We stole GT’s new pre production model of the Dhi and put it through it’s paces in the thick mid-winter Auckland mud. It’s kind of hard to get a good idea of how a bike rides in the mud but hey, I rode it, you didn’t so my opinion’s got to count for something!

The looks aes·thét·içs:
(because we all know that’s what counts)

Well, judge for yourself. Personally, I can’t decide whether this bike is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen or, if it’s actually kind of cool. I definitely think GT have achieved something better than the previous DHi in terms of looks. The overall appearance of the bike is fast, although a little K-Martish.

The Ride per·ƒor´m·ancé:
So I get up to the start line for my first run of the day on a bike I’ve never ridden before, look down at my feet, sunk to the ankles in sloppy Auckland mud, look at the Kenda dry weather tyres on the bike, look back at my feet, look at the tyres and already, I know this isn’t looking good. To add to my problems, the seat post was way to high, after getting some allen keys off a friendly free rider, I discover that the rather long seat post clears the spring by no more than 2mm, so lowering it is out of the question. Hacksaw anyone??

Anyway, enough with the excuses: despite all this and weighing in at a fairly light 36 and a half pounds (about 18kg) the bike felt pretty stable, even in the thick mud at high speed (well, as stable as one can feel is such conditions).

Pedalling: This is where the bike really comes it to its own, as I guess we come to expect from an I-drive based machine. In the flatter sections of the track, as soon as you put the foot down the bike takes off – it’s almost like you’re riding a hardtail, but it’s not slapping about all over the place, loosing traction.

Cornering: Well, by the time I got to the bottom section of the course the tyres were well and truly clogged up, the handle bars were twisted and the derailleur hanger was bent, so… it was hard to really judge how this thing handles.

The Package spéc·i·fi·çâ·tións:

The carbon seat tower gives the bike a real racey look (again, important) and helps it shave a couple of pounds, allowing the rest of the frame to be really butty and tough and I’m sure when all the bolts are done up tightly, the bars will stay straight when riding too!

As you’d expect with any high end GT bike, the componentary is all high spec – SRAM X0 throughout, Boxxer air forks, Avid Jucy Brakes, Easton bars n bits, Saint Cranks, Sun wheel set, don’t think you can ever beat an MRP for a reliable chain guide, but the e-thirteen is pretty good and low resistance when it comes to pedalling. I would just question the tiny little rotor at the back for suitability once you start riding more technically challenging, high speed stuff, but who knows, this may change in the production version.

Overall su`m·má·r´y:

A nice bike, again, decide for yourself on the looks, definitely hot in white. Rides well, especially if you plan on pedalling a lot. This would definitely be the pick for the next woodhill dh massif (FYI: if you don’t come from Auckland, there are no actual DOWNhills at woodhill).