I wonder... which bike brand is the best...
 

Haha...thanks for the advice but I think those brands are too expensive and their bikes are mostly downhill so I think i will stick around with GT.

Sorry guys I really dont want to put the effort into this one.....somebody pick it up from here please. :p

Nope can't do it. But really from an outsiders perspective the dh/fr team is the most prominant. Regardless of the fact they make some of the best street bikes, dj bikes and xc platforms around. Oh and full range of prices from cheap to DAMN expensive. But yeah they are mostly dh/fr ;):) Oh and don't forget one of the best warranties in the business.

Specialized and Kona are the only two companies I look at overall. Giant is getting up there but for the most part I don't like many of their bikes. Trek blows imo. There are some small companies I look at, but they are usually known more for fr and dh bikes and are pretty expensive.

Ask 'merton'.

Trust me.

Devinci!

Kind of a silly question. Best at what? Best XC? FR? Ethics? Depending on what you're looking for that answer will change.

I'm a fan of Devinci and Cannondale they make great bikes and they're made here in North America. Great innovators with good ethics. Although both are a little more $ than most other brands.

Ions...I generally agree with your opinions. But devinci is far from an innovative company. There designs are all borrowed...

Canondale on the other...definately innovative. Too expensive...but innovative :)

Kona, Specialized, Cove, Brooklyn Machine Works.

I can't trust GT, Mongoose or Schwinn because they are owned by Pacific.

The bike that fits you and your riding style is the best IMHO...

As for Specialized though, only a small part is Dowhill/FR. In fact, I think they are one of the only major companies to offer a truly pro level XC Hardtail race bike out of the box (Stumpjumper/Sworks), to any consumer. Its very hard to find any hardtail from any other manufacturer with half as many options, and most now days are only available with XT level components at best. So I think Specialized is very XC committed, as well as DH/FR committed with thier Bighits, Demo9's, etc. Specialized's start at under $200, too I should add.

There are about 1,000 other companies I like... it just depends what riding and style you are talking about really.

Damn...forgot cove again. I am really slipping.

XC race HT out of box there are several other than Specialized. Jamis with the Dragon, Marin with the team HT, Iron Horse with the Rogue Race, of course there is also Yeti, Giant, Trek, Bianchi, etc.

Specialized only for DH/FR********** are you on somethings? Pro XC team, Pro Road team ... Paola Pezzo, Philip Meirhagel ,Mario Cippolini?

Anyhow, Specialized is one of the few brands that makes competitive high-end bikes for all disciplines... DH/XC/Road.

There is no answer in my opinion.

Kona
Giant
SantaCruz
Intense
Yeti
Specialized
Dimondback
Redline
Gary Fischer
Marin
Cove
Seven
Titus
Turner
and many more. Stick with a company that is well known and you should be fine no matter what bike you get. Even a Schwinn or GT would be alright as long as you got it from your local shop so they could fix it when it breaks down;)

:beer:

Many manufacturers and resource links here. http://www.torontomalls.com/links/manuf/bicycl.htm

The Huffy Sea Star.

My daughter who is a hardcore biker swears by her's. We have way too many bikes and I would like to put Sea Star on the curb but she just won't have it. Her's has after market poms poms on the handlebar grips and more of a pastel pink and purple paint job. Warning those little white tires are really hard to replace! I can change a tires on my Fisher in about 2 minutes. I had to cut the rear tire off Sea Star with wire cutters. Beat anything I every seen.

Do they have a build with a 22 inch toptube? And it COMES with the white tires? Geez, the money i've been spending on colored mtb tires...****!
:D
The bmx guys won't be laughing when this thing is bouncing off the tops of their helmets-

SEA*STAR, might be a build design adapted from one of the secret aqua-cycles that the Soviet military were working on.
The lack of air in the tires keeps the bike from being boyant and it can be ridden on the ocean floor using scuba gear.

Klein

This little baby right here is the best bike...I've ever seen...

http://www.pacific-cycle.com/brands/.../26_maximm.gif

How can you argue with SHIMANO components, 21 speeds, a Mozo XC fork, rear suspension, a lifetime warranty on the frame, and a CHROME finish? The Santa Cruz Blur's got nothing on this!

mal_nos...not sure if you are serious but If you are looking for great value in your mountain bike then companies like trek and specialized are often able to provide that and they tend to back up there products...this is particulary true for bikes under $500.

You could also go for some of the "no name" builders out there sold by companies like performance and supergo...often you can get a middle to high end rig for the price of the component groupo...sometimes though these companies do not back up their products well so your A$$ may be in the wind should your frame break.

as with anything if money is no object then you have your pick from big name to independent companies which can make you something silly sick!

if you have a more modest budget my advice is to stick with companies with name and reputation recognition (trek, cannondale, specialized)

lastly, it will be of great benefit to you if you putter around a bunch of LBS's and see what companies are making, what people are buying and what shoppies are recommending!

my $0.02

Agreeed. Don't forget disc brakes and a kickstand!!! What other bikes can claim this?

;)


Whats up with the cable that is hanging odd the downtube? Do they actaully come like that?


Oh, I am a big Specialized fan. The bikes are solid and most seem reasonably priced for what you get.

Hmm, that pacific almost looks nice...well except that it's probaly way overpriced for what you get...and knowing all luck probably costs twice as much as an equivalent name-brand FS bike or the same caliber.