1999 BMX Plus!, p. 8):

• Rather than using a standard 1-5/8" O.D. head tube, for the UltraBox, GT choose to use a beefier head tube in order to resist flaring and reinforce the headset cup area.  The extra material also provided a larger welding surface which made manufacturing the frame easier.  The head tube was then machined out from the inside so that the frame could run a standard 1-1/8" fork/headset.  The outside of the head tube was also machined to reduce weight.

• New for 2000, the GT UltraBox frame featured a top tube that was not a monocoque - instead a single sheet of aluminum was cut to the specified dimensions, folded over a precise form, and then welded on the bottom, rather that welding two formed pieces together down the middle (like the Haro Monocoque).  This design produced a very stiff, yet very light top tube.

• GT's unique top tube housed an aluminum full-length internal cable guide tube.  This eliminated the rattle that was prevalent with the Haro Monocoque.

• The UltraBox took the Box Stays that had been designed in 1997 and refined in 1998 to the next level!  The UltraBox's new chainstays were a little sleeker and lighter that those that came on the previous model-year Speed Series frames.  The new chainstays were redesigned for more control, which they in fact provided.

• When compared to the Speed Series frames, the Y2K UltraBox had new state-of-the-art dropouts that actually help increase chain clearance at the seat stays. 

• The new monostay back end was also new for GT in 2000, and it helped to increase brake stiffness on the frame

The UltraBox frame weighed 3 lb. 8 oz. and was sold in 2000 as a frameset that included a black GT Stiletto fork and an anodized black 31.6mm GT micro-adjust seat post.  The frame was available in six different sizes (Expert, Junior, Cruiser, Pro, XL, and XXL) that all sported new race proven geometry - the new super-aggressive geometry featured steeper head tube angles, shorter rear ends, and lower bottom brackets (Source: 2000 GT BMX Catalog, p. 4).  And actually, when GT AA Pro Thomas Allier raced his 2000 GT UltraBox frame for the first time, he won three out of four pro heats in Santa Clara, CA (Source: Sept. 1999 BMX Plus!, p. 8).  Not too shabby :) .

 

 

Complete Frame Geometry - see image below (Source: 2000 GT BMX Catalog):

• HA (Head Tube Angle): 74.0 deg.

• SA (Seat Tube Angle): 70.0 deg.

• TT (Top Tube Length): 21.0 in.

• CS (Chain Stay Length): 14.9 in.

• BB (Bottom Bracket Height): 11.88 in.

• FC (Front Center Distance): 23.16 in.

• WB (Wheel Base Length): 37.86 in.

• SP (Seat Post Size): 31.6 mm

[IMG]http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb370/pharv85/BMX-Bikes/2000-GT-UltraBox-XL/2000-GT-UltraBox_302_2000-GT-Cat_Re-700jpg.jpg[/IMG]

 

 

Proposed Parts List (when I get around to building this f/f into a bike):

 

Frame: 2000 GT Speed Series UltraBox XL (21.0" top tube, 1-1/8" head tube, American bottom bracket, custom 6061-T6 butted/tapered aluminum tubes – made in the U.S.A. by Easton, new Box chainstays and dropouts, oversized head tube, internally and externally CNC-machined head tube and bottom bracket shell, internal full-length aluminum cable guide tube, original 2000 GT Speed Series UltraBox XL decals - the chainstay decals are missing though, ball burnished/black two tone)

Fork: GT Stiletto (butted 1-1/8" threadless Cr-Mo steer tube, Reynolds 531 butted (Manganese-Moly cold-worked steel) 1-1/4” oval blades – keeps the weight down while increasing strength, 35mm of offset - which is all in the dropouts, made purely for racing, new for 1999, chrome plated)

Handlebars: GT Pro bars (chromoly construction, large round cross bar, 27.5" long, about 8.5" rise, stamped "97.08" and "GT 4130 Cr.Mo", chrome plated)

Stem: GT U.S.A.-made Piston XL (1-1/8", threadless, CNC precision machined, about 53mm reach, anodized black)

Headset: Chris King NoThreadSet (1-1/8", threadless, aluminum cups, sealed cartridge-style bearings, USA-made, weight: 110g, anodized black with silver logo)

Headset Cap: Chris King (anodized black)

Grips: GT (black)

Bar Ends: GT (plastic)

Seat: Selle Italia Turbomatic 3 (leather cover with embroidered logos, 7mm "Manganese" (i.e., chromoly) rails, formed plastic shell, 322 grams, stampted "0970s",  made in Italy, yellow/black w/ red/blue)

Seat Post: GT Aluminum Micro Adjust (31.6mm dia., 6061 aluminum, "GT Racing" logo, black anodized)

Seat Post Clamp: integrated into frame (19mm Cr-Mo binder bolt)

Cranks: GT OverDrive (180 mm, U.S.A.-made 4130 chromoly arms, heat treated chromoly spindle, Japanese sealed bearings with aluminum cups and washers, made for GT by Supercross, new for 1999, chrome plated arms)

