GT Pantera Expert

Field Notes: After wrapping up testing on Fat bikes, the GT Pantera Expert was our first ride on a “normal” mountain bike, and despite its relatively fat tires, the ride felt so free and agile – testers were throwing the bike around like it was a toy, and the 2.8” tires stuck in the turns and provided some much-needed extra grip on the slick, damp terrain.

Tester Comment: “When I first started riding, GT was one of the brands I really wanted but couldn’t afford, so when I had the chance to test a Pantera – with that classic Triple Triangle frame – I was pretty stoked. It was a super fun ride and ironically what I was most impressed with was the performance at such an affordable price.”

Pros: The biggest pro for the Pantera is clearly the price point. There are few bikes under $2,000 that we feel can really handle the rigors of true Trail riding, but the Pantera was solid throughout the test. The spec was very solid for the price, and the frame is obviously well built and durable. And the 120mm of front travel combined with the fatter tires made up for the lack of rear suspension on all but the roughest trails.

Cons: The main drawback of the Pantera is definitely the weight: well over 29 pounds is just too heavy when the trail turns upward, especially for a hardtail. Part of the problem is the low-end wheelset – understandably GT had to save some money here – which is not only heavy, but a bit flexy as well. We’re not sure they’d hold up as well as the rest of the bike over years of hard Trail riding. Finally, the fork is a bit bouncy overall, and its small-bump performance is sorely lacking.

Key Attribute: Durability

Bottom Line: The new breed of hardtail 27.5 Plus Trail bikes is gaining a ton of momentum lately, and the GT Pantera Expert is a strong example of an affordable but fully capable rig in the group. While it’s not the cheapest mountain bike you can find, it’s probably among the lowest priced examples of a true Trail-ready bike for serious enthusiasts. It would make an excellent first bike for someone looking to jump in a bit higher than entry level, or someone looking to upgrade from their first rig – but we’d also recommend this as an everyday go-to hardtail for more experienced riders who already have an expensive full-suspension bike. If your trails are flat and smooth – or steep and loose – this is a fun alternative where you can really feel the trail without getting bounced around too much.