need help buying a bike

[Rockhoppa]

I have a specialized hardrock comp, i'm thinking about buying a new bike, but i dont know what i should get, should it be hardtail or full suspension, i mainly ride at Lebanon, i have $1,000 to spend do you have any idea's?????:crazy:


Kenny

[ice ice baby]

Novara Ponderosa - Enough Said :banana:

[Rockhoppa]

who am I: I don't buy rei bikes????

[Kingbozo]

You might want to wait until the "end of the season". A lot of shops will be looking to clear out their inventory by cutting prices. There are a LOT of decent bikes in that price range. Specialized has some good offerings in that bracket as does Jamis among others.

[n8157b]

Are REI bikes not good quality?

[Rockhoppa]

no rei bikes are good bikes its just a joke between a friend of mine who doesn't like rei bikes and i think they are great bikes!!

[legoshoe]

I did. I got my $1100 Gary Fisher Sugar 4 for $650 when it was being closed out in February!!! Couldn't beat that bargain. I mainly bought it for the frame because I'm totally sold on the genesis geometry.

Anyways, if your willing to wait it out, your $1000 will go a LOT farther during the winter when the 03 models are being moved for the new stuff. I think it would be worth it, but then again, I'm only 18 next month and my money doesn't come in large volumes yet (I emphazize yet:etard: )

[Maverick]

I just bought a Marin Rocky Ridge in that price range and I love it. Yes they do sell Marins at REI, but so what. I did not buy this bike at REI since they did not carry this particular model. I wanted a bike with a light wieght frame, disc brakes, a good fork, and decent derailleurs. This is what the bike has for major components:
Hayes HFX-9 Disc Brakes
Rock Shox Duke C Uturn 68-108mm Travel
Mavic X-223 Rims
XT rear derailleur (front is standard Deore only :confused: )
SRAM Power Glide II Cassette
Matte Paint Job (personal peference)

But I'll be honest, I have found a few things about it I personal don't like but I live with:
TruVativ Firex Cranks- a little too flexy in my opinion, but they are light weight and definately get the job done
MTB MP-310 Clipless Pedals- have to adjust them SUPER loose to get in and out but again they do work, better then what I was expecting for a stock bike

I like the Marin Rocky Ridge. I couldn't find anything in Giants or Treks that even came close to this bike for what I wanted. Since I couldn't find any true reviews on this bike I was taking a chance, but since I got it earlier this month I have no major complaints.

It would be interesting to hear other people's feedback with Marin.

[manitouman84]

This post may be a little late but ill throw you nickles worth of advice. If you mainly ride Lebanon a full suspension setup is a waste up money. You can get way more bike for the money in a hardtail at around $1000.

That said Novaras are no good. For 1000 put your money into a lower end Caad 4 or a nice Gary Fisher, but not a novera. Support local bike shops, REI is the devil, its a yuppies paradise if you ask me.

[SickBoy]

The Stumpjumpers with front suspension should be in the $1000 price range. You might also want to look at a Giant XTC SE2. Yeah, it's a Giant, but their frames are made with CU92 and wind up being pretty light. Excellent value at the price point, I think it comes with a Duke fork and a mix of LX and XT parts.

[BrightYellow]

I'll say again that you can find some super deals in the classified section on Mountain Bike Review - www.mtbr.com. I've bought two bikes though the classifieds and have been happy with them both. You can also find some sweet deals on great parts.

[fsrslug]

Check out these bikes. 03 stumpjumper base is $979 and the 03 Cannondale F600 is $999 at eriks. Better components on the Stump, but a better frame on the f6, lockouts on both forks.

http://eriksbikeshop.com/site/images/library/large/spec_sj_blk_03_m.gif

http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/03/images/f600_spec_03.jpg

[Kingbozo]

Go with the Stumpy. Headshocks suck. (bracing for an onslaught from Cannondale fans)

[gopherhockey]

I have been a Cannondale rider in the past, but never had much opinion on the headshok. The lefty rulez though - no denying that!

The Cannondale looks cooler IMHO ;)

[Kingbozo]

The lefty rulez though - no denying that!

Now that Manitou is making the internals ;)

[tmac]

I totally agree that for $1000 you'll get the most for your money with a HARDTAIL, and BUY IT IN FEBRUARY!

Don't get swayed by people politicking for a certain brand. Test ride a few and buy the one that feels best. Look for manufacturer's demo days at local trails (some have already passed this summer, but keep your eye out). You will find someone who HATES every make out there - you'll also find someone who has the TIME OF THEIR LIFE on the same bike - trust your gut on this one, and remember - for most of us with a passion for the sport, THIS WILL NOT BE THE LAST BIKE YOU BUY.

Good Luck, See you on the trail.

[manitouman84]

I forgot to mention specialized too, they make some nice hardtails at the nice price too. But all in all I also agree with Tybo, test ride some bikes and find the one you like, with a nice well rounded components package. Also in a case where one bike has the better frame and the other has better components, such as the stumpjumper/f6 situation, go with the frame, you can always upgrade components later.

Im not a huge fan of the headshock either but it was a good concept, its light, and works decently, but mainly cannondale makes delicious frames. :cheesy:

[grizzly adam]

Have you ridden any bikes? Have you ridden any of your friend's bikes? What do you like in a bike? What do you expect for your money? What do/don't you like about your current ride?
What's important to you? Shimano - SRAM.

I would do some serious test riding. Be sure that you're getting the bike you feel best on. $1000 is a nice amount of cash - you want to be sure that you're happy with this for several years.

The Stump and F600 that are listed below are cool bikes. Be sure you get to ride each one in your size and decide what's different about them.

