hello guys,
what's the best bang for the buck with a budget of $400-500
planning to use it for some road and light trail riding. appreciate your suggestions.

thanks

Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc lists at $580 but could prob. be had for about $500.

Any of the Hardrock's will fill the bill for ya:

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...=38436&eid=107

I agree with the above post. I've searched a lot and it seems like that Hardrock is recommended a lot of the times for a first bike.

Would you happen to know how much that bike in the above link weighs?

thanks!

is the specialized better than this trek 4300?
https://westlakecyclery.com/itemdetai...sc&LibId=47540

they are in the same price range

I have a GF wha hoo disc that 2 years old and love it. A nother option would be to check out used bikes on criagslist. We picked up a older but very nice GT Zaskar for $250 + $60 for parts to rebuild the fork.

Weighs too much to list On an entry level bike...who'da crap cares anyway. The noob must grow some quadly's before he can appreciate the feathery Stumpy HT or the GnarShreddable SXT.

The HR is a good bike for several reasons:

1. You will find out if you actually like to MTB
2. If you don't like trails, it makes a good urban / commuter
3. If you do like MTB'ing...it will give you a taste of everything. If you decide to lean into the shredder...you can use it as a stepping stone toward the "burly" bike line. If you find yourself liking the bike and carving the XC trails but want to lean away from agressive riding and more toward the grueling XC'er...then it's a great stepping stone toward an S-Works hardtail. Whatevah, right?

You're not gonna mash out a serious XC race with it and make the podium unless you're Weir. You're not gonna go all North Shore on it and come out un-injured. Bone stock it doesn't do anything exceptionally well, but will do a little bit of everything with no serious problems. What it does for you is gives you the ability to have a well rounded taste of all aspects of MTB'ing.


There in lies the genius of the Hardrock. The jack of all trades and master of none...and at an unbeatable price at that. Heck man...I'm beginning to talk myself into buying one.

I take that back...it has mastered one:

Dropping as little cash as necessary to go out and ride some trail all day long and have a good time...lap times be damned...big drops be damned...great trail bike.

Mine weighs in at 29lbs after dropping the boat anchor stem and bars.
My sram x4 trigger shifters, x7 rear der, fr5 levers and 8sp freewheel will be in tomorrow.
I'll see what it weighs after I get them on.

is this a good deal from craigslist? https://ventura.craigslist.org/bik/1146776627.html

Less than I had anticipated.

I can attest to that, I love mine. I have a couple of other HT's that I have much more coin invested in , but I think I love me Stumpy HT the most.
I also use it for commuting and I have done a few 100+ mile roadie rides on it too.

I would suggest rigid for your use and possibly a hybrid

Anything with Deore level or higher components on it. I like to buy used to get more bike for your money. Look for LX or SLX level components. XT is even better but maybe out of your price range unless you look for an older one. You could probably get a used Specialized Rockhopper, Raliegh M80, Gary Fisher Tassajara, Trek 6500 or 6700, K2 ZED 4.0, or a Kona Cindercone. Maybe even an older stumpjumper. Any of those would be good choices.