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  #1  
Old 08-01-2007, 06:43 PM
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Looking for suggestions on a Mt. Bike

Very shortly i'm gonna be in the market for a new mountain bike. A new guy who just started workin with me is into it hardcore and he got me reinterested in the sport. Only problem is he claims i won't find an acceptable bike for under 1000 bux. I was hopin to not spend over 500. Riding would be mostly cross country and i'd be looking at hardtails. Any one with any brand suggestions wether it would be to look at or to avoid please post. Also is 500 a reasonable limit or do you guys agree with him?
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Old 08-01-2007, 07:36 PM
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get a sledgehammer
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  #3  
Old 08-01-2007, 07:47 PM
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get a sledgehammer
Lmao, I just d it.
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  #4  
Old 08-01-2007, 08:03 PM
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I would personally suggest a 10-15 year old specialized, diamondback, cannondale, or gary fisher. You would probably be looking at a couple hundred bucks, you can find them in really good shape still, then if you really enjoy biking then go look for a newer bike based on what you liked/disliked about the other one.
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  #5  
Old 08-01-2007, 08:25 PM
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I've seen a few 4-5 yr old bikes on craigslist going for about a grand less than new. That puts them in your price range. Stuntyumpers (Speckalized)are my favorite hard tails period. (wished I had one)
I ride a Lodestar Mg. and have a Fisher from 1991.
Check out MTBR.COM for good info.
Good luck.
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  #6  
Old 08-01-2007, 09:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shotking
Very shortly i'm gonna be in the market for a new mountain bike. A new guy who just started workin with me is into it hardcore and he got me reinterested in the sport. Only problem is he claims i won't find an acceptable bike for under 1000 bux. I was hopin to not spend over 500. Riding would be mostly cross country and i'd be looking at hardtails. Any one with any brand suggestions wether it would be to look at or to avoid please post. Also is 500 a reasonable limit or do you guys agree with him?
I think your friend is nuts. That's like saying you might as well not autocross unless you have a ferrari. I spent $400 on my diamondback, and it's served me well for over 1000 miles now. The key to finding a good bike is to go to a bike shop, PREFERABLY USED, and try a LOT of bikes. Find one that fits you best, and works with your riding style/body. Also, most places will accept trade-ins too. Before you hit up these shops, stop at Goodwill and pick up a few bikes from them, you'd be suprised what you can get turning them in for credit. I traded my old Trek 820 for $150, then spent $250 on my $400 Diamondback with Judy TT rock shox, and lots of other fancy bike options. It is a little on the heavy side, but if you aren't actually 'competing', who cares? It just gives me a tiny bit more exercise.
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Old 08-01-2007, 10:34 PM
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find a used trek maybe a 2002 8500. That will have a good fork and very good components. Make sure you take care of it with the standard routine maintenance and it will serve you well. I ride dual slalom and xc and have a 2003 8900. Awesome bike.
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  #8  
Old 08-02-2007, 08:12 AM
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I will agree with the people who have recommended that you look for a used bike. I'm sure you could find something pretty good, and I trust older components from more than five years ago more than the current stuff.

But, then, buying a used bike means you probably don't get much of a warranty. It's not going to be backed by the shop quite as well, and it's hard for a novice to look at a bike (used or new) and tell what's good on it.

As for new bikes, there are only two readily-available brands I will still recommend: Specialized and Cannondale. Since price is important to you, I'd recommend the former.

Ten years ago there were tons of specialty manufacturers I could have recommended; Schwinn (my favorite), Gary Fisher, GT, Trek, to name a few. Most of them have been bought by a company called Pacific and stripped down to department-store brands. Trek bought Gary Fisher and then went to sh*t.

I will absolutely, 1000% not recommend Trek (or their other brand, Gary Fisher). I helped a friend in MI pick one out, thinking I could still trust the brand. I had to fix that bike on the trail more times than I care to talk about. Another friend wanted a bike, and I figured I'd give Trek another chance. I helped him pick a more expensive model. It was every bit as bad as the first. Both had tons of warranty repairs (as long as the warranty was good...then after that both bikes cost the owners money, of course) and both were a nightmare to keep well-adjusted.

I used to be a bike mechanic. I worked in shops during high school and college. I know how to turn a wrench. Don't buy a Trek. Specifically, one of those bikes was a 2002 8500, recommended earlier. What a pile.
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  #9  
Old 08-02-2007, 09:55 AM
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Weird what you're saying about Trek. One of my friends works there, in Waterloo, and has nothing but good things to say about them. Maybe you got some lemons.

PS: Bikes usually require adjustment quite bit when their new, as everything is wearing and stretching in the drivetrain.
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  #10  
Old 08-02-2007, 10:27 AM
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This is my advice: If you are SERIOUS about your riding, spend as much as you can afford on your bike and its components, it will be well worth it. Yes, you can get away with less expensive bikes but you pay over the long run. I'd go with the Cannondale as well. And no, you aren't going to get much bike for under $500.

Good luck!
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  #11  
Old 08-02-2007, 10:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kelvin
Weird what you're saying about Trek. One of my friends works there, in Waterloo, and has nothing but good things to say about them. Maybe you got some lemons.

PS: Bikes usually require adjustment quite bit when their new, as everything is wearing and stretching in the drivetrain.
As I said, I worked as a mechanic and I still work on my own bikes. I understand that they require adjustment when they're new, but I had constant problems with the Treks on trails.

And, seriously, you're surprised your Trek-employee friend has 'nothing but good things' to say about their products?

I have an older Trek. I love it and it's served me faithfully for a ridiculous number of miles. But, then, it doesn't have any Bontrager stink on it.
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Old 08-02-2007, 10:36 AM
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I still have a 250 dollar 21 speed mountain bike that I've recently replaced the chain, bike seat, derailer, and rear cassette....still works on bike trails...paved or dirt..... And the workouts still kick ass.

I don't think I'm cool enough to get one of those biker spandex outfits + a 5lb carbon fiber bike for 3K.......
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Old 08-02-2007, 11:45 AM
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wow, mountain bike snobs.

do any of you compete professionally? is a several-thousand dollar bike really necessary for the casual rider?

i used to race BMX, and while my bike was a pretty decent Frankenstein'd together unit, i would regularly woop on kids with bikes costing many times more.

rider fitness & skills > expensive hardware
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  #14  
Old 08-02-2007, 12:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Landshark
wow, mountain bike snobs.

do any of you compete professionally? is a several-thousand dollar bike really necessary for the casual rider?

i used to race BMX, and while my bike was a pretty decent Frankenstein'd together unit, i would regularly woop on kids with bikes costing many times more.

rider fitness & skills > expensive hardware
I absolutely, completely agree. It's not like I have the latest and greatest; I have a five-year-old bike with eleven-year-old hardware on it. And, even though it's a great bike, I'm still weak and I still suck.

Unfortunately, the entry point for a decent bike that won't fall apart on the trail is pretty high. It's stupid, but (in my opinion) just the way things are.
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  #15  
Old 08-02-2007, 12:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Landshark
wow, mountain bike snobs.

do any of you compete professionally? is a several-thousand dollar bike really necessary for the casual rider?

i used to race BMX, and while my bike was a pretty decent Frankenstein'd together unit, i would regularly woop on kids with bikes costing many times more.

rider fitness & skills > expensive hardware
Indeed. My $400 bike works just fine. Cannondales are too fancy, I'd be afraid somebody would steal it.
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