Mountain Biking - New bike

I am riding without rear suspension now and have had enuf. I want a new bike and wouldn't mind benefiting from some of the experience of others out there. Can anyone recommend a bike or two to look at? I was leaning to GF Sugar 3 but there are so many others I am wary. Wouldn't mind keeping it around $2000 CDN. Here's my details...

Bike:
Full suspension
Disc brakes

Me:
6'4"
225

Riding:
Weekend trails/hills
Dirt roads (washboard stuff)
Some aggressive riding but nothing crazy

Thanks

Not sure with the exchange rate, but check out the Giant NRS 2. It goes for about 1500 USD.

Yeah $1500 USD is about right. The Giant NRS 2 looks lke pretty good bang for buck. I dunno much about the company though. They make good stuff?

My LBS sells mostly Kona and Rocky Mountain but they said they can bring in pretty much anything. Either of those lines worth looking at? The Kona stuff is just so damn ugly I dunno if I could bring myself to buy one.

As long as you keep your "aggressive" riding to a minimum...the NRS is a good choice. Look at the VT as well - it's beefier (so are you at 225), has more travel and an amazing shock that nearly cancels pedal induced bobbing.

Kona and Rocky both make great bikes, can't go wrong with either. The entry level FS Rocky, the Fanatik (http://www.bikes.com/2003/fanatik.html) , goes for about 2100 I believe. Note that the components speced on the Rocky site are wrong, looks like the mix from one of their FR hardtails. The Kona Kahuna Deluxe (http://www.konaworld.com/2k3/2k3_kahuna_d.cfm) is slightly less and is speced similarly.

Main differences I see is that the rocky has a better frame (hand welded easton tubes, slightly lighter than the Kona according to the guys at my LBS) and better wheels (hand built wheels with Mavic 221s and DT spokes) while the Kona has better drivetrain components (XT/LX vs LX/Deore). Also I find that between Kona and Rocky in terms of 'in-house' components (stems, seat posts, bars...) the Rocky components are much nicer.

Give them a try and see which one floats your boat. Again, can't go wrong with either... I ride a Rocky, wifey rides a Kona.

Krisa, I am sorry I don't think hand welding is any better than machine welds. If the machines is setup right anyways. At the least these frames will be equal strength.

Rocky tend to be overpriced for what you get but I imagine in Yellowknife prices 'may' already be jacked up a bit. I like the NRS for the kind of riding you have described, look also at the Kona Bear (I think it is Dawg now due to copyrighting) which is a very good all round bike for aggressive xc. I am not sure of the price range you can get up there though.

Cheers

Thanks Maelstrom. From what I have seen, prices in Yellowknife (for bikes at least) are pretty much the same as they are elsewhere. I have heard that debate B4 about hand welds VS machine. Not being a welder I really don't know the answer. My LBS seems to move lotsa bikes that are 3-4K so I am pretty sure I can get whatever I want.

thumper,

Take a few out to ride, the RM a couple of Kona's etc...see which works best for you as they will all ride different. The Dawg will bob a little more as it is designed to be a more active suspension while the NRS and the Kahuna will be stiffer in the pedalling but will be MUCH better for climbing and xc. Figure out which type you want and works for you.

At that size, if you do aggressive riding, check out the Santa Cruz Heckler. It's a bit high, but worth the money. I love mine. If you are not to aggressive go for the others. I have basically the same specs, 6'4" and 235lbs. I have broken a few bikes and my wife swears she will never let me buy another after spending damn near 6k on various bikes before this one.:mad:

Here's a pretty good deal: http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.asp?number=46219

I really like this bike: http://www.supergo.com/itemdisplay.asp?parentid=21098&secid=7559&subid=7

L8R