Mountain Biking - Help choosing bike

I am looking at a few different bikes and I need help choosing which would be the best.

I really like the trek8500, but it is really expensive and I don't want to spend that much money. That being my dream bike, here are my more realistic choices.

Kona Caldera, Specialized Stumpjumper, Trek8000, Gary Fisher Big Sur

Pros: Caldera = Hydro Discs
Stumpy = Fox Float front shock
Trek8000 = zr9000 frame
Big sur = Trek8000

Cons: Caldera = Deore front, fork
Stumpy = V-brakes (not hydros)
Trek8000 = Non-hydros (not a fox float shock)

That being said, I would like something with hydro discs, but with a really nice fork. They are all around $1000 so the prices really don't matter. I guess the stumpjumper fork alone is worth sticking with v-brakes because of the fox fork. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

I am looking at a few different bikes and I need help choosing which would be the best.

I really like the trek8500, but it is really expensive and I don't want to spend that much money. That being my dream bike, here are my more realistic choices.

Kona Caldera, Specialized Stumpjumper, Trek8000, Gary Fisher Big Sur

Pros: Caldera = Hydro Discs
Stumpy = Fox Float front shock
Trek8000 = zr9000 frame
Big sur = Trek8000

Cons: Caldera = Deore front, fork
Stumpy = V-brakes (not hydros)
Trek8000 = Non-hydros (not a fox float shock)

That being said, I would like something with hydro discs, but with a really nice fork. They are all around $1000 so the prices really don't matter. I guess the stumpjumper fork alone is worth sticking with v-brakes because of the fox fork. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

dont even mess around. get the stumpjumper

That being said, I would like something with hydro discs, but with a really nice fork.
Hate to be captain obvious but you're clearly going to have to either fork out more cash for a higher end model or upgrade one of the choices there...cause none of them have hydro discs and a really nice fork. I personally would look at the Cannondale F600-SL. It comes with v-brakes but disc hubs, so you can easily upgrade to discs without forking out big bucks for new wheels. It's cheaper too, in Canada they're $1200 while the stumpjumpers are $1700 and Caldera's $1350. So by the time you throw on some nice hydros, the price is about the same. Only thing you have to worry about is the headshok. Some people love 'em, some hate 'em, your best bet is just to try one out. If I had to choose from your list there, I would take the Stumpjumper if you're more into racing, or the Caldera if you're more of a weekend warrior type.

Yes, have fun trying to get the headshok serviced/upgraded...

Best choice in that price range, hands down, is the Stumpjumper. Disc brakes are horribly overrated. I have an '04 Stumpjumper Comp and couldn't be more impressed with the bike, and I actually opted for the vee's over the disc option and they stop me just fine. I wouldn't worry so much about discs right now because even in the $1,000 range the disc brakes most bikes come with are pretty mediocre.

Yes, have fun trying to get the headshok serviced/upgraded...

Best choice in that price range, hands down, is the Stumpjumper. Disc brakes are horribly overrated. I have an '04 Stumpjumper Comp and couldn't be more impressed with the bike, and I actually opted for the vee's over the disc option and they stop me just fine. I wouldn't worry so much about discs right now because even in the $1,000 range the disc brakes most bikes come with are pretty mediocre.

WORD!

Good advice!

L8R

Yes, have fun trying to get the headshok serviced/upgraded... If you bought it from an authorized Cannondale dealer you should have no problems getting it serviced at all.

Yes, but I worked at an "authorized dealer" and they used to teach the mechanics how to repair the old shocks, now they want you to remove and send to them for service. Figure a two week turn around if you're lucky, most likely 3 weeks, unless you want to PAY for Priority Service.

When the forks come back, they're better than new, but still 3 weeks is 3 weeks.

L8R

Word on those brakes.