Mountain Biking - which bike in my price range

sorry this is my 3rd thread about the same thing,I am looking for a bike from the range of 400 - 600 canadian dollars i was thinking about buying the base rock hopper or should i spend more money to get the comp/disc.Im not going to be doing any trails just commuting and jummping off side walks and going over railways and things like those small bump.I am 120 lbs so i dont think i need a strong fork.I dont want it to expensive the lower the better, thx for help

Other bikes that are in my list pls note that i can go a little over 600 Ty

list
Giant rainier
Rockhopper

I have a somewhere between comp and pro 2008 Rockhopper that I am very pleased with. I think that you could do well with in, but you may also want to look at the Hardrock series by Specialized as well. That was my first "real" non-wally world bike and it still runs as well as the day I bought it.

Personally, I prefer disc brakes and if you do the Hardrock you could probably get discs as well for a similar price as the base RH. I've never ridden anything but Specialized so I couldn't personally recommend you any other bikes, but I have friends who are pleased with their Treks.

would the hard rock comp disc be better than the base rock hopper?
people told me that the base rock hopper is better than the others is this true?
how much would i pay for a 06 rainier 07 rainier 08 rainier?
which year has the best rainier?
which year has the best rock hopper?
which year has the best hard rock?
how does trek 820 compare to the hard rock or rock hopper?

those are all the questions i have for now.Ty for the reply and Ty for the upcoming replys.

I'm gonna say Rainier.

does rainier have a better frame than a rock hopper?
how much can i get a rainier for?
again which year for the rainier 02,03,04,05,06,07,08?
how much would it cost?

ty for your reply.Ty for the upcoming replys

07 is the one I rode, it's spec'ed pretty well, and I don't know about a "better" frame but I certainly thought it handled better. Not sure on price but I think it was well over your price range new, probably just down there now.

ya i guess rainier is off my range abit.
I think the best choice for me would be rockhopper 08?
the price is 550 dollars canadian is it worth it?
http://www.dornellas.com/DOrnellasProductDetail1.asp?pid=465&from=Triathlon here is a link to the site and how come it says the frame is A1 in the specs and not M4 like it says on the site?

hey guys,,nobody knows why it says A1 frame insted of M4 isnt the 08 model supposed to be with the M4?

Supposedly the 08 RH does have the M4...maybe you are looking at an 07 frame (possibly leftover) with 08 setup. What are the components on it and what color is it?

If you are just doing commuting then perhaps you could look at used bikes. Some have pretty sweet setups and for the price, you may end up getting something much better than new. Check around the forums, there are some threads about used bikes.

opps the one i was looking at was 07 which should i get 08 or 07?

i was looking at the 07 before but now im looking at a 08 and it still has a A1 frame here is the link http://www.dornellas.com/DOrnellasProductDetail1.asp?pid=405&from=Products

bumpppp i got a list can somebody tell me which one is the best outta the list

giant rainier 08
specialized rockhopper 08
trek 4300
trek 4300 disc
specialized hard rock comp disc
or any other bikes around this range of price and i still need help why it says A1 insted of m4 for the 08 rockhopper

If you're just commuting why don't you get a road/cyclocross bike or fitness hybrid. Jamis Coda, Giant FCR, Kona Jake, that sort of thing.


sorry this is my 3rd thread about the same thing,I am looking for a bike from the range of 400 - 600 canadian dollars i was thinking about buying the base rock hopper or should i spend more money to get the comp/disc.Im not going to be doing any trails just commuting and jummping off side walks and going over railways and things like those small bump.I am 120 lbs so i dont think i need a strong fork.I dont want it to expensive the lower the better, thx for help

