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

09-20-04 | 01:46 PM

#152

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 Pup

Everybody is too concerned with all of the components on the bike. Your main concern should be with the frame itself. Yes, everything else is important to the bike as a whole, but a good frame is a priority. Remember that while you trade out various components, wheels, forks, etc. as the years go by, you will be on the same frame.
On that note, I am personally partial to my Giant Iguana. I do not quite like GT's. It depends on how tight of trails you are riding. They have a shallower head angle, making them stretch out a bit longer than many other bikes. I haven't ridden Specialized much, but I do find some of their cable guides to be a nuisance. Who runs their cables right over the top tube?!
The important thing is to ride the bike, see if you like the feel, and then worry about the other stuff.

While you are technically correct the frame is the most important part of the bike in this price range the bulk of the frames are going to be quite similar in quality. Therefore the focus is put on the component groups to differentiate between the bikes for the "bang for the buck" qualifier. As I've said countless times before if you have two bikes and one feels better but has lower end components then get the bike that FEELS better.

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