Moutain Bike
Out of context: Reply #4
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- mbr0
Mid Range -
I am guessing that 'Mid Range' means like $1000-1800 or so?
I'd buy used, almost always.
What I would buy (and I am in the market for a similar bike) is:
1. Trek 9.9 or 9.8 - carbon fiber so it is light and stiff, but absorbs the bumps
Components are the best. I've seen them for as little as $1200 and as high as $2500 in 'as new' or 'very good'
2. Litespeed Pisgah - I like titanium, not as light as the Trek, but resilient. You won't get the parts as with the Trek, but no one builds these with bad stuff. Same price variation.
3. Specialized M5 - Aluminum, so it'll be really stiff, but light. Great parts. Harder to find, but same price.
4. You might be able to find others, like Merlins (a little more), better Litespeeds, something like Independent Fabrications, Ibis, Ventana, or Santa Cruz, but they are rarer.You might also consider the Trek STP line (400 or 300) that is the partial suspension (with about 1.5" of travel and no pivots), you can find them for around the same price. I'd go full suspension if you are spending 1800 or more.
Here's a link to the greatest site for MTBiking and the classifieds are updated every 15 minutes. Things go fast, so know what you want.