Hi there,

I am new to this forum. Used to ride a normal BMX back in my childhood. Tempting to get an MTB at a budget not more than $1000.

I went around the LBS and realized that some of them are hardcore Scott supporters. I am new to this brand, and am familiar with GT, HARO, GARY FISHER, and even to a certain extent, Trek (which has acquired GF).

Basically, I do normal road cycling and occasionally, train tracks. Not really a DH fan. My first criteria is weirdly - paint colour, let alone the parts (which requires advice at a later stage). I have done heaps of research on the web, and sad to say, the place I come from, has numerous impatient shop owners, who bull-doze their way through to support or sell their preferred brand.

Hope someone can help advice me. I have some prospects in mind, Scott Tampico, GT IXC1.0, GF Trass....can't remember the model name.

Having looked at the Scott model (similar to Ford cars), there is no colour options, and the existing ones do not give me the "wow" impact, not to mention having to live with it everyday. The paint works looked a little unjustified for the $1000 plus plus league, unlike other brands. I went to another shop mainly selling Scott stuff. The sales girl is very professional, however, I just hope that they sell other brands besides Scott. Not to stereotype or offend any Scott owners, but just can't oblige myself to like it. Maybe it is due to the paint.

ps: I like Pearl white, anodized / matte colour / at least, a billabong blue with white / shiny metal colour.

Appreciate any Samaritans for advice please, thank you.

hey man.....i just bought a KONA. Great bike...they have lots of colors and some nice bikes with decent components.....you can get one specifically for your riding style......look at the kikapu...full suspension for just over 1000 bones

1st off, I wouldn't own a Gary Fisher.... Enuf about that.
Scott has some real nice bikes that I've been looking at, but they're more $$$.
For the 1K you're wanting to spend, I'd look into Haro 1st, then Kona (if you like the style). Both have excellent bang for the buck.
I chose the Haro X2 last year.

Dear all,

thanks for the advice, for Haro, I am looking at the V3, which the colour and overall style meets my minimal expectations. I will be looking at Kona also. Once I get the bike, I will give you guys an update.

Thanks once again!

ps: btw, what mtb are you guys on?

I ride the V3 but its the Australian spec which I think is pretty different from US spec. What ever I found that the seat stem and bars needed replacing immediately other than that Iv'e found it very capable for trail rides, commuting and I hope to race it later this year

Hi, do you mean the seat pole and handle bar? May I know what actually caused you to change them?

No I mean the handle bar stem (headstem) and the handlebars and seat. The bars were bent from new and the headstem that held them was machined out of line so that the bars appeared to bend the other way from the actual bend in the bars. The seat was just a cheap ass eating POS.

If your interested in SS look at a Haro zero, ....................pretties

Guys, I am reading the Kona webpage, the colour looks cool, however, I wonder why they use different disc brakes, front using KK and rear using Shimano. Are they cutting costs? btw, I am referring to the Cross Country series. The colour is coooool!

Haro, I'm back. Checked out the Haro Zero, mmmm, not my type though...sorry...

Still considering the Haro V3 or Kona cross country series.... As for Scott, don't think I liked them anyway due to the paint colour.

If I'm thinking of the right one, then I'd think the haro has a bit beefier frame. I have a V series and love it. It's taken a pretty serious beating so far. Some downhill, jumps, drops, stairs, and once the bike went tumbling down a hill .No complaints other than a fork swap.
Here she is...

Hi Vertigo, cool bike and the colour is nice.

may I know what makes you swap the fork? Also, do you reckon it is a value for money investment to change the gear, brake levers, crank, derail, hubs and everything to Shimano XT? Reading some info from the Kona website, I wonder if such changes will cause technical incompatibilities?

I personally dont think it would be woth it, upgrading EVERYTHING. In the end you'll end up spending way more on the bike than just starting off with something better. The only things I changed are the derailler and the fork. The fork was a must because when going downhill, jumps, drops, it WILL bottom easy.
Since you're looking at the v3, I really dont think you should upgrade anything, with the exception of the fork(depending on how you ride the bike)

Another option would be, if you do decide you want to upgrade the derail and the fork... you might as well get the v2 and save a couple $$ since you're going to upgrade those same parts anyway. The rest of the components wont make much of a difference for you to notice.

Just my opinion

Thanks Vertigo, very helpful advice. In fact, my cycling norms include commuting, occasionally cycling on train tracks only. Will your advice still remain unchanged? Cause Harov3 has raised some highlights on the changes of the stem, handlebar and seat.