Mountain Biking - Between Raleigh, Trek, and Giant....

Here's the deal. Getting a bike, basically only for school/city use, as well as the occasional "trail" (glorified dirt roads with occasional small bumps, not a real trail by any means.) Mainly all city use. I'm looking to get out for around 300, with 350 to 400 being an absolute MAXIMUM. I am completely on my own and working my way through college, this is a BIG investment for me and i just don't have the income to support a higher end bike.

My question is, i've been looking seriously at the Trek 3700 for around 310, the Giant boulder SE and Rincon for around 300 and 350, and today i saw a Raleigh 4.0 mojave on their website but could not find a price as they do not list, estimate is between 200 and 400 though. I'm leaning most towards the giant Boulder SE. What are the benefits i would see from one of the other three bikes, and personally, which brand do you pros trust most? :-)

also, are there any other bikes around that price range that you guys would recommend? I'm not familiar with alot of the brands out there, these are the brands that the two local shops around me mostly stock.

I got a 2007 Giant Yukon for $440, front and rear disc brakes, decent components but i want to upgrade already. i like it a lot so far

I'd check your local bike shop, and see what they have to offer. Better to find a bike there, test ride it, and have it supported by the shop, than to buy it online.

$400 should get you enough for what you're asking. My only question would be how big are you? I'd probably eat through a $400 bike in no time.

I'd check your local bike shop, and see what they have to offer. Better to find a bike there, test ride it, and have it supported by the shop, than to buy it online.


Exactly

[QUOTE=BugsInMyTeeth]I'd check your local bike shop, and see what they have to offer. Better to find a bike there, test ride it, and have it supported by the shop, than to buy it online.

My only question would be how big are you?

yeah that's what i've been doing. I'm lucky i live in the desert where there's lots of kids with not much to do, so we've got alot of bike shops. i plan on buying one from a LBS, and i'm still leaning toward either the trek 3700 or the boulder SE. I like the longer suspension on the boulder, and i think it fits me better, but like i said, i'm no expert.

For only $300-400, you might consider looking for a good used bike. There's pitfalls involved with that as well but any decent seller ought to consent to having the bike looked at by a local mechanic of your choice before you buy.

Well if you're basically going to be using the bike for road use, with the occasional trail, you might not need the extra suspension. On the roads, it might just end up eating up a little bit of your energy.

Well both the Giant and the Trek have about the same components.. Just go ride them and see what you like...

I wouldn't worry too much though about making serious comparisions.. You arn't going to be doing much trail riding and all 3 of those are great bikes... The Mojave 4.0 had an ugly paintjob.

true that guys. i rode both and i liked em, but i preferred the giant of the two. I also rode a haro V2 and a Khs Arlite 150 and like them both. i really liked how smooth and light the haro was, but i was really digging the disc brakes on the khs. Any opinions on those two?

oh and, if i effed any of those names up just now, i'm sorry, i was trying to remember them from yesterday without looking on the websites. Out of the four i'm now leaning towards the haro, but the giant is a close second.