Mountain Biking - Favorite mountain bike under $200

Personally, I dont have much money to dump into bikes. Locally, there are no hills so I'm one of few people that actually invest in a mountain bike. A few of us, however, have noticed that BMX bikes don't have the tenacious edge to handle our cheap Florida soil. I have a cheap bike... a Mongoose XR200.. a cheap walmart fab. It cost me a slim $157.99 and was actually worth it. It was either that or a schwinn, but I wasn't too keen on the feel of the ride.

I know most people laugh at the walmart fabs, but... cheap and useful.

Remember, a BMX doesnt have a 21st speed.

I know most people laugh at the walmart fabs, but... cheap and useful.

We don't laugh at them. We pity the poor bastages on them. They have no idea that the toy that they are riding (X-mart sells them as "toys" so don't jump on me) will actually end up costing them MORE than a bike from an actual bike shop.

For $200 you're better off getting a used "real" bike than a new bicycle shaped object.

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/03/86/75/45/0003867545208_500X500.jpg

Hmmm....promax disc? Im scared.

Actually, locally, not much at the bike shop under $300. A couple kids bikes. I looked around at them. We have a Schwinn shop... and thats about it.

I used to have an italian street bike from the 80's m'dad gave to me, but sadly it was stolen.

Lowest gear I've ever been in on either was 12th. I hate going that slow, but what can I say? Sometimes ya have to.

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/6711/toystorevslbs7da.jpg

That was... interesting.

That was... interesting.
It was the wrong picture.

Heh, I picked my bike, tore it apart, rebuilt it after checking the parts. Its a good thing too. My brake lines were frayed like crazy.

I'm paranoid, but I spent over $500 on a bike before. It was smashed right along with me when I did a 30 foot drop I didnt know was there.

Now I'm just using cheap bikes and pushing them to the limit.

I'm paranoid, but I spent over $500 on a bike before. It was smashed right along with me when I did a 30 foot drop I didnt know was there.

No $500 bike would take a 30ft drop. A X-mart BSO will shatter at a much lower stress point

It certainly didnt take the drop when i did it. It got twisted. Bad. Luckily, no 30 footers here.

Sin, you are in the same boat I was in when shopping for a bike.

I went with a Boulder SE from Giant. Costed me 275. I've been very, very happy with it. Although I don't do any crazy riding like some folks here on a regular basis, I have riden that bike and purposely beaten the piss out of it, and it's been fine.

200 won't buy you much from a bike shop, but 300 as your price cap may open up a few more options.

I recently located a couple of older used Rockhoppers for a friend and his wife who wanted to get into mtn biking and didn't have much $$$ but didn't want to buy junk, either. Less than $200 each and both in excellent+ condition. They won't be doing any free-riding on them (as if they want to ; ) but they'll have solid rides that will work quite fine for them until they want to take the next step.

Someones just trolling along.........................................