HUMMER TACTICAL MTB

I saw the Hummer Tactical MTB at my local Sam's Club for a little under $400. I know this has been discussed before that it wasn't worth the price when it was first released for $795.

Question for the PROS: at under $400, even with the inferior components, is this bike worth the price?

p.s. how often do you think this bike needs to be maintained if I just ride it once a week, on regular mountain trails? Thanks!

Also, I read it at another post that the Rockhopper weighs at around 30lbs. Is this correct? (also curious, how come most sites don't specify bike weights?? Is there something that I'm missing??)

The Hummer weighs at 29lbs. so it would seem comparable. On the display it claims that it has "disc break mount".

As you can tell, I'm a real newbie :P My last bike was a $150 cheapo and I'm looking to upgrade to an average beginner's model. I'm also gonna go check out my LBS, but was just wondering if anyone has any inputs on this Hummer old model on sale. Thanks!

I did little research before getting my bike and I looked at Trek, Specialized, Giant and Cannondale at my lbs. Thats really all they had.

I pretty much knew it would either be the Trek 4500 or Specialized HardRock. but I liked the trek better when I rode them and the hardrock was more expensive than the trek. Thats because I really went in there with the intention of spending only 300. I was really about to take either the 3700 or 4300. But then I decided at the end to get the 4500.


I strongly suggest getting your first good bike at a LBS instead of ebay or online. You really get to know the employees and even make friends. I now go on trail rides with the locals and a few guys who work at the LBS. Had I orded online I probably wouldnt have found the good local trails and had riding buddies.

okay i'm pretty new to mountain biking, I have a working knowledge of bikes and my preferences... I currently have a $hitty costco bike but it's been modified, my bro has a rocky mountain hammer race frame... and i'm looking for a good hardtail mountain bike without disc brakes for cheap... what would be your recommendation?

Yeah I talked with another customer at Sam's Club and he also suggested a Trek. The Hummer looks pretty cool, but even I (as a newbie) can tell that it uses some pretty crappy components (e.g., plastic cogwheel for the shifter). I'm gonna go check out a LBS nearby and see what they got. Thanks for the tip!

I just picked up an IronHorse "warrior disc" at Dicks sporting goods. Still a hardtail but has great components...just a great all around MTB. I am not a "hard core" rider, but it will suit me well I believe. I picked it up for $300. Couldnt ask for a better "bang for the buck"

i'm planning to get a bruiser 1, beacuase its cheap, strong and i lov hardtails. its about 520 CDN, which is my price cap... any other suggestions?

Anyone have any experience with a Gary Fisher Tassahara? Is $559 a good deal?

Have to say you guys give some very good info, so let me say thanks.
Have narrowed myself down to two bikes and would like to get your opinions.
Either a Gary Fisher Tassajara or the Iron Horse Warrior.
Here are the specs:
Tassajara
Main frame
Gold Series 6061 T6 internally and externally butted aluminum | Genesis Geometry
Fork
Manitou Axel Elite w/TPC Lock-Out | 100mm travel
Headset
Aheadset, semi-cartridge, sealed
Bottom bracket
ISIS GigaPipe
Crank
Bontrager Select 44/32/22
Pedals
Alloy platform
Front derailleur
Shimano Deore
Rear derailleur
Shimano LX
Shifters
Shimano Deore
Cassette
SRAM PG950 11-34 9spd
Chain
Shimano HG73
Front hub
Shimano M525
Front rim
WTB Dual Duty
Front spokes
14G Stainless Steel
Rear hub
Shimano M525
Rear rim
WTB Dual Duty
Rear spokes
14G Stainless Steel
Tires
Bontrager Jones XR 26X2.25/2.2
Brakes
Promax V
Brake levers
Alloy
Handlebar
Bontrager Crowbar Sport
Stem
Bontrager Sport
Saddle
Bontrager Select
Seatpost
Bontrager Sport , 27.2mm

Iron Horse Warrior
FRAME ALLOY 6061 FRAME, 1 1/8" ZERO STACK HEADTUBE, REPLACEABLE DROPOUT AND DISC MOUNTS, FENDER MOUNTS, MONOSTAY
REAR SHOCK N/A
FORK MANITOU AXEL COMP 100MM
HANDLEBAR ALLOY RISER BAR
STEM 5 DEGREE RISE 31.8 BORE, SAND BLAST ALLOY THREADLESS
HEADSET ZERO STACK THREADLESS, 1 1/8"
BB TRUVATIV POWERSPLINE
CRANK TRUVATIV X-FLOW CR-04-IX-S3 POWER SPLINE
RINGS 44/34/24 STEEL
PEDAL ALLOY PLATFORM
CHAIN SHIMANO HG-73
SEAT WTB PURE V SPORT SS
SEAT POST SAND BLAST ALLOY MICRO ADJUST
F. HUB ALLOY QR, DISC MOUNT, 32HOLE
R. HUB ALLOY QR DISC MOUNT 32HOLE
F. DER SHIMANO DEORE
R. DER SHIMANO DEORE
SHIFTER SHIMANO DEORE
FREEWHEEL SUN RACE CASSETTE, 11-32T, 9 SPEED
BRAKES HAYES MX-2 MECHANICAL WITH 6" ROTOR
BRAKE LEVER TEKTRO ALLOY
RIM WTB SPEED DISC 32H WITH EYELETS
SPOKE 14G STAINLESS-BLACK W/ SILVER NIPPLE
TIRES WTB WEIRWOLF 2.1

the iron horse has disc brakes and is a little cheaper. However I only want the bike for the city, side walks and the odd day in the woods. So do i need the disc brakes.
What I want to know do both brikes have the same frame and there for riding position?
and also about the same weight?
I tested the Tassajara but not the Iron Horse, would have to get that online. The Tassajara was great, light and rode good. But If the Iron Horse is near enough the same bike and has the brakes then it would be the one.
Thanks for your help people, its appreciated....

