Mountain Biking - Completely Uneducated with Mountain Bike brands and options - Please help!

I like biking but I haven't had one for years. I am looking for a decent mountain bike that will cost no more than $500.

Ideally it would have at least front shocks, and maybe a rear shock as well
It would also ideally have disc breaks but I don't know if I will be able to for $500 or less

Can you tell me if I can do this, or not? Also can you introduce me to the best kind of brand for this kind of money?

I have absolutly no idea where to start looking. Any advice would help a lot. Thank you

I'm no expert but any full suspension bike at that price is gonna be just a toy. Check out hardtails like the Trek 4500, Specialized Hardrock, Marin Bobcat Trail, or Kona Fire Mountain. They should all be right around your price range.

you are best off looking for a used bike

better stuff for the dollar. ask around at bike shops
for what they have in teh used selection. check 5 shops at least

Ideally I want to buy a new bike. At the VERY least it needs to have front suspension. I should be able to get a good front suspension bike for $500, shouldn't I? I just want the gears to be reliable and everything else to work and not break.

If I could get front suspension AND disc breaks that would be great.

There's gotta be SOMETHING good for $500...I just have no idea what brand is good both in quality and for my situation. Thanks.

Also can someone explain the bike measurements? Are there tire measurements AND frame measurements, in inches? Or does the frame measurement include the tire measurements?

I'm not doing any crazy hardcore biking here, I am just an ameteur looking for a sturdy bike that I can take on rough terrain and have fun/excercize with

Disc brakes at that price are going to be terrible. Get something with V brakes, they work better than cheap discs.

Don't be over expectant of the bike either, there will be things that need replacement. Mountain biking isn't a cheap sport.

Mountain biking isn't a cheap sport.

truth.

Besides, why spend more money than you really need to if you decide you don't like the sport after all? $450 got me a trek 4500 four years ago and it's still chuggin along. Start getting yourself into bigger and better things when you have a lot of time put in and when you are sure you're going to keep at it.

Ideally I want to buy a new bike. At the VERY least it needs to have front suspension. I should be able to get a good front suspension bike for $500, shouldn't I? I just want the gears to be reliable and everything else to work and not break.
You can get a good hardtail for $500 (US) new (or a crappy full suspension, but let's ignore that option).


There's gotta be SOMETHING good for $500...I just have no idea what brand is good both in quality and for my situation. Thanks.
What brands do your local bike shops (real ones, that is) offer?



Also can someone explain the bike measurements? Are there tire measurements AND frame measurements, in inches? Or does the frame measurement include the tire measurements?
The standard mountain bike rim size is 26 inches (29 inch rims are the big -- heh -- alternative, 24 and 20 inch rims are less common options). The generally quoted size of a frame is based on some measurement of the seat tube. The top tube measurement is very important also, but less often quoted.

For sure, you need to check around. Look at used bikes and last year's model bikes. For maybe around 6 or 7 hundred dollars you could get a decent new bike w/disc brakes. I got a 2005 Giant STP 1 for 500 bucks, MSRP 1000, at my LBS. Just make sure to deal hunt...

Go to mtb.com for reviews. Mountain Bike Action magazine March 06 issuse has some great tips. I just bought a Mongoose Trax Elite but if I had the magazine reviews I would have made a different choice, Jamis, Giant or Trek. RB

I'm not sure what bikes my lbs offers. They are decent bike stores so I would think they have some popular stuff. I need to go look today or tomorrow. Do bike stores generally sell used bikes, as well? That'd be cool.

I guess it is looking like I'll be getting a bike without disc breaks or suspension? Damn. Bikes are so freakin' expensive, but oh well....!

I'm 6 feet 2 inches - any recomendation on the tire size and/or bike size?

Guys is this a bad or good deal?

http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/155518105.html

And how bout this one?
http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/155901322.html

Just trying to get a feel of what is a good deal/bad deal and why.

Thanks so much for the help in adavnce

These are some brands at a local store - can you help me narrow down which brand to look at?

