Mountain Biking - Should I stay or should i go?

I am trying to decide if it makes sense to upgrade to a Trek 6500 from my current upgraded Trek 4300.

Here are the specs of the two bikes. UPGRADED COMPONENTS

My 2004 Trek 4300:



Advertised Retail in 2004: $359.99*


FULL SPECIFICATIONS

FRAMESET:
FRAME: Alpha SL aluminum
FORK: Rock Shox J3 6 months old


WHEELS: Sun Rhino LIte with LX hubs.
TIRES: IRC Mythos Slicks

DRIVETRAIN:
SHIFTERS: Shimano Alivio
FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano C050
REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano XT
CRANKSET: Deore Hollowtech - new XT middle ring
CASSETTE: SRAM 850 11-28, 8 speed
PEDALS: Eggbeaters

COMPONENTS:
SADDLE: Brooks B17
SEATPOST: Bontrager
HANDLEBARS: Bontrager Sport, 25mm rise
STEM: Bontrager, 25 degree
HEADSET: Cane Creek S2
BRAKESET: Alloy linear pull w/alloy levers

(I will be keeping the saddle, and pedals.)

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TREK 6500- 2006 SRP $769, on Sale for $599 (http://www2.trekbikes.com/bikes/bike.php?bikeid=1037600&f=19)


Frameset
Sizes 15.5, 17.5, 19.5, 21.5"
Frame Alpha SLR Aluminum
Front Suspension Manitou Axel Elite w/preload, TPC lockout, 80mm
Wheels
Wheels Shimano M475 disc hubs; Bontrager Camino alloy rims
Tires Bontrager Jones ACX, 26x2.2"
Drivetrain
Shifters Shimano Deore
Front Derailleur Shimano Deore
Rear Derailleur Shimano Deore XT
Crank Shimano M440 44/32/22
Cassette SRAM PG950 11-34, 9 speed
Pedals Alloy platform
Components
Saddle Bontrager Select
Seat Post Bontrager Select
Handlebars Bontrager Select, 25mm rise, 31.8mm
Stem Bontrager Select, 7 degree, 31.8mm
Headset Aheadset Slimstak w/semi-cartridge bearings, sealed
Brakeset Shimano M431 w/Tektro alloy levers

So what should I do?

Buy the 6500 because it's new :p

Get the 6500

Can someone please say why? I know the 6500 is new, but would it be a waste of money? I've upgraded quite a few things on my 4300.

For the fork itself.

Hmm actually I'll take the J3 over the Manitou any day.

I would stick with the 4300, those upgrades are pretty good and the jump to the 6500 is just not worth it in my opinion.

The 6500 probably has a lighter frame too - it's made of a different aluminum (according to Trek) which is supposed to be lighter. Also has the cool tube shaping (SLR aluminum vs. the SL on the 4300). The 6500 comes with disc-ready hubs, so if you ever want to upgrade, you won't need a whole new wheelset - just pop the brakes on.

My wife has an 06 6500 which has been beat on pretty bad and is still holding up fine. The fork is a little heavy, but has never had a single problem in about 6 months of riding.

Dang it Portis! Now I got that stupid song in my mind. Get a Kona.:p

Dang it Portis! Now I got that stupid song in my mind. Get a Kona.:p

Sorry for that. ;)

I might add that I have compared these bikes quite extensively. According to a Trek representative, the SLR frame on the 6500 is only 8 ounces lighter. So not a great gain there. When comparing the bikes as they come stock, the 19.5" 6500 is supposed to be about 2 lbs lighter.

I have lightened a few things on mine so I am guessing that I would probably be shaving about 1 lb at the most. It's a tough call.

4300

Definitely stick with the 4300 for now. The move to the 6500 wouldn't be a significant enough upgrade to make it worth the money. The 6500 is just a so-so bike, and why blow your money on a so-so bike if you're interested in upgrading from another so-so bike?

My advice (and the only advice that really makes sense here) is to save up a little longer and make the upgrade worthwhile.

I would never buy a bike thats barely an upgrade. It would feel like a waste.

Keep the 4300. That's what I have also, but it came with disk brakes, which I've upgraded the front to a BB7, as well as new tires, fork, time Z pedals, grips and seat. Part of biking I like the most is upgrading the parts and doing my own wrenching. In a year or two you'll see a bike that YOU built and not one that you went and bought with all the parts that you still might not want.

I"ll be installing a new crank w/BB, chain and rear cassette on it this winter.

Keep the 4300. That's what I have also, but it came with disk brakes, which I've upgraded the front to a BB7, as well as new tires, fork, time Z pedals, grips and seat. Part of biking I like the most is upgrading the parts and doing my own wrenching. In a year or two you'll see a bike that YOU built and not one that you went and bought with all the parts that you still might not want.

I"ll be installing a new crank w/BB, chain and rear cassette on it this winter.

I think i will stick with my 4300 as well. I will keep adding decent components, like stem, handlebar, seatpost and eventually shifters and a 9 speed conversion. Then I can hunt down a good frame someday and move it all over onto it.

i have a 4300 and my friend has a 6500. the only think i like differently on his is the hydrolic disk brakes, everything else seems to work the same as mine. plus with the new fork on your bike, it should act better than the 6500

i have a 4300 and my friend has a 6500. the only think i like differently on his is the hydrolic disk brakes, everything else seems to work the same as mine. plus with the new fork on your bike, it should act better than the 6500

Screw a bunch of hydro's on a mountain bike. Put some BB7's on that 4300 and you'll be stopping better than a sports car. I"m still :D from just my single BB7 upgrade on the front of mine. I"d like one on the rear too but I seldom use the rear so I'll use the money on something more beneficial...