Other bikes that are in my list pls note that i can go a little over 600 Ty

list
Giant rainier
Rockhopper

i wana jump upp alot of things cause its fun but i wont be doing trails maybe jumping off tree stumps ect with my friends.So i think rockhopper is the best choice thats around 500.Now im wondering why in the specialized site in the features it says A1 frame and the tech specs it says m4 frame and the bike shop it says A1 omg im so confused.Would a hard rock comp disc be better than a rockhopper base?Also i looked at the bikes you but the components are not as good as the rockhopper

bumpp...just wanted to say im cant test ride till like 2 weeks so i just want a list of bikes that have the best components for this price range got more into the list

list

haro escape
giant rainier
specialized rockhopper 08 base model
specialized hardrock comp disc
giant yukon
trek 4300
trek 4500
trek 6000
giant rincon
Gary Fisher Tassajara
kona cinder kone
gary fisher wahoo
ironhorse warrior 3.0
jamis durango 3
jamis dakota comp

so i want the bikes that has the best components after i get that ill be test riding outta all those.I care about components more. :)

I have a somewhere between comp and pro 2008 Rockhopper that I am very pleased with. I think that you could do well with in, but you may also want to look at the Hardrock series by Specialized as well. That was my first "real" non-wally world bike and it still runs as well as the day I bought it.

Personally, I prefer disc brakes and if you do the Hardrock you could probably get discs as well for a similar price as the base RH. I've never ridden anything but Specialized so I couldn't personally recommend you any other bikes, but I have friends who are pleased with their Treks.

My trek, has taken a LOT of abuse....,
(if yall couldnt tell from my posts of broken parts and pieces monthly lol_

lol so would a 4300 be better than the other bikes i listed or any other bike in that price range ( gary fisher wahoo)component wise? i just want a list of the best component wise bikes around the range of 500-700 dollars canadian after i get thaat price range ill test ride

Nobody will want to look up all those bikes. Link to a spec page.

A lot of those companies will be putting similar components on similarly priced bikes. A $600 Trek and $600 Specialized will probably be spec'ed really similarly. So at this point your best bet is to play around with some of the bikes and see what fits you and what rides the best. You might end up feeling cramped on a Giant, but perfect on a Fisher, for example. And components can always be swapped out. Sometimes your lbs will even do trades...say an XT for a X.9, or an XT for an LX for a small upcharge.

Have you looked at this bike.399.00 I'm having a hard time deciding also right now.I just took it for a test ride. It was nice.http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEquipPopup.jsp?equipimage=/OA_MEDIA/2008/bikes/8180-53_l.jpg&equipmodel=Hardrock Sport

The link you sent shows a picture of a bike with an M4 frame, says it is M4 in the writing, and then has A1 on the side of the frame of the one you saw. I would argue for the M4 frame, as that is the same material last years (07) Stumpjumper has.

The other thing I wanted you to see was that the price of the RH Comp Disc you are looking at is 940 dollars. Im assuming that is Canadian, but that is a lot of money. You really may be better suited for the Hardrock, which is still a good bike with a good frame. I have one and haven't had a problem with it, even though I did trail riding. Mine is an 05 model.

The other bikes you listed come from reputable companies as well, and Im going to repeat what others have said...don't worry about that components THAT much...but worry about what fits and feels good to you for your money. You can always put other components on it but you are stuck with the frame and geometry.

sorry i didnt reply for long.The thing is i dont care if it fits me or not.. i can get used to the bike. i dont wana buy a bike thats 500 dollars and has crappy components.Sorry i wasnt gonan buy the rochhopper comp disc i was just asking why it had A1 frame i would either buy a rockhopper base or a hard rock comp disc,from the specialized list.Umm but people told me alot of things were wrong with the rockhopper like the saddle and pedals and of the sort and same with hard rock.Is the gary fisher wahoo my best bet?

sorry i didnt reply for long.The thing is i dont care if it fits me or not.. i can get used to the bike. i dont wana buy a bike thats 500 dollars and has crappy components...

