GT

Sensor Carbon Pro Complete Mountain Bike - 2015

Eagerly anticipated after the impressive performance of the first-generation Sensor, the 2015 GT Sensor Pro Carbon Complete Bike is the ultimate form of the all-new Sensor platform. Rendered in top-shelf carbon and sporting a revised independent 130mm suspension design riding on 27.5-inch wheels, plus a premium build kit, the Sensor Pro Carbon is a bike that will completely redefine your expectations of mid-travel trail bikes.

The Sensor Pro's frame is a marvel of modern mountain bicycle engineering. First thing to observe is the FOC (or Force Optimized Construction) Ultra carbon itself. The Ultra version of GT's FOC carbon is its most advanced, an ultra-high-modulus weave of premium carbon that's so strong it could be layered almost as thin as a pro-level road bike frame. Relentless testing of different directional carbon layups resulted in the perfect balance of lateral rigidity, impact resilience, and minimal weight. Before it gets painted, the Sensor's chassis is a particularly beautiful thing to behold, its complex carbon structures and weaves revealed and making visible the engineers' attention to detail. On the trail, however, the results speak for themselves — it's one of the most confident, capable, and responsive frames you'll ever ride.

Helping out in this regard is GT's revolutionary Independent Drivetrain suspension platform. The idea of isolating the drivetrain so that it's not affected by suspension movement is nothing new, but GT's approach is, and it works really, really well. The crankset and the rest of the drivetrain make their home entirely on the rear triangle, unlike many designs that put the crank on the mainframe and the rest of the drivetrain parts on the rear triangle. The problem with this is suspension compression that occurs with pedaling force, robbing you of efficiency. It's simpler to build bikes this way but it works. However, you make a sacrifice in responsiveness. Sprinting or out-of-saddle climbing on the Sensor is rewarded with hardtail-like efficiency, not dependent on a shock's damping, yet it's incredibly compliant, and the front half of the bike remains extremely stable even in the hairiest conditions. One spin and you'll see why we love it.

The Sensor Carbon Pro's build kit is top-notch, too, making it easy to enjoy all the aforementioned technology. Shimano's XT drivetrain and hydraulic disc-brakes are industry standards for their reliability, low weight, and the remarkable consistency of their performance. The FOX FLOAT CTD rear shock and 150mm FLOAT CTD FIT fork come equipped with Climb, Trail, and Descend damping modes that are switchable via handlebar-mounted remote for on-the-fly adjustability without taking your eyes off the trail. The tough e.thirteen TRS+ wheelset comes wrapped in 2.4-inch-wide Continental Mountain King tires, for a combo of rolling stock that you can throw at or over anything without thinking twice. The Race Face Turbine cockpit can handle anything the rest of the bike can (which is basically anything) while still keeping weight low, and the RockShox Reverb dropper seatpost is capped with a WTB Silverado Saddle.

The 2015 GT Sensor Carbon Pro Complete Mountain Bike comes in four sizes, from Small to X-Large, and in the color Matte Blue only. Pedals are not included.