Mountain Biking - Trek 930

Hi I am new here. I am looking at getting a Mt. Bike. I have a low end road bike(MSRP $550) but I don't ride it after I hurt my back. I put it on craigslist to trade for a Mt. Bike so I would have a more upright riding position and had an offer of a Trek 930 "SingleTrack". Not exactly sure what year but from what I have read online I belive it is a 99.
Here is picture of it http://xs123.xs.to/xs123/08051/trek_1910.jpg
Are these good bikes? and is there anything I should look for when I go look at it?
Thanks

I have an 820. I like it, solid frame, you may wanna change the DT when it wears out.

what is DT? Sorry, I am pretty new to biking. I got the road bike to commute on then I hurt myself a few weeks later lol.

Hey, welcome to BF.

DT = drive train (sprocket, chain, chainrings...).
Also sometimes refers to wheel/parts manufacturer DT Swiss.

What brand/year is your road bike? That trek was maybe $550.00 when it was new.

If you want a more upright riding style, frame size/shape, stem/bar position, and seat height/position are all important. Mt Bikes aren't generally designed to be upright comfort bikes, but with some adjustments and part swapping they can be quite comfortable. Just my 2 cents.

thanks. It is a 2004 Motobecane Mirage. I dint pay $550 for it, I bought it off craigslist for $125. The trek has a new rear derailer, shifters, and chain.
If I wasn't a poor college student I would just buy a mt bike but at the moment I can only trade what I have.
My doctor told me it would it is much easier on my back to be on a mt bike. Also another reason for the mt bike is my girlfriend is a mt biker so I want to ride with her :)

Do you have any sugestions of good entry level bikes that are not expensive?

I have an older 930 ('92 or '93) that I still use regularly for commuting. The frame will most likely outlast me. If you only paid $125 for the Motobecane and if the 930 is in mint shape, then it might not be that bad of swap if you don't want the hassle of trying to resell the Motobecane.

But I'd try the 930 or some similar bike first. The 930 might still aggravate your back, depending on where your injury is.

ok thanks. I would prefer just to do a trade but I might try to sell it and use the money to get a better bike. Right now I am at school and am kinda in the middle of nowhere in Oregon(Klamath Falls) so I haven't got much interest in it. I might have to wait until I go back home(San Jose) to actually be able to sell/trade it.

That Trek is a 99 model according to what i have researched. So it is 5 yrs older than your road bike. Still you aren't talking about huge dollar amounts here and your road bike doesn't have much value either albeit maybe a bit more than that 930. Also that 930 seems to have been stored outside so may need a lot of maintenance to get it up and running.But if it fits and you are looking for an easy answer to your problem, than go for it.

Of course keep in mind that your back issues may have nothing to do with either bike. IOW, the mtb may hurt it worse, you are only guessing.

My first 'real' mtb was a 930. It did its job. My biggest complaint was that the frame felt a little flexy; I could feel the bottom bracket moving around beneath me when going through an intense up or downhill. I raced it for a year, until I bent the derailleur hanger in all sorts of weird directions on a stick. This may not sound like a glowing review, but the bike did its job, and did it pretty darned well. It did its job well enough to get me into cycling on a permanent basis.

I think you could throw a few bucks into that 930 and have a good bike for whatever you need.

I would go for a rigid fork too, actually.

One thing for sure, the TREK 930 is durable. I've had one since the early '90s and it's like an old Toyota Landcruiser, it just won't stop. Solid, stable, comfy, lots of "hard points" for freight. I've tried to sell it several times, but then remember what a great indestructible beater bike it makes. I met a guy on the C&O Canal who was doing the last leg on a coast-to-coast tour on one and he was really happy with it. It's a little heavy by "modern" standards, but many there are who find that an advantage..