GT’s Pantera uses plus-size tyres to amp up the float and fun. While the narrow handlebar and weak brakes can be replaced, the American brand has missed a trick by not providing internal routing for a future dropper post upgrade.
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Specifications
- Frame: Hydroformed 6061-T6 aluminium
- Fork: RockShox Revelation RL, 120mm (4.7in) travel
- Cranks: Shimano SLX with FSA Comet
- Rear Mech: Shimano Deore XT
- Cassette: SunRace CSMS8 cassette e*thirteen TRSr chain guide (1x11)
- Wheelset: All Terra DB-X40 rims on All Terra Boost hubs
- Tyres: Schwalbe Rocket Ron Performance 27.5x2.8in
- Brakes: Shimano M365, 160mm rotors
- Bar: All Terra, 710mm
- Stems: All Terra, 70mm
- Seatpost: All Terra rigid
- Saddle: WTB Silverado
- Weight: 13.16kg (29.01lb), large size without pedals
There’s a lot to like about the Pantera frame. The front end is low so the 2.8in tyres don’t raise the bar too high (as long as you remove the generous stack of stem spacers), and the 455mm reach on the large size gives plenty of breathing space and decent stability in the mainframe.
With a 440mm back end to give plenty of room around the big rear tyre, the GT is naturally grounded and grippy rather than a manualling maniac.
The 68.5-degree head angle is designed to keep the steering keen despite the extra tyre bulk, rather than throwing the front wheel way ahead for maximum aggro attitude.
GT’s decision to spec a RockShox Revelation fork makes sense
The versatile nature of the Pantera is underlined by its full set of rear rack mounts. Its Shimano shifting is kept sharp by a direct-mount rear mech at the end of completely sealed cables that are bolt-clamped under the down tube for easy switching.
While hot-and-hard speed fiends will be pleased to see two sets of bottle cage bosses, we think riders attracted to the added grip and flow of plus bikes would much rather be able to fit an internally routed dropper post, but with no cable/hose exit point that’s not an option. (You could still fit an external dropper, though.)
The components
GT’s decision to spec a RockShox Revelation fork, not the Yari we see on a lot of bikes in this category, makes sense, because it’s lighter and still stiff enough to handle 120mm of travel on a responsive rather than radical hardtail.
The FSA cranks get a smaller than average chainring to offset the larger tyre diameter but the 2.8in Schwalbe Rocket Ron rubber is fast-rolling anyway.
We’d prefer a bigger bar for ‘power steering’ control, and the cheap, wooden-feeling Shimano brakes would definitely benefit from a larger front rotor, if not a complete upgrade to something more powerful and communicative.
The ride
If it sounds like we’re being slightly harsh at a price point where things are rarely perfect, it’s because the basic ride of the Pantera is excellent and it deserves to fulfil its potential.
The tyres blow up nice and fat and floated on the 40mm rims, and while the ‘Performance’ rubber compound is super-slippery in the wet, they roll very quickly, especially on the kind of rooty, rubbly and rippled terrain that makes up most natural trails.
GT’s ‘Triple Triangle’ frame design underlines that, with a similarly smooth but swift character that loves to be raced between the trees and doesn’t mind an extended climb or the occasional drop either.
With a 740/750mm bar and shorter stem swapped in, the Pantera feels on point for steep, techy climbing or swift dispatch of swerving singletrack to make the most of that plus tyre float and speed sustain.
It definitely needs at least a bigger brake rotor for confident descending, though, and we lost count of the number of times we waved our thumb hopefully at where we wanted a remote dropper post lever to be.
Early verdict
The GT Pantera Expert is an enjoyable XC/trail hardtail that needs a bigger bar, better brakes and internal dropper compatibility.
