New GT Sensor shaves 600g with carbon seatstays

Trail bike comes in standard and short-travel versions for a playful and responsive ride

By Nick Clark

Published: Tuesday, 25 April 2023 at 12:00 am

GT has announced its new Sensor trail bike line-up, with updated geometry, internal cable routing and refreshed Linkage Tuned suspension.

The trail bike will be available in two variations, the Sensor and Sensor ST.

The Sensor is available with a carbon frame that has 140mm of travel, paired with a 150mm fork; or an aluminium frame with 130mm of rear travel and a 140mm fork. All models feature 29in wheels.

The range starts at £2,200/$2,300 for the GT Sensor Sport, with the carbon-framed Sensor Carbon Elite starting at £3,400/$3,800.

GT says the Sensor ST has progressive geometry and is aimed at anyone who considers themselves an “all-day adventurer” or “anyone looking for a playful and responsive ride”. It has 120mm of rear suspension and a 140mm suspension fork.

The GT Sensor ST is only available with a carbon frame and starts at £3,350/$3,900 for the Elite-level build, with the top-level Pro priced at £4,000/$5,000.

Carbon seatstays and no flip chip

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Unlike the previous model, the rear end now features carbon seatstays.
GT

GT says the Sensor’s carbon frame is 600g lighter than before, with the trail bike now featuring carbon seatstays and a redesigned front triangle.

The bike still features aluminium chainstays, with full-length rubberised protectors said to minimise chain noise when descending.

The outgoing GT Sensor featured a flip chip, which enabled you to adjust the bike’s head angle and bottom bracket height, though it appears to have been removed from the new framesets.

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Cables are routed internally on the carbon frame.
GT

The new carbon frame features ‘tube-in-tube’ internal cable routing, which is said to ease the routing of cables because the ports are connected through the frame.

All models feature a rubber frame protector to keep the down tube damage-free when sliding over rocks.

The new Sensor frames now feature SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger, making them compatible with SRAM’s new T-Type Transmission.

Geometry variations

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The carbon-framed bikes feature 140mm of rear travel.
GT

Unlike the previous model, the new GT Sensor has different travel depending on the frame material.

The carbon bike features a slacker head angle of 65 degrees compared to the 65.5 degrees found on the aluminium model, which stays the same as the previous generation.

All bikes see an increase in reach measurement, with the carbon frame rising by 100mm to 455mm and the aluminium frame 50mm to 450mm for a medium-sized frameset.

GT Sensor carbon frame geometry

SMLXL
Seat tube length (mm)380400420460
Top tube horizontal (mm)574601628666
Top tube actual (mm)542565591623
Head tube angle (degrees)65656565
Seat tube angle (degrees)77777777
Standover (mm)715725735745
Head tube length (mm)110120130140
Wheelbase (mm)1,1911,2211,2501,289
Front center (mm)754783812851
Chainstay length (mm)440440440440
Bottom bracket drop (mm)36363636
Bottom bracket height (mm)344344344344
Fork rake (degrees)44444444
Stack (mm)624633642651
Reach (mm)430455480515
Travel front (mm)150150150150
Travel rear (mm)140140140140

GT Sensor alloy frame geometry

SMLXL
Seat tube length (mm)395420445460
Top tube horizontal (mm)551579607646
Top tube actual (mm)522547573609
Head tube angle (degrees)65.565.565.565.5
Seat tube angle (degrees)77.577.577.577.5
Standover (mm)740740745755
Head tube length (mm)110120130140
Wheelbase (mm)1,1761,2051,2341,273
Front center (mm)738767797836
Chainstay length (mm)440440440440
Bottom bracket drop (mm)35353535
Bottom bracket height (mm)345345345345
Fork rake (degrees)44444444
Stack (mm)615624633642
Reach (mm)425450475510
Travel front (mm)140140140140
Travel rear (mm)130130130130

GT Sensor ST carbon frame geometry

SMLXL
Seat tube length (mm)380400420460
Top tube horizontal (mm)573600627664
Top tube actual (mm)542565591623
Head tube angle (degrees)65.465.465.465.4
Seat tube angle (degrees)77.477.477.477.4
Standover (mm)715725735745
Head tube length (mm)110120130140
Wheelbase (mm)1,1871,2161,2461,285
Front center (mm)750779808848
Chainstay length (mm)440440440440
Bottom bracket drop (mm)39393939
Bottom bracket height (mm)340340340340
Fork rake (degrees)44444444
Trail (mm)125125125125
Stack (mm)621629638647
Reach (mm)435460485520
Travel front (mm)140140140140
Travel rear (mm)120120120120

GT Sensor ST Carbon

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The GT Sensor is aimed at trail and downcountry riding.
GT

GT says the Sensor ST Carbon is tailored to riders who are looking for a playful and responsive ride.