Specialized KHS
Felt Free Agent
Redline Torker
Lowrider

Other Item Brands:
Serfas Louis Garneau
Yakima Shimano
Sram Hayes
Avid Vittoria
Continental Cateye
Giro Bell
Blackburn Fizik
Masterlock

For $500 your asking for a lot in a new MB. Go for a good used MB and your $500 will go a lot further. Make sure it's a brand name and is less than 5 years old. However, many people buy MB and never use them, so something older is OK, but you must know your bikes to assure a good buy. GOOD LUCK. Remember there are two types of bikers. Those that have fallen and those that will.

Legalize, at 6'2" your going to need at least a 20 inch frame, and most likely a bit more, so keep that in mind while your shopping. The best thing to do, is visit your lbs and have them size you up. Tell them what kind of riding your interested in and the money your willing to fork over. They can answer your questions and give you some idea to what's out there. I spent about 900 dollars on my mb hobbie recently and I don't regret the purchase in the least. I would recommend buying all the bike you can afford because in the long run, quality components are going to hold up much longer and be more dependable. Just make sure that this style of riding is something your going to do, before you spend the money. Nothing worse than shelling out big bucks to just watch it sit in the corner.

If you go the lbs route, they usually have last years models sitting around, so keep that in mind. It can save you some money and buying from a lbs will give you some better warranty protection and servicing options.

Good luck...

Legalize, at 6'2" your going to need at least a 20 inch frame, and most likely a bit more, so keep that in mind while your shopping.
Ugh, no. I wouldn't go above 19" if I were him.

Check out the Specialized hardrocks and Rockhoppers.
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=06Hardrock
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=06Rockhopper


Trek makes a lot of nice hardtails too.
http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1022600&f=19

Yeah that Hardrock from craigslist is worth $710 but i wouldnt go for it. I like the XC Rockhopper i would ask for other opinions on that too. Also as JAson222 said the hardrock is good i have one the rockhoppers look very nice and my friend has a trek bruiser 2 which is nice. Good luck finding a good bike!

Craigs List is a really good resource for used bikes but you've got to know what you're looking at what the bike is worth. Be patient and start checking out web sites Specialized, Trek, Giant etc. and the models they offer. Look at the componants to get a good feel on what your money will buy. My LBS will buy bulk on 1 or 2 models and blow them out so check your LBS to see if they have any specials.

Just do a lot of research to narrow your focus then you can ask more spacific questions.

The person told me that this one (http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/155901322.html) is in excellent condition and nothing wrong with it which I would hope to be true. Assuming it is a 19" bike, I would consider taking it. Do you think that's a good idea? Keep in mind I'm going to be looking around more but I would like to consider this one seriously if it would be a good idea....hm

You can't go by what someone online tells you about bike size completely. You really need to go somewhere to have them fit you for the first one I think. Some makes will fill better at a different size than others and it depends a lot on your inseam and arm length. I'd suggest at least going to the LBS and riding a couple of comparable bikes to ones you're looking at so you have an idea of what's a good fit.

She said it's an XL and she's 6ft tall so I figure it's close enough

for $500, I think a base Rockhopper would do you good :)

legalize, you're from boston? i am too.

which bike shop are you looking at?

for 500 dollars, you can totally get a good bike with front suspension, like the aforementioned hardrock or rockhopper.

if you really want disc brakes, you can always purchase them later. i mean, what kind of riding are you going to be doing? i'm sure regular rim brakes will be fine for the time being, considering you haven't biked in a while. maybe in a few months, you can upgrade to disc brakes, which would cost about 120 dollars for front and rear with 6 inch rotors.

anyway, some bike stores i recommend if you're in boston:

landry's on commonwealth ave
international bike store on brighton ave

I went to landrys in Danvers and they didn't even walk up to me to offer help so that pissed me off I took a look around however and although I didn't bother asking for help I got a good impression of what is available.

The rock hopper on craigslist for $500 is about 1000 or 1200 in the store! That is so freakin ridiculous to me.

