Mountain Biking - X-mas MTB purchase Advice for Nephew?

My Brother asked me to help him decide on these three bikes that he's going to surprise his son with for Christmas... his sons new Trek 3700 was stolen in September two weeks after saving his lawn cutting money to buy it... Some People Make Me Sick!

Nephew Backround...
-16yrs old
-approx. 200lbs
-6ft tall

He Rides XC, local trails, and like 80% Urban riding, with Urban Jumps being the most abusive...

Budget: $450- $500 MAX Out the door

The Bikes in Question

Trek Bruiser 1 (http://www2.trekbikes.com/Bikes/Mountain/Bruiser/Bruiser_1/index.php)

Specialized Hardrock Sport (http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9345&JServSessionIdroot=qdlsm1dodl.j27001)

Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9344&JServSessionIdroot=qdlsm1dodl.j27001)

Out the door price quotes from the LBS were...
-Bruser 1: $411.98
-Hardrock Sport: $ 387.98
-Hardrock Sport Disk: $ 477.98

My Brother went down to the LBS and asked the salesperson what he recommended for my nephew with the basic info that I presented here and these were the bikes and quotes he gave him. My Brother isn't into Bikes one bit and knew nothing at all, Knowing I ride he called me and asked my advice. Being kind of new myself, I figured I'd consult the forum.

He said he was most impressed with the Bruiser 1 because, it was pretty much where the salesperson was pushing him and he seemed most knowledged on that model of the three. The Salesperson said that the Bruiser had the best wheelset and forks of the three but, that he liked the Specialized frame a little better but, not worth losing the forks and that with the riding he does, that he doesn't really need Disc brakes but, they would always be a plus...

What do YOU think?

my friend has the hardrock pro disc and he really likes it.....then again...like EVERYONE on here will say, make sure the kid rides it first...the kid needs to be comfortable on it. I dislike my friends specialized while he loves it. It's all a matter of opinion....have the kid ride em.

http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9339

way superior fork, decent wheels, lighter frame, way more upgrade potential, and 500 bucks. insync is wal- mart suspension, and rst isnt much better. manitou fork, truvative crankset, deore/alivio parts.

If you've got to make a call between those 3 bikes, I'd say the hardrock sport pro. Then again...the rockhopper above mentioned is nice, but may simply be out of the price range.

If you've got to make a call between those 3 bikes, I'd say the hardrock sport pro. Then again...the rockhopper above mentioned is nice, but may simply be out of the price range.


msrp on that rockhopper is 500 bucks. for a few bucks in tax, you get the kid a far superior machine.

another option is to go to other shops and ask around for 04 leftovers, then you can get another superior bike for less $$.

Looking at all three. Even though the fork is a different brand, it is still at the same level as the two hardrocks. The Hardrocks do use a higher level crankset and bottom bracket. The bruiser has the advantage in the wheel department even though I don't like WTB's rims. Hubs are about the same level. The brakes on both make me really nervous. Neither brakes are good stoppers, but even though the hardrock has discs but they are tektro disc, which have no adjustments and don't stop very well, the linears on the bruiser might be able to be tuned to a point where they can stop a little better than the tektro discs. The parts level other than the cranks and the wheelset are about the same. With the mixed use it is a peashoot to decide which one, but since he does alot of urban riding like you mentioned, I'd have to go with the bike more suited for that category. Out of the three I'm going to have to go with the Bruiser 1 in this case, if the majority was XC I'd say that either hardrock would do.

(Can't believe I reccomended a Trek. I must be sick.)

ya...i agree with handlebrs, go find an 04...theres no law taht say you have to buy a new bike, get an oldstock or even a used bike in good condition if you can....i ride an 04 hardrock, i love it, but thats just me...

One thing about the HR Sport, the hubs aren't disc hubs so he won't be able to upgrade to discs in the near future without replacing the wheels as well. The bruiser has disc hubs so he can put discs on it in the future if he so chooses.. I know the Specialized has a pretty strong frame as it's basically the same frame as on my HR Pro Disc. I'd say it's a tossup between the Bruiser and the HR Sport Disc. Have him ride them both and decide which he likes better. :)

The results are in, I just got off the phone with my brother....

Dadundatadaaaah....

The Bruiser 1
http://www.cyclery.com.au/images/trek/hard_tail/bruiser/bruiser_1.jpg

He said he was nonchalantly talking to my nephew and asked in passing if he were to buy another bike if he would go for another Trek and he said definitely, just a better model than he had (3700). So that sealed the deal...he went down tonight and purchased the Bruiser 1. He got them to throw in a Bottle & cage for free... I'm not sure how nice of one, but who cares, it was free. That tells me that they could have dropped the price that much more but, not a bad deal though. I'm Sure his son will be pleased.

msrp on that rockhopper is 500 bucks. for a few bucks in tax, you get the kid a far superior machine.
As the guy stated
Budget: $450- $500 MAX Out the door in a state like TN, that's 550 bucks for the bike....l

Pretty good choice on the Bruiser.. I think he'll like it. Looks like it can take a decent amount of abuse. Let us know how he likes it. :)