Mountain Biking - rookie needs bicycle suggestions

I have had cheap mountain bikes in the past, but I am looking to buy myself a good bike.

What I want:
-Ride off-road trails
-have it be able to take at least a little beating
-also be able to have it be a decent bike for street riding.
-light so I can easily haul it, bike rack or back of a truck.

I have been interested in Kona's and Cannondale's, but again, I really don't know much about bikes. I am pretty sure I want disc breaks all around on the thing, but can always use opinions on that. Also, I am not sure if I want all around suspension or a hard-tail. People have suggested hard tails because they like to feel the road, but others have suggested suspension for comfort. I will be riding mountain and park trails with it for exercise and fun, but would also like to use it for street riding for errands, going back and forth to classes on campus (will be moving to bellingham, wa this fall) and on the street for exercise as well. I understand that if I get seriously into street or mountain biking, I probably want to get one of each type of bike, but for now. I want a great multipurpose bike. I am not sure what costs are for what I am looking at, but don't think I want to spend more than $700.

Any suggestions and direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

At $700 you will want a Hardtail as a FS (full suspension) in that price range will not be good. I like the Giant Rainier (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?year=2005&model=11037). It retails for $850 but I have seen it for $780 in my LBS. Just a little out of the price range you suggested but a great bike. The Specialized Hardrock(http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=05Hardrock) is a great bike as well and it retails for $700.

I have had cheap mountain bikes in the past, but I am looking to buy myself a good bike.

What I want:
-Ride off-road trails
-have it be able to take at least a little beating
-also be able to have it be a decent bike for street riding.
-light so I can easily haul it, bike rack or back of a truck.

I have been interested in Kona's and Cannondale's, but again, I really don't know much about bikes. I am pretty sure I want disc breaks all around on the thing, but can always use opinions on that. Also, I am not sure if I want all around suspension or a hard-tail. People have suggested hard tails because they like to feel the road, but others have suggested suspension for comfort. I will be riding mountain and park trails with it for exercise and fun, but would also like to use it for street riding for errands, going back and forth to classes on campus (will be moving to bellingham, wa this fall) and on the street for exercise as well. I understand that if I get seriously into street or mountain biking, I probably want to get one of each type of bike, but for now. I want a great multipurpose bike. I am not sure what costs are for what I am looking at, but don't think I want to spend more than $700.

Any suggestions and direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


Check out the Kona Blast. It's MSRP is $700 USD but you can typically get it for less. If you can swing a deal on a Kona Cinder Cone, I would go for that.

Blast:
http://konaworld.com/shopping_cart/FrontEnd/Products/product_detail.aspx?productid=89&parentid=182

Cinder Cone:
http://konaworld.com/shopping_cart/FrontEnd/Products/product_detail.aspx?productid=90&parentid=182
http://mtbr.com/reviews/XC_Hardtail/product_123280.shtml

I would definitely try to get the Cinder Cone. It is really well rated over at MTBR.com.

At $700 you will want a Hardtail as a FS (full suspension) in that price range will not be good. I like the Giant Rainier (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?year=2005&model=11037). It retails for $850 but I have seen it for $780 in my LBS. Just a little out of the price range you suggested but a great bike. The Specialized Hardrock(http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=05Hardrock) is a great bike as well and it retails for $700.

Do you recommend a FS bike? I set my price range, but if people recommend FS, I would be flexible and shell out some dough as long as I got a good bike. If I were to buy a bike with FS (if it were recommended), what is the least amount I would spend to get a good one?

I know the cannondales are actually very light for the price. I think the f600 may be in your price range if my memory serves me (can't find prices on cannondale website?), I test rode one of these, excellent bike.

apologies, the f600 may be more than i thought it was, a lower line f series cannondale still sounds like it fits your needs though, it is a hardtail by the way, at 700 bucks, you definitely get the most bang for your buck in a hardtail.

Do you recommend a FS bike? I set my price range, but if people recommend FS, I would be flexible and shell out some dough as long as I got a good bike. If I were to buy a bike with FS (if it were recommended), what is the least amount I would spend to get a good one?

I think I remember Raiyn stating that decent FS bikes don't start until $1500.