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GT Makes First US Made Bike In 20 Years Via Gary & Craig Turner

YO!! GT Bicycles has released a limited edition of the classic 1979 26” BMX Cruiser frame set! But wait it gets better. GT partnered up with the brand’s founder, Gary Turner and his son Craig for the build. How awesome is that?!?!. But it get’s even better. This will be the first time in over 20 years that GT Bicycles will make an America made frame. Talk about coming full circle, this is awesome news!

GT 1979 pack

Press Release:

GT Bicycles, a premium brand of Dorel Industries, Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A) today released a modern version of the iconic 1979 26” BMX Cruiser frame set to celebrate the brand’s new partnership with original GT Bicycles founder Gary Turner and his son Craig.

gary and craig turner
Gary and Craig Turner

After reconnecting with GT in 2017, plans around a reunion project began brewing. “GT has been a part of our family since I was five years-old,” said Craig Turner. “Partnering with the company again is really exciting.”

1979 26” BMX Gt Cruiser

Only 100 limited edition frame, fork, seat post and handlebar sets of the original 1979 26” BMX Cruiser design will be produced. The new frame sets will be the first GT Bicycles made in the United States in almost 20 years. They will be built in the Turner’s workshop in Orange, California, not far from where it all began. The frame sets will be designed with the same 1 1/4” toptube and down tube outer diameter as well as an American bottom bracket, and 5/8” thick chain stays.  The dropouts will be beefed up from the original 1/8” to 3/16” for added strength.  The head tube will be updated from 1” to 1 1/8” to accommodate modern headsets and forks. 

gary turner, gt drop out

In the early 1970s, while BMX was still in its infancy, kids would race their bikes on the big dirt tracks of Southern California between motocross races. The bikes produced by leading companies of the day were heavy, slow, and fragile. Gary Turner took notice and decided to change this. A professional drag racer, Gary had experience welding and building cro-mo chassis for dragsters. In 1972, using the same high-grade aircraft cro-moly used for dragsters, Turner designed his first purpose-built BMX bike for his son Craig to race at the motocross track. People began to take notice, including shop owner Richard Long, and together, the two teamed up to start GT Bicycles producing some of the best BMX and mountain bikes on the market, including the 26” BMX Cruiser of which less the 100 were made due to the on-set of 24” wheels in 1980 setting the trend for the future.

1979 gt BMX reunion cruiser

“BMX and GT became passions (and remain passions) once I started taking my son to the track more than 45 years ago,” added Gary Turner. “It’s exciting to see my son Craig developing and building frames and forks like I did back in the day, and we’re looking forward to doing this with GT.”

“This is a special partnership celebrating the accomplishments of my father and Richard Long and the lasting impression they’ve left on GT Bicycles,” noted Craig.

gary turner

When asked what made, and continues to make, the BMX cruiser so popular among riders Craig believes “It’s the camaraderie of BMX. It’s for the people that used to race back in the day, you don’t have to gear up and go to the BMX racetrack and race, you just get out and pedal. Now, everyone meets up, goes out and has fun. This bike is perfect for that.”

GT 1979 reunion collection

The frame sets will retail for $899. Those who purchase the frameset will also receive a custom GT Flite pad set, GT t-shirt, decal, hat and keychain. The frames will be available in four colors: yellow, black, candy blue and candy red.  For more information on the limited edition 26” BMX Cruiser visit www.GT1972.com and www.gtbicycles.com/reunion. Check out GT Bicycles on InstagramYouTubeFacebook, and Twitter. ~GT Bicycles

1979 GT 26inch candy red

Specs:

FRAME: GT 26” Cruiser Design, 22.70” TT, 100% 4130 Cr-Mo, American BB,
Seat Stay V-Brake,Standard 1-1/8” HT, 1” Seat Post, 3/8” Dropouts,
2.2” Tire Clearance 22.7
FORK: GT 26” Cruiser Design, 100% 4130 Cr-Mo, 1-1/8” Steerer,
3/8” Dropouts
SEATPOST: 1” Alloy Polished, 13.80” Long
HANDLEBAR: GT 2pc. Cruiser Design, 100% 4130 Cr-Mo, 7.5” Rise, 29” Wide,
1° Up Sweep, 11° Back Sweep, .875” Diameter Main Tubing w/
.750” Diameter Cross Bar

1979 GT BMX seat stay

Top Tube Length: 22.7”
Rear End Length: 18”
Head Tube Angle: 71°
Seat Tube Angle: 68°
Seatpost: 1”
Head Tube: 1 1/8”
BB: American

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