Gary Fisher Tassahara
 

Anyone have experience with this bike? Is $559 a good deal?

check out
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/XC_Hardt...t_123353.shtml
plenty of reviews there.

I love mine, but I think I rode it too hard. I broke a spoke and stipped my axle so I have loose bearings, still waiting on time and money to fix that one. But I ride that thing hard and I'm lucky that's all I've messed up.

I've had a Tassajara for going on three seasons and love everything about it except the brakes and rather large platform pedals. I installed discs last year and the pedals really weren't an issue because I run clipless anyway.
The bike geometry takes a little getting used to because the top tube is a tad long and you seem to sit close to the rear wheel which may or may not hinder descents because you have to stretch a little to get behind the saddle, but being over the wheel helps a bit on hard climbs. It's a lot different than the Fuji I had before it which had a rather compact cockpit. I installed a 60mm stem too so I'm not so stretched out.
I think the new ones are built with the "gold" series aluminum frame but my older one is made with the "silver series" who would know?
That seems to be a good price if it's brand new because the price on mine was $619 (althuogh I paid only $500) and that was a 2003 model.
Take the advice from ckleps above and check out the reviews.
Make sure to take one for a long ride before you decide though.

Thanks for the input. The reviews looked good and it felt good when I road it. I'll probably pick it up tomorrow.