Originally Posted by
nthach
Well, a low-end LBS MTB is going to be leaps and bounds better than a box store "MTB" - mostly in components and frames. Shimano Altus/Alivio/Deore LX compared to Tourney. And the frame will be a tad better. My LBS was selling lower-end Treks for $350 or so.
Agreed. I just think part of it is volume in that style bike that keeps the price down a bit. I bought trek mt bikes for my kids (both adult size bikes) around that price as well but I bet my nearly 200lbs would do some damage with any amount of hard shifting on those components. My kids tooling around bike paths and going to school won't.