Mountain Biking - $501 to $800-ish MTB Buying Help

I saw the $500 thread, but am curious about mid-range bikes. I have a more difficult situation because I am a small woman. (5 feet tall). There are a number of choices in general in this price range, but it's been hard for me to find a bike that has good geometry for me AND has good components. Right now I am leaning towards a Gary Fisher Tassajara GS (the women's specific version). The Tassajara has Deore and LX components and is disc brake compatible if I decide to upgrade later. The 2005 model is $600 at my LBS. I am pretty close to buying, but I wanted to know if there is anything else I should consider.

This bike will be for semi-aggressive trail riding. I will not be racing, but I intend to ride at least 2-3 times a week on trails that are relatively technical (not a Sunday stroll). I am somewhat of a newbie, but not a "I want to replace my dept store bike" newbie - let's just say I am a semi-experienced, informed newbie who isn't quite ready to fork out $1000 or more, but doesn't want to continue riding my '97 Spec Hardrock which is a tank!

I want that in-between level bike that will help me get better at the sport so that in 3 years, I'm ready for really good one! :D Suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks for reading!

Trek and Specialized also make Women Specific Designs.

Fisher, even their WSD, incorporate the "Genesis Geometry". Personally, I don't like it. Many others do, but I don't.

Before you buy, try out the other manufacturer's bikes.

Also, check some online classifieds for a Santa Cruz Juliana. It's a lot more than you said you wanted to spend, but you may come across a good deal on a used one.

Julie Furtado in conjunction with Santa Cruz developed this frame and was the catalyst for the whole WSD bike movement.

I have noticed more questions about buying a bike under 1000 here, somebody should make the under 1000 thread.

I have noticed more questions about buying a bike under 1000 here, somebody should make the under 1000 thread.
Perhaps, but you weren't here before the $500 MTB thread was started. Those threads were CONSTANT and having that thread has really backed down the excessive over posting. The under a G people aren't nearly as prevalent as the $500 people were.

What is it about the Fisher Genesis geometry that might not be so good?

The bad thing about the mid-range priced Trek and Specialized WSD bikes is the components offered aren't as good as the Tassajara AND they are not disc brake compatible.

Over $1000 is where you start to see the WSD with the better components with most of the other brands.

Initially, I wanted a Rockhopper Comp Disc. Then I found out they don't make them small enough anymore. :mad: On their website it says they do, but after calling around, I found out they don't anymore.

What is it about the Fisher Genesis geometry that might not be so good?

Initially, I wanted a Rockhopper Comp Disc. Then I found out they don't make them small enough anymore. :mad: On their website it says they do, but after calling around, I found out they don't anymore.
Genesis geometry works great for some others like me and A2 hate it. It's based around shorter than normal rear chainstays which sit you further back over the rear wheel.

I'd believe the website in relation to the Rockhopper. Bike shops can be somewhat lax in regards to ordering small (or in my case larger) bikes if they aren't sure of a sale.

Perhaps, but you weren't here before the $500 MTB thread was started. Those threads were CONSTANT and having that thread has really backed down the excessive over posting. The under a G people aren't nearly as prevalent as the $500 people were.
Yes i know it has helped, but a lot of people want to find their second bike and are willing to spend a little more this time because if you are willing to spend 1k you are probably serious about this. Maybe i will start it, i dont know i doubt i will get around to it

For real, the Rockhopper Comp Disc and Pro Disc bikes do not come in 13" anymore. I visited 3 bike stores and called 2 others. The three places I went to called reps at the main HQ while I stood there and were told they no longer make them in 13". I expressed that I was going to buy the bike for sure. The fact is they can't order it for me because they aren't able to get them. ????

So, unfortunately, Specialized is out. The Rockhopper Women's has lower level components than the Tassajara.

The chainstay is shorter on the Genesis geometry? Forgive my newbieness, but can you explain how that effects you and why you hate it?

