From our Southern California beginnings in 1972 to today, we continue to remain true to our BMX and mountain bike heritage. GT mixes performance with serious fun to deliver good times everywhere our bikes are ridden. Because after all, Fun is Serious Business.
GT Bicycles inspires a passion for riding by celebrating the brand’s roots in dirt and street culture. Since building GTs first BMX bike in 1972, GT has remained true to sharing the stoke on two wheels which the brand was founded on because, after all, you can’t have Good Times without ‘GT’!
BMX frames of the era just weren’t durable enough. At least not according to Gary Turner. And so, using skills acquired from welding drag racing cars, he created the first GT frame in 1972 for his kid to use on the BMX SoCal race circuit. The frame was a hit.
GT Bicycles was born with a simple vision: to help riders push the envelope of what’s possible on two wheels by creating the most reliable, innovative frames in the business. It was a vision immediately proven in the BMX community, with an overnight cult following on the BMX race circuit.
GT bikes became synonymous with durability and winning, bringing home more BMX race wins and clout than any other bike brand of the era. GT success was not solely found at the track, however, as riders like Bob Morales, Dave Voelker, Josh White, Eddie Fiola, Martin Aparijo, and Dino Deluca began to invent and perfect tricks that progressed the sport on the ground and in the air. As Freestyle evolved so did the bikes, like the iconic Pro Performer.
As BMX freestyle reached the peak of mainstream popularity, GT expanded into the emerging sport of mountain biking. Hans Rey, Juli Furtado, Nicolas Vouilloz, Rishi Grewal and Gerhard Zadrobilek validated GT’s approach with multiple world cup titles and national championships aboard bikes featuring GT’s iconic Triple Triangle®. This nontraditional frame design became a symbol for GT and was recognized as the industry’s most advanced frame design.
Committed to developing the best bikes on the mountain, GT pioneered the development of full-suspension mountain bikes. With frame designs like the RTS and LTS leading a new wave of technological advancements in the industry.
GT introduced our ultra-reliable and efficient i-Drive® suspension to rave reviews. The design proved to be ground-breaking. Period. GT maintained a strong presence both on-and off-road, with pro teams such as Saturn opting for GT road bikes, and gravity racers ripping on the GT LOBO DH.
GT continued to progress forward to produce the world’s first full carbon downhill bike, the Fury, and the world’s first carbon BMX race bike, the UB2. And just like before, the results followed. Brian Lopes became the 2007 4X World Champion. In 2008, Burry Stander became the U23 XC World Champion. In the inaugural Olympics for BMX race, Mike Day took home silver, Jill Kitner, bronze. And the following year, Marc Beaumont won the 2010 Val di Sole World Cup making him the first person to win a UCI World Cup aboard a full carbon DH bike - the Fury.
In 2012, GT welcomed the fastest Gravity family in the world - Gee, Dan and Rachel Atherton – to the GT Factory Racing family. And along with Marc Beaumont, Taylor Vernon and Martin Maes, the team earned over 50 World Cup podiums, 3 World Championships, and 3 World Cup overall titles. Together we GT developed world class products, like the reimagined Sanction and Fury models. In fact, the Fury would see huge success away from the racecourse as well, with GT Wingman Kyle Strait winning his second Red Bull Rampage, the biggest freeride mountain bike event in the world.
The mold is broken and the Grade is born. GT becomes the first brand in the world to commercialize a full carbon, disc brake equipped bike designed specifically for the burgeoning Gravel scene. The revolutionary Grade came loaded with features focused on adventure and comfort over rough surfaces. The flared drop bars and solid glass fibers in the Triple Triangle’s thin seat stays catered to its off-road spirit.
Fan favorites. Following the reinvigoration of the BMX freestyle roster, we also formed a new GT Factory Racing team focused on success and good times, both on and off the bike. The team embraced the desire to bring GT’s passion for the sport into every household around the world, and was instrumental in relaunching a new LTS line of full suspension mountain bikes. Martin Maes piloted the Force then the Fury to back-to-back wins at Enduro World Series and Downhill World Cup events. A world first for the industry and a historical moment for Maes.
- GT Bicycles