At 120mm, the bike has 10mm less rear travel than the standard Sensor. This is said to increase efficiency, responsiveness and agility.

GT says the bike’s Linkage Tuned Suspension has been “remixed” to prioritise pedalling.

The bike’s geometry differs from the standard Sensor ST, too. It features a head angle of 65.4 degrees, with a longer reach of 460mm compared to the Sensor Carbon.

It also features a steeper seat tube angle of 77.4 degrees, which should keep your weight further over the cranks to assist in climbing.

GT Sensor spec and pricing

GT Sensor Sport

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The entry-level bike comes specced with a GT DropKick dropper post.
GT
  • Fork: RockShox Recon Silver, 140mm
  • Shock: X-Fusion 02 Pro RL
  • Drivetrain: Microshift Advent X
  • Brakes: Tektro M275
  • Wheels: WTB STX i25 (rims), Formula (hubs)
  • Tyres: WTB Breakout
  • Price: £2,200/$2,300

GT Sensor Comp

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The Comp build comes with upgraded suspension in the form of a Fox shock and Marzocchi forks.
GT
  • Fork: Marzocchi Bomber Z2, 140mm
  • Shock: Fox DPS Performance
  • Drivetrain: SRAM SX Eagle
  • Brakes: Tektro M745
  • Wheels: WTB ST i30 (rims), Formula (hubs)
  • Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF (front), Maxxis Dissector (rear)
  • Price: £2,500/$2,600

GT Sensor Carbon Elite

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The Sensor Carbon Elite features a coil shock.
GT
  • Fork: Marzocchi Bomber Z2, 150mm
  • Shock: Marzocchi Bomber CR Coil
  • Drivetrain: SRAM SX Eagle
  • Brakes: TRP Slate T4
  • Wheels: WTB ST i30 (rims), Formula (hubs)
  • Tyres: Continental Kryptotal
  • Price: £3,400/$3,800

GT Sensor Carbon Pro

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The Sensor Pro rolls on Continental rubber.
GT
  • Fork: RockShox Lyrik Select +, 150mm
  • Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select +
  • Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle
  • Brakes: SRAM Code R
  • Wheels: WTB KOM Trail i30 (rims), Formula (hubs)
  • Tyres: Continental Kryptotal
  • Price: £4,200/$4,950

GT Sensor Carbon Pro LE

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The top-end Pro LE model features a Lyrik fork and SRAM’s X01 groupset.
GT
  • Fork: RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, 150mm
  • Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
  • Drivetrain: SRAM X01 Eagle
  • Brakes: SRAM Code RSC
  • Wheels: WTB KOM Trail i30 (rims), Formula (hubs)
  • Tyres: Continental Kryptotal
  • Price: £5,000/$5,750

GT Sensor ST Carbon Elite

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GT has updated its logo, with the Sensor being the first bike to sport the redesign.
GT
  • Fork: Marzocchi Bomber Z2, 140mm
  • Shock: Fox DPS Performance
  • Drivetrain: SRAM SX Eagle
  • Brakes: SRAM Guide T
  • Wheels: WTB ST i25 (rims), Formula (hubs)
  • Tyres: Maxxis Dissector (front), Maxxis Rekon (rear)
  • Price: £3,350/$3,900

GT Sensor ST Carbon Pro

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The Sensor ST Pro features a RockShox Pike fork and Deluxe Select + rear shock.
GT
  • Fork: RockShox Pike Select +, 150mm
  • Shock: RockShox Super Deluxe Select +
  • Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle
  • Brakes: SRAM G2 RSC
  • Wheels: WTB KOM Trail i27 (rims), Formula (hubs)
  • Tyres: Maxxis Dissector (front), Maxxis Rekon (rear)
  • Price: £4,000/$5,000