GT Bikes
Bike PicturesGT Bicycles simply known as GT Bikes is one of the largest manufacturers of BMX, road and mountain bikes around. The company was established in the year 1979 through a collaboration by Richard Long, a bike shop owner and Gary Turner, a welding engineer.
The company was originally formed as a BMX bicycle manufacturer and today, it’s one of the world’s all around largest bicycle manufacturers, making bikes in various categories. Though the company was officially established in 1979, the production process was already started in early 1970s. During this time Turner used to build frames for his son, who began participating in bicycle motocross (BMX) events, as the bikes used then for racing purpose were heavy and fragile, making it harder for the riders to go airbourne and show off new stunts.
Using his experience in the race industry, Turner designed the frames utilising chro-moly metal, which was used in the chassis and frames of cars for extra strength. He also tubed the bars to make them lighter whilst using less metal and as a result his frames became popular all over southern California, as a result he started manufacturing frames for other racers as well.
Seeing the overwhelming response to Turner’s frames, a bike shop owner, Richard Long approached Turner to ask him, if he can become a GT Bicycles, which lead to the start of a new partnership between the two in 1974.
In July 1996, Richard Long was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident while he was on his way to NORBA Championships in Big Bear. However, the company has managed to maintain the top positions in the racing world, especially in BMX events, and in product sales as well.
GT Bikes currently has four company maintained teams competing in BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, Mountain biking and Road Racing event and one Co-Factory team founded in 2008 composed of racers from across the USA representing the GT Bicycle retailers.
