djn3454

Hey I am just starting on Mountain biking trails and little jumps and i was wondering if you guys/girls would help me out and help me choose a bike. I am unsure on these 4 bikes, all very similar.


Trek 4300 (Cycle Shop)
2007 version

Sizes 13, 16, 18, 19.5, 21, 22.5"
Frame Alpha SL Aluminum
Front Suspension RST Gila T6 w/preload, 80mm
Wheels
Wheels Alloy front, Shimano RM60 rear hub; Bontrager Camino rims
Tires Bontrager Connection Trail, 26x2.0"
Drivetrain
Shifters Shimano EF50
Front Derailleur Shimano C050
Rear Derailleur Shimano Alivio
Crank SR XCC-150 42/34/24
Cassette SRAM PG830 11-32, 8 speed
Pedals Alloy platform
Components
Saddle Bontrager Select Basic
Seat Post Bontrager Sport
Handlebars Bontrager Crowbar Sport, 25mm rise
Stem Bontrager Sport, 25 degree
Headset Aheadset Slimstak w/semi-cartridge bearings, sealed
Brakeset Tektro V w/Shimano EF50 levers

$459.99 (Canadian)


Kona Fire Mountain(Cycle shop)
2007 Version

Frame sizes 14", 16", 18", 19", 20", 22"
Frame tubing Kona 7005 Butted Aluminum
Fork Rock Shocks Dart 1 100mm
Braze-on fittings 2 bottles, fender, disc tabs
Headset TH
Crankarms Suntour CW-XCC150PB
Chainrings 42/34/24
B/B TH M-1
Pedals Wellgo LU-C3
Chain Shimano IG-70
Freewheel SHIMANO HG-30 (11-32t, 8speed)
F/D Shimano Tourney
R/D Shimano Acera-x
Shifters Shimano Alivio
Handlebar Kona Riser
Stem Kona Control
Grips Kona ************
Brakes Hayes MX4 Mechanical
Brake Levers Avid FR-5
Front hub KK Disc
Rear hub Shimano FH-M475 disc
Spokes Stainless 14g
Tires CST Crusader 26x1.9
Rims ALEX ACE-18
Saddle WTB Speed V Sport SE
Seatpost Kona Thumb
Seat clamp Kona QR
Color Light Grey

$500(Canadian)



Gary Fisher Wahoo
2006 version

Main frame Gold Series 6061 T6 internally and externally butted aluminum | Genesis Geometry
Fork RockShox J1 | 100mm travel | Preload adjust
Headset Aheadset | Semi-cartridge | Sealed
Bottom bracket Cartridge
Crank Shimano MC09 42/32/22
Pedals Nylon platform
Front derailleur Shimano Acera
Rear derailleur Shimano Alivio
Shifters Shimano EF50
Cassette SRAM PG830 | 11-32 | 8spd
Chain Shimano IG51
Front hub Alloy
Front rim Bontrager Camino
Front spokes 14G Stainless Steel
Rear hub Shimano RM60-8
Rear rim Bontrager Camino
Rear spokes 14G Stainless Steel
Front Tire Bontrager Jones XR 26x2.25
Rear tire Bontrager Jones XR 26x2.2
Front brake Tektro 845AL V
Rear brake Tektro 845AL V
Brake levers Shimano EF50
Handlebar Bontrager Crowbar Sport
Stem Bontrager Sport | 25d rise

$519



Specialized Hardrock Sport(Cycle Shop)

