Best bike for $600-$900
05-08-05, 08:04 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 153
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Test riding is always great, but I also love to hear what other people think. So here is what I think. I guess four years ago I decided to buy a mountain bike. I test rode a new stumpjumper hard tail and a used Rockhopper full suspension. I felt better on the full suspension. I felt like I had more control on downhills and turning. Anyway I bought the Rockhopper ($850) and it has been a great investment. At times, as I have become more experienced (I am still a novice) I wish I had a lighter ride, but I still love it. Those are my two cents. Get what feels best!
05-08-05, 11:01 PM
#27
I drink your MILKSHAKE
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 15,061
Bikes: 2003 Specialized Rockhopper FSR Comp, 1999 Specialized Hardrock Comp FS, 1971 Schwinn Varsity
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Originally Posted by Chris c
No problem... i did get flamed in the other thread. I guess people would rather flame a newb then help one out.
C.H.R.I.S
__________________
Last edited by Raiyn; 05-09-05 at 03:09 PM.
05-09-05, 07:47 AM
#28
Senior Goat Hearder
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 169
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Guess if you had to go FS the min entry pooint I have heard or seen was about a Trek Fuel 70 for $1100 - 05, you may find an 04 for 900 if lucky (I have seen them for $999). Now if you are compelled to get a hardtail you could pick up a thudbuster from ebay for $73 shipped, and toss it on a $600-$700 bike to take the edge off. No it won't perform like a full suspension rig but it does take the edge off and the upgraded components you will have will make it worth it. Pick up a Fisher Tassajara as someone mentioned before, they can be had for 659, have upgradeable hubs so you can outfit with $70 per wheel Avid Mehanical discs and you will have a nice setup for about $800 or $873 with a thudbuster.
Trek Fuel 70 2005
Fisher Tassajara 05
Trek Fuel 70 2005
Fisher Tassajara 05
05-09-05, 12:51 PM
#30
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i'm going test riding saturday (not sure if i posted that or not), but assuming i do find a bike that rides nicely, that i like (whether it be fs or hardtail) what i'm really worried about is the components.
I mean, what are considered acceptable components ? I am vaguely familiar with the different levels of Shimano components, but not sure as to what i should be looking for. Rather, which set of components will hold up ?
I mean, what are considered acceptable components ? I am vaguely familiar with the different levels of Shimano components, but not sure as to what i should be looking for. Rather, which set of components will hold up ?
05-09-05, 02:03 PM
#31
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 29
Bikes: Specialized Allez Triple, new MTB soon to be joining the family!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I bought a 2005 Kona Cinder Cone in March. I love this bike! It comes with great components (Shimano Deore LX and a TruVativ crank), disc brakes (Hayes hydraulic) and I got it for just under $800. Check out www.konaworld.com to see their full line-up of XC bikes. My bike is really well made and shifts and handles like a dream. I highly recommend it. Specialized has some nice bikes, too. Check out the Rockhopper Comp Disc.
05-09-05, 04:40 PM
#32
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 12
Bikes: '04 Gary Fisher Tassajara
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
A decent full suspension bike can be found for under $1000...I picked up my '03 NRS3 on sale last year for $700 at the local Performace....even after upgrading the wheels this year to disc (Mavic Crosslands with Avid Discs) I was still right around $1000 ...of course now I've gone and replaced a bunch of other stuff as well! 
But with a bike like the NRS or a Fuel, you often get the same frame on the base model as the higher end model, so upgrading over time makes more sense....especially if you get a great deal.
But with a bike like the NRS or a Fuel, you often get the same frame on the base model as the higher end model, so upgrading over time makes more sense....especially if you get a great deal.
05-09-05, 05:27 PM
#33
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by GregC
upgrading over time makes more sense....especially if you get a great deal.
05-09-05, 08:30 PM
#34
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by NPswimdude500
i considered this/am considering it. but a few things have me perplexed....
1. shipping can't be cheap on a thing like that....
2. with something like this, what are the odds that i'm going to buy something, and break it a week later ? (that is my worst fear)
3. well, no. 2 pretty much sums up all the little details....
also, i have yet to test ride, which i plan to do next weekend at a store called bikeway....
depends....if it's a $900 bike, i'm fairly sure i want disc brakes on it when i buy it. but if it's a $600, $700 bike, i could probably add them later....
1. shipping can't be cheap on a thing like that....
2. with something like this, what are the odds that i'm going to buy something, and break it a week later ? (that is my worst fear)
3. well, no. 2 pretty much sums up all the little details....
also, i have yet to test ride, which i plan to do next weekend at a store called bikeway....
depends....if it's a $900 bike, i'm fairly sure i want disc brakes on it when i buy it. but if it's a $600, $700 bike, i could probably add them later....
05-09-05, 09:59 PM
#35
The Rabbi
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,123
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Originally Posted by NPswimdude500
I don't want to make any upgrades....at all. this thing better work stock.
Originally Posted by GregC
upgrading over time makes more sense....especially if you get a great deal.
Originally Posted by NPswimdude500
that's more like what i was hoping to do...
05-10-05, 01:01 PM
#36
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by seely
Which is it gonna be?
sorry, you're right, i was rather unclear. i don't want to upgrade anything right away. basically i don't to buy a new bike that will only be good if i upgrade it with x, y and z components. what i need right now is something that works stock not "something that'll be good if you upgrade this...."
but later, maybe in a year or two, i may find that i am able to afford upgrades, and perhaps that i want to make them.
i hope that cleared things up. i'm not exactly a master of making things clear....
06-05-05, 07:15 PM
#37
Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i was in the same position that you are now, i wanted a full suspension with decent components but didnt have more than 800 us to spend, everyone told me to get a hardtail because there are no fs bikes that can be had for that cheap. everyone is wrong. i bought an iron horse sinister comp, its full susp and has better components than any hardtail i could get for the same price (600 us) mech discs, deore/lx drivetrain truvativ everything, wtb saddle tires and rims. the fork isnt the best but i can upgrade that later. i am very happy with this bike, i ride fast singletrack almost daily and huck drops in the 3-4 foot range regularily without problems (i have owned the bike for 4 months). also check out other offerings from iron horse, as stated above the warrior pro is very nice for 800us.
06-06-05, 06:57 AM
#39
Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 34
Bikes: trek 4300 and norco kokanie and trek bruiser 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jason222
The Trek Bruiser 2 is an awesome bike in that price range.
06-06-05, 07:51 AM
#40
Confused
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 37
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
HT suggestors are precise and accurate. It is frustrating to realize the fact that your budget and reliability concerns can't deviate away from practically looking at a HT. Just like laptops, for the amount of money you spend, you can get a very very very reliable desktop pc, with very modern and practical reliability and configurations.
Sorry to sound so dampening, but I guess people here are afterall, providing you with the practical advice. Ultimately, it is how far you can stretch your $$ without being scrutinized with fairly average parts, with lifetime upgrade shortly after purchase.
No offense.
Sorry to sound so dampening, but I guess people here are afterall, providing you with the practical advice. Ultimately, it is how far you can stretch your $$ without being scrutinized with fairly average parts, with lifetime upgrade shortly after purchase.
No offense.
