$3299

33.4 pounds

6 inches of rear wheel travel

Full test: June 2008 (Click here to order this issue)

Highlights: A current trend is for mountain bike manufacturers to develop longer travel designs that still pedal efficiently. Thanks to improvements in shock technology and suspension designs, riders are now able to work their way uphill aboard bikes with more sophisticated suspension than an elite World Cup downhill rig had just a decade ago. As with any new segment in the sport, bike makers, big and small, have their own take on how they should be built up with components. GT set out to define this six-inch-travel, all-mountain category with two bikes, the Force and the Sanction.

Best quote: "The Sanction 1 has enough nimble trailbike movements to make tight switchbacks, but when the terrain turns technical you can choose your own adventure. With the Sanction's handling, you can either maneuver around rocks and roots at speed or let the six-inches of suspension earn its paycheck and charge!"

Bottom line: For riders who've been on the fence about going up in travel, GT offers two long-travel, all-mountain designs that could help you make a head-to-head comparison to find what's best for your riding style. The Sanction we tested delivers black-diamond terrain burliness with the pedaling performance of a long-travel trailbike. The high-end component spec offers proven reliability, impressive tuning options and durability. If your ideal bike is just as at home on super-technical terrain as it is meandering back-country switchbacks, the Sanction is for you. We believe the Sanction is at home among the world's top mountain bike parks as it is on GT's backyard trails in Southern California.