Teton Tested: GT’s Hard-Hitting Force X Expert

GT puts it best: “Your day on the bike isn’t about deciding between technical trails or steep ups and downs, it’s about deciding which to do first”. With the Force X Expert, GT aimed to make a true all-mountain bike, and with progressive geometry and GT’s proven AOS suspension design, the result is a sweet ride that stays true to GT’s design philosophy.

GT’s Todd Seplavy developed the C.O.R. (Centered On Rider) philosophy, which factors into a bike’s design not only the terrain it’s built for, but also the lifestyle and needs of the rider that the bike is made for. Through and through, GT is a “by riders, for riders” kind of company.

The Force X Expert after a long day of hard riding. Well, and some soap. Ryan Dunfee photo

Athlete-company partnerships frequently result in mutually beneficial growth, and the time that the Atherton Racing family spent with GT, along with input from Hans “No Way” Rey, seemed to spark some pretty cool changes in GT’s lineup. The Force X is no exception, as it took the Force one step further in its capabilities with the addition of more travel and some component upgrades.

At the heart of GT's AOS suspension design sits the PathLink, which reduces brake jack and chain growth. Ryan Dunfee photo

GT recently redesigned and updated their Independent Drive suspension design with the addition of Angle Optimized Suspension, or AOS for short. The design retains the major benefits of a high-pivot suspension, namely a rearward axle path to help the rear wheel track over obstacles, but its refinements help mitigate chain growth and pedal jack, all while maintaining an active feel and an efficient pedaling platform.

SPECS AND GEOMETRY

27.5" wheels and a 160mm RockShox Pike fork make this bike's intentions clear: shred! Ryan Dunfee photo

The Force X sports 27.5” WTB STP i25 wheels adorned with Continental Mountain King 2.4” tubeless-ready tires. A 160mm RockShox Pike RC fork graces the front end of the bike, while a Marzocchi 053 C2R shock provides 150mm of rear wheel travel. Can someone say "enduro?" You may be surprised to find that GT actually lists the Force X in their all-mountain category, highlighting GT’s gravity addiction. The longer travel Sanction fills out GT's enduro niche.

A mix of Shimano and RaceFace components make up a solid 2x drivetrain that gives you the granny gear to make it to the top of your favorite trail. Ryan Dunfee photo.

A well thought-out mix of Shimano components make up the drivetrain. A Deore front derailleur, a direct-mount XT rear derailleur, and SLX shifters make shifting easy. Shimano SLX brakes with a 203 mm front rotor and 180 mm rear handle stopping duties, making stopping on a dime an absolute breeze when that perfect trailside Insta moment happens.

The crankset is a RaceFace Aeffect with 24/36T range and a bashguard for protective duties. GT gracefully includes a 30-tooth RaceFace Narrow-Wide chainring for those inclined to convert their bike’s drivetrain to a 1x setup right off the bat – winning!

760 mm bars and Shimano SLX stoppers; what else could you want? Ryan Dunfee photo.

The cockpit includes a 760 mm-wide RaceFace Chester handlebar and 40 mm-long RaceFace Chester stem, both featuring a 35 mm clamp diameter for added stiffness and durability. The wonderful KS Lev Integra dropper post rounds out the cockpit.

I tested the GT Force X in a size large, which seems to fit well for riders between 5’9” and 6’2”. At 66.7 degrees, the head angle is on the steeper end of the spectrum for a bike of its travel, but is still firmly within the margin of usable head angles for an AM bike. And at 17.4 inches, the chainstays are bit longer than average. BB height is 13.85 inches and the wheelbase comes in at 47.1 inches, making this bike long and stable. Are these numbers a giveaway of the Force X Expert’s intentions yet?

The Force X OUT ON THE TRAIL

The stiff lockout on the rear shock makes climbing out of the saddle a breeze, as tester and videographer Austin Hopkins demonstrates as he zooms uphil; in Big Sky. Ryan Dunfee photo.

