what kind of mountain bike should i get without spending a fortune?

[SnowSnob]

you mean a Crack-n-Fail??

I like cannondale road bikes, not sold on their mt bikes though... if you want a reasonably priced high-end full suspension check out Transition Bikes... super nice bikes, built like brick sh!thouses and customer service that is second to none... often when you call there you have a pretty good chance of actually talking to one of the owners, Kevin and Kyle are great guys and make great bikes... the Preston FR might be one of the best all-around 5" travel mt bikes ever made for the money...

Preston is what I've been looking at.

 

[black swan]

GIANT Anthem--level 2 w/ floats x 2 .....

 

[MARCUSO]

I have a Canondale Jeckyll.

A few years old, but a good cross country bike. Climbs like a goat, the lefty is ok, but not fantastic for any big whoops or hucks.
Try to look at a santa cruz heckler. tough all mountain. been out for a few years, and a good all around value.

A good site is pinkbike.com to compare.

Don't go cheap seats... you will pay for it once you take it off the pavement. Trust me.

Ps. "crack and fail" was a good term for them in about 5 cases, but I have found that they are above averae in strength now. I know from smacking a culvert doing 30 MPH. and bending the fork to the frame. Frame sufered nothing..

 

[HawkShot99]

Ps. "crack and fail" was a good term for them in about 5 cases, but I have found that they are above averae in strength now. I know from smacking a culvert doing 30 MPH. and bending the fork to the frame. Frame sufered nothing..

I do not remember what model i had anymore. But in 1 ride I bent the front fork back a few inches, and cracked the rear part of the frame. They were unrelated incidents. Have never damaged my Specialized or K2 since.

 

[Spook]

I've owned a few specialized. They work really well, especially for the money. decent components.

If anybody has a Rocky Mountain RM-9 Let's talk. I want to get out of my Mountain Cycle, but only for that bike.

 

[Sunridge Sledhead]

You can do this!

So...imagine what you can do on this one!

 

[Scott]

lmfao, Kim. I had a 1980 Sting Ray. I was that kid over and over and over again as a kid. I can't tell you how hard I was on that bike and it never missed a day of riding. Ever.

 

[trikerider]

Buy a Specialized.

 

[sledchick]

My first real bike had a seat like that..it was the "Dream Girl" bike. Scott you probably had the same one!! I don't think those seats were made for girls though...

 

[Scott]

F. U.

LOL

Here I am in 1980 with my new Stingray. Happy 8th birthday to me.

 

[Goinboardin]

I've been barrowing my professors back up race bike for riding XC. 05ish Specialized stump jumper, fox fork (100mm), XTR derailers, XT cranks, bontrager wheelset, v-brakes (a little lighter and cheaper). I love it, its a simple, quality hardtail. Much more fun than trying to XC ride a cheap full suspension. My prof is no slouch on a bike either; google "Vapor Trail bike race" first link... This is his backup bike, his newer main ride is a full suspension carbon 29er.
Edit: Go with the Stingray!!

 

[hockeyb4]

Bike

1st off you get what you pay for in most cases. There is always an exception. I just got a Gary fischer wahoo and love it not the top of the line but for sure a great bike for the money. I would also agree with the 29r they are sweet. make sure you are not getting the nice frame with crap components that you will be upgrading within a year.

 

[Sunridge Sledhead]

F. U.

LOL

Here I am in 1980 with my new Stingray. Happy 8th birthday to me.

You started off looking like a pretty normal kid.....so.....when did it all go wrong?

 

[Scott]

I'm sure glad my mother didn't save those buckle shoes or I'd still be wearing them. Lmfao.