Mountain Biking - Rocky Mountain Trailhead for $719 Canadian. Worth it?

I'd like to hear anyone's (hopefully some owners) thoughts on whether a 2002 Rocky Mountain Trailhead is a good deal at $719 Canadian (roughly $460 U.S.). I'm considering buying one from a quality local bike shop that is (unfortunately) going out of business.

I took a look at the specs and the components are pretty low end. I dont know much about the frame quality, but with that you get what you pay for. For $700 I think there are better bikes out there considering I got my 2002 specialized rockhopper for 650 back in Mayofthis year. What other bikes does the shop have on sale? What are your options? And what type of riding will you be doing?

Pretty much everything in the shop is on sale, but the only other bike that caught my eye (and was in my price range) was a Kona Caldera for $599 Canadian. It didn't have the Hayes disc brakes that normally come with it however.

I agree that the components on the Trailhead are not real high-end (in fact they're a big step down from my current 1996 Norco Tango, which came with a mix of XT and LX components), but the bike will mostly be used for some singletrack, commuting, and the odd XC race.

Dude, the GET THE KONA!! I checked out the specs and they are far better than the RM. Save yourself some money and get the Caldera. Even without the discs, your getting better cranks, fork, and F/R derailleur. If I was you, the only reason I would get the RM over the Caldera would be because it didnt fit. Ive never riden a Kona but Ive heard next to no bad things about them. Get the Kona.

What size is the Rocky? Blue or black?

I've got my eye on last years Trailhead at a LBS here in Regina, retail is 1K. Personally I love the look and feel of Rocky Mountain bikes, sure the components are a notch down from an equally priced Kona, but the frames are better. Much easier to upgrade the components on a good frame vs sticking a better frame under your great components, right?

If you decide to pass on it, let me know, I'd do a road trip to the Peg to save a couple hundred bucks. :D

The Trailhead is blue, and there are a number of them ranging in size from 16.5" to 19.5". The one I'm interested in is 18.5". The Kona is 17" and although my current ride is also 17" the Caldera feels more cramped somehow. In terms of fit the Trailhead is definitely the better option.

And the fit of the bike is almost more important to me than the components.

By the way, if you're really interested in coming to the Peg to buy one the shop is called the Bicycle Cafe and it's on Henderson Highway. It's a real shame they're going out of business — the mechanics they had there were excellent.

Anyone else have an opinion?