I'm looking to get a mountain bike; any suggestions?

[CyaNide]

I just got my 4 year old a bike and I am wanting to get one so we can ride together. I have seen lots of prices anywhere from $100 to over $1000. I want to buy a decent one, but I don't need to spend choo choo money. Any suggestions on brands that are good?

CN

[dblack1]

I have a motobecane, good deal for the parts you get.

I caught one on a close out and they happened to have my frame size left.

https://www.bikesdirect.com

[mustang_revival]

I have a motobecane, good deal for the parts you get.

I caught one on a close out and they happened to have my frame size left.

www.bikesdirect.com

X2 from suggestions on here.

I got the 429T 29er, great bike.

[Sleeper]

My wife has had her giant for prob 10 years now. It has a shit ton of miles and still looks like new. I have never had to adjust anything on it.

[Shorty]

Don't be afraid to buy used. Bikes are something people will blow lots of cash on, ride a few times, then leave in the garage.

[jakesford]

I would stick with a hardtail not full suspension.
Buy real bikes (aka trek, specialized, giant, etc.) not "big box store" bikes.
In line with the above - you will be much happier with decent shifters, brakes and derailleurs. (eg: SRAM X5, shimano Deore or better)
Buy used - you can buy a nice bike for 50% of original easy...

[Trip McNeely]

Trek.

[dcs13]

Have a Trek 1000, love it. BUT...This is my "cruisin" ride. I LOVE it...

http://sebikes.com/bikes/bmx/retro-series/om-flyer-26

[Tannerm]

I ride a 2011 specialized camber Elite 29er for fun and a 2014 specialized rockhopper pro evo 29er for work. I'm bias but trek makes a good bike as well.

[STROKD]

I ride a 2011 specialized camber Elite 29er for fun and a 2014 specialized rockhopper pro evo 29er for work. I'm bias but trek makes a good bike as well.

your biased because you have bad ass bikes...

Cannondale or Specialized. I have one of both and they are both great bikes. the cannon is a lot fucken lighter, but its also not full suspension.

[MustangPoser]

Used Specialized Hardrock Sport or Trek X-Caliber...

[Tyrone Biggums]

I bought one of these at a Performance Bicycle year end clearance and it's been a great family/kid duty bike. '12 Schwinn Searcher.

[xplosiv]

It really depends on what you want to do with it.....

Serious Trail Riding
Downhill
Pavement around the lake/neighborhood
Gravel pedestrian/bike paths

Alot of bike shops will rent bikes for about $40 a day, and then if you buy one from you will knock that $40 or more off the price of the bike you buy. Id heavily recommend test riding a few for your intended purpose of riding before buying. Sometimes the manuf. also have demo days listed on their websites, might keep an eye out for those. Also make sure you get a bike with a proper fit. Even if you decide to order one online, go sit on one in the store, make sure it fits YOU correctly. A poor fitting badass bike can make a shitty and painful ride. Also, not all bike brands are sized the same. I ride a Large frame in anything Giant made, whereas the Medium size Specialized's fit me much better than their Large. Keep an eye out for year end closeouts. I bought my bike, with a $1050 msrp, in 2012. It was a new in box 2010 leftover that they marked down to $750 just to move it, after a little negotiating they also threw in a new Giro helmet and a shock pump.


As far as equipment....

You want disc brakes, avoid v brakes.
If you look at suspension bikes for anything over pavement/pedstrian bike path riding stay away from anything SR Suntour/RST. Look for something Rock Shox/XFusion/Fox/Marzocchi.
As far as gearing, Shimano and SRAM are the big 2. Shimano goes Acera => Alivio => Deore. Sram goes X3/4/5/7/9/0.
Brakes are going to be Avid, Hayes, Formula, Shimano, Sram.
Stuff like wheelsets and tires are going to be personal preference and any OEM equipment is going to be tolerable until you figure out what you want.


As far as 26"/29"/27.5" wheels, again its going to be personal preference. It looks like lately all the big name companies are moving to 27.5" as a base point unless you buy a sidewalk bike. 26" is going to be more agile awhile 29" is going to roll over small obstacles easier, carry momentum batter. 27.5" is a happy medium.

The biggest things are buy a name brand thats been put together buy a reputable tech, if you buy one online take it to your LBS and have it looked over before riding it. Make sure you get a bike that fits properly. And make sure you buy enough bike for what you intend to use it for.

[TeeShock]

Late 90s specialized M2 or a trek 820. They are older but the build quality is there and it wont bust your budget. Downside is they are only 26", but the v brakes work just fine as long as you aren't an aggressive rider.

[stephen4785]

I bought a 2012 Specialized Hardrock from Performance bike a year ago. Paid $400 and it's been a great bike. Im 230lbs and it hasnt failed me yet. I wouldnt spend a lot on one at first. Buy a cheaper one to make sure if youre going to stay with it then upgrade later.