Mountain Biking - best bike for the money

ok here's the deal , im back into biking, im wondering whats the best bike for under 800 bucks. I got a norco defender that i jump for now but im getting a new bike for my birthday and dad's caped the price to 800, maybe a lil over, but kona is a good company , what about jamis? im more into hardtail so any links for good bikes are appriciated, also im going to sell the defender to get some extra cash and upgrade it eventually, Thanks for your help , i dont do much trail biking just dirt jumping and free running, thanks

mbiker33

any1? holy cr@p, i think ill never know

You're on the right track looking at Kona -- sounds like a Shred (http://www.konaworld.com/09_shred_u.cfm) is just what you're looking for. It's designed just for the type of rider you are. And good plan to sell what you have for a little add-on cash. Might get you a set of Stroker Trails when or something when the time comes.

I assume you're up North - - don't overlook one of your own brands - - Brodie. Looks like there are three in your general range: Brat, Omega and Menace:

http://www.brodiebikes.com/2009/bikes/hardass.php

Jamis Kromo MSRP is slightly higher than your daddy's "cape", but you may be able to find it at the right price. It's certainly close. And PIMP!

http://jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/kromo/09_kromo.html

ebay has some good bikes for that price...

hmmmmmmmm......dirtjumping???????? uhhhhhhhhhhh..........P1?

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w69/mtnbiker66/newP1001.jpg

If you're only going to be dirt jumping, consider a 24".

http://www.dmrbikes.com/?Section=products&pageType=category&category=1&categoryName=Bikes
Check out the Drone Reptoid, and if you can stretch the budget a bit, the Transition.

I think the P1 (above) with 24" wheels/tires would suit me better than a PeeGrom. Longer TT.

Yeah, I looked at a P.Grom. It's a cool bike, but it's definitely little...all the proportions are small, and the fork comes stock with super light coils so it's pretty much a pogo-stick unless you change them out. If you go 24", look for an adult 24", not a kid's bike. Unfortunately most of them are sold as just frames, but there are completes out there if you look hard enough, like the two DMR's I posted above. Commencal makes a MaxMax 24 also, but I can't find the geometry, so I have no idea if it's meant as a kid's 24" or adult's 24".

Eastern makes some sweet DJ bikes.

Jensonusa.com (they are sombody's LBS :lol:)
They be pimpin' some nice Easterns there.

hows the jamis komodo 1? or im thinking kona shred