Mountain Biking - So which would you choose?

Looking at entry level hardtail mtn bikes.

Curious as to which one you would choose from these 7 and why.

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/trailx/12_trailxr_bk.html

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/trailx/12_trailx1_bl.html

http://www.scott-sports.com/us_en/product/10030/55716/217995

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/model/revel.2.silver.black/7509/44529/

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCProduct.jsp?spid=62177&scid=1100&scname=Mountain

http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/mountain/talus-3-0-12/

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/sport/820/820#/us/en/model/details?url=us/en/bikes/mountain/sport/820/820

If that Scott has double wall rims, that would be my pick. Otherwise I'd go for the Giant. Of course opinions will vary.

I'd say 6:1 ; 1/2dz:other...except for the first Jamis. Quill stems suck!

I'd probably get something used for $400 and get a much nicer bike for the money.

I'd probably get the Scott because it looks the best aesthetically. Other than that, +1^

What? No Specialized? Who cares what I think about these bikes?

This smells of "which bike should I buy" thread....

I'd say 6:1 ; 1/2dz:other...except for the first Jamis. Quill stems suck!

Missed that with the stem, thanks.

I'd probably get something used for $400 and get a much nicer bike for the money.

+2

Most of those look very breakable. If you want to ride them on rail trails I'm sure they're great but any kind of rocky trail would be a nightmare.

What? No Specialized? Who cares what I think about these bikes?

This smells of "which bike should I buy" thread....

There you go added a Specialized to the list.

Yes it does smell of which bike, I was actually talking to a co-worker and where talking about entry level bike shop mountain bikes.

The conclusion we came to do is they are all pretty much the same and anybody purchasing one should make the purchase choice based on two factors how did they like the feel of the bike and how the bike shop treated them.

I thought I would ask on the forum what people thought of the entry level bikes, so far other than the stem on one bike they do appear all the same and it mostly it appears that no one is any better than the other. I was looking for confirmation.

i'd take the cannondale all the way

i'd take the cannondale all the way

Jerkyard...................

The conclusion we came to do is they are all pretty much the same and anybody purchasing one should make the purchase choice based on two factors how did they like the feel of the bike and how the bike shop treated them.This, in a nutshell, is the be-all/end-all answer to the thousands of "what-entry-level-bike-to-buy" threads that get posted here. Wish there was a macro that would just spit this out when the poster hits "submit."

And boil that nutshell down even smaller to read: get the one you like.

What? No Specialized? Who cares what I think about these bikes?

This smells of "which bike should I buy" thread....

The question doesn't belong in the "Bikeshopping.net / which bike should I buy" thread b/c the OP gave a few choices. I won't move a thread there unless there are no options whatsoever.

The first thing I was thinking was to suggest a Specialized, but since the OP asked about specific bikes and the Hardrock wasn't in his list at the time, I refrained. (I also went to Jenson and looked at closeout bikes, but they're pretty-well picked through)

Now that the OP has thrown the Hardrock up there...no question.

So it would appear by far the two with the best opinions are :-

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/...ck/7509/44529/

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...cname=Mountain


Not sure why I did not have the hardrock listed it was one I had been looking at.

The Hardrock has a bomb proof, if heavy, frame. Great bike. Looooove mine.

. . . bomb proof, . . . . http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/578178-Forum-phrases-and-terms-that-should-just-stop-being-used.-.-.?p=13636584&viewfull=1#post13636584

My shop has Hardrocks in Blackout or blackout with decals and hubs that are anodized orange or green. For entry level another 150 bucks would get you a cool looking ride.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/578178-Forum-phrases-and-terms-that-should-just-stop-being-used.-.-.?p=13636584&viewfull=1#post13636584pft okay.

the integrity of the frame of the specialized hardrock rivals that of a cold war bunker

pft okay.

the integrity of the frame of the specialized hardrock rivals that of a cold war bunker


Awesome description :)