Mountain Biking - bike dilemma/gear shifters

I have an entry level Specialized Hard Rock w/o shocks that I primarily ride on the street and do moderate trails when I can. I got it in '96. I love it, but it's kind of falling apart (drivetrain, et al is about shot, I am afraid), so I was thinking of one of these options.

Get new drivetrain, et al components - But would this cost (including labor - I am mechanically disinclined) nearly as much as a new bike (price range 350 or so)??

Or just get a new bike.

BUT, the Specialized has thumb gear shifters on the handle bars, WHICH I LOVE, and it seems all new bikes have the "twist" motorcyle-style gear shifting, which I can't stand. Do they make bikes with thumb shifters anymore? Could I swap them onto a new bike?

Any advice is much appreciated.

d.

Yes get a new bike. As for the shifters they do not make thumbies anymore of any good quality. You can have them transfered to aanother bike.

Actually most new bikes are equipped with Rapid Fire style thumb shifters, either mounted above or below the bar... Gripshift is typically found on low end bikes although there are some high end Gripshift kits available, just not typically found on production bikes.

Yes get a new bike. As for the shifters they do not make thumbies anymore of any good quality. You can have them transfered to aanother bike.

I thought that as well, but behold...

http://www.firstflightbikes.com/shifters.htm

Check out item #91 for $35
Suntour XC Expert Thumb Shifters

http://www.firstflightbikes.com/Shift91.jpg

These are new old stock (they bought them from Trek after they got them from Suntour after they discontinued them and Trek was going to use them for suspension lockouts). I've bought a pair and am going to put them on my new bike. Yes, the 8 speed friction does have enough throw for a 9-sp cassette.

Friction is a beautiful thing...

Friction is a beautiful thing...But a well maintained index system is magic

I thought that as well, but behold...

http://www.firstflightbikes.com/shifters.htm

Check out item #91 for $35
Suntour XC Expert Thumb Shifters

http://www.firstflightbikes.com/Shift91.jpg

These are new old stock (they bought them from Trek after they got them from Suntour after they discontinued them and Trek was going to use them for suspension lockouts). I've bought a pair and am going to put them on my new bike. Yes, the 8 speed friction does have enough throw for a 9-sp cassette.

Friction is a beautiful thing...

Yes I have two sets of Deore thumbies one set of XT thumbies and a set of XC Pro thumbies. Point was they are not being made anymore, not that they cannot still be procured. Just to be clear.
Seely,
Rapidfire is not thumshifters no matter which ones. There is also alot of production bikes in 04 that are using SRAM XO.

Paul Components makes conversion mounts (http://www.paulcomp.com/thumbmtn.html) to be used with Shimano bar-cons. There was also another company that made similar mounts but they went out of business.

http://www.paulcomp.com/thumbie.inside.jpg

I have 3 bikes with rapid fire shifters, and 2 with grip shifters. I have NO complaints with any of them. I keep them properly maintained..... That's the key with all bike components.... PERIOD!