Mountain Biking - Whats the dif

I am looking at the Specialized 04 Hardrock Sport (http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=5970&JServSessionIdroot=xy3zc87kgy.j27001) and a Mongoose 26-inch XR 200 (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?cat=4178&dept=4125&product_id=2513014&path=0%3A4125%3A4178%3A4180%3A4183%3A5304) I see that the Mongoose has a dual suspension and front disk break at half the price. Can someone please educate me .. is dual suspension all that great and what makes the Specialized so much better when at first glance it seems to have less features at a way higher price

With the hardrock you are getting a stronger frame, better components, and a shop that will stand behind the product.

I am looking at the Specialized 04 Hardrock Sport (http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=5970&JServSessionIdroot=xy3zc87kgy.j27001) and a Mongoose 26-inch XR 200 (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?cat=4178&dept=4125&product_id=2513014&path=0%3A4125%3A4178%3A4180%3A4183%3A5304) I see that the Mongoose has a dual suspension and front disk break at half the price. Can someone please educate me .. is dual suspension all that great and what makes the Specialized so much better when at first glance it seems to have less features at a way higher price

I'm not gonna beat around the bush on this one...

The Mongoose is a boat anchor with substandard parts through and through. The shocks on it are garbage, they are just springs with no dampening or rebound adjustments so its like riding a pogostick. It also weighs around 40lbs (we had one tip, errr should I say rip, the scales at 49 1/2 lbs...). The rims/hubs/crankset/derailleurs/shifters/stem/headset are all complete trash that WILL NOT LAST if you EVER ride the thing offroad. We buy cranks for these things in bulk, and have had to saw them off because they are so cheaply made that when you thread a crank arm extractor into the arm and begin to tighten it down to remove the arm, the extractor actually tears the threads out of the arm because the metal is so poor. Bottom line is that the bike is cheap, heavy and the suspension is extremely ineffecient and will rob you of a lot of climbing power.

If you buy from Walmart, ask them about their warranty, and their free tuneups. Actually I'll save you the trouble... they don't have any. You can't bring it to them for service, and the bike shop isn't going to bend over backwards to help you because you didn't buy from them.

The Hardrock Sport weighs in at about 29lbs with a very beefy, well constructed frame, a good solid entry level front suspension fork (w/ dampening and rebound), decent wheelset, 8spd rear cassette, Truvativ cranks, good quality components overall. Most importantly it was assembled by a TRAINED COMPENTENT MECHANIC and not some kid with a wrench who gets paid by the bike, and could care less if the bike is setup properly.

Also to add: at that pricepoint, the dual suspension is most likely very crappy. Wait. Let me be a little more firm. I have seen the Mongoose XR200 up close and in addition to the low quality components, as previously mentioned, the suspension is especially poor. It is better to have no suspension and a simple proven rigid frame than bad suspension. The same goes for the fork.

THanks guys this really answered alot of my questions :)

I'm not gonna beat around the bush on this one...

The Mongoose is a boat anchor with substandard parts through and through. The shocks on it are garbage, they are just springs with no dampening or rebound adjustments so its like riding a pogostick. It also weighs around 40lbs (we had one tip, errr should I say rip, the scales at 49 1/2 lbs...). The rims/hubs/crankset/derailleurs/shifters/stem/headset are all complete trash that WILL NOT LAST if you EVER ride the thing offroad. We buy cranks for these things in bulk, and have had to saw them off because they are so cheaply made that when you thread a crank arm extractor into the arm and begin to tighten it down to remove the arm, the extractor actually tears the threads out of the arm because the metal is so poor. Bottom line is that the bike is cheap, heavy and the suspension is extremely ineffecient and will rob you of a lot of climbing power.

If you buy from Walmart, ask them about their warranty, and their free tuneups. Actually I'll save you the trouble... they don't have any. You can't bring it to them for service, and the bike shop isn't going to bend over backwards to help you because you didn't buy from them.

The Hardrock Sport weighs in at about 29lbs with a very beefy, well constructed frame, a good solid entry level front suspension fork (w/ dampening and rebound), decent wheelset, 8spd rear cassette, Truvativ cranks, good quality components overall. Most importantly it was assembled by a TRAINED COMPENTENT MECHANIC and not some kid with a wrench who gets paid by the bike, and could care less if the bike is setup properly.

...and the people said, "amen".

To all other people asking similar questions to this. A cheap dual suspension is not worth a cent. The parts will be crap and it will be put together badly ( if from a wal mart kind of place).

If there is a hardtail for the same price as a dual suspension bike, chances are the hardtail is better. This is because there will be better components on the hardtail.

...and the people said, "amen".

Amen Brotha!

Plus, I hope you ride a Medium sized frame in the Mongoose, because that's all that is available. Bike shop bikes come in X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, and X-tra Large.

L8R

Read this thread

http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=48269&page=5&pp=20&highlight=walmart

Will let you know what you want about the cheep stuff.

:beer: