Hardtail Bikes

[mtjam]

Can people reccomend some good hardtail bikes. I don't want to spend much more than $500.

[nigel]

Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc
Specialized Rockhopper Base
Cannondale F-300

All are right around your range, and are decent bikes with frames that could be upgraded with parts later on. Many a race has begun on a Rockhopper for people, that would be my choice of the 3.


D

[FarmerBEN]

most of the major brand have nearly identical componentry on bikes of that price level, so basically find the geometry that you are most comfortable with.

[Nickel]

Trek 4300, Giant Rincon

[Danimal]

Specialized Hardrock line. The frames are indestructable. Good beginner bike. I upgraded to Full Suspension this year but my old Hardrock took my abuse well.

[tns1972]

I've always been partial to Fisher hardtails. Not sure why. The Piranha seems like a pretty sweet deal (msrp $650), see also: Marlin ($550), Wahoo Disc ($550), or the Wahoo ($430). For an indestructable frame, and more of a "freeride" hardtail, check out the '06 Opie, Penn cycles website lists it on sale for $359. There are alot of sales going on right now, try to test ride as many as you can. Buy the one that "feels" right. Good luck!

[MikeMoneymaker]

If your gonna go for a fisher, dont go with the opie. I bought an opie and everything on it (except the frame) went to ****. The components are a joke :mad:

[slothlike]

I just spent a bunch of time looking at bikes in this price range for my stepson. I was impressed with the Specialized, solid bikes, speced nicely for the money, and it looked like he could keep it for a while and upgrade it as wanted/needed.

The Trek looked okay too, the Giant didn't look like a very good value - I can't remember why I thought that though. Glanced at the Bianchis, but they didn't appeal to him, I can't say much about the Cannondales, but they sure are good looking. In the end he wanted a 29er, so he bought a Gary Fischer, I think it's a crap bike for the money, the parts mix look like it belongs on a bike that sells for $100 less, but he likes it and is riding it a lot.

[hockeynut]

I'd worry a lot LOT less about what components are on the bike than how the frame is constructed and how it feels/fits. If the bike I'm riding doesn't feel right, I probably won't ride it that much (and if I'm somewhat new to mountain biking probably give up on the whole thing altogether). If the bike fits and feels great, I'll be frustrated if the shifting sucks, but I'll be a lot more susceptible to either keep riding and make do (what I did a few years back starting out) or go and buy a 40 dollar component from the LBS.

So MY thoughts (for what they are worth):

Test ride whatever you can find in the price range you can live with and then go from there. I personally like the Fisher geometry. One of my friends didn't, and ended up on a Specialized for the same money (same component level). Everyone is a little different.

[TrailSquirell]

hardrock, its what i started on, but i got the base model for 300 and i've been beatin the crap out of it with free ride and downhill and ridein park and thers nothin wrong with the frame at all!

[Nickel]

Does Specialized make really great frames? (Compared to the other big brands)

[FarmerBEN]

Does Specialized make really great frames? (Compared to the other big brands)

now your asking for it, before we had a somewhat veiled brand A vs. brand B conversation, now it is going to get down right dirty,

I think that as most of us have stated that most of the major brands will have nearly identical componentry on their bikes at that price level, and all those major brands make very durable frames that they will stand behind if they break, the most important things for a beginner when bike shopping is to find the frame that they are most comfortable riding and finding a shop that they like/trust.

[nigel]

Does Specialized make really great frames? (Compared to the other big brands)

The Hardrock frame while a "low end" mountian bike frame is still built and tested to be actually USED offroad. Most other companies in those same price ranges as the Hardrock are a mountain bike that looks like one and thats about it. Components in that range are always going to be similar but frames are far from the same.

