Snowsurfer

Hi There,
I am looking to get into some riding again, and was wondering if there is anything decent in full/dual-suspension that would fit a $300-$400 budget.

I was looking at Diamondback, and Ironhorse, which seem to be a step-up from the department store brands from places like Walmart, but not a big step.

Would that be decent? I mean aside from the parts, like the fork, rim, rear suspension, and brakes, can't the frame at least handle similar punishment like the Trek Fuel's or Norco's, or Specialized's?

Rosso Corsa

What type of riding are you hoping to get back into?
If the answer is mountain biking, then are you sure you need a full-suspension bike? Will you be doing downhill/freeride, or another discipline which requires fs?

At that price, your buck would go much much farther on a hardtail, and even then you will still have to go used if you want at least Alivio, an alright fork, etc. (read: a bike which will last).

Cyclist30907654

I would STRONGLY suggest that you get a hardtail instead, but if you are that insistent about a full suspension bike, check out offerings from Ibex, rscycles.com, and bikesdirect.com

ed 

A $400 hardtail will be more fun in the woods than a $400 tank of a dually. A Diamondback/Ironhorse in that pricerange would still be X-Mart IMO.

A $400 hardtail will shift better, the front suspension will actually work, and it will be light/efficient enough to be ridden longer than 20 minutes w/o pulling a groiner.

Chris_F

Maybe if you can find a really good deal on an old used bike you could get something for $400 that needs some work. If I were you though I'd stick to a hardtail at that price.

indygreg

hardtail at the price. No real discussion needed. FS at $400 will be utter and total junk. Probably 40 lbs and horrible suspension.

There are some decent FS bikes out that at that price on ebay or craigs list . . . but you are going to have to look HARD and be willing to go 5-10 years old. I sold a 97 GT LTS with a girvin front fork a few years ago for $400 ish. I had $1800 in that bike and it was essentially never ridden (I was a fat poser at the time). Stuff like that exists. That would be a decent bike . . . XT and decent suspension and price. Dated, that is for sure. That bike was 100x better than a new $400 FS bike.

Now is not the ideal time to shop, but you never know if you look.

Hair

I got a used Giant Warp DS for $300. I am not sure what some people here think of it, but I love it. I prefer rigid, but I wanted to have a DS in my small collection. From what else I have read online, the Warp is a fairly respected DS for the price. I also looked at the DS bikes on bikesdirect.net, and I have heard they are solid as well.

indygreg

I am a big fan of bikesdirect as well . . . but all low priced DS is junk, theirs included. I have little doubt that DB's offerings are much better than the big brands at the same price, but IMHO DS should not even be thought about (new) under $1000. And I think that is probably a stretch.

bsyptak

I've seen the Mongoose Otero at Performance and I thought it looked decent for the $. It ain't no Stumpjumper, but it wasn't too bad. I'd guess low 30s #s. Jenson sells the Comp for $480.

Dirt Farmer

If I were you, I'd just wait an extra year, donate lots of plasma, and wait until I had at least $800 for a decent hard tail. Otherwise, on a $400 bike, your safety is always at risk.

Snowsurfer

Yeah, so some single track and other trails, with some jumps and drops, I don't know, several feet.
So if I bought an Ironhorse really cheap like, say, like $200, and upgraded the fork, and the rear suspension by buying some Fox rear shock, and put in some nice handle bars, and good cranks and pedals, I don't know, putting in maybe $600 in parts after selling plasma, will it be worthy?

Cyclist30907654

No.

Snowsurfer

so this benli guy said bikes direct, how is this?

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...cane/500ds.htm

cobba

Something like one of these Hardtails might be a better choice than a cheap Dual Suspension:
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/mountain_hardtail/4_series/4300/
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/mountain/1260/29299/

Elusor

motobecane, exodus, trek, specialized, giant, ironhorse, diamondback, you pay extra price on stickers

all frame outsource factory in taiwan or china
buy schwinn bike $600, same one use for specialize, paying $1400
old form specialize frame from factory re-issue for raleigh and schwinn, and diamondback and ironhorse

is for hype of marketing, and media, for buy brand name with middleman

look for decent butting on aluminum, 6061, if use 7005 (strong) for choice
to upgrade

JonathanGennick 

I agree with the advice to buy a hardtail in your price range. You'll get a much better bike, and a lighter one too.

