They have the 2006 Fire Mountain but I didn't get a chance to ride it. I don't even know if it is my size.

I test rode the Tassajara and the Trek 4500. At the time and even looking back I didn't really notice a difference, but then I was only testing it on the pavement. I really hoped I would just to make it easier.

Hi, I just have a quick question. I've been looking at MTBs online (for a few LBS in Toronto, Canada area), and so far I've found the following bikes in my price range:

2006 gt avalanche 2.0
2006 specialized hardrock disc
2005 marin bobcat trail disc
2005 giant rincon disc
2005 giant iguana
2005 norco charger (on clearance, normally $1100, now $649 canadian)

from the reading i've been doing at mtbr.com, it seems like the norco would be a great deal for the money and has the best components of this group as well. Any thoughts/advice? Thanks in advance.

Sorry, I forgot mention in my first posting that I am just getting back into biking after about 5 years, and this would be the first 'real' (non crap store brand) mountain bike I have ever bought. So right now I'm trying to do research on my own online as much as possible and test out as many bikes as possible, but I would any really appreciate any advice you could give me.

Also, I forgot to mention the prices on the bikes in my last posting. The corrected list again is:

2006 gt avalanche 2.0 disc ($630 taxes incl, plus a 10% discount on top of that)
2005 specialized hardrock sport disc ($630 after tax, 2 yrs service included)
2005 marin bobcat trail disc ($632 after tax)
2005 giant rincon (no discs actually)
2005 giant iguana ($679.99 before tax, about $780 after tax)
2005 norco charger (on clearance, normally $1100, now $649 canadian)

after testing the norco charger I found that it's too big (it's a 22-inch frame, too big for me although I am about 6' 3", 220 lbs), so it's out of the running. I also tested a 2005 specialized hardrock sport disc which seemed nice and solid. I also tested out the GT and quite liked it as well; from what I read on the GT website it seems that they have upgraded the features on it quite a lot over the 2005 model. At this point I'd say the GT is the frontrunner in my opinion. I haven't tested the giant or marin models yet, but plan to do so soon. Again, thanks for any suggestions/advice you can give me. Cheers.

Hi, I don't know if anyone reads this thread anymore, but to make it simple, I've now narrowed it down to 2 contenders: the 05 hardrock sport disc and the 06 gt avalanche 2.0 disc. Since they're exactly the same price, I just wanted to know if you could give me any ideas about which one would be the better bike. Thanks again.

yo

i'm in the market for a desperately needed upgrade from my long-serving 99 gt outpost. i got her when i was 14, and over the last 7 years have done some upgrades (judy fork, new bars, stem, and spds). the price range i've been looking at is between 500 and 1,000...towards the lower end though. i've been looking at various trek, specialized, and ironhorse. my dream ride is a trek 6700 disc (which i realize is well past the price range of this forum) but the limited budget college student part of me cringes at forking over a grand. i ride a lot of xc and singletrack, and am looking for a good all-mountain hardtail. anyone have any thoughts?

ps - for anyone considering getting a gt hardtail, i can't speak for their work post-pacific buyout, but the frame on this bike is surprisingly good. if you're looking for a stiff ride that puts the power down, a gt will come through. the "triple triangle" gets your weight a little further back too, so finding that sweet spot on climbs is no prob. this is where my plug of gt frames ends...

HARDROCK HAAAHAH! personally i would go with the hardrock ;D they rock.

You do know that he/she posted that two months ago right? Let's hope they made a decision by now

Wheres RAIYN??

I think we should bring this thread back. Does anyone know how gary fisher frames compare to trek frames?
silver series - alpha aluminum, gold - SL aluminum???? Am I getting it right?

Nearly identical since they are both Treks.

If you didn't know, Trek owns Gary Fisher, frames are made the same, but with different geometries and paint.

I know you will turn your head when I say canadian tire but I purchased this bike there this summer and am in love with it. Duel disk brakes, front and rear shocks, and aluminum frame.

Forgot to mention... $699 Canadian.

699! holy man you could have bought something quite alot better for that.... im sorry to say it I really am, but if your happy I guess thats cool....

Did the bike come with a warning not to take it off-road? Please be careful with bikes like this if you ever intend to go out and hit some real trails.

The Gary fisher frames have a longer top tube, (more distance between seat and bars) better climbers than the trek's I've been told but I havent had any climbing problems so far on my Trek.

Not including the fork of course lol wich you may want to see if it comes with a manipoo axle. If it does ask them to change it to a judy or somthing.

What model Schwinn is that?

No love for the 06 Scott Reflex 30 Disc?

Scott's are relatively rare in North America at least in my neck of the woods.

OOhhhhh k then, just you see quite a few of them down my way!

Need opinions ASAP! Local Performance Bike Shop has on clearance an '05 Fuji Outland Comp LE for $299 including tax. I currently have a Hardrock Comp Disc and plan on using the Fuji for city riding and keeping the Hardrock for trails. What do you experts think?

SRAM 5.0 rear
SRAM Gen X front
Truvativ Five D crankset
SRAM 7.0 brakes
Suntour SR XCP 75 forks, 80mm travel w/lockout

what is your budget?

What Color is it?

This thread was working. Need that sticky. Do you need a hand putting it together Mr. Smashy? It should certainly have some sort of note on Moto's and Ibex as that question is raised a lot as well.

guys, this thread is like dead X_x