[TrailSquirell]

i firt bought mine ot get into cross country racing, ya i one a few races, but now thers saints on ther, set of ditchwitches, blown out manitue mars from jumpin, dual bash gaurds up front, x9 in the rear, i've just upgraded the crap outa it and its still under 600, i got the saints for free :), thats what happens when you break your cranks in front of a specialized rep and then you see him the next day at your work! haha

[Buck]

The Hardrock frame while a "low end" mountian bike frame is still built and tested to be actually USED offroad. Most other companies in those same price ranges as the Hardrock are a mountain bike that looks like one and thats about it. Components in that range are always going to be similar but frames are far from the same.

The Hardrock frame is actually a spin off the P bike from back in like 01-02(or so I am told). The frames are rock solid.

L8Rz
Buck

[nigel]

The Hardrock frame is actually a spin off the P bike from back in like 01-02(or so I am told). The frames are rock solid.

L8Rz
Buck
When they tossed the steel h-rocks out the new ones and the p series came out the same year which was 2001 and had very similar frames at the time.

[SpecHR55]

Ive beaten the crap out of my 04 hard rock pro, frame still holds up great, components...not really but then again im doing FRing on it haha. The 07' hard rock pro is NICE!! Decked out with SRAM and Avid mechanicals, cant go wrong!

[Nickel]

The Hardrock frame while a "low end" mountian bike frame is still built and tested to be actually USED offroad. Most other companies in those same price ranges as the Hardrock are a mountain bike that looks like one and thats about it. Components in that range are always going to be similar but frames are far from the same.

This is great info to know. I know the components look the same as my bike but the frame on the H-rock looks quite a bit beefier.

[Neckroll]

my '06 Hardrock has taken a ton of asbuse and held up well for the price. I need a new headset and front for4k already though, something to think about

[TrailSquirell]

lol, you guys and your new bikes, mines an 03 and i've been ripin it up till the end of may when i got my new bike, 3 years i beat the crap outa it, no cracks, only scratches

[flombe]

Can people reccomend some good hardtail bikes. I don't want to spend much more than $500.

How tall are you? My bro is selling a Specialized Hardrock ('02 or '03 I think). It is a small frame size I believe. It has been very well-maintained and you could purchase it for much less than new and leave room for upgrades down the trail.

He is selling it due to him buying an Epic and his wife buying a Stumpy (she got hooked on MTB'ing while riding his Hradrock).

[slothlike]

This is great info to know. I know the components look the same as my bike but the frame on the H-rock looks quite a bit beefier.

Don't worry about your Trek, you'll be able to ride it for years. You'll want to upgrade long before you have to upgrade. When you do, try these justifications, "I can put slicks on the Trek and start riding to work" or "A new bike won't cost much more than a new fork (or drivetrain)" or "I'll finally be able to build up the Trek as single speed"

[SprocketHead]

Whenever buying a bike, think about Fit and Function. That's what is all about.

...I see the HR was mentioned, it has a "laid-back" geometry. I own one and like it, it's comfortable for me and good for most applications, but not the best for XC racing.

Whatever you do, don't get caught up in Price.. Whatever you buy, make sure it's right for you and spend as much as you can, You usually can't Trade-In a bike, so your stuck with it.

[mfx007]

I am no expert, but bike geometry and feel are important. You just need to try riding the bikes that you are interested in. Just riding in the parking lot and up and down the curbs and in the ditches can give you an idea. Sometimes a bike that looks like is has good components for the price just does not feel comfortable to ride.

[ryno lite]

Like everyone has said, fit is probably the first thing to consider. If you want a solid hardtail that rides nice, you can always try a steel framed bike. The Kona Lava Dome is $700 but if you could get it on sale somewhere, you'd be getting a pretty nice steel ride for a good price. I'm probably jaded, but I love steel frames. They seem to ride nicer because they flex better and they are more durable. I think you'll get better bang for the buck on a steel hardtail, although most manufacturers don't make them anymore.

As long as you fit on it and have fun and it fits your price range, you should be fine.

[wanderingrobots]

chiming in on the buy a hardrock. i have beat the crap out of mine for the past 3 years and im just finally getting around to having to actually replace parts. the only complaint i have about them is, upgrade the rims! 1 bad spin trick warps them