Mountain Biking - same question asked a thousand times

ok guys ... i know you answer this question all too much ... i'm new to all this and looking for a starter bike. I thought i knew what i wanted ... but the more i read the harder it is to make up my mind...

originally i was going for the mongoose zero g3 ... I've sense come to my senses and i'm looking at other things.

I'm still leaning toward a FS ... the K2 Attack 2.0 looks like a good starter and is around the right price...

everyone at work tells me not to get a FS, which only makes me want it more actually (i like being different) ... but to humor the idea of a hardtail i was thinking maybe a K2 Zed 2? trek 4900? I hear fisher is good but they seem expensive other than the Marlin ... and i'm not much for yellow.

style counts too ... i love silvers, blacks, blues.

I REALLY want to keep this under $600 (when i started i wanted it under 400) ... none of this "you won't get a good ______ for under 1500" .... i don't buy that ...

seriously ... i'm a beginner ... give me something to get me started and that I can change crap out on if i feel the need in the future and i'll be super happy.

thanks for taking the time to answer this over asked question...

Not exactly what your looking for in a response but Id like to say I just started riding as well and I was told a few things about FS and hardtails. The basic jist is that you will become a better rider learning on a hardtail. This because you'll choose your lines better and feel things out more. What they said was riding a FS is alot easier therefore you dont become as good a rider. Not to say that good riders didnt start on FS bikes.

As well, I bought a bike for 600 dollars and so far I freaking love it. All though Ive upgraded a few things, its still relativley cheap. Not sure you'll find it down there but I ride a Brodie. Have fun picking out your bike, I know I am addicted to it already :D

Cheers

For your money get a hard-tail. You can get a good FS for this amount only if it's used.

Kona:
http://www.konaworld.com/2k3/2k3_scrap.cfm
http://www.konaworld.com/2k3/2k3_blast.cfm
http://www.konaworld.com/2k3/2k3_nunu.cfm

Giant:
http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?lYear=2003&bikesection=8817&range=122&model=10635
http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?lYear=2003&bikesection=8817&range=122&model=10633

Norco (prices in $Canaian, approximately divide by 1.5):
http://www.norco.com/bikes/2003bikes/onehun.htm
http://www.norco.com/bikes/2003bikes/charger.htm
http://www.norco.com/bikes/2003bikes/ryde.htm


Trek (not recommended):
http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2003/mountain/4900.jsp

And you need to answer first, what do you want more? Jump, abuse and trash your bike (look for a tough one with better suspension) or do some cross-country (look for a light one).

Thanks for the replies ... and for not just telling me to spend more money ... i appreciate that.

I think i'm starting to lean towards HT as well. I just love the way that Attack 2.0 looks ... the silver/black would match my car wonderfully ;)

as far as use ... probably a lot of trails through the woods. I don't abuse my stuff too much and any jumps i do wouldn't be too huge. But I won't really know what i'll get into until I dive on in I guess ... so I'm just trying to get something that's decent all roung and then i can build on the specifics

I think that you'll want a frame of the Kona Out of Bound series or Specialized P.* series. What the name for that type of frame, anyway?:confused:

P-series:
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkFamily.jsp?orig=us&minisite=10020&minisite=10020&bl=mountain&my=2003&fan=P.Series

Ok I will be abrupt and I will answer the way I answer all.

You CAN'T get a good full suspension bike for under 1000$ american. I wouldn't personally consider one for under 1500 american.

That said you can get some awesome ht's in the 600$ american range. This is a great time to get bikes. The 2002's are cheap and coming down so you may be able to find some great bikes cheap. I wouldn't go for a 2003 unless there is a huge jump in technology. Test drive a couple of different geometries. Freeride ht and xc ht. Figure out what you enjoy and would be comfortable.

I would never tell someone to spend more, especially if they don't need it, but I would say you wont find value in a bike. Companies can save a lot of money on key areas of bikes that make them more a hazard than a joy.

Originally posted by MeHT
I think that you'll want a frame of the Kona Out of Bound series or Specialized P.* series. What the name for that type of frame, anyway?:confused:

P-series:
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkFamily.jsp?orig=us&minisite=10020&minisite=10020&bl=mountain&my=2003&fan=P.Series

Dirtjump / freeride hardtail. :) (My favorite geometry)

What the name for that type of frame, anyway?

It looks like their version of a 26" dirt jumper. Meaning they are gearing it towards riders that do more jumping over anything else.

Slainte:beer:

Originally posted by Maelstrom
You CAN'T get a good full suspension bike for under 1000$ american. I wouldn't personally consider one for under 1500 american.

That said you can get some awesome ht's in the 600$ american range. This is a great time to get bikes. The 2002's are cheap and coming down so you may be able to find some great bikes cheap.

Yup, this is also my opinion. You can get a good HT for the money you're willing to spend. Unless you're willing to buck up a bit, FS bikes @ this price-point have some serious compromises in terms of either the frame or the components or BOTH.

Now go out and get that HT and ride, man! Good luck! :D

I wish I had a good hardtail. I got a great f/s now, but hardtails are a different thing altogether.

My older pro has an old specialized M2 thing, but dam that thing beats the crap out of me considering that the fork is blown.

I started on a hardtail, and if you go straight to f/s, you will miss a ton of what the sports about. Plus less mainenance (stupid interrupted seat tube)

Anyway good luck and beat the living **** out of it. Bikes are cheaper and better than girls.

Maelstrom
You CAN'T get a good full suspension bike for under 1000$ american. I wouldn't personally consider one for under 1500 american.

i agreee completely. before i read his post i was going to write the same thing (with $1100 instead of $1000)...

i also agree that you can get a quality hardtail that will serve a begineer well for $600.

if you buy a FS for this price it will be heavy and junk! so if you want to look cool, buy a junk FS, otherwise, stick to a hardtail

P.S. i am a serious XC rider/racer (4k+ miles/yr) and i bought my first FS this March... i like it but it wasn't cheap (over $2k) and it's not THAT much better than my old $1k hardtail...

anyone else have suggestions on brands? what are your thoughts on the K2 bikes?

Of course i plan on visiting the local shops some more ... but opinions are always good.

I agree w/ everyone else.Go hardtail .You can get a better bike for the money.Check your local shops and see what brands they have.Ride some and compare what your likes and dislikes are.Go to www.mtbreview.com and check out the reviews of the ones you like. Now ones i like in that range are the gary fisher tassajara and the trek 4900.But check them all out.Also find which shop you like best,which one you feel most comfortable with. Btw i don't know much about the k2.