Mountain Biking - HARO bikes?

the girl i'm dating is looking to buy a HARO bike back home, i've never even heard of them... any good? she's looking at one of the V series (though she can only remember it's red, not what model... girls...) what's the story? i honestly don't think they look that bad, but they don't look that good either, she's looking to spend $300...

http://www.harobikes.com/2004/v3/

she's also looking to buy tomorrow so help! i don't want her to get stuck with a sucky bike!

Decent bikes. One of my friends started getting into casual riding this summer, so I went shopping with him (I don't need much excuse to go to the shop). He looked at Specialized HR comp, GT Aggressor, and Haro V3. He eventually got the Haro at my recommendation, since he was pretty reluctant to break the $400 mark on the Hardrock. It's really the same level. I only had two minor issues with it. First, the Manitou fork is a little too squishy, although I liked it way better than the Rockshox Judy on the GT. Plus, the softness is probably more appropriate for a woman, since she probably ways a decent amount less than either of us. I think that fork has gotten worse over the last two years, because mine felt way better. Second, the front Derailluer was a Shimano SIS. Come on! There's Deore in the back but SIS in front? It would've cost about a buck to make that an Acera.

BTW, Haro is traditionally a BMX company, but they've moved increasingly into mountain biking lately.

What????? U never heard of HARO? Tells me your IQ of Mtn.Biking Dude.

but thats an intense frame with haro stickers on it

excuse me for only having mountain biked for 2 months...

No prob. I like my HARO X2. Forgive me for seeming so bold about your not knowing.....

Haros are great bikes. I bought my X3 a month ago and its great. I looked at the v-3 its also a great bike for the price. I'd tell her to buy the V-3.

Here's the X3
http://www.freewebs.com/jeffc19/mybike/img1.JPG

Nice bike.... I already had the Hayes DH 8" hydraulic brakes & a RhinoLite wheelset, so I just opted for the X2. I also upgraded my M'zochi fork to an air preload for $25. I saved alot of $$$ overall....

Here's mine when I 1st bought it....

Mech or Hydro brakes?

It came w/ Hayes MX1's 8" & 6" rotors. I changed them over to my Hayes HFX DH hydraulics w/ 8" rotors on both front & rear. The MX1's work really great, it's just that I already had the hydraulic's... so I put them on.

Nice. I love Hydraulics. I was riding my buddys bike with Hayes MX1 and they are crap compaired to hydros in stopping power. Not that theres anything wrong with Mechanicals. (So no one think Mech brakes are crap) Mech brakes are 100 times better then V-Brakes. Yeah I still have the 6" rotor in the back. I looked at it a while ago and I don't think theres enough room to fit a 8" there. I'll ask the LBS if the 6's just aren't performing like the 8's in front.

The 8" rotor will fit the rear on your X3. We have the same frame, only different colors & yours came stock with a couple of upgrades over the X2. (Hydro brakes was one & a different fork / hub.) Nice bikes for the $$$ no matter what others may say.

Yeah, I was looking at it today and I realized to make it an 8" rotor it ould only need to ass 1 inch all around to create a 8" rotor because it extends both sides. And I thik there would be enough room to fit some nice 8's. But the 6's work just fine.

PS I just built my first jump today. I like how it look (haven't riden it yet I wanted it to sorta harden overnight) But I'm not gonna post pics because it doesn't look big YET!

BTW, Haro is traditionally a BMX company, but they've moved increasingly into mountain biking lately.

Lately? Well, I guess if you count the last 12 years as lately. Haro was marketting MTB as early as 1992. :)

With the Haro DHR, where can you find technical info about them? There isn't any on their website, from what I can see.

Also looking at the DHR it looks like an Intense M1 with bolt on seat block (forget what that area's called)

Lately? Well, I guess if you count the last 12 years as lately. Haro was marketting MTB as early as 1992. :)

Dude, give him a break. Jeez.

Haro make good bikes. Your gf is not buying a crap bike.

Personly i hate haro manily because of my bmx days my hate just seemed to revert over to mtb aswell. But since i saw the 8.3 im seeing they aren't so bad but my hate for thier bmx range has never been soo great. lol

With the Haro DHR, where can you find technical info about them? There isn't any on their website, from what I can see.

Also looking at the DHR it looks like an Intense M1 with bolt on seat block (forget what that area's called)

Good guess !!! This frame is a combination of an M1 Front and a Uzzi SLX rear triangle...

Here's some tech specs 4 U ....

http://www.cambriabike.com/frames/framedetail.php?mfgName=Haro&frame=290

http://www.cambriabike.com/SALE/frame/haro_werks_dhr_frameset_large.htm

Believe it or not, they actually have other colors besides Red.... (Blue & Black)

Dude, give him a break. Jeez.

I wasn't meaning to rag on him... just a little friendly ribbing.

Yeah that's ok, its just that some people in this forum seem to hate noobies. I mean, we were all noobies once too.

Definately a sound bike.

well, she actually ended up getting a Specialized Hardrock Sport.

i know it's a good bike too, my only concern is that she's 5'9" and he sold her a 19" frame... i think that's a little big, right? i mean, i'm 6'0" and i ride a 19"...

It's not overall height as much as leg length. Does she have long legs for her height? IN which case it could be a good size.

If she can stand over comfortably and doesn't feel like she's reaching uncomfortably far to the handlebars, it should be good. Did she have a chance to ride a 17-18" frame for comparison?

What does everyone think about the ICS5.0? I am looking at a "new" 03 model and think Im gonna buy it but can't really find many reviews. Like 2 reviews gave it a 5 of 5 and the component set rocks for the 900 bucks I will be dropping but I wanted some feed back from someone who knows a bit about these bikes besides the sales guy. It is seriously lighter and better components than the Trek 6700 that I am getting if I don't take the Haro.

Any thoughts??

Thnx,

Ty

To be honest, I did read you other post. Be less concerned about components. Drive train is cheap. Frame and fork are not. When I look at bikes I don't even care what the drive train is until I find out if the frame is strong and the fork won't break haha

Maelstrom,

thnx for the quick reply, but again thats where I'm stuck. I can't seem to find much definative info on this bike (the Haro that is). The quality and strength of the frame is a big mystery to me, the fork, a Rock shox duke XC I am pretty confident in, as I said I will NOT get crazy with the free riding so doubt I'd be breaking anything up on either but efficency in my effort to power output is important as long as I know its not total garbage. I assume you were referring to the Trek's drivetrain as cheap? I am laening hard toward that Haro, I just wish I knew someone who had one.

Ty

Oh cheap to upgrade, y I see your point. Still in the dark tho.

Ty

FWIW-

I picked up a great closeout deal (<50% of list) on a Haro V-3 (2003) early this spring to try MTBing, and it's the best buy I've made in years. I ride around 50% urban asphalt/50% intermediate trails, and with a tire swap (OE WTB Velociraptors for IRC Mythos XC Slicks) this bike is about perfect for my riding. It's a solid entry-level hardtail MTB with Deore-class drivetrain, Alex DM 18 rims, and a strong T-6 6061 aluminum frame. The Pro-Max V-brakes are just OK, and I plan to replace them with Avid SD-7's soon. Some don't care for the RockShox Judy TT fork (2004's have a Mannitou), but so far it's worked fine for me (at 175lbs). The geometry of the stock V-3 is a bit upright, and I recently replaced the stock 40-degree stem with an Easton EA-70 (10 degree). After almost a full season of riding 4+ days/week, I can honestly say I would buy another Haro in a NY minute!