Gary Fischer bikes have the "Genesis" geometry which appears to be a love or hate thing. Ride the bike and see how it feels for you.

Finally I find a site willing to discuss the cheaper bikes geared towards beginners. Thank you :)

I've read some of this thread, but it seems most are in the $600 range and I really need something closer to the $3-400 range, so I'm going to go ahead and post.

I'm a college student ready to upgrade an 8yr old GT outpost trail to something with shocks (a hardtail) and gears that are a bit more reliable (I'm sure mine could be again with some work, but I really am in need of some suspension as well). I will mainly use this around campus, asphalt and cobblestones/pavers (hence one of the reasons for shocks). BUT, campus entails 23000 acres with many many trails and dirt roads open to bikers. I'd like to join a few friends for some adventuring and I think the addition of shocks and newer derailler technology will help me stand those excursions :).

Essentially I'm not an avid mountain biker and am not sure I'll become one (I'll cross that bike bridge if and when I come to it), but I want something that is reliable on medium trails.

I've looked at Treks, Giants, and Gary Fishers primarily (I've heard the bad things about GT's quality since my bike's days, so have pretty much ruled them out). Of those I've found I like the Trek 4300 the most followed by the Gary Fisher Advance and the Trek 3900 (both nice because they come in a women's specific model which I may find I need being on the petite side). I've also looked at Giant's Boulder, but for some reason am not as thrilled with them.

Any thoughts on these other than make sure to ride them all (I'm working through two local bike shops and will probably buy from one, and so far am getting good service from both)? I'm specifically concerned with the deraillers and shocks as I have no knowledge in that area and that seems to be the big difference between the bikes (frames all having lifetime guarentees, weight being the same, etc).

I also am just getting into MTB and after a bit of research on this and a few other site I decided on a Trek 4500 Disc. I paid $575 for mine which seems to be a fair price, not a great deal and not a rip off. So far I really like the bike, looking forward to having more time to get out and ride.

ill say it again...

what are your opinions on a bruiser 1? i'm using it for road and trail use, maybe a few jumps. its relatively cheap at my lbs ($520 CDN), and i have a connection with the owner, that could possibly lower it even further... my other options are a Specialized rockhopper that will pretty much do what i need it to. I'm looking for a hardtail that's bulletproof so i can do anything with it. (not much backpacking with it though)

My research pointed me towards the Rockhopper - vBrake model. I didn't end up with that bike because I chose to spend more and I also chose a LBS that didn't carry Specialized but if I was in your shoes I'd opt for the Rockhopper. Then again, I don't know what a Bruiser 1 is so it sort of makes it obvious for me.

its a trek and built like a rock, its their basic freeride model.

Sounds you know what you're looking for. Since you've listed the Bruiser 1 and the Rockhopper, why don't you test ride both and opt for the one you like best.

Also, if you haven't yet, go to MTBR.com and see how both bikes rate.

well their built for different things, and they both have attributes i like. ones freeride ones XC, and their both hard tail and cheap, so im wondering for someone who does road, xc, and freeride, what would be the best.

and tires would be a good thing to mention now too. what should i get that is good for trails and really grippy on the road as well?

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/XC_Hardt...t_123458.shtml
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Freeride...t_124748.shtml

(they both rated the same, but the trek is cheaper...)

OK - then try this - test ride both the Rockhopper and Bruiser and try doing some light freeriding and try going for a longish XC ride.

Go with the one that feels the best overall.

In terms of components - I am no expert on the manner but from wha tI know - the Rockhopper has slightly better bits, but I've noticed that FR bikes tend to skimp out because they're built for different things.

okay the rockhopper is now out of the equation, due to the fact that my lbs told me that the rockhopper basic isn't availible in canada.

now its either Trek 4300 or Trek Bruiser 1.

The rockhopper isn't available in Canada? Get a new lbs. That is an outright lie. I've seen it in at least 4 different bike shops in Canada (Ontario).

well i have had some really darn good experiences with this bs. <= ^_^

oh well, they dont have it in stock... and it's really one of the only lbs's that i trust hardcore, since it's served my brother darn well as well. and i have a connection.

so, its either the 4300 or bruiser 1. swiffer where you from? anywhere near toronto?

Your first statement is not true. The two LBS I went to see here in QC that carry Specialized was expecting v-brake Rockhoppers. Maybe your guy didn't choose to carry the basic Rockhopper.

What's funny is that the first time I asked at one of the shops the guy couldn't find it in the binder he got from Specialized. He found it in his order summary.

Either ask him to doublecheck or call another LBS that carries Specialized.