Bike Forums - View Single Post - The "around" $500 MTB thread.

07-02-04 | 04:02 PM

#22

Raiyn

I drink your MILKSHAKE

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 15,061

Likes: 3

From: St. Petersburg, FL

Bikes: 2003 Specialized Rockhopper FSR Comp, 1999 Specialized Hardrock Comp FS, 1971 Schwinn Varsity

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksy

heh...i was going to make a thread about getting a bike, but i saw this one in time and stopped myself. Okay..onto my question

I need a bike that's under $500, but i need something that's really lightweight. I won't be doing dirt jumping or anything so it won't need to put up with too much abuse. Also, i only weigh in at 120lbs and i mainly do xc. I want a hardtail, but not rigid. Oh, i saw some posts on K2 bikes and other US manufacturers, but i live in Ontario, Canada and the selection is limited to Specialized, Kona, Norco, Giant, GT, umm...can't think of anything else right now, but yeah..So, suggestions please?

by the way, if you happen to know the weight of any of the bikes, could you please tell me?

Good the thread is working.

Honestly all of the bikes at the $500 mark are going to weigh in fairly close to each other. You won't get to the light stuff untill you start looking at better equiped racing models which are normally double (or more) the pricepoint you have in mind. The bikes in this pricepoint (several links are provided just backtrack through the thread) are solid entry level bikes that are intended to get people interested in the sport so that they can decide to

Continue in the sport upgrading to a more expensive bike later
or
Decide that they don't like the sport but find that they still aren't out that much money

Go to your LBS (Local Bike Shop) see what they have and test ride. Find two or three that you really like and feel good then come back for our opinions. The #1 thing is "Does the bike FEEL right?" components are a secondary concern (You really don't want ***** components but it's still not as important as feel.

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