Thanks for everyones input on this thread. I am considering options for me and my wife and have l;ooked at the following - All will be 2005 models. Note I am tring to keep my price point at around $500 retail for me and $350 for my wife. The riding we will do may be 70% street 20% trials 10% jumps n fun(probally nothing over a 4 foot drop).
For Me - really would like full suspension
Trek y26
Linked
Front Suspension InSync Grind 2, 70mm
Rear Shock Mozo USA
Wheels
Wheels Alloy front, Shimano RM40 rear hub; WTB Dual Duty rims
Tires Bontrager Connection Trail, 26x2.0"
Drivetrain
Shifters Shimano EF29
Front Derailleur Shimano C050
Rear Derailleur Shimano Acera
Crankset SR 42/34/24
Cassette SRAM 730 12-32, 7speed
Pedals Alloy platform, clipless adaptable
Components
Saddle Bontrager Sport
Seatpost Bontrager
Handlebars 30mm rise
Stem Bontrager, 25 degree
Headset Aheadset, semi-cartridge, sealed
Brakeset Tektro V w/Shimano STI levers
Schwinn Rocket 2005
Linked
Frame Schwinn Iso-Drive suspended BB 4-bar proprietary design with 3.5" rear travel, custom drawn 7005 aluminum, fully sealed cartridge bearing pivots, forged dropouts with replaceable hanger
Fork RST Gila T5 w/ Aluminum lowers, Coil / MCU spring, pre-load adjust, mini-boots, 100mm travel
Rear Shock RST-22 coil spring, hydraulic damping, floating piston Spring size S-500 lbs, M-600 lbs, L-700 lbs, XL-800 lbs
Crankset TruVativ X-Flow alloy arms, 42-32-22 Cr-Mo rings
Bottom Bracket TruVativ sealed cartridge with chainline stabilizer 68 x 113 square taper
Pedals ATB Resin body, Boron steel axle, Steel cage, w/ toe clips & straps
Front Derailleur Shimano C-101, 31.8 clamp-on
Rear Derailleur Shimano Alivio
Shifters Shimano ST-EF29-8 Rapid Fire
Freewheel SRAM 830 eight-speed index cassette 11-32
Chain Shimano CN-IG51
Rims Alex PC19 double wall with ground sidewall
Tires WTB 26" x 2.1" Velociraptor Front and Rear specific tread pattern
Front Hub Joy Tech Alloy double sealed QR, 32H
Rear Hub Joy Tech Alloy Cassette double sealed 8-speed QR, 32H
Spokes Stainless steel 14 gauge
Nipples Brass CP
Front Brake Tektro SCD-5 Linear Pull w/ 60mm MC pads, linear springs and Self-Centering device
Rear Brake Tektro SCD-5 Linear Pull w/ 60mm MC pads, linear springs and Self-Centering device
Brake Levers Shimano ST-EF29
Handlebar Schwinn Butted Alum. 20 mm Rise, 9 degree bend, 620 mm wide
Stem Schwinn Ride Tuned TIG welded threadless , 10 degree rise with forged front load cap
Grips Schwinn double density Kraton / Gel
Headset FPD Threadless 1 1/8"
Saddle WTB Speed V Sport w/ Comfort Zone
Seat Post Schwinn Ride-Tuned Alloy with cold-forged alloy head 27.2 x 350mm
Seat Clamp Alloy Low-Profile QR w/ forged clamp
Extras Seat post water bottle mounting clamps
Wife
Trek 3700
Linked
Front Suspension RST, 63mm
Wheels
Wheels Alloy hubs; Matrix 550 rims
Tires Bontrager Connection Trail, 26x2.0"
Drivetrain
Shifters Shimano EF29
Front Derailleur Shimano C051
Rear Derailleur Shimano Acera
Crankset SR 48/38/28
Cassette Sunrace 13-34, 7 speed
Pedals Nylon platform
Components
Saddle Bontrager Sport
Seatpost Bontrager
Handlebars 25.4, 30mm rise
Stem Bontrager, 25.4, 25 degree
Headset Aheadset, semi-cartridge, sealed
Brakeset Tektro V w/Shimano STI levers
Specalized Hardrock Womens Sport
Linked
FRAME A1 Premium Aluminum, Designs For Women geometry, DT/HT 3D box gusset, forged dropouts with reinforced disc mount and eyelets, replaceable forged alloy derailleur hanger, designed for 100mm travel fork
FORK RST Gilla T5, 100mm travel, preload adjust, 28.6mm Cr-Mo stanchion and 1-1/8” steerer, coil/MCU spring
HEADSET 1 1/8” threadless, sealed loose ball, alloy cap
STEM Specialized Mobius, alloy, 10 degree rise
HANDLEBARS Alloy, 38mm rise, 9 degree sweep
TAPE / GRIPS Specialized “Telluride” double density Kraton
FRONT BRAKE Tektro “V”, linear spring, stainless steel pipe
REAR BRAKE Tektro “V”, linear spring, stainless steel pipe
BRAKE LEVERS Shimano Altus
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano Acera, 31.8mm clamp, bottom pull
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Acera
SHIFT LEVERS Shimano Altus
CASSETTE Shimano HG-50, 8-speed, 11x32t
CHAIN Shimano IG-31
CRANKSET Truvativ X-Flow, alloy, capless bolts
CHAINRINGS 42t Cr-Mo x 32t heat-treated Cr-Mo x 22t heat-treated Cr-Mo
BOTTOM BRACKET Truvativ, 68x113mm, square taper, sealed cartridge bearing with drive side crank stop
PEDALS Dual sided, composite body, steel cage, toe clip compatible
RIMS Alex DH-20, 26"x1.5", double wall, machined side wall, black
FRONT HUB Joy-Tech, 36 hole, ground race double sealed loose ball with alloy QR
REAR HUB Joy-Tech, freehub, 36 hole, ground race double sealed loose ball with alloy QR
SPOKES 2.0mm (14g) stainless steel, brass nipples, L267/R267mm front, L266/R264mm rear
FRONT TIRE Specialized Enduro Sport, 26"x2.2", wire bead
REAR TIRE Specialized Enduro Sport, 26"x2.2", wire bead
TUBES Specialized schraeder valve
SADDLE Specialized Body Geometry Sport ATB Women’s
SEAT POST Alloy 30.9mmx300/350mm, micro adjust
SEAT BINDER Alloy QR, 36mm I.D.
NOTES Chain stay protector, reflectors, clear coat, owners manual
Please feel free to share any models you are won over with (relative to price) for performance and value made by GT, Gary Fisher, Trek, Schwinn, or Specalized(limited to these per my vendor). Again looking for a base of around $500 MSRP for me and $350 for my wife.
Also, should I scrap the idea of a Scwhinn Rocket in favor for a hardtail with disc's?
Specialized bikes
Trek Bikes
Schwinn Bikes
Fisher Bikes GT Bikes
Thanks for any help/comments!