What do ya'll think about this bike?

[Steph]

http://www.rei.com/product/47970621.htm

[fatbottomedgurl]

Hi Steph. You need to ask yourself some questions- what do I want to do on a bike? Bike paths? Easy dirt trails? Climb mountains and ride down them? Next you need to do some research. Go to some bike stores and ask questions. They are your first source for helping you know what is involved in choosing a bike (unless you have friends who ride). Next you should check manufacturers websites- Kona, Giant, Specialized, Trek, Gary Fisher come to mind as reputable makers with bikes in your price range. Right now is a good time to get a deal on a 2006 model, like 30% off. I personally would not buy a bike from REI but would rather stick with a bike store- a good one will give you life time adjustments for free.
Another good resource is to search the forums on mtbr.com.

[xeney]

I am not much of a mountain biker but I can guess why that bike caught your eye ... it has the prettiest paint job I have ever seen on a bike. It catches my eye every time I go to REI. Even though I am not in the market for a mountain bike, I couldn't resist the lure of the pretty and I did pull it down and sit on it, which is when I discovered that it weighs 900 pounds.

Well, not really, but it is pretty heavy. Do you think you could push it up a hill?

I know REIs vary by region, but ours has a great bike shop and I know they provide plenty of mechanical support for as long as you own the bike. My neighbor bought a road bike there a year ago and he has had practically every swappable component swapped out of that bike at some point, and he's been really happy with the service. I don't think they did a very good job fitting him in the first place, but an LBS is unfortunately no guarantee against that problem. We don't own any REI bikes and we have lots of good bike mechanics handy, but we have gone to REI for some things where a local shop wouldn't make much money off the job ... an REI mechanic helped my husband file a PayPal claim against a bad eBay seller; he wrote up a great report detailing all the damage on the bike, and he did it for free. They carry a lot of bike parts that are hard to get locally, and there is always someone there to give advice. Ours, at least, is not like the usual big-box department store that will sell you a poorly assembled bike and then provide no support.

[chickwhorips]

that is the one i have, but i have an '04 model i think.

for me it was a good starter bike. (i looked at some in the LBS but didn't find one that i liked.) got this one and it works great for me and for what i use it out here. now of course i want a different bike just because i'm into cycling more, but there is nothing wrong with this one at all.

i had to swich out the saddle due to some personal issues, it didn't like me at all. where i live the disk breaks aren't my friend, but other places they could be great.

i mainly ride it on our "roads" which are the worse gravel roads you will ever come across in your life, not sure how it is on dirt trails or anything. its all what you get use to.

it is a bit on the heavier side of bikes, so if your looking for a light weight bike then this one isn't the best.

i don't know if i helped or not on this. if you have any specific questions about it let me know. i'll do my best to help you out.

[E2theD]

K2 is a ski company and they make great skis. Bikes however are not their sweet spot. Heck, I wouldn't even buy a snowboard from them personally. My suggestion would be to find a bike manufacturer and look at what they have in your price range. Fatbottomedgurl's post had a lot of them to start with. Good luck with your search.

Erin

[Steph]

I have to admit that I did think it was pretty, but I thought K2 was a good brand because my dh has one that he really likes. I need one that isn't so heavy as I climb alot of hills and do ride trails that are technical. Oh well, I will be heading to the LBS today to dream as I can't afford a good one right now. I would love a full suspension, but would settle for a good hardtail. Mine "almost" makes me not want to ride. If I didn't love riding so much, I wouldn't torture myself trying to ride my bike. We have been riding for a month or so now and definately ready to get a good one. Thanks for the advice!

[xeney]

Steph, if that bike's price represents your price range, I would say that you should look at the year-end closeout sales going on right now at local bike shops. There are Specialized, Trek, and Giant models that should be available in that price range. The entry-level Specialized Rockhopper lists at $520, but you should be able to get a 2006 for less right now. Or the Hardrock is already in your price range without considering closeout prices. When I was looking last year I didn't want to spend much because I wasn't sure I would like the sport, and I wound up with a Rockhopper, but I also really liked one of the entry-level Treks, and I think it was about $350.