If you want disc brakes, do not upgrade later, it is so much more expensive, trust me I looked into this. I had a Giant Rincon that I considered putting disc brakes on, it would have cost me about $330 to put on avid brakes(including new wheels) my bike was only worth $350!! It cost me less money out of my pocket to sell my Rincon (for $300) and by my current bike, an 04 Giant Iguana.

it is very costly to upgrade to discs from a V brake bicycle. I did it but i was lucky enough to find good deals on ebay. If you want disc brakes get a bike that supports it initially.

Hmm what kind of deal did you get off of ebay for the brakes.(I was thinking of upgrading my Hayes MX2's to Avid BB7's.)

Well it isnt just the brakes, its the whole package. going to disc brakes was what motivated me to build my first wheelset. So i built a decent quality wheelset for under 150. Using the DT swiss hayes front hub they have on ebay, the shiny one that says hayes on one side in red. ITs a very nice hub and for the price cant be beaten. I used VUelta rims, DT competition spokes and the shimano XT rear hub. As for brakes i got the BB7 for 65 or something close to that from Cambria bike on ebay. Of course i later ifnd i dont need them and i wanted to upgrade my wheels to a cross country oriented set so i sold the whole disc setup. I have no use for them here, there are no downhill courses anywhere near my location.

Well, I'm not quite sure how heavy disc brakes are, but if you were to have disc specific rims, wouldn't you save some weight for for cross country?

Yep, but when i was replacing my wheelset i figured i mgith as well ditch them, the hubs i was wanting do not support discs. They have a disc version but would cost more, and i talked to my lbs and they agreed that discs are not needed in this area. Most of the stuff here is up and down not very large hills. So i figured i might as well sell the brakes to raise funds for the wheels and now im all set. The V brakes cost me 44 dollars in all

Ah, I live in Colorado (as you can see) and the races are up near Vail, and one of the races rises 3000 ft. in only 10 miles!

yea they would suit you well.

Any disc brakes that you would recomend? I need to replace my MX2's.

Since you just asked that i bet you after i say Avid BB7 at least 10 people will follow within 4 hours

theres just too much to be said, do a search on avid BB7 and you will see, its what unites this forum

The Fisher Tassajara GS (Women's) is disc brake compatible already. The only thing I would have to buy are the brakes. The LBS I am planning on buying from said $150 extra to install Avid Mechanical Disc brakes.

wait 150 for both of the brakes plus installation? You can install them yourself, avids are super easy to install. The main obstacle with installing disc brakes is aligning the rotor, avid makes it super easy. (Yes Raiyn i know)

So the The Fisher Tassajara GS already has disc compatable hubs/rims?

The rim makes no difference, its the hub. You will have a dish which is different, and you will see slots for 6 rotor bolts. I dont know the specs on the Fisher you speak of

I guess what I meant by the rims is that by being disc specific they are lighter, they don't carry the extra weight needed for rim brakes.

Yes, the hubs are disc compatible on the Tassajara GS. It says it in the specs.

I thought $150 was reasonable for both brakes and installation. I've been looking at Avid Mech disc brakes on the internet and I've seen them priced anywhere from $70 on up per brake.

(Yes Raiyn i know)
:roflmao: $150 for both installed isn't bad at all

well i have to, that post will haunt me for my accounts life.

Now I just need to figure out if I really need disc brakes. I live in Michigan where the weather changes all of the time. We do get our share of rain - and that's why I was thinking of disc brakes. Again, I'll be riding on trails that can get mucky when they are wet. Last year my V-brakes got clogged pretty well and were squeaking really bad. The braking power wasn't the best either, but it was an older bike, too.

Any thoughts?

well, t depends on your riding habits i would say. Do you go on many hills? It wont hurt you to have disc brakes, if your riding in heavy rain a lot you might as well.

Perhaps, but you weren't here before the $500 MTB thread was started. Those threads were CONSTANT and having that thread has really backed down the excessive over posting. The under a G people aren't nearly as prevalent as the $500 people were.

