Mountain Biking - Couple Questions before I take the plunge:

First, I have read throught the FAQ and although very infomative it didn't really answer my questions.
I'm re-entering the sport after a 14yr break so I'm not a complete newbie. I'm fairly confident that I'll be able to get back into it rather quickly so I don't want to start with a $500 beginner bike to just replace it in a couple months.

Anyway...

I'm so close to ordering an '06 Rockhopper Pro Disc but before I do I want to make sure I explore all options. I've test ridden the Gary Fisher Tess., Fuji (didn't pay attention 'cause if didn't feel right) and Giant Rainier. Are there any other bikes in the $1100 MSRP range that I should check out before taking the plunge?

are you looking at hardtails only?

No, not limiting myself to hardtails. Just seems that for my price point I can get a higher end hardtail or a low end FS.

I would consider looking for an '05 closeout stumpjumper. I am getting mine for less than $1K. It has a better fork than the rockhopper pro disc and a better frame. You can get the stumpjumper with discs, or add the exact same brakes that would come on them (Avid BB7s) for relatively cheap (and cheaper than the difference in price.
Good Luck :beer:

I would consider looking for an '05 closeout stumpjumper. I am getting mine for less than $1K. It has a better fork than the rockhopper pro disc and a better frame. You can get the stumpjumper with discs, or add the exact same brakes that would come on them (Avid BB7s) for relatively cheap (and cheaper than the difference in price.
Good Luck :beer:

Yeah, I looked at those but my LBS isn't letting them go for less than $1100 and I'm not paying MSRP for the rockhopper so the price differences comes to over $300.

I don't want to hijack this thread, but it caught my attention because it's nearly my exact scenario...The difference being, I'm looking at an '06 RH Comp w/ disc vs. the '06 RH Pro w/ disc.

Nefarious, it sounds like you are getting the '06 Pro for around $800 +/- (the Comp w/ disc I'm looking at is $859). Is that price on the '06 Pro due to a trade in (do they do that for bikes :) ),a "friend in the biz" or some other situational discount? Or is that price due to super negotiating skills? I ask, due to the fact that I am certain there is a mark-up on these, and I would obviously rather not pay MSRP, but I don't want to insult the people I would like to work on my bike by low-balling them...

thx!

um im droppin 900 with tax included for a 05 stumpjumper tomorrow, no discs but im uprgrading for juicy 7's after a few rides for 300 so i suggest yellowpages and find a store with ur bike. I know its a sin but if you have a supergo in your area call them up, there are 3 within 10 miles of me and all are listing there 05 stumpjumpers for 1000-1050 and prices are always negotiable.

ur I know its a sin
Not as big a one as using "ur" in the place of "your"
Is it that damn hard to type two extra letters so as to not look like a 12 year old AOL using moron?

So unless you're talking about the ancient city of Ur (http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archaeology/sites/middle_east/ur.html) I don't want to see that lazy garbage here again.

I don't want to hijack this thread, but it caught my attention because it's nearly my exact scenario...The difference being, I'm looking at an '06 RH Comp w/ disc vs. the '06 RH Pro w/ disc.

Nefarious, it sounds like you are getting the '06 Pro for around $800 +/- (the Comp w/ disc I'm looking at is $859). Is that price on the '06 Pro due to a trade in (do they do that for bikes :) ),a "friend in the biz" or some other situational discount? Or is that price due to super negotiating skills? I ask, due to the fact that I am certain there is a mark-up on these, and I would obviously rather not pay MSRP, but I don't want to insult the people I would like to work on my bike by low-balling them...

thx!


Friend of a friend type deal