Chainwheel: GT Overdrive Lite (43T, U.S.A.-made, CNC-machined 6061 aluminum, black/silver)

Chain: KMC (chrome, 1/2 x 3/32")

Chain Tensioners: 1999 GT (CNCd aluminum, U.S.A.-made, black/silver)

Pedals: FPD StingRay (9/16" chromoly axle, aluminum body, double-cage design, replaceable pins, loose ball bearings, black/silver) 

Front Hub: Chris King (36H, 100mm OLD, premium quality sealed needle bearings, 19.5mm steel axle, hex-shaped titanium axle nuts, anodized black aluminum shell)

Rear Hub: Chris King Cassette  (36H, 110mm OLD, RingDrive engagement mechanism, 72 points of engagement, premium quality sealed needle bearings, 16.5mm super-heavy duty steel rear axle, hex-shaped titanium axle nuts, anodized black aluminum shell)

Cog: Chris King (15T, stainless steel)

Rims: Mavic Xx (36H drilling, 406mm x 21mm wide (20" rim), SUP welded joint, UB Control machined brake surface, double eyelets, weight per rim: 390g, MSRP: $49.95 per rim, "Mavic black" color

Spokes: butted stainless steel w/ polished alloy nipples

Tires: GT AA Pro (20 x 2.125" front, 20 x 1.75” rear, Kevlar bead, 120 TPI casing, 60 psi)

Tubes: generic tubes w/ Schrader valve (20" x 1.75-2.125")

Brake Lever: Shimano BL-M600 Servo-Wave Action V-brake (3.0 oz., black body w/ silver blade)

Brakes: Shimano Deore XT V-brake (6.7 oz., silver)

Brake Cable: Shimano (1.6mm thick stainless steel cable, black 5mm thick housing)

Padset: 2000 GT UltraBox handlebar pad (black w/ yellow/blue/red)

 

 

 

Advertisements for the 2000 GT Speed Series UltraBox frame:

 

The First Released Information about the 2000 GT UltraBox Frame (Source: Sept. 1999 BMX Plus!, p. 8):

[IMG]http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb370/pharv85/BMX-Bikes/2000-GT-UltraBox-XL/2000-GT-UltraBox_301_Sept-99-BMX-Plus_Re-700.jpg[/IMG]

 

 

Catalog Picture - 2000 GT Speed Series UltraBox Frame (Source: 2000 GT BMX Catalog):

[IMG]http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb370/pharv85/BMX-Bikes/2000-GT-UltraBox-XL/2000-GT-UltraBox_303_2000-GT-Cat_Re-700jpg.jpg[/IMG]

 

[IMG]http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb370/pharv85/BMX-Bikes/2000-GT-UltraBox-XL/2000-GT-UltraBox_304_2000-GT-Cat_Re-700jpg.jpg[/IMG]

 

[IMG]http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb370/pharv85/BMX-Bikes/2000-GT-UltraBox-XL/2000-GT-UltraBox_305_2000-GT-Cat_Re-700jpg.jpg[/IMG]

 

 

The First 2000 GT UltraBox Advertisement (Source: Dec. 1999 BMX Plus!, pp. 6-7):

[IMG]http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb370/pharv85/BMX-Bikes/2000-GT-UltraBox-XL/2000-GT-UltraBox_306_2000-GT-Cat_Re-700jpg.jpg[/IMG]

 

[IMG]http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb370/pharv85/BMX-Bikes/2000-GT-UltraBox-XL/2000-GT-UltraBox_307_2000-GT-Cat_Re-700jpg.jpg[/IMG]

 

[IMG]http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb370/pharv85/BMX-Bikes/2000-GT-UltraBox-XL/2000-GT-UltraBox_308_2000-GT-Cat_Re-700jpg.jpg[/IMG]

 

 

Other parts that I'd like to buy for this bike include:

• Stem: GT U.S.A.-made Inverted Piston XL (1-1/8", threadless, CNC precision machined, about 53mm reach, anodized black)

• Seat: 1999/2000 GT Dropnose Racing saddle w/ blue and yellow stripe (Spandura cover with embroidered "GT Racing" logo or synthetic lether cover , 7mm Cr-Mo rails, composite gray shell, red "GT" logo on back on seat, made for GT by Viscount)

• Pedals: GT He-man (9/16" Cr-Mo axle, aluminum body with black cages) - I still need to buy these

• Chain Tensioners: 2000 GT UltraBox chain tensioners (CNCd aluminum, U.S.A.-made, anodized black)

• Padset: GT UltraBox padset (top tube, heandlebar, and stem pads, black w/ yellow/blue/red)

• Decals: 2000 GT UltraBox (complete NOS decal set, or reproduction decals if available)

 

And much more to come later, like:

• Detailed pictures of the frame (and parts when I get them),
• More advertisements of the frame and the parts that will be on it, and
• Pictures of this bike being ridden by factory GT riders.

 

I hope you enjoyed!  Lastly, feel free to check out my other bikes too (http://bmxmuseum.com/user/55510/bikes).