J-McKech

Hey guys whats up...im looking at maybe checking out the Trek 820 this weekend. Looks like a good, strong, less pricey mountain bike. Im more of a roadie but Im looking at getting a mountain bike for under 300. The Trek 820 fits my budget and Trek makes good bikes. Wondering if anyone had one? Im also open to other companys. But my budget is 300 and under.

a2psyklnut

The Trek isn't bad for the money, it's a bit on the heavy side, but it's a good entry level bike that will allow you to hit the trails.

You will find most manufacturer's are very comparable in the $300 pricepoint, and the only TRUE difference will end up being frame geometries, paint and graphics. One bike will have an RST fork or a RockShox or Manitou, but at this price the performance will be about the same. The fork internals will be almost identical.

Some bikes may have Shimano components, some Sram. They will also be nearly identicle performance wise!

The thing I would suggest doing since you are an experienced cyclist already is to ask them to swap out the steep angled (upright) stem for something that'll put you in a more forward (race oriented) position. Something like a 110mm or 120mm in a 15 degree or 10 degree rise.

L8R

J-McKech

Awesome, im gunna go check out my lbs this weekend

crgowo

My first bike was a trek 820 and it was a good bike. but if you can get 50$ more you can get your self a trek 4100 or a specialized hardrock which would be better. A friend and i purchased our bikes at the same time and he got the 4100 and i got hte 820. Well after riding his bike, man it made a big difference with just the weight difference from using the steel frame. I made it up all the trials with him but with his bike it made it alot easier. As for the hardrock i've heard reallly good things about them. But like i see a2psyklnut always says "get the one you feel more comfortable on."

a2psyklnut

Tru Dat!

bg4533

I paid $299 for my Specialized Hardrock and I love it. My mother just got a new Trek 820 and even though it is smaller than my bike it is a few pounds heavier. The Hardrock also seems like a much heartier bike for not much more.

seely

For $289 the Hardrock XC is the best deal in the price range, but its a 7spd rear which isn't upgradable in the future to 8/9spd.

Next step up is the Hardrock Sport which is an 8spd rear end... not really a "fast" bike though due to it having kind of aggressive dirtjump geometry.

For around $319 the Trek 4300 has an 8spd rearend and more race/XC oriented geometry, with a somewhat sloppy fork.

The 820 for $219 is ok but the components aren't that great, and it is a very heavy steel frame.

J-McKech

Thanks guys lol, but i got a Gary Fisher bout a few weeks ago but thanks