I really am leaning towards a used bike. I think it's where I'll get the most for my money.

I'm from the North shore, so boston is kinda far away especially w/ these gas prices

Hold on there hard charger! The MSRP was $1190 in 2003. If a bike store happens to have this bike they are not going to sell it at this price. Bikes are just like anything else in that they depreciate over time.
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/2002_Full_Suspension/product_85563.shtml

I think $500 is still too much.
However as I mentioned earlier, I think you being too hasty in buying a bike that your not to sure what to buy. There's always so many bikes on craig list and deals will always pop up. You need to grasp the language of components and the models that Mfg's offer. This takes research, some time and a little patience.

There's always so many bikes on Craigs
http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/156035211.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/155419287.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/155315117.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/154831331.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/154446498.html

Hold on there hard charger! The MSRP was $1190 in 2003. If a bike store happens to have this bike they are not going to sell it at this price. Bikes are just like anything else in that they depreciate over time.
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/2002_Full_Suspension/product_85563.shtml

I think $500 is still too much.
However as I mentioned earlier, I think you being too hasty in buying a bike that your not to sure what to buy. There's always so many bikes on craig list and deals will always pop up. You need to grasp the language of components and the models that Mfg's offer. This takes research, some time and a little patience.

There's always so many bikes on Craigs
http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/156035211.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/155419287.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/155315117.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/154831331.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/154446498.html

Out of all of those I still like the one that I have my eyes set on as of now.

The last one is too small for me. (http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/154446498.html)

The others do not have a rear shock and to tell you the truth I just do not like the looks of any of them, either. I know thats a small part of this all but it does matter in the end.

You said the one I like is too much $ - how much do you recommend it should be sold for? Should I try to barter with the woman? If so, what price should I ask for? No less than $400, I would think?

Thanks so much I appreciate your help

I know I'm deciding really quick on this but so far the one I want is the one off craigslist for $500 (or less, if I can talk her down). I'm getting excited. oooooo

I work at a giant/specialized dealer. Ive road both, and I like the giant Yukon the best. It has a solid front suspension, A reliable deore rear derailleur, that can take abuse, and very easy to ride. It also comes with tires that are great for the trail, and dont wear much on the street. It goes for $499 at the shop I work at.

Cool.

How much would you say this one should cost? I just asked if she'd do it for $400, not sure if that was reasonable or not.

http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/155983619.html

I guess the point I'm trying make about Craigs is that there is always bikes for sale and it's better to know what type of riding you're going to do, the budget you have and then the type of model, components etc. It's better to do the research and KNOW what you're getting into with a used bike as opposed to being disappointed in the long run.

I can sympathize with your enthusiasm as we all can here;)
The bike you're interested in is overpriced IMO (in my opinion). I have a 2001 rockhopper with Manitou Magnum forks and the Fox Vanilla shock. MSRP was $1000, I paid $700 on sale and have a buyer setup to buy it for $300. I would not pay more than $400 for that bike.

What are possible ways that I could be dissapointed by that bike in the long run? Should I look for anything in particular to be worn?

this was the response I got when I said will you do $400:
"last year i tried to get 750 for it, didn't really want to sell it ,sweet
bike, this year i started at 600, you haven't seen it or even riden it. if
youv'e ever riden a highend mountain bike you'll know that the generic
mongoses and front only suspension bikes that cost 300-700 are pices of crap
in comparison. so no i will not take 400, do more than research and ride
some of the bikes your interested in, then you'll see the difference in
value. if you want to look at or ride you can call me "

I'm asking now for $450....but if he will only do $500 I think I'm going to take this. On ebay I see specialized rockhoppers with only front shocks from 2001 going for 700! This for $500 seems like a pretty good damnn deal considering the bike is supposedly in excellent condition....

