Mountain Biking - Another what bike thread....

A LBS near me stocks Felt and Jamis and I am looking for a hardtail under $500. The low end Felt, Q620, is $549 retail, more than I wanted to spend. Jamis has the Cross Country 1.0 and 2.0 which are closer to what I want to spend at $385 and $465 retail.

http://www.feltracing.com/products/product.asp?pid=38&catid=18,23,34
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/cc1.html
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/cc2.html

I am wondering how these bikes compare to each other? Is the Felt worth the extra money? Or is the CC 2.0 worth the extra cash over the 1.0? I am new to MTB and would just be starting out riding light trails to see if I like it.

Thanks for your input.

edit: They stock Scott also, just to confuse the matter further :)

http://www.scottusa.com/product.php?UID=9803 Voltage YZ 35
http://www.scottusa.com/product.php?UID=9804 Voltage YZ 2

bump... no opinions? C'mon, this is the internet isnt it? :P

Except for the stinky Altus shifter/brake levers, the Felt is a superior offering to the two Jamis bikes. The two Scott bikes you posted have poor component sets. Just so you are aware the Scott's you cited are "assault bikes". They're peppering you with the graphics version of heavy metal and concealing the crap components on those bikes.

My advice ... save yourself more money in the long run by spending more money up front.

My suggestions:

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/mountain/10/28390/
http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=11&itemid=288
http://www.raleighusa.com/items.asp?deptid=11&itemid=340
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/07_bikes/cc3.html
http://www.diamondback.com/items.asp?deptid=14&itemid=218
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=22084
http://www.scottusa.com/product.php?UID=9712

yeah those scott bikes are freeride bikes
not suited for XC or rec riding

Thanks Will, I am leaning towards a Jamis but will check out the others too.

Thanks Will, I am leaning towards a Jamis but will check out the others too.

Buy as much bike as you can. Lot's of people buy $350 bikes to test the waters and then end up either not riding because the bike doesn't function as well as they'd like or buy a new bike within a year. Either way, it's kind of an expensive lesson.

If you put a bit more money in the bike, you have a better functioning bike which you are more likely to ride and, since you put money in it, you aren't as likely to let it sit gathering dust. The Jamis bikes are okay but I'd probably go for the Felt. Or look at a Jamis CC 3.0 or a Durango 1.0? Both are comparable to the Felt.

However if the Felt is that pretty red, it's way better than another hohum black or silver bike;)

The CC 3.0 is more affordable for me than the Durango. I do like the look of the Felt bike, you are right about the red :)