Mountain Biking - Any Suggestions?

Hello everyone,

I'm back in the market for a new mountian bike after my trusty one of 10 years has seen its last ride.

Today i went to my local bike shop to get a new one after looking for a couple weeks and I came out with a GT 3.0 upgraded with shamano clipless pedals. I love the gears and derailers and cranks on it, they feel strong and smooth and well balanced. However I will be returning the bike becaus eI'm unhappy with the way it handles. For one its too tall for me (Medium frame 18inches tall) and the front comes up really quite high, so its not very stable on tight sharp turns in the woods, and the stock tires are arnt for what I need them for.

So here's the type of riding I typically do, steep rocky downhills, tight wooded trails, and some technical.

I'm looking for a solid but not too heavy bike, that'll take abuse; and:
- 16" frame
- Dont want any handlebar rise & a strait handlebar
- I'm a fan of shimano components

I dont mind spending a few bucks as long as its a quality bike that wont have a cracked frame, or bent/snapped parts after a month.

Anything anyone has in mind?

Try norco bikes? im also a newbie too and don't know much about MTB, but i am gonna get a Norco soon, so just have a look. www.norco.com

Gary Fisher GED 15.5 bike?

Price range?

no more than 1000$

there is good norco bikes for 15" for under $1000

Do you want a bike that's a bit more overbuilt, an all mountain hardtail with 130 mm of travel?

Is the price canadian or USD? Here's the bike I was talking about:
http://www.norco.com/ts/pass/templates/bike_model.php?lang=en&loc=fs&sloc=am&tabloc=1&id=charger&col=black

softtail would be nice... what do you mean overbuilt? I'm not looking for anythign fancey.. just a nice broad lightweight frame my height.. knobby wheels.. good crank/gears..

That backbone is too high and the forks, are too tall.. I'm 5'8" and 140lbs

That's just the picture of the bike. That size is an 18 inch I think, but it comes in many other sizes. I'm about the same height as you, but I'm a bit heavier. I love my Z1 Fr 3, it has 150 mm of travel.

The Norco charger comes in 12.5, 15.0, 17.0, 18.5, 20.0, and 22.0.

kewl.. yeah.. i like those backbokes with such a sharp upward angle.. i like my handlebars down very low... its hard doing technical tight quick turns and manovers with a tall front end.

Here's something that might appeal to you more:
http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1044600&f=19

i meant I dont like those BB with the sharp upward angles...

backbokes
What's that?

Read this, it's an explanation of the parts of the outside of a fork:
http://bicyclehabitat.com/site/images/library/site/pict_fork_s.gif

Thanks somethign more of what I'm looking for

kewl.. yeah.. i like those backbokes with such a sharp upward angle.. i like my handlebars down very low... its hard doing technical tight quick turns and manovers with a tall front end.
You obviously havent tried a freeride bike yet.

Wondering if anyone could help me too because i dont feel like starting a new thread, Could anyone suggest me a good MTB less thatn $1300? I am 4 foot 9 and i weight 100lbs

Wondering if anyone could help me too because i dont feel like starting a new thread, Could anyone suggest me a good MTB less thatn $1300? I am 4 foot 9 and i weight 100lbs
You've asked me a thousand times on MSN. GO to ALL of your local bike shops, AND ASK THEM! Then try them and get the one you like. Instead of asking myself and others relentlessly, DO SOME RESEARCH. I've probably shown you 3 dozen bikes now...

Thats funny, the Norco Fluid looks much like the Trek liquid. Cmon..Fluid/Liquid hmm.