If the bike isn't the right geometry and is uncomfortable, there is no point of good components. Yes, your ride will be cool and you can say I got this and that. But how can you like a bike that is uncomfortable. Your back might start to hurt. Long rides will hurt much more. Its like having the most pimp car ever but you have to be scrunched up in the front in the feudal (wrong spelling?) position. It doesn't make sense. Most bikes in the same price range have almost the same components anyways.

as i said before im getting a list of good component bikes first and then ill test ride outta that list and ill choose the one that i like the best.I just dont wana test out crappy components when i will always be frustrated at the fact that i coulda got a better bike and test rided it after i got the list

lets say all of them are equal in test riding which one would beat the rest component wise

Gary Fisher Tassajara
gary fisher wahoo
specialized rockhopper 08 base model
specialized hardrock comp disc 08

sorry i didnt reply for long.The thing is i dont care if it fits me or not.. i can get used to the bike. i dont wana buy a bike thats 500 dollars and has crappy components.Sorry i wasnt gonan buy the rochhopper comp disc i was just asking why it had A1 frame i would either buy a rockhopper base or a hard rock comp disc,from the specialized list.Umm but people told me alot of things were wrong with the rockhopper like the saddle and pedals and of the sort and same with hard rock.Is the gary fisher wahoo my best bet?



WOW and I thought I was undecided:lol:
The thing is i dont care if it fits me or not. This is number 1 on my list. If it does not fit why care about what parts are on the bike ? I'm pretty sure the bike I will be getting is a specialized hardrock. They all are so close to each other in that price range.I did find a Ironhorse that was on sale for 349.00 with disc brakes it listed at 599.00 but it was not my size it was a 19" way to big. I might go back and see if it could be ordered in my size.

The thing is i dont care if it fits me or not..

This leads me to believe this is a troll. But if not, yeah, you might get used to the ******** geometry, but you'll never ride as well as you would with a ride that fits you. Components are more easily upgraded than the frame.

Dude, you asked our thoughts, and we shared them with you. Get a good, fitting frame, because that is the essence of the bike. The tires, the brakes, shocks, shifters, etc, can be switched out if you don't like them, or if they break. If you are just city riding and doing some low level jumps, I honestly don't think you'll notice the difference in the components that much.

Besides, and to put it nicely, I think biking at a beginner level is like drinking wine at first, you have to develop a taste to what YOU like best. There's no point in saying you have x numbers of some fancy French wine if you think it tastes horrible, or if you cannot totally appreciate it. You've wasted your money. We're telling you that you need a good fitting frame. You'll develop a taste for what components you want to add as you ride later.

Personally...I'm a big fan of disc brakes...why? Because, from my experience, I used to ride in thick, sticky, red Georgia clay...and caliber brakes don't work when the mud coats the tire and rims. You'll develop that experience as you ride, but you've got to get a ride first. Go with a good frame, and if something isn't working for you, switch it out later. If it does work for you, don't worry about the "I could have had this for X amount more."

My Dad always used to talk about those people who buy a new car and put brand new rims on it...what's the difference? The old one's still worked, they just didn't look as fancy. It's the same with bikes, unless you are going to abuse the crap out of it. In that case, abuse the crap out of it, and buy better components later. This is my last reply to this post.

Dude, you asked our thoughts, and we shared them with you. Get a good, fitting frame, because that is the essence of the bike. The tires, the brakes, shocks, shifters, etc, can be switched out if you don't like them, or if they break. If you are just city riding and doing some low level jumps, I honestly don't think you'll notice the difference in the components that much.

Besides, and to put it nicely, I think biking at a beginner level is like drinking wine at first, you have to develop a taste to what YOU like best. There's no point in saying you have x numbers of some fancy French wine if you think it tastes horrible, or if you cannot totally appreciate it. You've wasted your money. We're telling you that you need a good fitting frame. You'll develop a taste for what components you want to add as you ride later.

Personally...I'm a big fan of disc brakes...why? Because, from my experience, I used to ride in thick, sticky, red Georgia clay...and caliber brakes don't work when the mud coats the tire and rims. You'll develop that experience as you ride, but you've got to get a ride first. Go with a good frame, and if something isn't working for you, switch it out later. If it does work for you, don't worry about the "I could have had this for X amount more."

