Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - First SS MTB?

OK, we all know that for $600 retail you can get a decent SS/FG road bike - Pista, Rush Hour, 925, etc, etc. I went mountain biking for the first time today, and I'd like to get a SS mountain bike, hard tail, front suspension (the bike I borrowed had some gear/chain problems, and I ended up riding it in one speed the whole time anyway). Nothing amazing, but not something that weighs the same as the $250 Trek I borrowed.

A quick search of the web reveals the two Bianchi offerings (Rita and Lewis), which look really nice, but $1400 is a little hard to stomach for something that I probably won't do more than once a month or so. Heck, that'd be about the top of my budget for a new road bike, which I ride a few times a week (when I'm not on the FG). Some of the small manufacturers seems to have nice stuff, but I assume it's out of my price range.

So, is there any decent SS MTB out there for $600 or so? Something with a good frame that would at least allow me to upgrade to new wheels and disc brakes at a later date (I assume that getting discs for $600 is a pipe dream)?

Redline monocog is under 600 in both 26" and 29" versions. The Bianchi MUSS is 800 new so a used one might well be under 6. You could get a used surly 1x1 (what I ride) or On One Inbred in that price range too. The GT Peace is a ss 29er that can be had for about 450. Those are a few just off the top of my head.

of those I think the Muss and the Peace have discs, are you wanting full discs or one up front and a flip flop in the rear?

there don't seem to be any available now, but motobecane has a a single speed mountain bike in either 26" or 29" on ebay. they were around $350 shipped. seemed like pretty good deals
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=295367&highlight=outcast

edit: no disc options, but if you wanted you could always upgrade the fork.

A conversion is also a very inexpensive option. I rode one for a couple of years and all I did was take a cassette hub and a 3 speed cog with spacers to make it a single speed. It held up great for quite a while. I didn't see the logic in spending gobbs of money on something I was going to beat up in the woods.

Redline monocog is under 600 in both 26" and 29" versions. The Bianchi MUSS is 800 new so a used one might well be under 6. You could get a used surly 1x1 (what I ride) or On One Inbred in that price range too. The GT Peace is a ss 29er that can be had for about 450. Those are a few just off the top of my head.

of those I think the Muss and the Peace have discs, are you wanting full discs or one up front and a flip flop in the rear?

the redline is a pretty good bike, but i agree that getting a surly 1x1 or bianchi used would be the best way to go... it's the way i went! pretty much a bianchi consonate-vowel-SS of your choosing will be a nice bike, and while many came with rigid forks, you can always swap it out without much trouble.

converting is also a very cheap way to go, but there's just something about that chain tensioner that makes me spend so much more money... *shrug*

What about the cro-mo Bianchi frame (MUSS) vs. the Al Bianchi Lewis (almost double the price)? Is the added weight of the cro-mo worth the nice ride, and does it really matter if I'm using this once a month or so on 2 hours rides?

i got a kona unit and love the rear "slide dropout" system
http://www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k7/UNIT29/index.html

I just scored an '06 M.U.S.S. for $500. All I need to do is find a decent suspension fork and replace that leapard skin saddle, and I'm good to go impale myself on rocks. :)

Well, unless I was too late and they are out of stock come Monday, I just scored an '06 M.U.S.S. for $500. All I need to do is find a decent suspension fork and replace that leapard skin saddle, and I'm good to go impale myself on rocks. :)
Enjoy! I test rode one before getting a San Jose and liked it quite a bit.