Hi, I'm new here. First post and all that. Funny how everyone has a budget of $500. That's where I am at right now as well. I have been researching periodically for 2 years, but have yet to commit. I was basically dead-set on a Hardrock, but now I am leaning more toward a Rockhopper as it seems to offer better quality where it matters at the same price point. I plan to do all-mountain riding, but it will be something that I build up to.

The problem that I am facing now is all this talk of buying the less expensive model in the range and upgrading the components down the line. Wouldn't this end up costing significantly more than buying one factory-equipped with better components, ie: Rockhopper vs Rockhopper Pro? The difference in price, while massive, appears to be more than made up for in the parts. Granted, I had hoped to keep the price low, but if I am going to end up spending more on upgrades later, I might be willing to forego my budget on the initial purchase if it is going to make more sense. I may not need the better parts right away, but I don't want to be shelling out cash every other week to replace a mediocre component.
Any opinions and/ or comments will be appreciated. Thanks!