The longer wheelbase doesn’t do the Force X any favors when climbing in tight, twisty terrain, but the 66.7 degree head angle balances things out and keeps the front wheel from wandering wildly on steep climbs. The 73.3 degree seat angle was spot-on and made for a comfortable and stable climbing position that didn’t urge me to lean super far over the front end of the bike to keep the front wheel down on steep climbs.

The rear shock is tucked away to keep the bike's center of gravity super low. Ryan Dunfee photo.

The Marzocchi 053 C2R shock has a hardtail-like climb mode, which is awesome for long fire-road slogs and smooth singletrack, but it comes at the cost of making the bike a bit chattery on technical climbs, but this is easily and quickly remedied with a quick flick of the climb switch.

All in all, the bike climbs well for a bike that’s clearly meant for riders who endure the uphill just to reap the reward of pointing it back downhill, but the downhill-oriented geometry and 33 lb. weight don’t make it a spritely climber.

Tester Jed Donnelly goes big on Big Sky's new Snakecharmer trail, built by Terraflow. Ryan Dunfee photo.

But let’s get down to the real business of the Force X Expert: thrashing downhill. While the uphills were bearable, the downhills were an absolute blast. This bike really comes alive when pointed down fast, steep trails. A low center of gravity afforded by the suspension design, which keeps all the heavy moving parts and rear shock down near the bottom bracket, makes changing directions super quick, making the longer wheelbase all the more manageable.

A low center of gravity means airtime is fun and controlled. Ryan Dunfee photo

At slower speeds, the GT felt a bit hefty and cumbersome, especially in tight corners and while working my way through switchbacks. It also feels a little sluggish when trying to accelerate out of corners or on flat ground. This is more a factor of the bike’s weight than its geometry, which is great because there are several inexpensive upgrades that can shave significant weight off the bike.

The most cost-effective changes that can be made are to set up the tires tubeless, and maybe swapping out the tires for a lighter pair. Converting the drivetrain to a 1x setup with the provided RaceFace Narrow-Wide 30T ring further saves weight, and also reduces clutter on the handlebar after removing the left shifter. And if you have the extra dough, splurging on a lighter wheelset would round out the weight savings beautifully.

MTB Editor at Large Gunnar Waldman pointing it down a classic steep, loose, and dusty Big Sky chute. Ryan Dunfee photo.

That said, I had no problem tossing the Force X Expert around on high-speed downhill and flow trails, and I really enjoyed the bike’s planted feel on rowdy trails that would typically send other bikes packing. The frame is noticeably stiff, which gave me the confidence to throw the bike hard into corners and point the bike down rowdy lines, especially at high speeds. There’s a really nice balance of control and stability right at your fingertips that makes navigating over and around obstacles not only easy, but also fun!

DOWNSIDES

As mentioned before, seeing a lighter wheel/tire combination would really help this bike feel livelier on the trail, and a 1x drivetrain would also shave off weight, but again, GT has you covered by including a narrow-wide chainring with the bike. If you don’t want to give up the easy climbing gears of the 2x setup, the biggest weight saver is going to be an upgrade to a lighter wheelset, for which there are a myriad of options at reasonable prices. Otherwise, the component spec was spot-on and I have no complaints about the bike’s ride quality and aesthetic.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Tester Austin Hopkins couldn't contain his excitement about this bike and was airborne more often than not. Ryan Dunfee photo.

The GT Force X Expert combines awesome geometry and controlled suspension to deliver the ride of a nimble monster truck, if that’s not too much of an oxymoron. It takes a certain type of person to enjoy tossing themselves into rough terrain at high speeds, but if you’re one to favor the downhill portion of your rides but want to make it to the top of the hill with dignity, this might be the bike for you.

With a mid-level component spec highlighted by excellent suspension, the $4340 GT Force X Expert is a bike that will get you firmly into the all-mountain/enduro category without breaking the bank. If this build kit doesn’t appease you, check out GT’s Force X Sport for $2930; or if you’re feeling fancy, the $5420 Force X Carbon Expert. In the end, you’ll be getting GT’s trademark ride quality that emphasizes confidence-inspiring fun.