Mountain Biking - HardTail

I am a BMXer who is looking into a MTB. I want someting I can ride on Pavement, XC, and do a bit of freestyling on. I weigh 185 and am 6'1" tall. I was wondering if i should get a freeride hardtail bike or a XC bike? I am looking to spend around 600 dollars but i will go higher if necessary.

Take a look at the Trek Bruiser, Speciallized Hardrock and the Kona Shred. All three can do what your asking and should be at or around your price range.

freeride hardtail! You can take a FR on XC rides, if you don't care about the few pounds, short headset, some pedal bob from the fork, and lack of a third chainring, weird geometry etc. while an XC on a freeride will loose you spokes, pedals, screw up your hub, bend your handle bars (or snap, like I did with a carbon fiber, it's easy), bend your 3rd chain ring, cranks come off, snap chains, snap your rim (happened to me on my old bike :D), get a seat up your butt etc. I have seen all those happen to XC bikes of buddies of mine when I take them riding freestyle. Yet, I'm sort of crossing the boundaries between FR and Urban. I'm talking about jumping off stuff. If your doing trickey tricks the difference between the XC and FR is the balance point. It's harder to get up to a manual on a genisis gary fisher frame than a steelhead due to geometry. Look into the Giant STP's, Specialized P's, Haro escapes, or maybe build one up from a frame you like (only if you shop smart.)

I want a bike that can deal with freeride but that doesnt have such weird geometry. Is there a strong XC ar a more comfortable freestyle?

I want a bike that can deal with freeride but that doesnt have such weird geometry. Is there a strong XC ar a more comfortable freestyle?






Take a look at the Trek Bruiser, Speciallized Hardrock and the Kona Shred. All three can do what your asking and should be at or around your price range.



:rolleyes:

dccool879:You can take a FR on XC rides, if you don't care about the few pounds, short headset, some pedal bob from the fork, and lack of a third chainring, weird geometry etc.

Or if you don't care about walking up many hills or asking friends to wait for you while you catch up. :D

dccool879:You can take a FR on XC rides, if you don't care about the few pounds, short headset, some pedal bob from the fork, and lack of a third chainring, weird geometry etc.

Or if you don't care about walking up many hills or asking friends to wait for you while you catch up. :D

Off-topic but I have a friend who has no problems taking his Big Hit up singletracks... it's pretty funny seeing a 40+ lbs bike climbing like that. :D

When he brings his Trek Fuel... we all get our asses kicked. :(

Off-topic but I have a friend who has no problems taking his Big Hit up singletracks... it's pretty funny seeing a 40+ lbs bike climbing like that. :D

When he brings his Trek Fuel... we all get our asses kicked. :(

That sounds like it could be me :D...although I don't have the fuel. I ride my bighit on trails. Only reason is if I feel like a fast dh day. I will chug (and I mean CHUG) along to get to the top and then fly down. Half the reason I go slow is because I don't want to waste energy and take away from the reward. Put me on my Kona Roast and I am increase my uphill speed quite a bit. All depends on how I feel like riding that day :)

I took a ride today an dit has caused me to decide to go with a XC bike. I am jsut gonna stick with my BMX for freeride.

I am lookign for disk breaks, and a pretty good derailluer system.

I would suggest you the kona shred....very strong frame plus brake disc are cool. Dunno about the derailleur tho =/ . It can do for freeride too

I'm a lot faster than my friends so riding a FR bike makes me not to have to wait as long :D I like hills. And the geometry isn't too weird, and it saves you from smashing your baby making place.