Frame geometry is going to be different between brands. It's been my experience that the Special Ed is going to feel longer to the handlebars, while the F600 may feel shorter. Find out which is more comfortable for you.
How do the bikes handle? Is one quicker than the other - does one feel more solid - does one look cooler than the other!!

Cuz you know it's all about how you look.....:cheesy:

[SuperClydesdale]

Kenny

I strongly advise you to check out Jamis' line of hardtail bikes. Jamis is known for packing exceptional value into their offerings. Plus, they have a line of STEEL hardtails, which is a rarity these days.

A little help to get you started: <a href="http://www.jamisbikes.com/bikes/index.html" target="_blank">Jamisbikes.com</a>

<a href="http://www.bikemastersmn.com/bikes.html" target="_blank">Bikemasters</a> usually has an oddball assortment of Jamis bikes in stock, and you can always order from <a href="http://www.mtnhighcyclery.com/" target="_blank">Larry Mettler</a>, one of the truly outstanding people in the bicycle business.

Cheers
SuperClydesdale

[Kingbozo]

NOW bike and fitness in St Paul sells Jamis as well-The Dakota hardtail is a great bike.

[manitouman84]

mmmm steel frame

[grizzly adam]

Mmmmm steel.....
I saw a Bianchi Grizzly (21.5) on ebay for 920.00 ??

[denis-on-enduro]

All right listen up. Heglund and Ice, you two are a bunch of tards. I would rather have my schwinn a.k.a. the "silver bike" rather than that what ever cheap bike in that garage of yours. REI bikes are a whole lot worse than ERIKS specialized or santa cruz or what ever. :cool:

Check out my voting poll at the home page fourms.:etard:

[Rockhoppa]

I need a 19 inch, I rode a stumpjumper at erik's that I really like but I won't buy anything for awhile!!!!

[Dr. Guitar]

Check out who makes their own tubing too. I am looking for a bike too, and have been informed that there are a few makers that buy tubing, and weld it together. Then there are others that make their tubing, and put in some extra time to reduce weight. I really like the genisis geomitry of Gary Fisher. However, I was informed that they don't put the extra time into the subtlies. Trek, Specialized, and a few others I am also interested make their own tubes. Specialized even has the M series of aluminum. Knowing that I have a 7 year old aluminum Trek frame, and that I am looking into another long ownership, I am putting serious consideration into the strength of the frame. My frame being one of the last bonded frames, may be why it has lasted as long as it has. Components can be changed. Example, if you like a frame, but not how it feels, try changing the length of your stem. I did that to emulate other bikes to see if I would like feeling further back... it worked. Cannondale makes awesome frames, but how willing are you to get into the headshock idea. I'll say it again, great bike, but seems a little limmited on the suspension aspect.

My so far top personal picks.
Specialized Stumpjumper
Trek 8000 or 8500
Gary Fisher Big Sur
Rocky Mountain
Klien

I still want to ride many others before focussing on one in particular.

Lastly, look up components on the net. You will learn alot. Components that I didn't like by sight a few weeks ago, I am now looking for!

Anyone have input on Marin Bikes?

[Krejci]

I say go with my brothers Azonic, build your own bike with his frame and get a nice bike at half the cost! BUt getting new can be nice too! Its scoots only way!

[Maverick]

Anyone have input on Marin Bikes?

As I said on the previous page, I just bought one about a month ago. I got the Rocky Ridge. Everything has been great on it so far. It needed a couple adjustments on the derailuers but what bike doesn't when its brand new? For what you get for your money, Marin probably gets you the most bang for the buck.

I love the bike but of course theres always something you wish could be differnet. The WTB pedals work suprisingly well for a cheaper pedal, but you have to adjust them to the loosest setting to get in and out and even then it still holds a little on the tight side. The TruVativ Firex crankset gets the job done and its pretty light weight, but it does have a bit of flex. I had to change the grips just because they were way too thin for my hands (numbness/pain city) but thats probably more of a personal thing. Other then those things everything is great.

I geuss I'll be the local guy that finds out what the long term duribility of the Marins are since I haven't seen any others out there yet. Good luck finding other worth while reviews on it, I've tried.

[SilverAthlon]

Marin makes an excellent bike... The Rocky Ridge is by far, the best way to spend $1000. Compare it to a Giant XTC2 at 1000, and you have a world of difference... Hayes Hydraulic brakes vs. Avid linear pull, Same shifters, same deraileurs, Rock Shox Duke C vs. Manitou Skareb, Nicer wheels.... The only thing that the XTC2 has on the Rocky Ridge is the cranks. Race face splined cranks. Cranks are gonna be a bit stiffer, as I once heard, ride it til it dies, then get the nice stuff.
Aside from the Rocky Ridge, Marin puts together a nice line. They make both steel and alu. high end versions of mtb. bikes, and do a nice job at it.

[SilverAthlon]

Building your own bike can be very expensive. It's so easy to get carried away with putting on the best parts... Not to mention labor if you don't have tools of your own. It is way more fun though, i just built my newest mountain bike 2 weeks ago, and i started from scratch. Picked out everything meticulously, ordered it, stored it until every part had arrived, and then started assembling it. When you have it built, and are riding it, you have much more satisfaction, knowing every part is just the way you want/like it, and that you yourself did it. My road bike on the other hand, it's a real nice bike, but there is no *ahem*emotional*cough* attachment to it. If it were to get stolen (heaven forbid) i know that i can run down to the nearest dealer and pick a new one up.... it's just not the same.

Also make sure if you're building a bike, know what size bottom bracket you need, and know that all of your components are compatible. Nothing worse than getting evertything ready to go and having one part hold the whole thing up because it doesn't fit or isn't compatible.