My Dad always used to talk about those people who buy a new car and put brand new rims on it...what's the difference? The old one's still worked, they just didn't look as fancy. It's the same with bikes, unless you are going to abuse the crap out of it. In that case, abuse the crap out of it, and buy better components later. This is my last reply to this post.

Amen. Same here with the last sentence.

You are micro-analysing this WAY TOO MUCH.
1) Specialized A1 premium and M4 frame specifications on the same bike. A1 Premium is a marketing name for the blend of aluminum alloy while M4 is the frame geometry/style made from those aluminum tubes. It's like on the Gary Fisher the Gold Series 6001 T6 is the aluminum alloy blend of the tubing while the Genisis frame is the geometry made from that tubing. Which one's better? The one that speaks to you. Frankly, they're even and all covered by a liftime warranty.

2) Fit is THE MOST IMPORTANT requirement. PERIOD. To indicate components trump fit is grossly nieve. It is the same friggin frame it is just the components that are draped on it that makes up the different models. If the Rockhopper with it's low end shimano components feels uncomfortable, the Rockhopper Pro will feel equally uncomfortable but will shift better with mid level shimano and not bounce as much with a better fork, and even stop better with the better brakes. You will be sitting and riding the same though because the frame is the same.

3) "Which one's better Gary Fisher Pirahna or Gary Fisher Tassajahara" Here's a hint - Which one is more expensive, it has the better components.

4) My personal bias on how bikes are equipted - AT EACH PRICE BRACKET - not jumping price brackets. It tends to be consistent at each price bracket but I am going to use the 600-700USD bracket. Almost identically equipted are the GF Marlin Disc, Cdale F5, Giant XTR (Rock Shok Dart3, Deore/SRAM x-5, amd mid level competitive disc brake) Identically equipted is the Trek 6000 but is overpriced at $100 more. Rockhopper disc at the dame price is under-equipted dropping the drivetrain from Deore (nice mid level) to Alivio/Acera (entry level) thus making it overpriced as well. Personally, I think that was a marketing blunder on Specialized part. But they are not alone as the equivalent Jamis, Kona, Marin, have the same slight downgrade.

In your price range, the one that stand out are the Giant Rincon/Yukon, GF Wahoo, and Cdale F7 or F6.

Now get out and ride and see which one speaks to you. That's the one that you will ride. If it doesn't speak to you, it matters little what we say as it will simply gather dust and cob webs.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mountain_bikes.htm?gclid=CJWJocCMyJMCFQMoGgod8EcRjA


I personally feel they are a great company with the best deals around.

Take a look at everything they have in your price range.

sorry for not responding so much.I am sory i made you guys so irritated that u didnt wana reply to this thread.Ok ill try and test all the bikes and get back with a respond Ty for your patience and time.

i got a question if you guys say feel is more different..what if a walmart feels way better than all the specialized and etc bikes?lol

Alright, I accept your apology.

I've ridden the Wal-Mart/K-Mart bikes...I used to break them too. For what you are spending on them, you'll buy 3+ for every good bike you buy. The other thing is, they are shoddily made and assembled. I know...I used to work retail and the man was paid by the number he could assemble, not by the quality of his assembly.

At the lower end bracket...100 dollars make a big difference. That difference gets smaller and smaller as you get to more expensive bikes. As far as the frames go...I find them much heavier, less well made. although...I must admit I never broke a frame, but I have heard of frames breaking. The other thing about those bikes is that they use non-standard parts, and some bike shops refuse to even look at them. When they do break...well...imagine your frame completely shattering, and pieces of jagged metal going up as you go down....you get the picture.

Biking can be a dangerous sport so you want to have faith in the equipment you buy. You wouldn't go to Home Depot and buy a rope to go rock climbing with, would you? The ropes are expensive for a reason...and the same with those bikes. They are tried, tested, and engineered to perform. K-Mart/Wal-Mart bikes..."engineered" to look cool.