Mountain Biking - Raodie looking to spend 600-800 on a mountain bike

I ride road a lot, but I've been riding trails this summer some with some friends on my brother's lower-end Fuji. I pretty spectacularly destroyed the rear wheel and I'm only 165 pounds. So I owe him a new wheel, but I want something to ride myself. I am in MN, so no real mountains, just trails. I am thinking hardtail, because that's what I know. I'm most interested in quality wheels, fork and brakes. A friend of mine might be able to hook me up with a deal on a Cannondale at the shop he works at, but I'd love suggestions.
Does the hardtail idea seem like a good one? Full suspension seems a little much for me.

Edit: The other thing is I am 6'4" so I need something fairly large. Probably a 24" frame.

Ride as many as you can. You'll notice different things about how the frames feel and how they fit ya. You might look at the Specialized Rockhopper as well. You know enough about bikes to tell what you like and don't like.

I ride road a lot, but I've been riding trails this summer some with some friends on my brother's lower-end Fuji. I pretty spectacularly destroyed the rear wheel and I'm only 165 pounds. So I owe him a new wheel, but I want something to ride myself. I am in MN, so no real mountains, just trails. I am thinking hardtail, because that's what I know. I'm most interested in quality wheels, fork and brakes. A friend of mine might be able to hook me up with a deal on a Cannondale at the shop he works at, but I'd love suggestions.
Does the hardtail idea seem like a good one? Full suspension seems a little much for me.

Edit: The other thing is I am 6'4" so I need something fairly large. Probably a 24" frame.

I know the Caffeine 29er is out of your price range. but at 6'4'' , I would say you should really be nice to your friend, and see what kind of deal he can get you on one of them.

also, check out the Fisher 29er hardtails. the cobia looks like a decent hardtail almost in your price range.

Really try and ride a 29er and see if you like the fit better. 26'' wheels just don't look right on a 24'' frame. kind of like size 14 shoes. Most shoes look great at size 9. but bust out the size fourteens and they look stupid as hell.

I know the Caffeine 29er is out of your price range. but at 6'4'' , I would say you should really be nice to your friend, and see what kind of deal he can get you on one of them.

also, check out the Fisher 29er hardtails. the cobia looks like a decent hardtail almost in your price range.

Really try and ride a 29er and see if you like the fit better. 26'' wheels just don't look right on a 24'' frame. kind of like size 14 shoes. Most shoes look great at size 9. but bust out the size fourteens and they look stupid as hell.

And my roadbike looks sort of goofy in 60cm and 62cm frames! What fundamentally is the difference between 26" and 29" in terms of performance? Not going to lie, the one leg thing on those Caffeines weirds me out a bit..

And my roadbike looks sort of goofy in 60cm and 62cm frames! What fundamentally is the difference between 26" and 29" in terms of performance? Not going to lie, the one leg thing on those Caffeines weirds me out a bit..

the bearings in the Lefty fork are modeled after airplane landing gear

I think a 29er might be a good choice for you... Also, look into Giants and maybe a GT avalanche (1.0 or 2.0).

The new rockhopper29r will be out soon.

And my roadbike looks sort of goofy in 60cm and 62cm frames! What fundamentally is the difference between 26" and 29" in terms of performance? Not going to lie, the one leg thing on those Caffeines weirds me out a bit..

Performance? It's like having a bigger/longer car, or a bigger boat -- it handles larger bumps more easily (put another way, a given bump will disturb a 29er less than a 26er). You gotta try one out; it's really surprising (to me, anyway).

The Lefty fork is bad from a rider's perspective in mainly one aspect: it works so well that you keep looking down at it to watch, thereby getting distracted from the view ahead. ;) It's plush, and weighs less than a regular fork of equivalent travel.

Considering your stated budget, though... you probably shouldn't try it. You just might end up spending a few hundred dollars more than you originally planned. :D

Where in MN are you from?
The Minneapolis/St. Paul craigslist was loaded with bikes when I bought my MTB a few months back.
Also check out morcmtb.org Not only for the classifieds sections but youll meet people, find out about some more trails and learn about how to help.