Gary Fisher isn't a good starter brand in terms of price. Also, they tend to be longer wheelbase bikes, so you're stretched out a little more.

Giant is a must look at brand for a new starter mtn bike.

 

:shrug:

he wants a inexpensive bike. i am a huge fan of gary fisher quality and fit. they last a long time too.

for 400 bucks you can have a decent bike. i never said it was a good starter bike i just said its a trusted brand thats relativly inexpensive

 

For the record, I ride an 2003 GF Sugar 3+ disc, so yeah I like them too h:

I also rode a low end GF hard tail for a while. It wasn't really the frame that was the problem, it was the low end components. I had to replace derailleurs, I actually broke one of the brake arms, and my wheels had to be constantly retrued. And that's the price you pay for getting a low end bike :shrug:

 

the more i look into it the more expensive the bikes are getting. some cost more than my car :noes:

 

My friend bought a Datsun 240Z about the same time I bought my mountain bike. I spent more than he did h:

 

touche

i only rode one low end GF before, it was a co-workers and he mainly rode it to and from work and played in the hills on the edge of town, nothing major..and he only bought a GF cuz his roomie had one. and man that was a nice GF, kid spent 3k on that bike and another 500 in additions..but he didnt own a car so thats all he did was bike

 

i dont remember what i got my specialized hard rock for

 

first go to a bike shop and find the right size frame and have them show you how to tell if it fits properly
then look for a used bike
name brand, something you have heard of and isnt crap
shimano components, try to find deore, lx, or xt
decent front shocks, name brand, some type of adjustment to them

i paid $800 for a used specialized stumpjumper m2 fs, xt components, judy xc shocks back in 1998
today i could sell that bike for maybe $200 and i have put another $300 or so into it in the last few years

find something 5 years old that was midlle line ($1000) then, but isnt worth shit now, it fits well, it is easily upgraded, it will outperform new stuff thats more expensive, but it isnt as fancy as newer stuff, just alot cheaper

also a good frame is the best place to start, anything else can be changed, but a frame that fits well, is light, and is strong will put you on a good path

i need to get my bike back out, its been too long

 

whos that in your av? :naughty:

 

hey kestrel, is your handle from kestrel the bicycle frame company?