BMXMUSEUM.com Forums

2Fresh · RSS feed for topic

1993 GT Pro Freestyle Tour

Built by Timo "2Fresh" in Helsinki, Finland in march 2007. Special thanks to Mats Holmqvist for donating this frame to my collection!

I got this frame two years ago from my old friend/riding buddy who i used to ride with in the early 90's. He was cleaning up their apartment and had decided to get rid of most his old BMX stuff and kindly gave this frame to me along with a beat up/repaired '92 Master frame. This GT frame was missing the original forks and had been rewelded at both rear drop outs but is otherwise in great used condition and makes for a great daily rider. This frame is originally Martti Kuoppa's old frame who then sold it to Mats, who then gave it me so it has seen a lot in its lifetime!
I used all my "leftover" parts for this build to keep the budget at minimum. I never liked the factory stock looks on the early 90's GT freestylers anyway, so i went for the early 90's "hardcore flatlander" type of looks with mixed and matched selection of parts. It was a natural choice for me than trying to set it up with stock GT parts cause most of us rode with mixed parts anyway back then.
This was the last GT Pro Freestyle Tour with dual ("S") bend downtube. There's no U-brake studs, instead there's just a square piece of tube between chainstay tubes for mounting a Pitbull or similiar centerpull brake. The rear Altenburger Concorde centerpull brake i'm using right now, is taken from and old Peugeot 10-speed bike my Father used to have, thanks so much! It functions amazingly well, almost better than some of my bikes with actual u-brakes.
Chainstay length is "fixed" meaning there's no need for chain tensioners, thanks to a half-link. The Profile inverted Pro XL stem was replaced shortly after taking the photos to a TNT inverted stem for lowering the handlebar position a bit for better handling on flatland maneuvers.
The bike feels great, just like i remembered they would. The angles are classic functional and the frame alone looks cool like any dual bend downtube GT's. If there's anything i don't particularly like that much, it's the frame's height around the seat tube/platform area and the long-ish rear triangle which makes the front end "heavier" and shorter, and rear wheel tricks harder to balance. Overall it's a great rider especially for flatland, but way too short for streets/ramps/trails in today's standards.
I still can't understand though, why GT discontinued putting u-brake studs in their bikes at the time? Centerpulls/Pitbull work pretty well with chrome rims combined with quality brake pads, but with any silver rims they're more less nightmare regardless what pads you're using.
Parts & specs:
* Frame[i]: 1993 GT Pro Freestyle Tour (Martti Kuoppa's actual old frame)

* Serial#: FS 04931181
* Fork: Diamond Back 1" threaded (taken from a '96 Diamond Back Venom)

* Handlebars: Peregrine Q-Bar 28"
* Bar ends: homemade
* Stem: currently TNT inverted (pictures however show inverted Profile Pro XL)
* Grips: ODI Longneck ST x2 sets
* Seatpost: Dyno Drainpipe (chopped for optimum amount of layback)
* Seat: Velo Aerolite (dyed pink)
* Seatpost clamp: GT single bolt w/wing logo

* Brake levers: Dia-Compe Tech-77 w/locking buttons
* Front brake/pads: Odyssey 2001 class w/dyed Odyssey pads
* Rear brake/pads: Altenburger Concorde centerpull w/dyed Odyssey pads
* Gyro: Odyssey 1" (stock pink)
* Gyro cable upper: Odyssey custom cut w/G-Sport Nipple Clamp
* Gyro cable lower: Odyssey (dyed)
* Headset: Tioga MX-2
* Cranks: 1pc 175mm Cro-Mo
* Pedals: Victor VP-300 plastic body
* Chainwheel: Tioga CR-1 chain ring w/RE Racing power disc, generic fixing bolts
* Bottom bracket: Tioga 24T
* Chain: Hutch/Hi-Caliber by Izumi ½ x 1/8"
* Cog: 14T
* Rims: silver Peregrine/Ukai HP-48s aluminum
* Front hub: Sovos 48H sealed, 3/8" axle
* Rear hub: Peregrine SFC-48S freecoaster (Internals by Shimano) 48H 3/8"
* Spokes: 183mm
* Pegs: Voxom "Street Tubes" 115mm X 32mm with added grip tape
* Tires: Kenda K-154 20 x 1.75 slicks
* Tubes: Kenda
[/i]

Fresh Updates:

* Currently the bike's partially dismantled and waiting to be rebuilt.
Stay tuned... (but don't hold your breath) this will take a while.

