How is the TREK 4900???
 

This will be my first real bike. It will mainly be used on the trails probably nothing crazy. i want it too last also. How would this bike compare to a full suspension bike. And money is an issue, i wanted to spend around $700. It will be mailnly used on the trails with some foot high drops maybe a little higher, but for the most part they are only small drops. Please let me know what you guys think. If yoiu think that there is a better bike suited for what i want to do please let me know.

Hey Mambwe:

I too am interested in the Trek 4900. I ordered one almost 2 weeks ago, and it has not shown up yet! I'm going nuts! It will be my first "real bike" as well. Paid $550 for it.

I am 6'- 2", 250 lbs, and am going to ride it the same way that you described... I hope I don't find out that I made a bad decision. The LBS assures me it will hold up.

FatBoy

Hey,
If you really want to spend $700, you can probably get a little better bike than the 4900. I almost bought the 4900, but after shopping around, ended up with a Gary Fisher Tasajarra. This ran me $560, and the model with disk brakes is probably about $50-70 more. Have you looked at the Trek 6700? From what I remember, that is under $700 and has a little better componentry, although I'm not sure of all the differences.
I don't know too much about bikes, but having shopped around, some other bikes you might want to look at: GF Tasajarra, GF Hoo Koo E Koo, Specialized A1 Pro FS, to name a few. I'm sure others can name many more in this price range.

As far as suspension goes...you can get a better hardtail than a full suspension in this price range. If you go full suspension, you're gonna end up with lower grade componants to make up the price difference. You'll probably get a low to decent quality frame, suspension package, and componant package, where as with a hardtail, you can get a good all around package for well under $700. For what you're doing, it sounds to me like a hardtail will be more than enough...mine has taken a beating and is doing great.

Good luck with your bike search.

John

I don't have the 4900, but I do have the 4500 which is a step down and I love it. For the money they are great bikes and have very solid frames. I have found by shopping around that most of the name brand bikes are pretty close to the same if you stay in the same dollar range so you need to find one you like riding and looking at.

Then just ride the h_ll out of it.

Look at the Giant Rainier...great buy. I was in that price range and the giant was the best buy.