Originally Posted by
Zephyr11
Giant fan, huh? Look for a closeout XtC hardtail, closeout Yukon FX FS, or new Yukon hardtail. Also keep in mind that a given company's road bike might be perfect for you, but their mountain bike might not fit you quite as well. Test ride, test ride, test ride!
Yes definitely, I’ve seen some XTC two’s around 600-700 on closeout. Giant offers great value in mountain bikes. Particularly in that price range, I think you’ll get a lot more from Giant than from Specialized, Trek or Cannondale. If you want to go a little cheaper, the Rincon and Yukon are also nice. Those are all cross-country bikes. If you plan to take it off some larger drop-offs or over some jumps, check out the Brass. I really like the Jamis Durango, and Dakota sport in that price range too.
Also, I haven’t priced road pedals and shoes, but you can get a very functional mountain Shoe/pedal combo for about $150. So I wouldn’t budget for a $350 expenditure on those.
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/173...wter-Black.htm
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/183...-MTB-Shoes.htm