Last edited by 2Fresh (2008-02-29 3:22am)

CKilger12 · 2007-03-19 11:41am

it can be a 91 too....what the serial number i can tell you the year...,y theory on the U-brake mounts is that GT had deal with odyssey to use the pitbull...cause my 93 is U-brake free to...I use a pitbull and love it

Last edited by CKilger12 (2007-03-19 11:44am)

2Fresh · 2007-03-19 12:17pm

The serial# is FS "04931181"
My friend bought this bike in late '92 and with the research i've done looking at the GT ads of the time, im 95% positive that it's an late '92 to early '93 GT.
1991 Models didn't have the kind of square tube between the chainstay tubes like this one does. This bike came with Odyssey Pibulls factory mounted on chainstays, but i have replaced it with Altenburger Concorde centerpull for better looks.

Thanks

CKilger12 · 2007-03-19 12:46pm

its a 93 same as mine.............april of 93........i love how the pitbull looks....my bad ur right the 91 didnt have the lower mounting spot and cable routing thru the post...i had a 91 and the brake was mounted on the seat stays.....its all comming back to me

Last edited by CKilger12 (2007-03-19 12:47pm)

Duke 01 · 2007-03-19 1:05pm

Nice rider

I have years to see someone riding these frames on everyday basis...

CKilger12 · 2007-03-19 1:26pm

As soon as the weather breaks it will be my daily

2Fresh · 2007-03-19 3:16pm

Here's from few days ago, the first warm/dry days:

-Timo

Duke 01 · 2007-03-19 3:19pm

Nice riding stuff there...!

PFT back in action...

2Fresh · 2007-03-19 3:56pm

Thanks!! It felt really good to ride after the long dull winter. Fun indeed.
I was browsing my archives and found the late 1992 ad:

raul · 2007-03-19 4:24pm

Hey Timo,

Beautiful build, as usual.

So this seat is from a '92 Team model? Do you remember it if came on any other models during those years?

Duke 01 · 2007-03-19 4:26pm

Should be on the Slammer, if i'm not mistaken

_________________________________________________________-

I'm not....there was also on the Pro series, take a look here:

http://www.bmxmuseum.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=10055

Last edited by Duke 01 (2007-03-19 4:32pm)

AGUILAR3 · 2007-03-19 8:21pm

raul wrote:
Hey Timo,

Beautiful build, as usual.

So this seat is from a '92 Team model? Do you remember it if came on any other models during those years?

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b6/el … /seat1.jpg

My 96 and 94 have that exact same seat!!

2Fresh · 2007-03-20 3:27am

Raul, that GT seat came on '92 and '93 GT Pro Series/Pro Series Team, GT Pro Freestyle Tour Team and Dyno Slammer Team that i know of and was featured few years after that too. At one point it seemed like it was the only seat of choice everywhere, as it was one of the first seats that had paddings at the time. Primo introduced the Steroid around mid'90s, might have been a bit earlier, can't remember anymore.

Thanks!

-T

djpowertones · 2007-05-16 11:37am

Very interested in Buying let me know if you want to put a price on it!

DemonGT · 2007-05-16 11:52am

the last year of the pro freestyle with double bend down tube was 94...that frame could be a 93 or 94. those two years the frames were the same

the picture 2Fresh posted of the GT catalog is not 1992 its 1993 catalog

so if your freind bought it in late 92 and from looking at the serial id have to say its most likely a 1993

Last edited by DemonGT (2007-05-16 11:54am)

2Fresh · 2007-06-26 10:22am

Powertones, thanks but it's not for sale, sorry.

