Mountain Biking - Help me.... my old bike wont cut it anymore

alright... i've basically had it with my current bike. its been with me for 6-7 years, and i think it has taken all the abuse it can handle. there is just too much that needs to be replaced on it to get it perfectly functional. yes... i didnt treat it well throughout college, and it is coming back to get me. (stupid 1" fork travel... anyway i digress)

so... i took about 2-3 hours the other day and made a list of all the bikes that caught my eye on basically every bike webpage i could think of. now i need some input from you... the "wise elders"

but rather that spout off the 20 or so bikes that i looked at, i would like to get some recommendations from you as to what YOU think i should look at a bit harder.

requirements...
im about 5'-11", about 160-170 (im a guy... i dont weigh myself often :D ) bike size i can figure out at the LBS when know what bike im looking at.

price range: well i looked at bikes from $400 to $1300 (mmm.... nice Norco HT) but i would like to spend about $800-$900 (give or take). thats out the door ready to ride price, all upgrades included.

FS or HT... doesnt matter, but i know that im gonna get screwed if i buy a FS for the money im spending.

what i ride: i love forest / trails, dirt, dead trees, basically a wide single track. but i do get stuck on the paved paths every now and then... i dont really do downhill or any racing... so this is definately a weekend (and any weekday possible) warrior bike.

oh, and i want disc brakes or, at least for it to be disc brake ready.... no new hubs for me!!!

so let me hear it... if you want more info just ask and i will answer. im open to a lot right now... so if you throw an idea out there and tell me to upgrade parts right away... i wont mind.

feel free to abuse my newbie-ness as well... but i figured "im just gonna jump right into the shark tank"

wow.... long post...sorry
~mike

RockHopper Comp (http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?san=03RockhopperComp&bl=mountain&my=2003) - Manipoo Axel on the front, yucky

Kona Caldera (http://www.konaworld.com/2k3/2k3_caldera.cfm) - Deore hydraulic discs are so-so, zochi EXR fork isn't too bad (better than an axel), decent components

Trek 6700 (http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2003/mountain/6700.jsp) - Decent components, not a bad drive train, never used a pilot, but I havn't heard anyone complaining about theirs

Giant Rainier (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?lYear=2003&bikesection=8817&range=122&model=10635) - Avid discs are great, Axel fork is not, decent drivetrain

Haro Escape 8.2 (http://www.harobikes.com/2003/e82.html) - More of a dirt jumping bike, but a great value regardless. RS Psylo is a good fork, LX / Deore drivetrain, Deore hydro discs

Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo (http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bike_detail.asp?series=genesis&bike=HKEK) - Yucky axel on the front, LX / Deore drivetrain, no discs (but disc ready I believe)

These are the bikes you're most likely to find at your LBS. Best value in my opinion is the Haro.

Edit: linked to the wrong haro

give a man a fish you will feed him for a day teach a man to fish and feed him for life

I thought it was, "Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish, he will sit in a boat for hours at a time getting drunk"

Also, Kona Nunu? Caldera, both have disks, decent frames and mixes of components, and of course the Marzocchi forks are decent, but a tad heavier than the Axel.

what was that pterman?

hey, that Haro looks prett good. What does it go for? what about the 8.2 and 8.1?

yea are you talking? (from Tommyboy)
byron

I actually mixed the 8.3 and the 8.2 up. The 8.3 has the XT / LX drivetrain and the psylo and runs 1100. The 8.2 has an LX / Deore drivetrain and a zochi EXR fork. Its pretty much the Caldera with a different frame. Not to mention a lower price tag of $800. The 8.1 has a Deore / Alivo drivetrain and a Manitou Six Sport 100mm fork. It goes for $620. I still think the haro 8.2 is your best bet in that lot.

yeah... the haro 8.2 was one of the ones i had my eye on based on the specs... now i just gotta get over the color choice on that bike. the green initially killed me, but it is starting to grow on me. plus i like the avid mechs and the general components seemed on par with my level of abilities... dont need XT / XTR parts... just more expensive to fix when i bail.

as for upgrades... i was thinking of getting a DJ3 or an MX comp ETA instead of the EXR. but right now, i dont know what the shop will be able to do.

let me hear your thoughts on this little addition.

~Mike

edit...

Originally posted by PTerman
give a man a fish you will feed him for a day teach a man to fish and feed him for life
wow... philosophy with my bike recommendations... this place has it all :rolleyes:

All we need now is an in-flight movie. I think the DJ3 or MX Comp would both be good for the bike. Given your riding style I lean to the MX

Originally posted by DiL
All we need now is an in-flight movie. I think the DJ3 or MX Comp would both be good for the bike. Given your riding style I lean to the MX

after reading up on the marzocchi site... i like the MX better,plus the ETA is a nice feature.

after all the considerations... i think the top 3 bikes are the Giant Rainier, Haro Escape 8.2, and the Haro Extreme X2. of course, i would like to dump the fork on any of them and pick up the MX comp ETA for whatever i choose.

of those 3...???

~mike

I'm not crazy about the single-pivot design on the Extreme X2. If you're planning on changing the fork anyway, you're pretty much looking at 2 identical bikes for almost the same price. The main difference is the frame. That in mind, I would favor the Rainier because I'm more inclined to trust Giant's frames than Haro's. You should ask your shop if they'll cut you a deal on swapping to a different fork.

yeah... im assuming right now that they will be willing to perform the upgrade on a "pay the difference" basis. thats how i got some better stuff on the last bike.

but if push comes to shove, and they are unwilling to do the upgrade on my terms, i'll just stick with the stock setup... for now.

~mike