GT El Centro
The 2009 GT El Centro is a BMX for both flat and competition ramps, many experienced riders are grabbing the standard from stores and stripping it down to make a lighter custom. It is not the lightest of BMXs, but it is not the heaviest either. It is smooth on the flats and has a great gear setting, the crank is good and solid, and it does not make much noise. It is not too dissimilar to the GT Calafia in style, but the specs are quite different. Overall a good bike unstrapped for a flat rider, but take it into dirt or on the boards and you will certainly need to make a few tune ups.
Specs – The frame is very solid, nothing wrong with the 2008 design I guess why it was not changed, all the tubes are Chromoly with the machined headtube, 5mmT. Dropouts and handy welded on GYRO cable guides. The forks are the 2008 GT dirt/street design again in full Chromoly and small dropouts. Tange make the headset with the threadless Tange Seiki FATTY 22.
The brakes are Tektro 907-A coil spring with a single anchor bolt and melt forged aluminum U-brake. Also on set on the handlebars is the Tektro 273A lever made in aluminum with a hinged clamp. Alienation PBR hubs in toughened aluminum make up the front and rear wheels, set with nice chunky looking Kendra Kiniption 2.1" tires.
Conclusion – It deserves to be recognized as a good achievement by the designers at GT, for too long now the bikes have been a little on the same old same old every year. Well things changed this year and the El Centro certainly came a long way – you have got to love the cherry color frame!
GT BMX Bikes available now on Ebay:
