Need Hardtail Advice
 

I currently have a full suspension bike (Cannondale Jekyll 600), which I use for trail riding and local MTB races. I lock out the rear suspension 90% of the time, as it is unnecessary in most cases and saps power delivery to the rear wheel. It also weighs 30 lbs, which matters in races where there is a lot of climbing. I'm looking for a good quality, lightweight hardtail for under $1500 and would like some advice on brands and models. For example, I looked up the Trek 6700 Disc, which retails for $1370, but really don't know how it stacks up against other brands or models or if it represents a good value. I'd appreciate any advice on this matter. Thanks.

For $1500, it's hard to go past the new Stumpjumper HT. Retail on the site says $1550, so you can probably get it down 50-100 lower depending on your store. It's got linear brakes though, so you'd have to buy some discs if you wanted them, or take them off your Trek. I'm also a fan of the Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo for $1450.

The Fisher HKEK. But if you're open to the idea, I would roll with a Fisher 29er of some sort, unless you are stuck on 26" wheels. My new Fisher Rig is being ordered today, coming in tomorrow, and I should be riding it by the weekend. $1200 at my LBS. Granted it's a single speed and that might not be your thing, but check out the Fisher Cobia or Mamba, as those fall in your price range. You could try getting a Fisher X-Caliber, but it would probably be closer to $1600. I am suggesting the 29ers because this is where Gary Fisher bikes excel.

I don't know how competent you are regarding building a bike...but I've been able to build some pretty decent stuff in that range. Had I traded the durability for XC race'ability...I would have come in at a great racing weight.


Look at craigcraigcraig 's new build-in-progress. It's pretty inexpensensive and surely comes in light enough for XC.


For something new? Yeah, Stumpy hardtail. Remove the big ring, granny, front shifter, and cables...lose another pound or so on an already light bike. Throw on a bash/guide and an N-Gear jumpstop.

You got yourself a light 1x9.

not to thread jack, but why not the rockhopper sl pro at the same price?
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...perSL&eid=4340

fork looks similar level, with discs, and reasonable brakes, ok drivetrain is about one step down through out, but still decent isnt it?

just wondering for my own knowledge,

HOLY CRAP! I just realized the top of the line Rockhopper is the same price as the bottom of the line Stumpjumper.

It seems to me that this might be the ticket for my needs, given that I am very small, 5'-3" with a 27" inseam, and it comes in a size 13 with a 27.5" standover with a short 21.5" horizontal top tube. I will toss the cage pedals and put on my SPDs. Any opinions on the quality of the frame and major components? Any serious weak points or problems? Although I am small and relatively light (under 135 lbs), I race track and can put out good power, so I don't want a frame that's a wet noodle or major flex in other parts of the drivetrain. Is the air fork better/same/worse than a spring fork? Am I correct in assuming that this bike is a step up from the Fisher HKEK and that it would probably be lighter and no more than 25 lbs? Thanks again.

The stumpjumper frame is lighter than the Rockhopper, but you sacrifice some parts quality to get it instead: mainly that you get V brakes instead of Elixirs.

But if this is mainly a race bike I would go for the Stumpjumper frame/geo, personally.

OK, so I was getting ready to have my LBS order a 2010 Rockhopper SL Pro in a size 13 which supposedly weighs around my 25 lbs target, when I came across this Motobecane Fly Pro at Bikes Direct. Any opinions on this? Are the frames any good? They claim it weighs under 22 lbs and want only $1200 with free shipping, so it looks good on paper and the components look good, so what do you think?

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...fly_pro_09.htm

They don't have it in your size.

Look for another Cannondale HT. I built myself a 19-pound XC race rocket with a 2005 F2000SL frame:

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...s/DSCN0362.jpg