My First Mountain Bike
 

Ok, I've narrowed down my choices for my first Mountain Bike (staying in the $400.00 print point range for new) to the following:

Specialized Hard Rock
Giant Revel
Trek 820

This bike will basically be used about 60% on the street and 40% trail riding (nothing too serious as far as trails go). Which of these three would you recommend and why? If you have alternative bikes you think warrant a look at (in this price point range for a new bike) like me know. Thanks in advance!!

specialized or trek, depending on which bike feels the most comfortable to you. i have an irrational dislike for Giant.

for $400, you can get a trek 3500 which would be great for what you plan on doing and is a decent upgrade from the 820.

The Revel should be fine. I had it for about 2 months this year and it's pretty solid. However it's heavy and slow on the trail but I guess the same goes for the other 2 since they are in the same price range. Maybe you could wait for a few more months till September? I hear bikes go for crazy discounted closeouts in September.

Buy used.
If you like cromo steel You should be able to get a Trek 820,830 used-rigid- for well under $150- just buy a $100 used suspension fork-Ebay-and you are set.
Pay maybe $225 and get a Trek 930,950,970,990- most rigid some with suspension fork.

In any case- buy used.A $400 new MTB isn't much of a bike-for $400 used you could get a bike that sold for $1000-$1400 5 years ago
Charlie
PS 3 months back I sold a Griant NRS- full suspension -for $400- it cost the original owner $1800 in 2002. Great street bike, good MTB