best value MTB under $350?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Jowee
hi if you can get one of those bikes as cheap as that go for it

i am 15 years old, and on a pretty tight budget of $350. i was looking at the 2004 Specialized HardRock Sport, the Trek 4300,and the Giant Rinon. all about the same price.

Here are the specs:

SPECIALIZED HARDROCK SPORT:

FRAME A1 Premium Aluminum, DT/HT 3D box gusset, forged dropouts with reinforced disc mount and eyelets, replaceable forged alloy derailleur hanger, disc only, designed for 100mm travel fork
FORK RST Gilla T4, 100mm travel, preload adjust, Cr-Mo steerer, coil/MCU spring
TAPE / GRIPS Specialized Durango double density Kraton
FRONT BRAKE Tektro "V", linear spring, stainless steel pipe
REAR BRAKE Tektro "V", linear spring, stainless steel pipe
BRAKE LEVERS Shimano Altus
FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano Acera, 31.8mm clamp, bottom pull
REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Acera
SHIFT LEVERS Shimano Altus
CASSETTE Shimano HG-50, 8-speed, 11x32t
CRANKSET Truvativ ISO-Flow, alloy, capless bolts
CHAINRINGS 42t Cr-Mo x 32t heat-treated Cr-Mo x 22t heat-treated Cr-Mo, replaceable
PEDALS Dual sided, composite body, steel cage, toe clip compatible
RIMS Alex DM-20, 26"x1.5", double wall, machined side wall, black
FRONT HUB Joy-Tech, 32 hole, ground race double sealed loose ball w/ alloy QR
REAR HUB Joy-Tech, freehub, 32 hole, ground race double sealed loose ball w/ alloy QR
SPOKES 2.0mm (14g) stainless steel, brass nipples, L267/R267mm front, L265/R264mm rear
FRONT TIRE Specialized Enduro Sport, 26"x2.0", wire bead
REAR TIRE Specialized Enduro Sport, 26"x2.0", wire bead
SEAT POST Alloy 30.9mmx300/350mm, micro adjust

TREK 4300:

FRAMESET:
FRAME: Alpha SL aluminum
FORK: InSync 323
WHEELS:
WHEELS: Alloy F, Shimano RM40 R hub; Matrix 750 rims
TIRES: Bontrager Connection Trail, 26x2.0"
DRIVETRAIN:
SHIFTERS: Shimano EF29
FRONT DERAILLEUR: Shimano C050
REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano Alivio
CRANKSET: SR XCC150 42/34/24
CASSETTE: SRAM 850 11-32, 8 speed
PEDALS: Alloy platform, clipless adaptable
COMPONENTS:
SADDLE: Bontrager Sport
SEATPOST: Bontrager
HANDLEBARS: Bontrager Sport, 25mm rise
STEM: Bontrager, 25 degree
HEADSET: Aheadset, semi-cartridge, sealed
BRAKESET: Alloy linear pull w/alloy levers
DISC OPTION:
BRAKESET: Shimano Alivio mechanical disc w/alloy levers
WHEELS: Shimano Alivio disc hubs; WTB Speed Disc rims

GIANT RINCON:

frame Supersized ALUXX butted aluminum, w/ intergrated gusset
fork SR/Suntour XC60 suspension w/pre-load adjustment
derailleur Front: Shimano Acera, Rear: Shimano Alivio
derailleurshifters Shimano EF-29, 8-speed
cranks Giant, 22/32/42T
pedals Steel w/ resin body
handlebar Steel 1.25" riser
stem Giant 1 1/8 Ahead
headset Ahead 1 1/8"
brakes Alloy direct pull w/ power control
saddle Giant Groove Plus, VARIABLE-DENSITY MTB with Kevlar bumpers
seatpost Giant Alloy micro-adjust, 30.8, QR Seat lever
rims Alloy, 32H black w/ brushed sidewall
hubs Alloy,QR, 32H, double seals
tires MTB knobby w/ center ridge 26x2.1
cassette Shimano 11-30T, 8-speed
spokes Stainless Steel 14G
additional Chainguard

PLEASE HELP!!!

:p :p :p

Go the specialized,
IT got way better cranks. Or the Trek 4300. The giant sux.
What ridin r u doin? If u want handling and service go the Trek want showpony go giant.

SANTA CRUZ AND NORCO RULE!!!

I think I'd rather go with the Trek and upgrade the crankset for the second season of use. No doubt the crankset is way better on the Specialized, but they pay for it with the Tektro brakes and other components. Which one do you look better on?

The handling of both bikes could be improved with a $150 shock upgrade at some later date. Better tires are always a good investment too. Spending $60 for kevlar beads to shed 100g of rim/tire weight from each wheel makes a big difference.

Hang on to your pesos....the 2004 bikes are out, and the prices have come down, and the component spec is good for the price range;

2004 Diamondback Topanga Comp (HT) Rock Shox Judy $575 List

Diamondback Coil EX (FS) Disk brakes $575 List

Raleigh M80 (HT) Deore LX, Shimano mechanical discs $575 List

You can't go wrong, upgradeable, and the list price is suggested...most LBS will go down ~ 15% or so.

Save an extra $125, make offer of ~ $475-500, and I think most will bite.

yeah i was thinkin the same thing about the specializedand the trek. i do light trail riding, nothing to big.but i do want a bike that can handle some bashing around. what makes the crank on the specialized so much better? what makes the brakes on the trek better? thanx for your replies

yeah i was thinkin the same thing about the specialized and the trek. i do light trail riding, nothing to big.but i do want a bike that can handle some bashing around. what makes the crankset on the specialized so much better? what makes the brakes on the trek better? thanx for your replies

The SR XCC150 crank has riveted chainrings and generally comes with plastic caps. I'm pretty sure the ISOFlow has bolted chainrings and generally comes with capless bolts. Two signs of better quality. The ISOFlow is also attached to a sealed bearing Bottom Bracket. Although the SR XCC150 appears to have been attached with capless bolts, I would double-check whether the bottom bracket uses sealed bearings. Better cranks are stiffer, lighter, and offer slightly more efficient climbing. You could probably upgrade the Trek to an Alivio crankset and front derailleur for about $45. I'll bet an ISOFlow setup would cost about the same.

