Mountain Biking - Upgrade existing or get a better (new to me) bike

I recently aquired a Giant Boulder SE (I believe a 2001) for $75 thinking to use it as a starter MTB. (I already ride road) The components are all original and are serviceable, but show their years.

I am wondering if spending $150-$200 in new components is the best option, or should I try to sell it for around what I got if for, and spend the $250 -$350 in a better used bike. It seems like every so often there are good bikes listed on craigslist, but I wasn't ready to spend that much yet.

Thanks

Since I am new here, just to give a background, I have been riding road bikes (both upright and recumbent) recreationally (with local clubs, and informal rides) for 2 years. I can do the labor for upgrades myself, with the help of an experienced friend for anything new to me.

It's obviously up to you, but if it were me, I would go for plan B. If you have $350 to spend on a used mountain bike, you'll be doing allright. Hopefully, you would be gettting a bike that was $600-$700 when it was new. Good luck.

$250-300 spent on another bike will be going back to square one. Spend the $150-200 on updated drive train. For 200 bucks, you can get SRAM X9 shifter, rear derailer, SRAM cassette 950 or 970 model, SRAM 971 or 991 chain.

Or since you can do the assembly yourself you should look at Forge bikes from target about 350 gets you Deore Avid BB5 and WTB wheels.

That was exactly the route I was planning, the only thing is that it leaves me still with the old fork.

I was thinking, like plasticman, that a $350 used bike would have been possibly up to $1000 new, so it would have better components and a better fork as well.

Yes, suspension forks are the big issue. They are supported by the manufacturers with spare parts typically for 5 years or less, and can quickly fail (especially in the price range you are considering). There's also the issue that since your bike was made, the industry has switched to threadless headsets from threaded headsets, and that your steel frame is *quite* low end (the only CrMo part is the seat tube).

If you're patient, you should be able to pick up a bike with a decent frame+fork, or one with a good frame & 1 1/8" threadless headset so you can buy a new fork and have it installed (that will run $150 and up, so the first option may be better for now).

It's worth thinking a bit about what exactly bugs you about the current bike's ride before you buy another. It may turn out that a fairly low-cost upgrade will make a big improvement to your riding enjoyment.

Or since you can do the assembly yourself you should look at Forge bikes from target about 350 gets you Deore Avid BB5 and WTB wheels.

thanks, I did not know about them, will check them out.

The price just recently went up on the Forge. Still a good deal but not the steal that they used to be. I just posted an updated picture of mine in the "post your rigs" thread.