Streuner GT Karakoram 1998 Restomod: 32-inch conversion with the soul of the GT

For decades, the iconic GT brand attracted cycling enthusiasts, then it all came to an abrupt end. Despite the company’s recent financial difficulties, the American brand’s classic models are far from forgotten and live on in the garages of enthusiasts and collectors. GT disappeared before the 32-inch movement really took off. As a result, there has never been a GT bike with 32-inch wheels – at least not until now. Bike mechanic and design student Joe, aka Streuner, cut up an old 1998 GT Karakoram and breathed new life into it with new steel tubes and a cool design.

Conclusion

Streuner is a likeable chap and a creative free spirit. His 32-inch custom build is packed with imagination and attention to detail. Steel fans and retro enthusiasts simply can’t get enough of it. The tribute to the legendary GT frames is the icing on the cake of a truly special bike. There have been plenty of wild GTs before, but never one quite like this! - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor

Creativity without limits

Tens of thousands of fans follow Streuner on his YouTube channel and other social media platforms. They all want to see how the inventor builds, rebuilds and modifies bicycle frames. He usually gets stuck in at the ‘Wolken’ studio in Cologne, together with his mate Sami Al-Khayat. In his very special workshop, even the wildest cycling fantasies are brought to life. Whether it’s a minor adjustment, a frame repair or wild prototype building – folding bikes, tandems or bicycle rickshaws – there are no limits at Atelier Wolken. Particularly popular with Streuner: iconic old steel frames from the 90s. He restores them into charming bikes, fitting them with hand-welded luggage racks and giving them a cool new look.

​The soul of GT lies in the triangle

For his Bespoked show bike, Joe cut up an old Karakoram steel frame from GT and kept only the middle section. He soldered in completely new tubes between the two halves. The two-part top tube has a distinctive bend, as do the seat stays. Thanks to bolted fittings, the seat stays can carry luggage. The frame, like the steel fork – which has also been modified – features internal cable routing. Attached to the fork is a holder for a hip flask – “just for oat milk”, as Streuner insists. “The soul of a GT lies in the triangle between the seat stays, top tube and seat tube. I’ve kept that, of course,” he continues. At the tube junctions: raw, sanded brass from the soldering process, giving it a flame-textured look.

I like to compare the 32” GT to a ship. When it sets off, it has to displace a lot of water first. You can really feel the inertia in the wheels. But once the ship gets going, it glides along unstoppably. - Joe, also known as Streuner, frame builder

Thanks to the custom frame design, 32-inch wheels now fit on the good old GT Karakoram. The wheelsets are a combination of Velo Orange hubs and Astral rims, and are fitted with Teravail tyres. In general, this restomod GT features a number of unusual parts. For example, the 12-speed rear derailleur is operated via a retro thumb shifter. The rear light bracket, saddle and bottle cage are also from Velo Orange. The bike is braked using the signature brakes of downhill star Aaron Gwin – the TRP Quadiem G-Spec – with retrofitted Oak CNC brake levers. The stem is a particularly special component. Streuner designed it together with his mate Burak Gueller and plans to market it in future under the new ‘Kernig’ brand. In true retro-lovers’ style, he’s clamped on a handlebar with a 22.2-millimetre clamp diameter, but one that’s longer than the usual cruiser or BMX options.

​Right on trend: restomods

In the car restoration scene, so-called ‘restomods’ are all the rage, and this trend is increasingly spilling over into the cycling world. This involves refurbishing old frames with great care and to modern standards, so that modern technology can be incorporated. For example, there was of course never a GT Karakoram with 32-inch wheels. The combination of a steel frame, Boost hub standard and disc brakes is also a first for the 1998 GT hardtail. No doubt there’s still a lovely classic model gathering dust in the cellar of many a BIKE reader, one that could do with an upgrade to a single-chainring drivetrain and wide tyres.

What do you think: is a customised retro bike like this cooler than a brand-new model? Let us know in the comments!