well (if anyone cares LOL) i'm getting the bike for 500 tomorrow after i check it out

it comes with a helmet and a "computer" too I guess so that's good at least

i went to the bikestores and everything for 500 was absolute LAME-NESS so assuming this bike on craigslist is in good shape i think 500 for the craiglist bike is definitly my best option. i cant wait to try it out, hope everything works fine. the guy wouldnt cut me a deal under 500 which kinda sucks but whatever, it's either this bike or some really crappy one as of now so im goin for this!

thanks for all the help ill let you know how it turns out

I sold an absolutely brand new (I literally never rode it, I just bought it due to a can't-pass-up deal; when I realized I'd never ride it, I sold it) 2004 Specialized FSR XC Pro Disc last year for $600 even (I was asking $700 on Craigslist, someone offered me $600 cash on the spot and he seemed pretty reasonable and a nice guy, so I took it). So, I too think that $500 is a bit much for a lower end model that's two years older.

But, none-the-less, it's a decent bike. The fork and rear shock have a decent chance of being pretty used-up unless he's been extremely good about maintenance. The bearings (wheels, headset, pedals, and crank) and such should be checked out too. Good luck, and I hope you like it.

thanks for your input - how do shocks get 'used up?' and how do you fix them when that happens? just buy new ones? eek
how can i tell if the bearings/bushing are broken on the rear shock of the specialized comp fsr?

what about this is this a good price/deal, assuming it is my size?

thanks - http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/156572630.html

just realized the msrp of that bike is $600...so that bike isn't really as good as the specialized i have in mind, is it? hmm..i still like the specialized but any input on the iron horse above would be great

what about this is this a good price/deal, assuming it is my size?

thanks - http://boston.craigslist.org/bik/156572630.html

just realized the msrp of that bike is $600...so that bike isn't really as good as the specialized i have in mind, is it? hmm..i still like the specialized but any input on the iron horse above would be great

Read what others have said
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/xc_full_suspension/product_123097.shtml

You know, you could do a lot worse than that Rockhopper. Check it out, try it on the rough and inspect it closely for wear and tear, frame damage etc.

K What should I be looking for in a used bike in terms of damage?

So far this is what I have in mind:

1) Sharp cogs on the drivetrain which means lots of use
2) Gears must shift well
3) Obvious things like loose pedals and loose other things
4) Shocks I'm just going to have to wing and see if they feel ok even though I don't know what they should feel like
5) Bushings on the rear shock I don't know how to check this but I'll take a look and try to feel it out

Anything else?

With that rockhopper, I'm gonna suggest that you do a rebuild on the shock (airsleve maintence). Luckly, its really easy, you just need a simple kit. Fox has instructions soemplace. Otherwise, there's little else that needs to be done to a fox shock, so unless it has a big leak, it should be fine.
Expect the fork to be usable, but not perfect, esp if its an airshock.
Also, expect to replace the chain and cassette and the cables/housing.
Look at the hubs, headset, and bottom braket. If they're loose, run away. It may just need tightening, but it can indicate a lack of matinece. Esp a loose headset -- it can indicate an oavlized headtube.
Check for play in the brushings/suspention joints.

Are there any Kona dealers in your area?

Blast (http://www.konaworld.com/shopping_cart/FrontEnd/Products/product_detail.aspx?productid=334&parentid=253)

Fire Mountain (http://www.konaworld.com/shopping_cart/FrontEnd/Products/product_detail.aspx?productid=336&parentid=253)

The components on these bikes aren't the greatest, but probably more than enough for what you're looking to do. I also got a really good deal on a 2005 Cinder Cone from my LBS, about $200 below MSRP just because they were looking to clear out some room for the incoming 2006 models. If you can find a 2005 Kona for a good price, buy it. The components are better than the 2006 models, and you might be able to find one at a discount.

I don't know if you've already committed to buy the craigslist bike, but these two Konas might be worth a look.

Ugh, no. I wouldn't go above 19" if I were him.


Well if i were him i would definatley go above 19" . or at least make the 19" longer with a difference seatpost/longer stem/flat bars.