FRAME Specialized A1 Premium Aluminum, tig welded, double-butted ORE DT, externally machined head tube, forged disc D/O, w/06 replaceable derailleur hangar
FORK RST Gilla Plus-T6, 100mm, preload adj, 30mm Cro-Mo stanchions, coil/MCU
HEADSET 1-1/8" threadless, sealed ball retainer
STEM Specialized Mobius, alloy, 10 degree rise
HANDLEBARS Alloy, 38mm rise, 6 degree upsweep, 8 degree sweep, 640mm width
TAPE Specialized Enduro, Kraton dual compound
FRONT BRAKE Tektro "V", linear spring, stainless steel pipe
REAR BRAKE Tektro "V", linear spring, stainless steel pipe
BRAKE LEVERS Tektro RS-360
FRONT DERAILLEUR SRAM 3.0, 34.9mm clamp, top mount, bottom pull
REAR DERAILLEUR SRAM SX-4, 8-speed, mid cage
SHIFT LEVERS SRAM SX-4 trigger, 8-speed
CASSETTE SRAM PG-830, 8-speed, 11-32t
CHAIN Shimano IG-31
CRANKSET Truvative X-Flow, Power Spline, alloy, capless bolts
CHAINRINGS 22t/32t heat treated Cro-Mo/42t Cro-Mo
BOTTOM BRACKET Truvativ Power Spline, 68x113mm, sealed cartridge bearing with double crank stops
PEDALS Dual sided, composite body, steel cage, toe clip compatible
RIMS Specialized HR26 made by Alex, 36h, double wall, CNC sidewalls
FRONT HUB Joy-Tech, 36h, ground race double sealed loose ball w/ alloy QR
REAR HUB Joy-Tech, cassette, 36h, ground race double sealed loose ball w/ alloy QR
SPOKES 2.0mm stainless steel, brass nipples
FRONT TIRE Specialized Enduro Sport, 26"x2.2", wire bead
REAR TIRE Specialized Enduro Sport, 26"x2.2", wire bead
TUBES Specialized 26x2.2", schraeder valve
SADDLE Specialized Body Geometry Sport ATB
SEAT POST Alloy 30.9mmx300/350mm, micro adjust
SEAT BINDER Alloy collar with Q/R

$499(Canadian)

Thanks alot, very much appreciated!

David Nelson

cream.soda

lol this is the exact opposite of what konarider24 wants you to be doing. read the faq.

okay fine, i'll post an excerpt from the thread (https://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=67259):

"Go to your LBS (Local Bike Shop) see what they have and test ride. Find two or three that you really like and feel good then come back for our opinions. (If you bombard us with 8 bazillion Bike A vs Bike B questions the quality of response WILL go down.)"

basically, see them, ride them. see what feels best to you...then come here for opinions.

if it was me, i'd take the kona or the hardrock, being that i want an xc bike that can handle a bit of rougher riding. and plus they look nice too.

trek is more xc, and so is gary fisher. gf though, has interesting 'genesis' geometry that should be ridden and tried out.

next time, don't bother with posting all the components, it's not like we're going to read through what kind of seat post and stem comes on 4 500 dollar bikes.

now go to your cycle shop and TRY THEM OUT FIRST!

djn3454

K awesome thanks, i will go try them out tomorrow when the place with the specialized opens...who is closed on monday seriously!! haha Thanks alot!

djn3454

Went today and looked at the Specialized Hardrock Sport(V-Brake). Also saw the Kona Fire Mountain
(2007) Also very nice. I was just wondering what you guys think, it is a big decision for me cause i will be riding it a crap load and i dont want to make the wrong choice. Awesome thanks alot! Buying bike on friday slash payday!


Thanks!

cream.soda

these are all solid bikes from the biggest manufacturers - you really can't go wrong from picking any one of these.

the only way you can go wrong is inside your head - "aww, i think i liked the hardrock sport better" after getting say, a 4300. or "man, i shoulda picked the better looking one".

if all of them feel the same while you ride them, then pick whichever one your gut goes with. remember, you can't go wrong with any of these.

personally i like the kona best... the 07 fire mountain looks nice in that silver...

kyletuck

I would get the specialized hardrock any day of the week.

seely

If you are riding aggressively I think the Hardrock will suit you best. Its heavy, but it is a bit beefier than the other two.

scr1be

i like the look of the hardrock. looks aggressive.

but that's just looks. pick the one that feels the most comfortable. if they all feel the same to you, then get the one you like the most.

all of those bikes will perform fine.

cream.soda

yes, hardrocks are solid, but personally i've seen waaay too much of them on the trails and around the neighbourhood. they're kinda like civics. great, reliable but a tad too popular. fire mountain!