Mountain Biking - Best hardtail between $500-1000......Complete bike

I was trying to find the $500 bike thread, but was not successful. So, I thought I would start this one. Since, there are many new contributors and new bikes/ideas in the market these days......it would be an interesting discussion.......the idea was rejouvinated by a hiker friend who wants to join mountain biking.....but he is very discouraged by all the bling bling bikes on the magazines (he runs a bood store) that he came across.....also, when he tried to find a decent bike at the above price range he could not get any helpful direction from those magazines....

I think we can help him out.......I gave him a couple of option...but he thinks I am bias towards Kona and Rockhopper.....but he has devoted his trust on you guys....please help him out..

On the lower end of the scale, I really like my Gary Fisher Tassajara. I was able to get a new 06 for $500.00. Why do I like it.....It has nice component mix with a Deore front, LX rear deraileur. Disc ready hubs with quality Bontrager rims. Single Digit 3 brakes. If there is a weak point it would be the Manitou Axel Platinum fork ....but to be honest, I found if I ran the Air Pressure on the low side they don't feel all that bad.

The $500 thread:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=56148

tassajara disc. great frame design, good components, & hydro discs for under $1,000.

Thanks never.....

I have 2 Brodie Omegas that run 6-700. Very tough bike.

I used to think that Rockhoppers were one of the best bikes in this price range.....but, recently it looks like they are downgrading the specs on the hopper..........do you think with the recent set up.....rockhopper is a lesser bike......specially given the fact that companies like...Iron Horse and GT, among others, are offering a much better package at that price point.....

any thought

I wouldn't have bought a rockhopper if it were speced like the 07's when i was shopping.

Kona did the same thing last year. My 2005 Blast went down a notch in several components in 2006.

How about this one:

http://www.rscycle.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7932/.f?sc=7&category=56

That IH was going to be my bike, until my lbs switched to Specialized and stopped carrying IH. I was gutted when i couldnt get it. Cool colour too.

You won't find better for the price imo.

that Iron Horse and the Iron horse race (http://www.rscycle.com/s.nl/it.A/id.7943/.f?sc=7&category=56) are great deals.......I wish had the money for an extra bike. I would definitely buy one of those or this one (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/4826,73921_Scott-USA-Mountain-Bike-Scale-60.html) you can get this bike for $520 with coupons and discounts......

Is he long legged. I beleive a Cobia with 29" wheels can be had for a bit under $1000. If he is a hiker he will appreciate the roll.

I know they say buying bikes online without having ridden them is a bad idea, but check this bike out : http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/TR-COMP-X7-Details.html . For the money those are some darn good components. If you can spend around $1250, then check out the Trophy Pro. SRAM X.9 derallieurs, Juicy-7 hydraulic brakes, the works. This one that is $869 and features X.7 derallieurs and Avid BB-7 mech disc brakes. The fork is pretty decent, but could be upgraded to something with a little more travel if you need it. A really neat feature on the Trophy Pro is that it has a remote lockout for the front fork. To me that seems like an awesome idea. Here is the link for the Trophy Pro : http://www.ibexbikes.com/Bikes/TR-PRO-Details.html .

my trek 4500 was $460 new out the door. it has tektro v brakes that don't even compare to hydros but work pretty well when adjusted properly, fork/frame/wheels are all disc ready, i may upgrade someday but they get me by. the rockshox judy fork is very firm. its rigid most of the time and only compresses on bumps. i'd like it to be softer but i like the firmness as i ride on road 70%+ of the time. it weighs about 26lbs without accessories., acera front/deore rear ders. the acera has never needed adjustment in the 2 years ive had it. the deore needs adjustment about every 100 miles, but even when its out of adjustment it rides fine, i just like it to be perfect. it came with broad metal platform pedals with pegs. umm not sure what else to say. i've ridden it on hundreds of on and off road miles and it loves it. i changed the grips to spec ergos and the saddle to a terry. i also threw on chevron tread tires (more road oriented than the acx's it came with, but still very nice off road) and a rear rack since i do more commuting than off road during the winter. i might keep the rack on because it acts as a fender and i could haul more food/first aid/camera stuff on trails in the summer too. all in all i think its a great bike for the money and what i do with it.

my wife has a trek fuel ex that has 4" or 5" in the front and rear, and both can go from super soft to firm to locked out, so it can be a rigid, a plush HT, a firm HT, a plush FS, or a firm FS. it came with fox front and rear suspension and LX front and XT rear ders, hayes hydros - nines or sole i don't remember, they work well though - it was $1300