That and no more stickies. At some point there have to be questions. We already have 7ish...thats enough to be sure (almost too many) The under 500 thread has been a saviour...under 1000 will only stop a thread a week which is nothin in the scheme of things :)

Now I just need to figure out if I really need disc brakes. I live in Michigan where the weather changes all of the time. We do get our share of rain - and that's why I was thinking of disc brakes. Again, I'll be riding on trails that can get mucky when they are wet. Last year my V-brakes got clogged pretty well and were squeaking really bad. The braking power wasn't the best either, but it was an older bike, too.

Any thoughts?

sure sounds like an ideal situation for discs.

Ya sounds like a good place for disc brakes, you don't even need to get a very expensisve pair. I have a pair of Hayes MX2 (around $40 each) , and they work well in mud, rain, ect.

Ya sounds like a good place for disc brakes, you don't even need to get a very expensisve pair. I have a pair of Hayes MX2 (around $40 each) , and they work well in mud, rain, ect.
I beg to differ. It's painfully obvious you've never tried Avid Mechanicals. They're WELL worth the $70 per wheel and they absolutely OBLITERATE the Hayes MX2's

The under 500 thread has been a saviour...under 1000 will only stop a thread a week which is nothin in the scheme of things :)

Has it been a savior? And for who? Sure a couple guys that get irritated with having to read repetitive questions are happy but what about the possibility that it is harmful? You can't measure how many people come onto this forum and are afraid to ask about a bike because they know that a couple guys will blast them for not reading the sticky $500 thread.

So they don't ask the question. Then they might go buy the wrong bike, or worse yet not buy one at all. Again that is good for the couple of guys that get irritated by repetitive posts but is it good for the noob's or is it good for Mountain Biking or cycling in general? Or does that matter?

Kaian,

Do you realize that TREK owns Gary Fisher? Therefore, there are usually comparable bikes by Trek. The difference will be the colors, graphics and lack of Genesis Geometry.

The Genesis Geometry has been around for a long time, it's just Gary coined the term and incorporated it into his designs. The geometry has shorter chain stays and thus the rider sits further back on the bike. This shifts the riders center of gravity further back on the bike. Gary Claims this allows for better traction while climbing and helps shift your weight back while descending.

This geometry just doesn't "work" for me. I'm not saying it's bad for you, just for me. When I ride a GF bike the front end feels awkward. The front tends to drift a lot. My climbing actually suffers as I feel like I loop out too easily. It simply felt "weird".

Which is why I'm constantly telling newbies to test ride as many different manufacturers bikes as possible. They each build them differently. What works for me, may suck for you.

Also, Trek's and GF's require an adapter to go to discs for the frame (rear). The problem I have with Trek/GF is that they do NOT put disc ready hubs on their non-disc bikes. Specialized does this and it makes upgrading to discs easier and less costly in the future.

I beg to differ. It's painfully obvious you've never tried Avid Mechanicals. They're WELL worth the $70 per wheel and they absolutely OBLITERATE the Hayes MX2's

Without a doubt the Avids are better, all I'm saying is that if your new to mechs and don't have a lot of money the Hayes will last ya a while till you can upgrade.

Has it been a savior? And for who? Sure a couple guys that get irritated with having to read repetitive questions are happy but what about the possibility that it is harmful? You can't measure how many people come onto this forum and are afraid to ask about a bike because they know that a couple guys will blast them for not reading the sticky $500 thread.

So they don't ask the question. Then they might go buy the wrong bike, or worse yet not buy one at all. Again that is good for the couple of guys that get irritated by repetitive posts but is it good for the noob's or is it good for Mountain Biking or cycling in general? Or does that matter?
The $500 MTB thread was created as a resource so that the most commonly asked question on BF would have a easy to find answer. Before then newbies were getting blasted to "do a ********** SEARCH" and other such niceties. It was made into a sticky so that it would be instantly availiable. If they buy the wrong bike it's not because of the thread it's because they didn't read the thread. The number one thing I suggest when people ask about two different bikes is to get the one that FEELS better, regardless of minor differences in components.