Last summer one of my son's friends bought a full-suspension bike for, I believe it was, $369. The bike is a tank. It feels upwards of 40 pounds. Quality is lacking too. Parts are lower than the low-end. The freewheel literally just came apart one day while the kid's father was riding the bike. On a ride with me, the kid's stem came loose.

Stay with a hardtail.

cyccommute 

Um, dude...no. Despite the come-on price of $895, the bike is about the same as the bikes you would buy at HellMart. It's not much of a bargain.

Since you appear to be somewhat inexperienced in terms of bikes, I'd highly suggest going to a local bike shop. They may cost a little more than on-line but you can ride the bikes and determine which one is best for you. At around $400, look only at hardtails or increase your budget. There's nothing wrong with them and many riders started on them. Even on a full suspension bike, your legs and arms do most of the suspending anyway.

Get a hardtail, fall in love with the sport, start selling plasma, and save your money for something really nice later on

cyccommute 

That's overstating it a bit. Yes the frames are outsourced to factories overseas. Most bicycles are. But that doesn't mean that the bikes are all the same except for decals. If you just look at the frames, you can see that they are different between different brands. The frames are made to the company's specifications and may be very different in ride and comfort. I'll agree that within a given price point, there is probably little difference between bicycles. A $400 bike is a $400 bike. It will have similar components and probably be very similar in ride and fit.

However, you can't get somethin' for nothin' First, Schwinn doesn't make a $600 hardtail. They make a $500 hardtail, however. Using you price differential compare a $1200 Rockhopper Pro Disc to a Schwinn Mesa Disc. The Pro has a much better component mix, a shock that will actually work for off-road riding, discs that might even stop you rather then just tease you, a frame that is made from a proprietary metal matrix that is stiffer, lighter and stronger, and is about 15 lbs lighter. Hardly comparable at all.

Hell, the Schwinn doesn't even compare that favorably with the $420 Hardrock Sport or the $550 Hardrock Comp Disc, which are in its class.

heckler

if you like bikesdirect and actually need a FS trail bike you better be willing to pay $1000. That would be low end for most brands but with BD this bike (see below) seems like the first "real" FS trail bike they are offering. The <$600 ones would not intice me over a similar priced hard tail

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...mcomp_ds08.htm

for your riding i doubt you would need more than a hardtail

decent hardtail:
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._cliff4900.htm

be careful with some of the BD bikes. They claim Deore LX level but only the RD is that level. the shifters are are a good indication of the true level of the bike since they often cost more than the other componts.

ed 

WRONG!!! The bike manufacturer still has a little bit of say in what material they use and what design they follow. The Schwinn Rocket is a way different and inferior pile of trash compared to an Epic or Stumpy. Who fed you this line of bull...and worse yet...why would you regurgitate it??

Chris_F

That's like saying an Audi R8 and VW Jetta are the same car because they come from the same company...

junkyard

Wait, they're not? Damn, ripped off again.

indygreg

But that is not a fair comparison either. Bikes are cars are as different as pie and cake.

With a bike you have a frame. Then you have a bunch of 3rd party parts. If lets say Fuji makes a road frame and then a few years later that exact frame is made and branded motobecane, there is no difference. Now, Fuji might have used some R&D money and made a better frame in the meantime, but the two frames in question are the same.

I am not fully agreeing with the poster above in that all these frames are a few year old frames of big makers, but some are.

Then the rest is not rocket science. A 2008 Shimano XT RD is a 2008 shimano XT RD, regardless of what bike it is on.

Cars are groups of very complex systems. It is not like Audi makes a frame and then Shimano makes industry standard transmissions that all cars can use, or Fox makes suspensions for all cars.

indygreg

and I agree . . . a $400 FS is JUNK. This is no matter who makes or sells it. My beloved bikedirect.com included. I think a $1000 FS bike is junk, DB included.

I think BD's $1300 FS (https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...elite_ds08.htm) is the cheapest decent FS bike you can buy new.

Wordbiker

I'd say the Trance 2 holds that title.