Mountain Biking - Upgrade or buy a new hard tail?

What I have is a Diamondback Sorrento DX which was bought new in 98ish, has components that didn't come on Sorrentos untill 99 or 2000 and the DX was only made in '96. So I don't know exactly what year it is. Any way, it was barely ridden for years and then I rode it a few times 4 years ago but THIS summer I have been all over it. I have no where NEAR the miles on it that some of you guys do and I basically suck off road but I'm plugging away at it and I ride it on streets and trails. There is nothing wrong with it other than it's old. It functions flawlessly. However, because I have had it for so long it has taken on a sentimental roll as "my bike" and I would hate to see it get beat to hell or even broken as I try harder things on the trails. There are a few things that I would like to upgrade on it like the stem and bars and shock and the wheels if and when I bend them but other than that it functions as it should and I enjoy it. At the end of NEXT summer, if I keep with this, I anticipate getting myself a dual-suspension XC bike.

So, other than my sentimental attachment to her (and disc breaks that I don't think that I would pay for), is there a reason to up-grade this 10+ year old hard-tail for a more modern design?

I'm in the same boat as you, only about 5 years older. My Nitro is a '93 frame that fits really well and upgraded parts. I have spent @$300 in the past few months on rims, seat, chain and a few odds and ends. It still weighs only 27 pounds. I have a sentimental attachment as every scrape and scratch on it warms my heart.

But there are so many options out there. The thrill of building up a new ride has caught my imagination. Should I convert the Nitro to a SS errand bike. Are the welds gonna give way on the next ride? I also am a Hard tail fan. If you are going dual-susp. XC next fall then if seems to me to be cost effective to just do a couple of upgrades to the DB. In these situations, I have gotten to the age and financial position where I ask myself, what do I really want to do, logic be d@mn&d.

Besides, my wife got the wood flooring bug a few months ago. I tore out a ton of good carpet and installed wood flooring. It was just because she wanted to. So if I want to build up a bike from scratch, I think it sounds like fun.

Keep me posted on what you decide. I enjoy the thought process.

What you really want is a rigid, single speed, steel 29er.