MeHT

I finally got tired of my old rusty road pile-o-crap and decided to buy a hard-tail. Riding: city, XC, downhill (not too extreme, though - I'm a newbie ) and perhaps some freeride later. Price range - something below $700 canadian. Any suggestions?

MeHT

Right now I'm thinking of these bikes:
https://www.peccos.com/specs.asp?PID=109
https://www.peccos.com/specs.asp?PID=102
https://www.peccos.com/specs.asp?PID=3319

I've heard a lot of good things about GIANT bikes and yesterday I stubled upon an LBS who stocked them (too bad I was busy). I'll check that shop tomorrow. Do you have any models I should particularly look at?

MeHT

And I've also heard that bike prices usually drop to the end of year... should I wait a little more to get a better trade-off?

Saphilipps

well i have a 02 Giant Iguana...theres nothing bad about it its an amazing bike for the money its a hardtail and i do all the same riding as you are talking about...i would look into that

KleinMp99

Get a 2003 specialized P2....their only like $500 american or something like that.

johndoe

Giant all the way.

I am bias, I bought two giants a month ago. Giant provides the Best bang for the buck hands down. See they are the largest manufactuers of bicycles so it cost them less to make bikes, hence the savings is past on to you the consumer. A matter of fact giant produces the frames for alot of other bike companies.

martin

Go for the gusto and get a Seven Sola:

https://www.sevencycles.com/Main.html

knobbymojo

I work for a giant dealer and I own a giant NRS 1. They have the best bang for the buck. You should look at either a SE 1 or SE 2 for a great aluminum hardtail. Another good brand to look at is KHS.

knobbymojo

I almost forgot. If you want to find out what actual consumers think of just about any given product go to www.mtbr.com. They have some of the best consumer reviews I have found on the web. Just remember that in some cases on this website, I have found that a bad review was the result of a consumer either using the product as it wasnt intended ( I weigh 280 pounds and my lightweight racing bike broke when I jumped it off of a loading dock- it must be a piece of junk!) or they didnt install it right (you mean you have to tighten the crankbolts or they fall off?) I hope my rantings help.

MeHT

Thanks.
I'll have a look at Specialized, Devinci and Giant bikes tomorrow. Maybe some Norco, too.

dirtbikedude

Check these out:

https://konaworld.com/kw_index.cfm

They are a bit out of your range of 700CDN but if you can get one on sale go for it. Kona bikes have always been good to me and last a long time. If you are considering doing some dh or freeriding then I would suggest saving up some more cash and get a bike that will handle the abuse. The bikes you mentioned are nice bikes but I would not want one for freeriding or dh.

Slainte

johndoe

Yep, i agree.

I just got the 2003 Giant XTC SE2. I have spent weeks looking at almost every other bike for under $1000. None comes close to the XTC SE2

a2psyklnut

Umm guys......$700 Canadian is about $442 USD using today's rates.

You're showing the guy some nice bikes, but they're out of his price range!

The following are just some bikes in the $400 - $600 range:

Trek 4500 or 4900 (deal on closeout - maybe)
Gary Fisher Marlin or Tassajara (also on closeout)
Giant Iguana
Haro ICS 3.0 and 4.0
Cannondale F300
Specialized P2 (as mentioned above!)
....Too many others to list

L8R

Jebus

Ya i have a giant rainier and it is sweet! Giant Rules

MeHT

Thanks for all the replies. Choosing a nice bike in your budget is really strainful. I'll try to visit as more shops as possible in near future and see what they have in stock.

MeHT

I've seen a GIANT Iguana for $750. Too bad it's 19". I think is too smal for me (I'm ~175cm). They've had 17" ORYX Equipe 80 for $650 or smothing like that. Has anyone heard aynthing about Oryx? (First time I've seen that, actually).

MeHT

They also had a Norco Wolverine.

freerider biker

BUY A TREK OR A K2 DUDE! You will be so pleased with any of Trek's or K2's hardtail bikes. No offense, but unless you buy a more expensive bike from Giant (like their DH bike), their bikes will fold on you rather quickly. They're quite suitable for casual riding like, riding to town. But if you try using it on the real terrain, you'll be looking at some trouble. I had some friends with Giant hardtails and the frame started to crack after going on a trail here in CT. But seriously Trek and K2 make the best bikes.

I have a 1999 Trek 6000 and it's still riding like new. I've even taken it off drops and the frame takes the beating!!! No cracks after all the abuse I've given it. Their bikes will last for a long time and are designed to take the beating of the trail. They have a great selection. So go choose.

I also got a K2 Disco Monkey. Serious bike but its FS, not hardtail. However, I've ridden their hardtails and their very solid. Frame is constructed with lots of stregnth and durablilty in mind. Hope this helps.

knobbymojo

In defense of giants bikes, I ride with a guy who has had a giant hardtail for 2 years, he easily weighs 220 and rides it hard, hasnt had a problem. Hovever, these bikes are for xc, not lots of dirt jumping, if you are a 200+ pound dirtjumper, then get one made for jumping, or else dont be surprised when it breaks.

MeHT

My weight is 65 kg (145 pounds) and I don't plan on serious DH/Freeride/Dirt jumping in the next couple of years.

MeHT

The thing is I've only seen Specialized, Norco, Giant, Oryx, Devinci and Eclipse (never heard of it before) here in Ottawa. I'll try Hull this week.

MeHT

What do you think about this?
K2 Attack 2.0
https://www.sportchek.ca/product_desc...Category=false

Oops, it's soft-tail. I guess I won't get quality for that kind of money.

johndoe

Uhhm,

Doesn't Giant manuafactuer frames for trek also.

johndoe

Acera parts all over on that bike for the money you want to spend you should be getting Deore al least on the rear.

You said the place you went to only had an iguana in 19. just have them order you a 2003 in your size.

The 2003 iguana in silver, also disk break is optional

MeHT

Found Trek 4500 for $700 and Kona Blast for $750, both 2003. Are they worth it?

They also have Kona NuNu 2003, for $900 or $950. I'm more and more convinced on getting either one of them:
Blast:
https://www.konaworld.com/2k3/2k3_blast.cfm
NuNu:
https://www.konaworld.com/2k3/2k3_nunu.cfm

Except for the disk brakes, do components differ much?