Mountain Biking - 2009 Gary Fisher Tarpon Upgrades?

So I just recently got into mountain biking and got a good deal on a new Gary Fisher Tarpon.
Luckily my friend works at a bike store and I've been getting some pretty good deals on upgrades for cheap and am wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I have gotten new metal clipless pedals and some good new tires that are light as hell. I have a line on a good cheap rear derailer but would need to upgrade to an 8 gear cassette and that means new shifters so I'm gonna wait till next paycheck for that but does anyone have any suggestions for shifters/cassettes that would fit or anything else that wouldn't be horribly expensive but help make it a little better?

Ok, first let me say this, Please don't take this as me being mean or talking down to you in any way. I am a Gary Fisher freak, I own and ride 5 of them now, and have owned different ones over the years. The Tarpon is not a bad bike. But it is "VERY" entry level. Unless you can find a awesome deal on some used or close out parts, and you can or have someone to install them free or very cheap. It is not worth upgrading. For what you want to do,you need a Wheelset with Cassette,shifters, and a rear derailleur,new parts,150-200 min.If you are now that into MTN biking, sell the bike and buy a few steps up. It will work out soooo much better in the long run, and I am positive others on here will agree with me. Or just have fun with it in the meantime, beat the crap out of it, and if by spring/summer your still into it, then look for a new bike. So many people start riding, dump major $$$$ into a starter bike, then after 2 months they never touch it again.

You hit the nail on the head on the last part. I got the bike itself cheap part in because have a tendancy in everything I do to break things and couldn't see droppin a grand on something I'll. Most likely beat up. And as for being able to find the cheap parts and labor for free I have that as well. My buddy who works n a bike shop is selling me her old XT rear der for $15 but it doesn't fit my 7 speed. I was mainly wondering what/if any good reasonably priced cassette's and shifters would fit a GF 09 Tarpon to see if I could find em on closeout to see if it would be worth getting those for a cheap derailer and seeing how you own 5 is there anything you'd recomend? She said I have a freewheel or something which I took to mean I can switch out the cassette without getting a whole new wheelset and she said I had a washer in there so I should be able to fit an 8-speed so that's what I was looking for if you think it might work, just lemme know what ya think?

If you can fit a 8 speed cassette on your freewheel ,then that saves you buying a new set of wheels. Xt rear, if its in good shape,"great deal" As far as shifters and even a cassette is concerned. Try craigslist, put up a ad looking for used parts. I have picked up alot of parts myself that way. But just a FYI you can buy a brand new lower end cassette for 30 buck. All in all if you can do for 100 bucks or less, then I say go for it, but wouldld sped alot more than that.

So instead of just adding a new cassette, i dropped a bill and a half and picked up a whole new wheelset plus some dur's. I know the advice was to not pour too much $$ into such a novice bike but i got a line on some cheap parts and ended up getting a front XT, a rear XTR (both in almost flawless condition) XT RapidFire SL shifters (in decent condition) a 9-speed cassette, and a pair of Mavic Crossmax Tubeless with S-works hub's that are from what i can tell perfectly tru and in great condition and added my Continental Explorer Supersonics that i got cheap before to them. So i figure I'll just x-fer the parts when i get a new frame, but for now I'm set for awhile. What do ya think, worth the dough? Bought the GF for $250 and another $150 in upgrades for $400 total.... think it was worth it?

HELL YEA!!!! A nice decent rig for 400 bones!!! You did well my young Padawan:beer: