Mountain Biking - OK I have done my homework a little more help tho please

Tomorrow is the day!

-After 1 month of spending hours looking at tons of bikes and specs online, and going to 15 local bike shops and bike shops in other towns.....

I will be going to world of wheels bike shop tomorrow, and they have 450-500 bikes on the floor at all tiems, plus what they have in the back. I have test road a lot of bikes, but plan to test ride A LOT more tomorrow.

I talked with my mom, and although I have $2500 saved up right now, her and I both decided it's good to stay on a budget with my first bike, to make sure I continue with the hobby/sport and because I already smash around on a 6 year old specialized rockhopper, so I know I can ride budget bikes to the fullest, so I do not need a top of the line bike just yet. If i continue with it, I will get a $1500-$2000 range bike in september for my 18th birthday.

Ok so now on to tomorrow.....

I am going in there with a budget of around $500-$600, plus a lil for accessories (camelback, extra tube, maybe a small multitool).

He said he has every brand like ironhorse, giant, gary fisher, specialized, etc. etc.

Now I REALLY like the specialized bikes and i think i will get one unless i find soemthing else i really like more.

Now my requirements are simple
-durable trails bike
-good climber and descender
-efficient pedler
-rim brakes or disc, does not matter to me
-stay in budget (+/-$50)
-I like the looks to cater to a 17 year old, not the old man look :-)

Questions:
1) Is lockout definately something to look at, reason i ask is because i really like the hardrock line but none of them have lockout, however rockhopper does have it.
2) How different are rockhopper/hardrock
3) what other bikes that meet my requirements from other brands should I consider?

Ow man, what kind of riding are you going to be doing? To only spend 500-600 when you have a lot more...gross. You'll understand once you go to all those shops, you'll come back with a completely different state of mind.

i wouldn't base my decision on a lockout fork or not. half the time i forget i have it. its not the end of the world not having it.

you're going for hard tails at that price...right? why don't you focus on getting an upgradeable frame?? you should be able to find a frame in that price range that could also be on a 1500 dollar bike i would think.

also, huge thing in my book and something i would consider are the brakes. i would get something that is disc no matter what. tektro is fine. it will still slow you down. but this way, if you like everything and stay with the sport you can easily upgrade to some avid Juicy 5s for a little over 200 bucks without the added hassle of getting all new wheels as well. dealing with low quality disc brakes for a couple months without having to deal with new wheels as well would be worth it to me anyway. if you don't like the look of brake bosses on the frame you might even keep your eye out for frames that do not have them. although in that price range it might be harder to find.

Ow man, what kind of riding are you going to be doing? To only spend 500-600 when you have a lot more...gross. You'll understand once you go to all those shops, you'll come back with a completely different state of mind.
i agree...i think you should spend a little more on a bike that is hugely capable of being upgraded. then you don't have to even get a new bike shortly down the road.

who cares if you don't stick with it. sell it on ebay

You're already riding around on a 6 year old rockhopper but this is the first bike you're going to buy with your own money?...I'm almost a little confused there but I think that's what you meant...With that in mind though it sounds like you already have an idea if you like riding so I'd have to agree with the recent posts in saving that 600 and putting it toward a really nice bike in September or whenever. Besides by then there should be some end of the year sales opportunities to save a few more hundred on a Stumpjumper or another brand you like. Maybe start a short list now of your favorite models and research and test ride them in the next few months. ...if you were or are going to get a 500 bike tomorrow is another Rockhopper on your list? I'd wait though, add some money to your stash and then if you had 3000 by sept spend half and you'd have a great bike plus 1500 bucks, best of both worlds.

Don't get into XC, it's for old guys with bad knees. ;) Get a Freeride/street/dirt jumper ;)

I'm a little confused as to why you're even getting a new bike now for that price if you're to get a significantly better one in 3-4 months. You call the Rockhopper you're riding now a budget bike as far as I can gather but if you look the Rockhopper now is basically right in the middle of your price range. Like some others have said you'd probably be much better off riding the one you have now and using the 5-600 in September. No offense but spending that much now seems like a pretty big waste unless you just want to have a second bike almost immediately.

Don't get into XC, it's for old guys with bad knees. ;)

Far from it ;)

well I don't need anything super special , and that 6 year old hardrock fits all my needs was my point. Therefore, I don't need anything high end. Also, that 6 year old HARDROCK is not even mine, its my uncles.

Maybe you should just get a base hardrock for like 350, use it as a beater until you get a nice bike. It would be better to have something to learn on in the meantime.

Just buy an FSR and upgrade it when you need to.

Maybe you should just get a base hardrock for like 350, use it as a beater until you get a nice bike. It would be better to have something to learn on in the meantime.

that is whats making the most sense to me right now. I am thinking about just getting a base model which in my eyes isnt a beater :( and basically riding the **** out of it and then gettign a nice bike.

Gary Fisher piranha. I'm getting one, and I'm 15. I've read great reviews on it and it haw everything you need. Sweet paintjob too