Raiyn

Not so fast. Anything designed around a 63mm fork is NOT "Easily upgradable". That's a "test the waters" bike if anything.

beg

Was the specialized hardrock new? On the specialized website that bike's msrp is $700.

Raiyn

Helps if you use the pull down menu instead of staying on the first page https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9345

benzene

(Re: TREK 3700)

Well, the fork can always be upgraded to one with more travel. Though, it would cost more than the cost of the entire bike to do so.

I think it's a good bike to test the waters, and if need be, not a lost cause spending some more to eventually upgrade to some LX/XT comps and perhaps a real fork -because the frame. I mean, what does an LX derailleur go for? 19 bucks?

But as the guy says, this will be a road and trail bike. I think this is the best bike you can buy for under $300 for that application.

Dannihilator

The most you can get for travel is 80 mm, not exactly worth it to upgrade.

Raiyn

Not without screwing the geometry to where the bike handled like ****Try $44 for the PREVIOUS version https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/128...r-SGS-M570.htm

Exactly

benzene

You're right Raiyn. If the original poster forgoes his initial intent of riding on "paved surfaces and flat dirt trails" and one day decides to bomb 40 mph down a rutted single track, then yes, this is not the bike to buy.

Raiyn

I wanted him to have all the facts before he bought. I didn't want him to go into this thinking that he'd be able to easily upgrade everything on the bike.
If he thinks this frame will be a good candidate to hand better parts on he's going to be disappointed.
Like I said it will work fine as a"test the waters" bike, but if the OP plans on upgrading things I'd move up the food chain a bit to a frame that's not as outmoded

thrasher911

[QUOTE=troie] What if he realizes that he does want to go down a mtn at 35mph? You think that cheap Micargi is going to hold up?

Pay attention please. He lives in the DEEP SOUTH. Therefore, and read this slowly if need be....there are NO mountains! He's a recreational, paved path rider. I don't see the need for him to spend $250 on a MTN bike. I think a $150 one would suit him fine.

troie

[QUOTE=thrasher911]Pay attention. What if he MOVES to a state that has MOUNTAINS? You ever think of that one genius?

roadfix

I'm suprised no one else has mentioned buying a used bike...

Raiyn

Hey Sparky ever hear of reclaimed phosphate mines? I guarentee that while we might not have mountains we DEFINATELY have some challenging terrain. Now go troll somewhere else

kandnhome

(to original poster) If you need another reason to avoid that Micargi bike (there are already a few good ones in this thread) I would say the disc brakes are probably crap.

The disc that comes on the Hardrock Sport Disc model is worse than the v-brakes according to nearly everything I've seen, so I don't imagine the discs on a bike that costs $200 less are very likely to be quality parts. And disc brakes, especially cheap ones, can warp and make the bike unrideable without replacement; don't know where you'd get the parts, so you'd have to replace the brakes, which is expensive.

Although it does look like it has mounts for rim brakes, which are cheaper, but would still add to the cost of the bike.

If you're just looking to ride the street and some dirt roads you probably don't need much fork travel, and those lower-end Treks are decent quality bikes.

I'm looking at buying a bike soon too (probably going to get the Hardrock, unless test rides rule it out), so I've been looking at a lot of the same things you have. Hope this helps.

valbowski1980

It's not that simple I'm affraid.

I just went through a similar thing with my bike. I have Acera and was going to go to LX but didn't since you really should get the full switchgear to get the full benefit and not just the deralleurs. By the time you price everything out you can just buy a more pricey bike.

swifferman

Gianat Boulder SE
Trek 3700
Kona Lana'i
GT bikes
Norco
Specialized Hardrock XC-Don't know if you have these in America? YOu can get the single speed too.

kymtb

This might get some laughs but you can pick up a Schwinn Mesa for a pretty good price. On their sight they list them for $339 but in the store you'll get one for about $250. The bike is made by GT and has all the same components just different stickers.

https://www.schwinnbike.com/products/...ail.php?id=419

They also get good reviews on MTB reviews.
https://www.mtbr.com/reviews/XC_Hardt...t_123294.shtml

I purchased this bike because I couldn't justify dumping $500 into a hobby that I'm not sure of yet. I think I'll stick with the hobby and eventually upgrade as money and skills allow.

.:MTB:.

I picked up a Marin Bolinas Ridge on sale last year for $250. It has Acera components and a 70 mm travel fork, so I think you could jump to an 80 mm if you wanted to upgrade later. I hope so anyway. The stock fork isn't very good, but I don't think you can get much better for the money.

alcahueteria

I second the giant's. I had a rincon, I got the '00 in '01 for $300 and rode the hell out of it for about 5 years. It held up to my beating. I never even oiled the chain (I do now though, so calm down people) and it never broke. I only took it on a trail once though, and that was tsali, man that was crazy....birkenstocks, no helmet...anyway.

Hey raiyn, what says that that derailleur is last years model? because it's silver? just curious because the one that came on my bike was a weird blue.

Raiyn

Yeah give money to the people who ba$tardized the good name of Schwinn

ukiyo

Like you, I was on a budget (and still am). I went from a good older bike to a department store full suspension, which was horrible. The gears didn't even shift right. I exchanged it the next day and got a cheap front suspension, which lasted about 3 months. It was incredibly heavy, but the frame didn't break. I sold it and switched to an old Schwinn my friend let me have. It was competent but had a rigid fork. I then searched for a new bike and found my Hardrock from a local seller on Craigslist for $200. It took me 2 months to find one that hadn't been on trails, but I finally found a flawless one with the stubbies on the tires still. It's awesome and I highly recommend it. When I get out of school, I'll probably upgrade to a higher end bike.

Moral of the story, go with a used bike. It makes all the difference, and you won't look back. Stay away from the department models.