RespectTheWheel

Can anyone help me, im shopping for a mountain bike, and there seems to be soooo many different kinds. I just want to hear what someone would recommend and why.
Ill say under $500, I'm shopping used though, so please don't let that stop you if you, Im only throwing price in there because I noticed even some used bikes are well over $500.
Thank you very much!!

mzeffex 

Specialized, Trek, Giant, Fisher, Jamis, amongst others. I'm too tired to post reasons why.

rnorris

We can guide you a bit better if we know a little more about what your needs are in a mountain bike. Will it be used strictly on trails, or will you be doing some road riding with it as well? With a $500 budget, your best bang for the buck will be with a used hardtail (front suspension only) which will handle both of those uses. As you probably know, Craigslist is your friend here.

RespectTheWheel

Hey,
Thank you for the responses, I know I probably come off as pushy, but I have to get a bike soon so I can get back out there. It is indeed a need for both.
I want to get into trails a lot more than I already am, but I also enjoy long paved rides. I have searched Craigslist and Ebay for every kind of bike and in every nearby state I could think of.
I am looking for a 17.5"-18" frame. I can handle full suspension even on road, unless it's really not that big of a difference in comfort? I'm not too sure how this all works. You'll have to forgive.
Also- I hear with one of the Cannondales, you can actually lock the front suspension for road purposes?
I know I can't afford a cannondale, just would like to know I didn't make that up in my head. haha.
Thanks,
Ill look forward to reading the responses I get tomorrow.
Gnight.
Chris

vec

correct me if i am wrong, but if you want to ride on the road too, i would get a hardtail with stiff front suspension. i believe you can adjust the stiffness on most shocks. a full suspension bike will make a very tiring ride on the road.

ed 

Hmmm...Specialized? Check.
Trek? Okay...why not...check.
Giant? Reign supreme...check.
Fisher? Meh...I'll skip it.
Jamis? Not so much...pass. (unless you're looking for a bashable but heavy hardtail...I could still recommend much better alternatives)

ed 

Get 'em!

-_RebelRidin'_-

^Ignore the official comment OP.

Trek, Specialized, Gary Fisher, Cannondale are your more popular brands.

But Giant and Ironhorse offer good bang for the buck. Scott makes some good rigs.

Kona and Jamis have nice frames.

Motobecane..... I don't like them, reminds me to much of a road bike =p.

Siu Blue Wind

KonakonakonakonakonakonakonaFisherkonakonakonakonakonakona

-_RebelRidin'_-

Gee, I wonder which brand you endorse

Chris_F

Next, Schwin, Mongoose, Hyper System, Polaris, Mantis, Huffy... The full suspension bikes, especially under $100, are awesome. Way better than the expensive stuff you'll find at a bike shop. All the pros buy their bikes at Kmart.

MODWR

Siu Blue Wind

BZZZT!

Wrong answer.

RatedZeroHero

come to NE I'll sell you my TREK Mt. Track 850XL for $150 been a great bike 19.5" frame...

RespectTheWheel

19.5" is way too massive for me. I tried on a 19 and couldn't touch the ground. =(
I'm 5'9".
At any rate... Are Kona's any good for real?
I can pretty much tell when people are jesting, or being sarcastic, just not that guy... Lol.

Sixty Fiver

Perhaps it's just nationalism but Rocky Mountain and Kona are my favourites... so there is that and they fact they make some really excellent bikes.

mtnbiker66

Rich.........a really did lol.

RatedZeroHero

+1 for KONA

-_RebelRidin'_-

Yes, Kona is a good bike.

Their frames pwn
=)

ed 

Ahhhh crap..Rocky Mountain...I need to move further North where they make real bikes. I always forget about RM's. Freakin' beautiful machines.

WCoastPeddler

I have a KONA and really, really like it. Wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.

As mentioned, Rocky Mountain is also a really good brand. Another couple of Canadian brands that are good are Norco and Brodie. Both are quite popular in this part of the world.

https://www.norco.com

https://www.brodiebikes.com/

Sixty Fiver

Kona is an American / Canadian venture and both Kona and Rocky developed their bikes on the north shore to really fine tune their bikes to be unmatched when it comes to twisty single track and steep climbs.

Besides my Blizzard I have a first year 1988 Kona Explosif steel frame (that I can't seem to sell) as few people have the appreciation for steel hard tails that I do...this bike would have been built when Joe Murray was still at the helm.

I had a fellow come into the shop today and he told me he had worked in the RM frame shop back from 1990 to 2002 so there may have been a chance he was the builder of my frame.

The Blizzard is an outstanding frame but because they are hand built to order the frame alone now runs $1000.00... and they are worth every penny.

Brodie also makes an outstanding mountain bike and they have to be ridden to be appreciated.

twiant

Cannondale!!!! There great bikes and the front fork can be locked out for road riding and they are expensive bikes but you can get a F8 hardtail for around $475 new. Iv never rode a F8 but they look good for the price. Or save an extra $300 and get an F5 lol. There sweet

RatedZeroHero

I would trust a mountain bike named BOB...

BOB is a friendly name...

-_RebelRidin'_-

I knew a guy in GA that has a Rocky Mountain Blizzard. I remember him commenting on the A: Money value. B awesomeness and rareness for our area, and C: the classic value and the mental value it has.

Was a nice bike, I saw it a few times.