Demon GT, Actually that ad i posted was taken from late 92 BMX Plus (nov/dec if i remember correct, i can check that if needed).
But yeah, the serial and everything else indicates the bike is definitely 1993.

DemonGT · 2007-06-26 11:10am

those are the pics of the pro freestyle from the 93 cataloge....gt might of used it for a ad?

2Fresh · 2007-06-27 12:59am

Take it easy bro, i believe you that the pics are from the GT '93 catalog, sheesh.

That's exactly what i tried to say, that they ALSO used those pics in their ads in october, november and december 1992 issues of BMX Plus. Don't believe me? See those issues for yourself.
It wasn't unusual for a bike company to advertise '93 line of bikes in late '92 magazine.

As for when my friend got the bike, i have no good memory of that but it was more likely in early '93 than late '92.

End of story.

Last edited by 2Fresh (2007-06-27 1:05am)

DemonGT · 2007-06-27 12:56pm

i believe you 2Fresh, just confused me for a moment

how good dose that freecoaster work?

Last edited by DemonGT (2007-06-27 12:57pm)

Mats Holmqvist · 2008-07-29 12:06pm

Sh*t man, my old frame made it into a museum! I am honored, it's looking better than ever. I bought the frame from none other than Martti Kuoppa. And, l want to stress, I didn't clear my house from all bmx stuff - I still have my ´95 Big Daddy!

2Fresh · 2008-07-31 6:18am

MATS!! Holy cow i'm stunned - Awesome to see you posting here.

Right folks, so there we have the comments from OG owner of the GT frame, i had no idea.
I am honored.

The bike is undergoing a few updates as we speak. There is going to be chrome 48s and some minor changes in the parts dept. Watch out.

Again,

KIITOS MATS
Mä kysyin itseasiassa joskus Martilta tosta rungosta että onkse sen, muttei se muistanu. Hyvä että sä muistit nimittäin se on mielenkiintonen yksityiskohta. Pitää kertoo Maralle, se ei tuu pystyyn olee. haha Lähe ajaan joku päivä meikku, ruohis tms. nyt kun on viel kesää.

-Timo

Gtcompe · 2008-10-04 8:11am

damn! that color combo is killer,
i like how the light blue and pink go with the chrome!

mazoner · 2008-10-04 9:33am

nice bike

and im loving the rhyme syndicate t shirt your wearing in the last riding pic ...

classic material!

polanco · 2008-10-04 9:40am

timo,once again,awesome build!can I ride it?looks fun!would have been cool to see martti riding a gt!to chip in on the early 90's gt paraphernalia,the s bend frame from 94 actually had 990 mounts,on top of the chainstays,that was the last s bend,but it's all the same,87's still rule!seriously though,these were cool,and steeper,but the 87 had soul...the padded seat came out in 91 as both the seat on the agressosr team,pft team and pro series team,and as an aftermarket item,and was used until 94,in 95,the dropnose padded gt seat came out,but the older one was stronger,albeit heavy.I believe gt quit using 990's in 89(although my 1990 gt had 990s)because they noticed that the casual consumer couldnt deal with the 990's and most 87/88 bikes ended up with useless brakes,as I remember seeing a lot of pro compes,masters,mongoose decades and pft's with lousy or nonfunctioning brakes.this decision sucked for the rider,but was better for the casual consumer who made the gross sales fo all these bikes.cool pics timo!moi!and,welcome,mats!

2Fresh · 2008-10-05 12:56pm

GT compe & Mazoner, thanks guys!
Heya Polanco thanks man. Let me dig out a pic of Martti on the GT.. hold on..

Ok, this is all i could find and they're not that good quality because they are just screenshots from old video tapes. No photos from that time period, just video clips but here ya go. Martti riding the GT in question back in 1992 during Lame Bike Video 2 filmings.

Here's screenshot of the same GT once it ended up to Mats. I think this footage is from 1995 (?) and the rider in this shot is well, obviously Mats.