Mountain Biking - Hardrock vs full suspension

i'm getting a new bike and i think im going to be treating it rought, but im only 15, so not terribly rough. I was wandering if i shoudl get the front suspension specialized hardrock with dics or another 400$ bike with full suspension. I went to a dealer and found out that the full suspension bikes for less than 500$ arent good because there made out of cheaper parts? Help please.

Check out the http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=56148 thread.

I went to a dealer and found out that the full suspension bikes for less than 500$ arent good because there made out of cheaper parts?


That is correct.

Stick with the hardtail unless you can spend an extra $1,000.

This had been discussed here ad nauseum

For all the info you want on hardtails... http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=79185 is the place.

Definately get the Hardrock, won't get a decent fullsuspension bike under 1000 dollars.

If youre willling to spend the extra couple hundred bucks, there are much better bikes than the HardRock for not that much more money.

Oh yeah, just because youre 15 doesnt mean you should limit yourself to not riding terribly rough. :)

Hardrock will be a good bike for you. It can handle quite a bit of riding, and you won't be spending so much on that it will suck if you grow 6 inches in the next couple of years.