Good luck!

[chickwhorips]

i looked at the rockhopper when i went to get my K2 bike. i personally fit better on the K2 then the rockhopper. i'm also 5'3.

[xeney]

Yeah, and unfortunately my Rockhopper is also pretty heavy. Not quite as heavy as the K2 but I make my husband haul it up hills and I carry his bike. Heh.

The K2 that is one step up from this one is quite a bit lighter, though. My husband thought it was a better bike than my Rockhopper but I think it is in the same price range.

[emily_in_nc]

I bought my hardtail mtb from REI (Novara Bonita 2004 model). I got a closeout price since I bought it in 2005 - $399 (regular price was $569). It's a pretty bike with decent componetry, rides very well, and hasn't given me any problems. HOWEVER, it is heavy as all get out for a hardtail (disk brakes front and rear don't help matters either). It weighs ~32 lbs. I am only 103ish, so I had a tough time climbing with it, and getting it into and out of my car. So, I do think weight is really an important consideration.

I'm now riding a much lighter (and pricier, but I got it used) full-suspension mountain bike (~24 lbs), and I climb so much better. Normally, hardtails are lighter than fullies, but price point makes a big difference too. Cheap hardtails can be a lot heavier than expensive fullies, so just keep weight in mind when bike shopping.

I have only taken my Novara bike back to REI for one tune-up, but I thought they did a good job, and when I bought it, the bike mechanic spent quite a while going over it with me, the disk brakes, suspension fork maintenance, and so forth. I was pleasantly surprised.

Emily

[han-grrl]

I took a look and it is a basic bike. the components are low end, and if you plan on doing some trail riding, they probably won't last very long. Where you will notice the difference in quality the most is in the shifting. the shifting in lower end components is much less reliable, as in you have to be patient, sometimes it skips etc etc. this is on trail. on a paved path it wouldn't be too much of a problem. Also the weight of the bike might make a difference too...this you will notice on climbs. the best thing to do is try out the bike and figure out what your your biking goals are as well as budget...

[Steph]

the best thing to do is try out the bike and figure out what your your biking goals are as well as budget

Well, all the things you described are what I am experiencing right now. So, I think I will just start saving for a bike that I will be happy with long term and not settle for one that isn't really any better than what I'm riding now. Thanks!

[han-grrl]

My own two cents...
If you are just starting out, i recommend learning all the skills you can on the hard tail (climbing in and out of the saddle, descending, technical riding etc). The reason for this is that full suspension rides tend to make people a little "lazy" so to speak. they let the suspension take a lot of the ride, and don't do enough with their bodies. then they get hurt.

I actually went back to hard tail because i really like the simplicity of the hard tail. but i definitely notice a difference in my riding style when i take out the full suspension and then go back to the hard tail...

again, just an opinion...

Good luck!

han

[Pebble]

Saving up for the better bike sounds like a good choice. Especially if you love riding out on the trails regularly, spending more $$ up front will save you $$ down the track. The more you get into it the quicker you will outgrow the bike you're referring to, not to mention componetry wearing out & then not being worthwhile replacing.

Best to go to a good entry level hardtail that comes with a good frame & fork from a reputable company (Specialized, Giant, Trek, Norco and loads more). The frame you get is often the same as the higher end models, so as components wear out you can just replace or upgrade them to make your bike even better or lighter etc.

Good entry level duallies will be twice the price - and don't settle for anything less if you want to go that way because it will be money down the drain. But you probably already know that - the don't get the cheap wallmart type duallies!

I think bike fit & being comfortable on it (saddle etc) counts for alot more than wether you have rear suspension or not. I recently got my first dually (went from a hardrock comp) and it's a fantastic ride in comparison. I was ready for a better bike though after having the hardrock for 5yrs, and consider too that sometimes it's better to buy a new bike than upgrading things on a old one.

Once you get your new bike - whatever it is, as long as it fits you well & is comfortable to ride I think you'll be in heaven!