Mountain Biking - GT or Specilized

Im in a toss up between the " GT Avalanche 3.0 Disc " or the " Specilized Hardrock Sport ". Im leaning more toward the GT but i would like to know which one you think is better on terms of quality of parts and Frame.

Well if you got the Hardrock you would have to change your name :D

The Hardrock has a better fork and some of its other components are slightly better. The frame quality is comparable, although I like the look of the GT frame much better. Of course, the GT has disc brakes. And, although they aren't top of the line, they are still OK.

I was also torn between the GT avalanche 3.0 with out disc brakes and the one with. the one with is only $50 more so it seemed to me to be the better deal for disk brakes for only $50 ....... How much are the cheapest disk brakes you can get seperately.

Go for the hardrock, the bike quality is much better than GT. Even though I have a GT.

How much are the cheapest disk brakes you can get seperately.

It'll be more than $50.

GT is Pacifica. Pacifica is an unholy abomination.

I would shun GT for the sake of their being a Pacifica company. But customer service should be enough to sway you away.

Specialized is an excellent company with a great reputation. They are one of the "big 3", and they will stand behind their product. GT's business model revolves more around selling bikes at Toys "r" Us and Wally-World. You decide who you'd like to buy a bike from.

???"big 3"???

It'll be more than $50.
Here you can get a pair of Hayes MX IIs for 50 euros.

Here you can get a pair of Hayes MX IIs for 50 euros.

Is that just for the brakes (rotors, calipers,pads) because if so, then you will still have to get disc specific front and rear hubs (even for Deore hubs, you will have to spend at least $40USD). That's fine if one can swap the hubs themselves, but if you have to pay your lbs to swap, you may be better off getting new wheels. The cheapest I have seen for new OE takeoffs (Alex rims/Formula hubs) is $70USD. If you can get the stuff used, then it will be cheaper...but then again, it's used stuff so who knows what it has been through before.

Is that just for the brakes (rotors, calipers,pads) because if so, then you will still have to get disc specific front and rear hubs (even for Deore hubs, you will have to spend at least $40USD). That's fine if one can swap the hubs themselves, but if you have to pay your lbs to swap, you may be better off getting new wheels. The cheapest I have seen for new OE takeoffs (Alex rims/Formula hubs) is $70USD. If you can get the stuff used, then it will be cheaper...but then again, it's used stuff so who knows what it has been through before.
Yeah, that's just the brakes, then there's the new wheelset because of non-disc hubs. :)

Anyway, we're off topic...I would recommend the Specialized, definitely a better quality bike.

???"big 3"???

Specialized, Trek and Giant. The three biggest MTB manufacturers in the U.S.

As for a choice between Specialized and GT; ride both and then decide. Specialized is a better company but, for an entry level bike, you're not going to see a major difference in quality one way or another so it really comes down to personal preference on this one.

what is the big difference between normal brakes and disc brakes. I was also wondering the approximate price (CDN) of the Specilized Hardrock sport Disc.

'Normal brakes' (V-Brakes) dont provide better stopping power as disk brakes. If your planning on getting the Hard Rock and you do some trail riding then you would benifit from disk brakes.

I was also wondering the approximate price (CDN) of the Specilized Hardrock sport Disc.

If anyone can help me out with that i would really appreciate it.

what is the big difference between normal brakes and disc brakes. I was also wondering the approximate price (CDN) of the Specilized Hardrock sport Disc.

Disc brakes give more consistent brake performance in all conditions. But they are heavier and add rotational mass to the bike.

I'm not sure on the price of a Hardrock at a canadian shop, you'd have to call around to a few local lbs. On the Specialized site, the US MSRP is $440.00. So I'm guessing around $600 canadian (just a guess though!).

Thanks.

could you tell me where you found the MSRP because i cant even find it. even better if you can post a link.

They have the MSRP on the Specialized site when you select US region.

Here is the link to the bike in the US section:

link to Hardrock Sport Disc (http://specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9344)

Thanks a lot!

No problem.

If youre getting a hardtail. I think youre better off getting a well made cromoly frame like a rocky hammer. kona makes one also. Theres no advantage to having aluminum if youre getting a hardtail, as steel is more resilient and will last longer