Well if i were him i would definatley go above 19" . or at least make the 19" longer with a difference seatpost/longer stem/flat bars.
Yeah, i'm 6'4" and need a 23" and my proportions require a smaller bike.
My dad's 6'3" and needs a 25"
Bike shopping's interesting when you're tall.

Legalize, at 6'2" your going to need at least a 20 inch frame...
Im 6'2" and ride a 19" Hardrock.

So I got the bike today, along with a helmet (too small for me) and a computer (nice little doo-hicky)

I have 2 nooby questions now:

I wiped off the rim where the brakes touch because there was a little sand on it - I ended up wiping a lot of grease off, too - is this ok? Or is there supposed to be some "grease" on the rim?

And - I don't know how to adjust the front shocks on this bike. There are plastic caps at the top of the front shocks, and they twist, but they dont seem to do anything when they twist. Do I just pop off the cap and adjust it from there?

Thanks!

Mountain Bike Maintenance: The Illustrated Manual, by Mel Allwood, probably at your local library.

Bye the way, what bike did you end up getting. For example:

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCDownloads.jsp?a=b

If you surf around the internet, you will probably find the information your looking for. Hope you enjoy your bike.

So I got the bike today, along with a helmet (too small for me) and a computer (nice little doo-hicky)

I have 2 nooby questions now:

I wiped off the rim where the brakes touch because there was a little sand on it - I ended up wiping a lot of grease off, too - is this ok? Or is there supposed to be some "grease" on the rim?

And - I don't know how to adjust the front shocks on this bike. There are plastic caps at the top of the front shocks, and they twist, but they dont seem to do anything when they twist. Do I just pop off the cap and adjust it from there?

Thanks!

Well, now that you've got the bike congrats and enjoy;) . I used my Rockhopper for many years until I recently upgraded. The black plastic caps (at least on the 2001) were not adjustable. It's a fixed 3" travel bike. You can adjust the rear for stiffness by turning the flange that sits above the spring.

The things that I enjoyed about mine is that the whole bike seemed very balanced and so the lack of tune-ability wasn't such an issue. At 32Ibs, it climbed in the saddle comfortable but standing was a mistake. And for V-brakes, they were very sharp and could stop on a dime. Anyway that was my 2001 which I sold to a friend today.

Grease on the rim, hmmm, wipe it off, it shouldn't be there. I would suggest as others have to check out two valuable site for bike repair and start getting familiar on how to take care of your ride.

Parktools.com
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/bikes.html

JagdNeun I got a Specialized hardrock comp fsr xc 2002, the one that's in the craigslist link (black/red/white) on page 1 of this thread

My rear shock is air filled, there's no spring. it has a nozzle so you can adjust/pump it, which is cool
He told me the front ones adjust so I'll try to pop off the plastic tomorrow (hopefully I won't end up breaking them?)

The "grease" seems like it's just the brake pads or something. Weird. I'll keep rubbing it off though.

The chain looks like the grease is kinda solidified (it's been sitting for a long time in a garage) and somewhat dirty (but not very dirty).

I think I need to clean it off somehow and then relube it. I wanna baby this bike as much as possible!!

The tires were flat after a year or more of sitting in the garage - is this normal? THey seem to be holding air so all is well right now

Low tires aren't that surprising, especially if it's been a year. Just fill them back up and see how long they hold air. If you find that you're filling them up so often that it gets annoying, then I'd do something about it. Congrats on the bike, that's pretty much what I was looking for. The ones I was finding on CL were going so fast I didn't have a chance. Ended up with a used Giant Warp DS1 last friday, but I'm really liking the rockhoppers.

Aw man I just let the air out of my air piston/rear suspension and found out you need a special pump to pump it back up!? damnit! hahaha now I need to go get one of those things. anyone know where I can get a cheap one? do they make 'em under 40 bucks?

Check out the rockhopper. The frame is solid and upgradable if you decide to dress it up in the future. I think the base model goes right around $500. I have an older ('02) rockhopper frame with some bells and whistles and it's a sweet bike.

edit: oops...didn't read the whole thread.