Mountain Biking - Used bike?

I'm a newbie mountain biker looking to get his first real mountain bike.

Just wondering how old of a bike is considered no good.

I think i found a good deal on a specialized stump jumper 1998 model for 750 cdn... i think the guy will take 680 cdn or 489 USD.

Here are some pics

http://www3.sympatico.ca/davidyip/bike.jpg
http://www3.sympatico.ca/davidyip/XTR.jpg
http://www3.sympatico.ca/davidyip/bike2.jpg

Here is what his ad says

Firstly a '98 model Specialized Stump Jumper Comp.

-- 17.5" frame good for people around 5'7 - 5'11
-- M2 technology full aluminum frame
-- Rear derealleuirs(sp) are Shimano XTR's the fronts are XT's.
-- The brakes are Avid 2.0's
-- The Fork is Rock Shox Judy XC's.
-- Bike also has clipless pedals,
-- I will include excellent condition Fox biking gloves. (pics further down)
-- I will include a Bell helmet. I will get the bike fully rebuilt by the local bike store (rebuilds are $150 pro tune-up jobs, making the bike in tip-top condition) before I deliver or it's picked up.

The price for everything is $790 offers accpeted.

is 1998 too old? i heard that XTR 98 model is nto interchangeable to the new 2003/4 XTR stuff and vice versa because the frame in the rear is too narrow to fit a casseet with more gears?

Any advice is greatly apprciated

i dont know how the bike market is in canada, but i would not pay that much for that bike. if it was in 750 US, i would be able to get A MUCH BETTER HT. too late for a detailed explanation, but its my 2 cents.

Doesn't seem to be a bad deal, but check it out against what is listed on eBay. Will give you a bit of info on current pricing. You should find several similar bikes there.

Also, if you decide you are interested, negotiate your best price and then take the $150 off the top and have any work done yourself. That way you will know what has and hasn't been done and what is or isn't in good shape.

seems ok... bit of maintenance here and there and maybe a few upgrades should be a nice bike.... try to get abit more money off the top of that... it is a bit steep for such an old bike...

IMO the price is kinda high for a 5 year old MTB. Keep in mind that this is about the amount of time some people say you can expect an aluminum frame to last before it will start getting stress cracks. I'd offer him 300, if he doesn't take it I'd walk.

Also, why the heck does he have the fork crown mounted backwards!?!?!? :confused:

Unless you are looking for oldschool or classic bikes (for the sake of having the classic bike) its not worth it. No questions asked.

Yeah, that fork has been apart, and was reassembled incorrectly. I'd pass on that one, unless he dropped the price by half...then, I dunno.

Far too much for such an old bike, IMO. Suspension technology in particular has come ahead a long way since then.

In the US, US$500 gets you a pretty nice new hardtail (e.g. Specialized Rockhopper). Not sure what the prices are like in Canada, but I'd advise you check a few LBSs and see what's available.

For 300 cdn, it's be worth considering. I don't think I'd pay much more than that.

Hmm.. i didnt give it a thourgh look whwn i posted... looking at it now ive changed my mind... save up ur pennies and buy a better, more advanced bike for your money... it'll be worth it in the end

i would save your money and wait till another deal comes your way. ive been offered a 01 stumpjumper comp for $650 but i alreay purchased my bike so i couldn't srping at the deal. If you wait...good things will come your way.

thanks for all the advice guys