Mountain Biking - opinions- iron horse & specialized

Hi I'm new here and am hoping for some guidance. I got out of BMX a few years ago due to my joints being shot. I've been riding motocross lately and now want to get into mountain biking so I have something fun to do with my wife. I'm pretty set on getting her a Specialized Hard Rock women's specific but I'm up in the air as to what I want.
I'm 5'11 and 230lbs
I've been most seriously looking at the Iron Horse Warrior Pro. http://www.ironhorsebikes.com/all_mountain/warrior_pro.shtml
But I'm not sure if this is what I need for an all around mount. I have a price range of around a grand and this iron horse is only $899. Not sure though if it'll hold up to me.
The other bikes I'm looking at are Specialized Rockhoppers. Maybe a hardtail is what I need? The components on the specialized are about the same as on the FS Iron Horse so I assume the Rockhopper must have a nicer frame.
If I do go with the Rockhopper would it be worth it to spend $1100 on the top of the line Pro Disk? http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9591&JServSessionIdroot=s4xluldvhk.j27003
It does have a nice looking fork in the Marz. Drop off Comp. Is this a better fork than the Manitou Splice Elite on the I H?
Ok thanks for any help!

I just noticed that the Rockhopper Pro Disk has only a 2 ring crank. How are these for all around? Will I get smoked on the street without the outer ring? Never rode a bike with only 2. May be good for me though as I tend to be fairly aggressive anytime I get on 2 wheels. But if my wife beats me I'm gonna be pissed!

I just noticed that the Rockhopper Pro Disk has only a 2 ring crank. How are these for all around? Will I get smoked on the street without the outer ring? Never rode a bike with only 2. May be good for me though as I tend to be fairly aggressive anytime I get on 2 wheels. But if my wife beats me I'm gonna be pissed!
My friend who spins higher cadences than me never uses his 3rd ring...I anytime about 15 or so MPH will jump onto my top ring.

I rarely, if ever use my biggest ring. I've hit >30MPH in 2-8, downhill, spinning at about 90RPM.

The extra 12 teeth dont really seem to make a difference, just a little steeper gearing.. but if you can do 25 on flat ground in 2-6, is there a need... ?

Hi I'm new here and am hoping for some guidance. I got out of BMX a few years ago due to my joints being shot. I've been riding motocross lately and now want to get into mountain biking so I have something fun to do with my wife. I'm pretty set on getting her a Specialized Hard Rock women's specific but I'm up in the air as to what I want.
I'm 5'11 and 230lbs

The other bikes I'm looking at are Specialized Rockhoppers. Maybe a hardtail is what I need? The components on the specialized are about the same as on the FS Iron Horse so I assume the Rockhopper must have a nicer frame.
If I do go with the Rockhopper would it be worth it to spend $1100 on the top of the line Pro Disk? http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9591&JServSessionIdroot=s4xluldvhk.j27003
It does have a nice looking fork in the Marz. Drop off Comp. Is this a better fork than the Manitou Splice Elite on the I H?
Ok thanks for any help!
First. the Rockhopper is better spec'd than the Iron Horse (IH) pretty much across the board. Secondly I've never been a fan of the single pivot rear suspension that IH uses.
As for the big ring, if you want it I'm sure the shop will put one on for you, that bashguard isn't a permanent thing by any stretch. Heck they may even trade you for it. If it were my call I'd get the Rockhopper Pro Disc in a walk even over the Comp Disc the upgrades to the fork and wheelset are worth it in my opinion

I've got a K2 Zed 4.0 that I use mainly for commuting and road riding, though I recently got a road bike and am looking to get into mountain biking a bit more as well. My cranks are 22-?-44 and I've got what I think is a 25-12 cassette. In riding on paved surfaces, I pretty much never drop to the middle chainring, and I've run out of gear trying to sprint with some buddies on road bikes.

Depending on how many teeth are on the two chainrings, you may be OK, or you may want higher gears for pavement riding.

Madman2k: how many teeth on your rings? what sort of cassette? Also, 25 mph on flat ground on a mountain bike, unless you're pretty strong or have a nice tailwind, seems to be stretching it a bit.

The Rockhopper is a great bike for the $$. Get the bike that feels the best.

My two biggest rings are 32 and 44, and my cassette is like 12-20 or something.

I cant go 25 mph for long, but the middle ring is enough to get there for a few seconds until you want to shift down :P

Then again, I like spinning about as fast as I can for a given gear, on the road. Off-road, I tend to pick one and stay in it since there's not usually enough room to get up speed and shift past [2-4].

Thanks for the opinions! I'm leaning towards the Rockhopper now. Is changing from bashguard to the larger ring just a quick bolt on? Will I need to change the derailer or shifter? I like the idea of having both the larger gear and keeping the bashguard in the garage in case I need it. So then the rockhoppers frame is a sturdy one?
Thanks again.

It should be sturdy enough, yes. If you're planning to do crazy jumps and etc, go for a P.2, but that'll... well, it'll give you more of a workout riding on trails or roads.

Thanks for the opinions! I'm leaning towards the Rockhopper now. Is changing from bashguard to the larger ring just a quick bolt on? Will I need to change the derailer or shifter? I like the idea of having both the larger gear and keeping the bashguard in the garage in case I need it. So then the rockhoppers frame is a sturdy one?
Thanks again.
It's a bolt on and an adjustment that's it.

cool I just ordered the Rockhopper Pro Disc today. The silver one is backordered untill april so I got the red one.
can't wait to ride.
thanks
oh and he's putting togeather a rockhard womens small for my wife to try out tomarrow night so hopefully she'll like that and we'll get both next week.

cool I just ordered the Rockhopper Pro Disc today. The silver one is backordered untill april so I got the red one.
can't wait to ride.
thanks
oh and he's putting togeather a rockhard womens small for my wife to try out tomarrow night so hopefully she'll like that and we'll get both next week.
They agreed to swap out that bashguard right?

They agreed to swap out that bashguard right?
Nah I didn't ask. I just ordered the ring so they could put in on when they assemble the bike (due in next wednesday). I think it'll be cool to have the bashguard in case I decide I'd like it on there.
Anybody have this bike? It looks great. What sold me was the fact that the frame was supposedly stronger than the rockhopper comp. That and the geometry specifically for the 130mm travel fork. The fork looks great but I no nothing about it. It's a Marz drop off comp. The wheels should be stronger also?
Can't wait 'till next week to have it. I wish I had the cash for a real good full susp. but I'm sure this is plenty capable enough for me.
Thanks