Trek doesn't really specify what brakes are included but I know the Tektro stuff isn't all that great. In a couple of places the Trek specifies Alivio components which are a step up from the Acera components specified on the Specialized. I'd trust the Alivio hubs on the Trek over the Joy-Tech hubs on the Specialized too. They both appear to use Altus in places, which is a step down from Acera.

Overall, I think the two bikes are really pretty equal entry level rides. It really boils down to which bike feels better for you and which parts you think you are going to be harder on. Shifting under load is hard on the derailleurs, cogs, and chain. Bigger guys are harder on the cranksets and wheels. Neither bike will withstand big drops or really hardcore riding. I could go on but I think you'll be happy either way.

thanks alot for explaining that, it was very helpful. how does the suspension on the two compare? is there really a big difference or at least a noticeable difference in Acera and Alivio? enough to buy one bike over the other?

Alivio will last longer than Acera, but the performance differences are hard to notice. I think the Altus components would start to wear out after 2000 road / 1000 trail miles. The performance differences between Alivio and Altus would be more noticable.

I've had my old Bianchi hybrid set up with both Acera 7-speed and Alivio 8-speed. It originally came with Acera and after about 3000 miles, the chain was worn out. I had just finished an 18 hour class on bike repair so I put my new found knowledge to work. I found the shifting hooks on the large chainring rounded off, too much play in the front derailleur, a fried bottom bracket, a pitted front hub race, and rim sidewalls worn thin from braking. My solution was to use the relatively new Alivio components on my mountain bike to upgrade the ride to 8-speed and buy LX for the mountain bike. The hybrid has another 2000 miles on it and looks like it's got at least another 4000 left in it. Performance wise, the Alivio Crank felt stiffer but the rest of the components worked about the same.

As far as the shocks go, I don't think I'm entitled to an opinion. I'm inclined to think the RST on the Specialized is a little better, but I haven't been on many low-end shocks.

If you absolutely don't want to replace or upgrade anything anytime soon or you expect to give up biking for driving at age 16, buy the Specialized. Save your money and buy a better bike or a cheap car in a couple of years.

If you like to tinker, buy the Trek. Change the crank and front derailleur next summer, then the brakes and the shock sometime later. You'll end up with a nicer bike and a better understanding of what to look for on the next one at about the same time you outgrow the frame.

thanks a lot, i just got back from a bike shop (two wheels one planet), and i rode both the Specialized and the Trek. i was very satisfied with both of them.

the suspension on the specialized in my opinion, was a lot better that that on the trek. it had a lot more cusion to it, where as the suspension on the trek felt stiff. the alivio derailer on the trek was a little better than the acera on the specialized. it shifted a little more smoothly. i could also see why you said the brakes on the specialized werent as good as the ones on the trek. they didnt fell as responsive and touchy as the brakes on the trek. the people at the bike shop said that the brakes on the speciailized could be improved by buying better bake pads. is that true? i liked how both the bikes rode. although, i am already used to the trek. about a month and a half ago, i bought a trek 4100, and the guy who sold me the bike sold me an 18 inch frame and im 5'2. it wasnt til later, that i reaized it was to big. luckily, my dad was looking for a bike in the same price range and he said that he would take that bike, and i could get a nother bike. so thats why i am REALLY making sure i get the most out of my money and the most advice because i dont want to make a nother mistake again. i have come to a decision though, i think, the specialized. any last advice?
thanks

Get a used bike dude! There is hardly any resale value on used bikes and there's millions of them out there. You can get a whole lot more bike for that kind of money if you know what you want and are a bit patient.
I got a Klein with almost all XTR for $300 a month ago - found it on www.craigslist.org. The lady I bought it from was desperate to sell and swore it had only 50 miles on it - and I believe her!

Tim

I can attest the Specialized Hard Rock is a quality bike for the money. I've ridden one for 7 seasons now and have put over 1300 miles on it this year alone so far. Mind you, most of the miles are from mountain biking and cross country. I'm rough on my bike and take it to the hardest most challenging trails my area offers. I know I'm not going to win any races with it but It can handle whatever punishment I put it through. I've only replaced a tire tube and brake cables. Everything else has been on the bike since it was new and hasn't worn out yet.

really? wow thats good to know. what kind of hardrock is it? is it the sport,comp, pro,ect..? what year? im just curious because i wanna see if it is close to the one im gonna get.
thanks =)

Personally, I found this deal to be the best for you. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3633781254

Shimano Deore all around with Judy TT fork for $330 shipped. Warranty for GT bikes are now handled by Pacfic Cycle.

Whoops, I should tell you, it's a 1997 Specialized Hard Rock Comp. At the time, all the Hard Rocks were steel frames. My father (who is just getting started in mountian biking at age 56) bought a Hard Rock Comp 2003 version this year and it came with an aluminum frame and the entire bike looks so different than mine. He's been satisfied with it though so far.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by JC Henry
Whoops, I should tell you, it's a 1997 Specialized Hard Rock Comp. At the time, all the Hard Rocks were steel frames. My father (who is just getting started in mountian biking at age 56) bought a Hard Rock Comp 2003 version this year and it came with an aluminum frame and the entire bike looks so different than mine. He's been satisfied with it though so far.

oh, could you tell me what kind of components are on your bike? front and rear derailers, shocks, brakes, etc..?

thanks