Mountain Biking - What do you think about these???

Hey, Im one of those guys trying to get his first bike. I have done lots of research on bikes. Im really looking at the Kona NuNu, GF Tassajara, Specialized Rockhopper, Trek 4900, and Giant XTC2. I havent seen too much info on here about Rocky Mountain bikes. What dou you guys think about them? Would you recommend one? I have a buddy who can get me a Rocky Mountain Hammer for $900 bucks. What do you guys think?

Also there is a LBS here that has Kona NuNus for $700 with disk brakes, but i did some research and seems the fork on those arent too good. Any suggestions?

Thanks

All the bikes you've listed are good quality bikes including the Rocky's. The thing you must remember when buying a bike, that regardless of what components are attached to the bike, if it doesn't fit you, you won't like it. You should definately test ride each bike you're considering, narrow it down to your favorite 3, then test ride those again. Buy the one that "Feels" the best!

L8R

Ooooh, Hammer. The Nunu is a nice bike, but the Shimano mech discs are generally panned and the EXR Comp (read: elastomer) is not up to the Marz name. For 200 extra the Hammer gives you wayyy better frame, wheels, fork, stem and bar (raceface), etc.

Frame: hand welding STEEL vs aluminum -> no contest, the Rocky will last decades and give a better ride while only giving up 1 lb.
Wheels: hand built DT spoked 221's vs machine built cheepos. Again no contest.
Fork: MX Pro vs EXR comp, nuff said
Stem and bar: Raceface vs sort of cheep looking "in house" components, even if it is cheep Raceface Prodigy stuff, still way better then "in house" gear.

I'd go for the Hammer. After enduring a season of racing and fun trail riding on an aluminum Rocky, I'll tell you this, my next hardtail with definately be steel. The ride of aluminum is miserable, on rough trails I have a hard time keeping the back tire down when I mash the peddles. I think the flex of steel would really help. Plus the thin steel tubes look cool!

Get the Hammer, you will not regret it!

Man, that is what i was looking for, I appreciate your help big time...!!!!

No prob, let us know what you end up getting. (rocky rocky rocky... ;) )

Thats not quite true...that the RM will outlast the others...

Of those bikes I would say a rocky.

Originally posted by math2p14
Thats not quite true...that the RM will outlast the others...

Steel vs Aluminium -> most info I've heard is that aluminum fatigues over time and that most people recomend replacing alm frames every 5 years. Plus Rocky offers a 5 year warantee on their alm frames, lifetime on their steel frames.

This is not exclusive to Rocky, any quality steel frame should drastically outlast any quality aluminum frame.

I tend to disagree to that...allu vs steel debate as i own both a steel and an allu frame.

well, for the money i like the tassajara and the nunu, but seems the forks arent worth a &*$@ , so thats whats making me leaning towards the Rocky. But then i see people on here saying the rocky is overpriced. Also, if i get the Rocky, id have to order it and wont be able to ride it before i buy it, but there are some lbs around here that has some of the other bikes i want. So ,, im stuck with that....what to do what to do..... :confused:

think since this is my first bike I would be able to tell the difference in bad forks from good? btw, i weigh like 235 so i dont know if that would be a factor or not....

thanks

Rocky mountains are highly overpriced in comparison with Trek,Specialized,Giant, etc.
I would suggest to go for a rockhopper . i am 220lbs and i have one. tremendous frame for the money

The Rocky Mountains in general are overpriced, but if you have a buddy that can get you a deal on one, I think the quality of the Hammer is better than the rest.

Originally posted by gonesh9
The Rocky Mountains in general are overpriced, but if you have a buddy that can get you a deal on one, I think the quality of the Hammer is better than the rest.

Agreed. I would never buy an RM unless it was on sale. Even then it can still be overpriced.

In anycase if an allu frame brakes...you got lifetime warranty for that at least for specialized ones.

thanks guys,, you think 900 bucks is good price for the RM Hammer? also there is a store here that has the NuNun for 700..

900 is smoking for a bike that retails for $1265.00! There aren't alot of reviews on MTBR for the Hammer, but the few there are are very favorable (http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/2003_hardtail/product_121565.shtml).

Again for 200 bucks the fork upgrade alone is probably worth it. Just do it!

If you are looking at a Kona for comparisons sake, the closest model is the 2003 Explosif (http://www.konaworld.com/2k3/2k3_explosif.cfm). The spec is very similar to the Rocky (kona has XT vs LX shifters, while the rocky has SD7 vs SD5 brakes and levers), main difference is that the Kona uses the dual coil version of the same shock and costs more. Only possible downside to the Kona is perhaps the wheels, machine built usally means hand trued soon. I'd ask my LBS to check the wheels before I rolled out of the shop with machine built wheels.

Indeed it is a good price. If you want a good xc ht then the hummer is a good bet at 900$ however at the msrp you are FAR better of with a stumpjumper a rockhopper or a trek 8000, Giant XTC2 etc.

Jamis Komodo. Might be what you are looking for. It goes for about $1600, has hydro disk brakes and XT all the way around with some XTR thrown in there and a Marzocchi Z.1 fork. Just a bad looking bike.

well, i ended up getting a bike that i really didnt "set out" for, but i have heard of it and it had some great parts on it. I picked up a 2002 Bianchi Grizzly new at a lbs. They had it on sale for $1099. Got them to throw in a pair of Shimano clipless shoes also.

Dude, PICS, we need pics!

L8R

I agree with a2psyklnut.... u should test all of the bikes including the rocky mountain and see whch one u like best