Hey guys. I've beena roadie for two years and I just recently tried and loved MTBing. I'm now looking for an affordable MTB. I'm not sure about brands for MTBs like I am about road bikes. Are KHS good bikes? I found one for under $500 with good components. Good buy or avoid? Thanks guys and gals!

I did a simple search on KHS on this site and came up with nothing.

Really? Did you use google? This was my first site when I searched.
https://www.khsbicycles.com/

I personally don't like khs. What bike were you looking at?

Your idea of "good" components must be a little different than mine.
If you can buy ANY bike for under $500 that has "good" components,
I wouldn't worry about the name. The components themselves would
be worth what you paid for the bike.

I just spent $400 on a fork (alone) that I only consider to be "good", not the best...

Here are the listof components. So they're not the best, but I consider them decent for what I need.

Serfas dual density saddle*** KORE seatpost

*** KORE threadless stem

*** KORE handle bar

*** WTB Speed Disc semi-aero Aluminum rims

*** WTB Velociraptor tires

*** CaneCreek threadless head set

*** Power Tools hub set

*** Shimano triple bottom bracket

*** Shimano 9 speed cassette

*** Shimano Deore LX triple front derailleur

*** Shimano Deore LX 9 speed rear derailleur

*** Shimano Deore LX triple/9 speed shifters

*** Truvativ triple crank set

*** VP-566 pedals

*** Julie Masura brake levers

*** Julie Masura Disc brakes

Rock Shox SID xc rear suspension
DUKE XC front suspension fork
Bike weighs 31 pounds

Dude, no need to be rude. I said this site, not google. The bike is a KHS FXT COMP.

KHS is an American company, which is a plus. I don't know if they manufacture here or not but their HQ is in California.

well, KHS stands for Korean Hunk of Shit

Comming from a roadie background you might be happier with a good hardtail. You have a lot of options in $500 range.

correction, it's not Masura, it's Magura, a german company. they make great hydros.

Well, heres the thing. I work at a bike shop and I'm borrowing an extra MTB from the shop. Its a Gary Fisher sugar-4 frame built up with parts we had. Its a full suspension and I really like it and feel very comfortable on it. So I definately want a full suspension.

You work at a shop, but you're asking us? what does the shop deal ? why not just get the Fisher?

sounds like a steal with those componets. i don't think you will find a better bike for the price. if you want a full squish though, why are you looking at a hard tail?

EDIT: wait a minute, it is full squish... go for it! i think KHS are legitimate bikes but then again i ride a specialized...

I believe KHS is one of the best least appreciated bikes out there. For the money their entry level bikes are hard to beat. Once you start getting into their higher end bikes they are awesome. I know a lot of people that ride and race them and they are always bragging about them. The shop owner I'm friends with has been riding the same KHS hardtail for three years now and loves it. As for their roadies I've owned one of those, bought it for a winter training bike last year. The bike worked great for me.

Where the heck did that come from? The bike is American. It's not so nice to gratuitiously use the phrase "hunk of ****" in phrases with random East Asian countries.

+1 Their A-lite hardtails and Flite road series have always had a solid name in this area!

get over it, it was a joke.

A dumb one.

KHS consistantly review well, they're good bikes. All you "lose out" on is fancy sticker value, nothing else. I have one of their 853 steel road frames, and it's as nice as you'd want or need.

KHS is a Taiwan company with some design coming from the US. The reason I know is my shop sold KHS for years. The bikes are great the only problem we had was getting the bike from KHS Canada on time.

I was just talking to the local KHS dealer and this year, 2007, every FS MTB will have the horst link, not just its top of the line. I think the starting point will be a little more than $700. I'm going to take one out in the future. I think they may be a little on the heavy side for an XC race bike should be a good value regardless.

my understanding is that the NA company is only a distributor for the off-shore manufacturer, which is similar to most bikes nowadays...

A friend of mine just got a KHS this year...great bike and build for the price, the only downside is that it's a bit heavy.

If you're looking at KHS, I'd check out Marin as well...they've come a long way with their build components and have always offered a good bikeselection for the price

https://marinbikes.com/bicycles_2007/...s/m_bikes.html

The Fezzari mountain bikes, sold by Costco and directly by Fezzari in Utah, are re-badged KHS XC models, with some parts changes to meet a certain price point. I was told this by a friend of mine who works at Costco as a buyer, albeit he is not the bicycle buyer. The frames are Taiwanese and the bikes are manufactured and assembled in Taiwan.

From the specs list you posted I'd definately hit it, very very good specs to be 500 dollars.

So, it looks like the only negatives are: potentially made in Asia [edit: if that matters to you] and may be a little heavy as an all out XC race bike. Other than that, the specs do look good for the $. If you like the way it rides and don't care about the "negatives", definately go for it. It still has a solid reputation, although small, and I know a guy who raced the top of the line one this season and will again next.

Considering almost all major brand frames are made in Asia, i wouldnt worry about it.

Specialized is based in the USA, but all frames are made in Taiwan. Would you doubt buying a specilized frame?