Mountain Biking - What bike to get?

[FONT=Comic Sans MS]Hey, I am looking at getting a trek fuel 80, and I wanted to hear what you guys thought about the bike. You can't put discs on it can you? I am new to the full suspension bikes and I'm looking to spent about $1200-1400, so nothing great. Any other suggestions on a bike?

Thanks
Will

Will,
Please tell us kind of riding you do?

This will help us to help you ;)

Trek 4500 hardtrail with rock shox fork

No, I mean as in style.

Cross country/free ride, etc ..

I think you CAN put discs on the TREK. You need an adapter available from your dealer. However, with all the things you need to upgrade, it's significantly cheaper to buy a bike with DISCS already on it. I'm not too familiar with the TREK line, but I do know that they offer a disc option on many of their bikes.

If your heart set on TREK? You should test ride as many different bikes as you can. Your budget should buy you a pretty decent full suspension bike!

L8R

Sorry, I misread... cross country

The Haros are on the budget end and are prety nice. But in the 1200-1400 dollar range, you should also look used, as you can get some amazing deals on like FSR Stumpjumpers and possibly like a Santa Cruz Superlite or Chameleon(hardtail). There are so many possiblities in that price range, so make sure you look around before buying.

You might want to look at the Specialized line. They make some awesome full-suspension bikes in your price range.

There's the FSR XC line (which is pretty much last year's full suspension Rockhoppers under their own category now). The MSRP on the top of the line one with disc brakes is a shade over $1400.

There's the Stumpjumper FSR line which is a tad more expensive than the FSR XC. The new 2004 frame is a beauty. They start at a tad over $1400 MSRP for ones with V-brakes.

http://www.specialized.com/sbcSSMountainBikes.jsp?my=2004&JServSessionIdroot=5vg2cz5463.j27006

Thanks

One thing to remember if you buy a non-disc bike and add disc brakes is that you will probably need new wheels that have disc-specific hubs, which will cost you. Also, a cheap set of disc brakes may not be any better than a good set of V-brakes, but will weigh more. If you aren't riding down fairly steep hills, there's little need to spend the extra money.

As others said, don't get you heart set on the Trek before you shop around. They're good bikes, but so are the others. Specialized FSR's and Giant NRS bikes can be had for similar price and I believe all three brands offer a full suspension ride equipped with discs in you price range.

One thing to remember if you buy a non-disc bike and add disc brakes is that you will probably need new wheels that have disc-specific hubs, which will cost you. Also, a cheap set of disc brakes may not be any better than a good set of V-brakes, but will weigh more. If you aren't riding down fairly steep hills, there's little need to spend the extra money.

As others said, don't get you heart set on the Trek before you shop around. They're good bikes, but so are the others. Specialized FSR's and Giant NRS bikes can be had for similar price and I believe all three brands offer a full suspension ride equipped with discs in you price range.

Luckily, Specializeds with V's typically come with disk ready hubs. You just need to add the disk brake set (and adapter if required), and a rotor to the hub.

I also agree that V's work fine for most types of XC/trail riding. It's not as if people couldn't stop before the invention of disk brakes.

If disks aren't a necessity for willmac, he could buy something like a Specialized FSR XC with Avid V's for under $900(U.S.)!

You should be able to get a 2003 Specialized Enduro for about $1200. All the 2003s have been on extreme sale of late, and that is a heck of a lot of bike for the money.

[FONT=Comic Sans MS]Hey, I am looking at getting a trek fuel 80, and I wanted to hear what you guys thought about the bike. You can't put discs on it can you? I am new to the full suspension bikes and I'm looking to spent about $1200-1400, so nothing great. Any other suggestions on a bike?

Thanks
Will

What do you mean..."nothing great"? You can get some really good bikes for the price range you have in mind.

Choosing a bike is an old question that has long occupied the minds of men and machine! Hardtail? full susser? Others will comment. You have the money so look at other models and compare the components. A more expensive frame can be compromised by cheap components, and a cheap frame can come equipped with decent components, but you might not see that at the time you look.

Generally speaking, make a note of the components and compare the prices individually which'll give you a good baseline for what to look before you commit. If I can offer any pearl of wisdom, don't rush into buying the first sexy looking bike you see. Shop around, test ride, and discuss with the lbs. Generally I'd say go to your lbs. They are small enough to care (usually) but not so big that they have to meet sales targets.

What about a giant warp? I know it has a cheap frame, but it looks like it has some nice components on it. I know it won't be the best, but it's much cheaper. Just wondering? Thanks for all your help guys

Don't bother getting a Warp.

I rode a fuel, but it was the full carbon model. (v-brakes) I really liked it though. I think that all those people talking about bob are on crack or something. when I locked out the sid, I could sprint pretty well. its no road bike, but it was pretty bob-free. It was really light too...

Any other suggestions about the warp? Thanks phatman

Personally, I'd spend MY money on a new Specialized. However, Iron Horse licenses the Horst 4-bar design and sell their bikes for less.

Jamis makes a very nice bike.

K2 is producing a very nice bike for the money.

Haro also has a nice bike albeit a bit on the heavy side.

Gary Fisher is owned by Trek and thus has similar prices for each model. Personally I don't like TREK or Gary Fisher, but it's due more to the geometries of their bikes for me.

Giant bikes are very good.

Kona bikes are solid.

Rocky Mountains make me drool.

If you can find a deal on a YETI get one!


I'd go visit ALL the bike shops in your area. Test ride as many different manufacturer's bikes as you can. Buy the one that "FEELS" best! Worry less about components and more on FEEL.

L8R

I would go with a used 2003 FSR, a Stumpjumper FSR. I had one for a bit, and it was a great, light, quality bike. I currently have an Enduro, but the Stumpjumper was almost as good coming down. It was better going up, too.

Warps suck (this coming from a Giant dealer :rolleyes: ) Get yourself a Specialized. The FSR suspension design is the best out there hands down.

There are so many bikes out there that are better than Trek, Specialised, Giant, or any manufacturer. Depending on who you talk to, they are all as good as each other. Only thing for XC, Discs are not necessary, add weight, but are cool. LX should be the minimum spec for the groupset, and you should like the colour. Try as many bikes as you can within your price range, look at as many bikes as you can, and don't forget Kona. Probably the best bike for your money, no matter what your budget.