Interesting, your freinds want you to buy a Trek, but almost all the posts here say buy the bike that feels best to you. Last year I took that advice of the forum and bought the bike that I liked the best. After test riding Trek, Giant and Gary Fisher.
I bought a Rockhopper. But you should buy the bike that feels the best on a test ride. Kona, Hard Rock, Trek 4500, or Rockhopper, whatever.

Point proven!

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......... I can't LMAO

Ask a Trek owner, he'll tell you Trek, ask a Specialized owner and he'll say Specialized. Ask the guy at the LBS and he'll tell you which ever one he needs to get rid of the worst. So who should you ask? Probably yourself. Pick one that YOU like.

If you are comparing bikes at the same price point there is little difference.

I own a Trek, but I'd recommend he get a Specialized.

LOL, I appreciate all input but I wasn't asking for bike advice, I was just wondering if there was a reason in specific my friends decided to bash Specialized like that, I had my eye on a Rockhopper long before I even told my friends I wanted one and I AM getting one if like I said I can get it a decent price.

P.S: Besides, why have a bike with a generic name like 4500 when you can have one with a name like Rockhopper, haha, I'm kidding.

The reason they were bashing specialized is because trek owners don't know anything about bikes

I'm just kiding, sorta

Yo! I can vouch for that. I own a Trek and I don't know diddly squat. But I also own a Gary and a Kona.


This reminds me of the CHEVY/ford debate..............

If it matters to you at all, the Trek frames are made in the US, whereas I believe the Specialized's are from Taiwan. I personally wouldn't let that sway me either way - I just dropped $1k on a bike made in Taiwan, but some people care...

Even though I like Trek's, I would ignore your friends and buy whatever rides, looks, and feels the best to you. Who wants to be part of their dorky club anyways, lol?

Only some models have frames that are US-made. Many of Trek frames are Taiwanese or Chinese made. Not that that is necessarily bad or anything.

Made in the US isn't necessarily good anyway. ~cough~ Ford, GM ~cough~ haha

Very few entry/midlevel frames are made in the USA. I can't name any that are, but someone probably can.

cannondale

I know the 4900 is built in the US, I'm almost positive the 4500 is as well.

So are you saying that the 4300 is as well? BS. They all have the same frame. I think the only frames made here are the ZR9000 frames.

Hm. I'm just telling you what it says in my MBA '06 buyers-guide.

I'm quoting my LBS, which isn't always the most reliable, but I know for sure the SL frames are Taiwan built. I own three of them.

Hmmm, a mystery. Where do you think they go up to US-made, with SLR?

Yeah, If you are comparing specialized or Trek i'll choose specialized cause they have more variety of versions for the same bike and Trek bikes are not those kind of bikes that are value for money

where are konas made, i heard they were made in the same factory as saracens?