GT VERB EXPERT 27.5 TEST
We at Mountain Bike Action test our fair share of superbike—bikes that are built from the fanciest composites, come with top-of-the-line components and are spec’d with the most sophisticated suspension designs. With those bikes we typically know right from the first pedal stroke they will be high-performance machines; however, it is rare that we find a bike that brings this kind of performance to the table without also breaking the bank. Enter the GT Verb. GT has put its 30 years of design expertise into creating a machine that’s not only attractively priced but also ticks the most important boxes when it comes to performance.
WHO IS IT MADE FOR?
In the sub-$2000 category there are several options for riders—from capable hardtails to full-suspension bikes. The Verb is intended to deliver a solid suspension platform for trail riders without giving up much in component spec.
The geometry is very cross-country-friendly, with a short-travel feel that is equally capable of handling climbing and descending. The bike is delightfully in the middle when it comes to intended use and could easily be pushed into some long all-mountain trail rides or even some novice-level cross-country racing.
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?
It’s been around the block: GT has been using their Independent Drivetrain for several years and has carried over that technology into the Verb. The rear linkage has a unique look and uses oversized bearings at the connection points.
GT has been building bikes with its patented iDrive rear suspension for 17 years—a design that’s proven to be plush, ultra reliable and efficient. The Verb uses this established platform in combination with an aluminum frame and rear triangle. The main triangle has a tapered head tube and somewhat progressive geometry with a 69.5-degree head angle. GT chose to route the cables externally and use a threaded bottom bracket.
The Verb offers 120 millimeters of travel with 27.5-inch wheels, affirming its place in the cross-country/light trailbike category. The Verb uses simple quick-release axles in the front and rear, which makes flat tire changes a little easier for novices.
WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?
Proven through the ages: Shimano Deore is one of the most reliable component kits on the trail right now with a reputation of quality performance. The Verb Expert comes with a full Shimano Deore build and mid-level brakes that add to the overall performance.
The Verb is all about delivering value, and we can’t think of a better drivetrain for this purpose than the Deore. This work-horse group from Shimano has a solid reputation for being able to perform efficiently and feel crisp, powerful and precise. In fact we’d be willing to bet that some riders, if blindfolded, would not even feel a difference between this drivetrain and a top-of-the-line XTR build. It’s that good. During our testing the Deore worked effectively and added to the value of the Verb.
Quite the shocker: X-Fusion suspension may not be as well known as Fox or RockShox, but we were pleasantly surprised with the Pro RL shock’s performance. In the open setting, the ride was comfortable over groomed singletrack and firmed up enough to give our test riders a good climbing platform with the lockout switch engaged.
The X-Fusion Pro RL shock felt smooth and soaked up big hits with ease. When the trail got steep, the lock- out on the X-Fusion stiffened up the rear linkage to allow our testers to climb a little quicker.
HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
Setting up the Verb was simple. We chose to run the sag at 20 percent for most of our testing, although we did drop the pressure a bit in the shock to try to get a little more compliance out of the rear linkage.
Moving out:
The bar/stem combo leans more to the trailbike side with 740-millimeter-wide bars and a fairly short 55-millimeter stem. This complements the geometry well and gave our test riders a comfortable riding position for the duration of our testing. Taller riders looking to do longer cross-country rides may want to go to a slightly longer stem or narrower flat handlebar for a more aggressive position.
Cornering:
The relatively slack head angle (for a cross-country bike) and aggressive Nobby Nic tires hooked up well in built, flowy berms, allowing our riders to get a little playful while pushing the Verb through corners. At higher speeds our testers experienced a noticeable amount of flex from the rear triangle in corners or tight switchbacks; however, it didn’t take away from the bike’s fun and flickable nature.
Climbing:
With a 2×10 drivetrain there are plenty of gears to choose from for various types of climbs. On long fire-road grinds we were able to find a comfortable gear to push us up the mountain. On hard efforts while climbing tight singletrack sections we noticed some flex from the rear triangle, especially on the steepest and punchiest climbs; however, the iDrive suspension delivers on its promise of efficient pedaling, which makes it easy to float the bike to the top of the hill, even with the small amount of flex.
The occasional rough line: We found that the Verb did have its limitations on rougher trails. It didn’t shy away from occasionally taking a rougher line. The 120 millimeters of travel felt plush and comfortable with lower drops and steeper pitches.
Descending:
The smaller 27.5-inch wheels felt playful, and the slack head angle allowed us to float through groomed descents with speed and confidence. The Verb is best suited for smooth, built singletrack but can also handle some moderately rocky and technical sections with a certain amount of finesse. The Verb is a true trailbike. It’s capable of handling gnarly descents but is happier on the smoother, flowy sections.
TRICKS, TIPS OR UPGRADES?
The Verb Expert comes with WTB rims that are tubeless compatible, although the bike comes stock with tubes. Converting to tubeless by installing the included valves and a bit of sealant should be the first upgrade a rider makes.
Depending on your riding style, you may want to experiment with the cockpit setup. Our testers found the stock setup to lean a little more to the trail side of things, but with the more cross-country performance, riders may want to set up the geometry to be a little more aggressive for longer rides. If riders want to make the descending a little more playful, a dropper post would be a worthwhile upgrade.
BUYING ADVICE
The Verb is hard to beat when it comes to price, but to call it a “budget bike” would be misleading. This bike comes to the table with a rock-solid component package that we can’t poke a hole in and a proven suspension design that delivers both impressive pedaling efficiency and descending confidence right out of the gate. While the Verb isn’t quite as stiff and snappy as some of GT’s carbon suspension bikes, it’s certainly able to hold its own on a variety of terrain—from long climbs to technical descents. It’s a great choice for the rider who wants to sample all that mountain biking has to offer without taking out a second mortgage on the house. And with a component package that’s ready to take some abuse, it doesn’t need any immediate upgrades to be totally trail-worthy.
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