who knows about mountain bikes here?

[theboss]

looking at getting a mountain bike......havent had a bike without an engine in years so just looking online and not wanting to spend much..whats good? mostly for cruising around and getting some cardio...some light trails probably.. i am almost 6'4 approx. 245 lbs......

here is what I am looking at in no particular order........
all in the $500-$750 ..or do you have suggestions....things i am worried about are general frame strength, front shocks blowing and cranks....well any weak parts.....

1) KHS ALITE 500 < recommended by bike shop but reviews arent great.
2) Cannondale F7 or F8
3) Specialized HardRock Disc
4) Trek 4300 Disc
5) Gary Fisher Wahoo Disc

or ?????

[thesizzler]

I just picked a Norco Katmandu for just under 700$ from caps. It's a great bike with a very strong frame. It's a little heavier then a lot of bikes however it takes sharp gravel turns with out sliding. I would rather a slightly heavier bike, i find it handles much better. It also came with disk breaks. What a HUGE difference compared to the basic bike breaks. I highly recommend spending a good chunk of coin on a bike. All my cheaper model bikes always broke. They would break to the point that it was almost cheaper just to buy a new bike. Caps is having a great sale on almost all there products. I bet you could get this bike for 500$ or around that price. End of season sale I think it was.


This is what i just picked up.
http://www.bowcycle.com/bc09/images/bikes/mountain/norco-katmandu.jpg

[theboss]

Caps ?? is that the BC store ??
online store??

[thesizzler]

http://westwoodcycle.ca/

Check out there website for there locations.
They are really good there. They fit you for your bike and actually listen to you. Not like at Sports Check or Sport Mart. These people understand there bikes. I'm very satisfied with there service.

[Ritch]

They`re good for mountains. Wether you decide to go broke back type is up to you however...

[theboss]

They`re good for mountains. Wether you decide to go broke back type is up to you however...

hmmm.... i dont play those games. but i hear there are others around here that do..........

[Gemini]

I also have a norco I bought 5 years ago. I do pretty dumb/dangerous stuff with it and the frame is in perfect condition even though I snapped the pedals in half and my bent the bolt in my bench. I also would recommend the Norco Katmandu and it's a Canadian company so another reason to go with Norco.

[thesizzler]

I also have a norco I bought 5 years ago. I do pretty dumb/dangerous stuff with it and the frame is in perfect condition even though I snapped the pedals in half and my bent the bolt in my bench. I also would recommend the Norco Katmandu and it's a Canadian company so another reason to go with Norco.

Agreed .. i just got in from a sick rocky cliff type a ride with creeks we rode through. The bike took it like with out a problem. If i had my prior bikes i would have had to walk them back.