fixmefixmyhead

I've narrowed down my search. I'm a former bmx rider coming into the mountain bike world with a couple friends to start riding some trails... types of trails I want to ride are mostly singletracks with some small jumps and then I'd occasionally like to go to Diablo free ride park in NJ. My buddy just picked up a 2010 Trek 6700 its real nice but I'm not sure if i want to get a hardtail this year and upgrade to a full suspension next year or just get myself a full suspension now. Here's the bikes I can afford and tell me which you think will be good for a beginner mountain biker but I will be riding pretty hard.

#1 Motobecane 700DS

Gets awesome reviews has pretty good parts (would upgrade to hydraulic brakes) Good price.



#2 Motobecane Phantom Comp HT


#3 Used Iron Horse SGS Expert


#4 Cannondale F8 Disc


#5 Gary Fisher Advance Disc


#6 Gary Fisher Wahoo Disc


#7 Specialized P1 All Mountain Disc


#8 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc



I know its a lot to look at but I dont know who else to ask and its a big purchase for me... My limit is really around $800 because I still have to buy gear after that. Please give your opinions or recommend some other bikes I have missed.

intransit

Those are all very different bikes. #1 does not have a very efficient suspension design, I am not too familiar with it but it looks from the picture that it will suck power and maybe aid in breaking your chain. #3 is a downhill freeride rig, so that will be hard going up hill. the rest are all hardtails so you should just test ride them and see which one feels best and handles the way you wnat it to. Good Luck.

dminor 

False. I see a front derailleur and a single-crown fork; so that must mean it's a trail bike.