[rttuner]

So I'm in the market for a mountain bike other than a department store special. I want a dependable hard-tail for the trails. My wish list includes: disc brakes, lockout, 29 wheels, rock shox front fork. Looking to do this for around a grand. Any help is appreciated.

[carlharsch]

Go to a couple of bike stores and ride and ride and ride. See what you like and what you don't like. You'll have more to go on after riding some different bikes.

[Industry_Hack]

Welcome to the forums!

The Trek Mamba has the spec you want (although it's a low end Rock Shox fork), and the MSRP is $1019, so you should be able to find it for under a grand.

Giant offers their Talon series, with a model a bit above and one a bit below, but you only get a Suntour fork. Of course, even a bit over your budget, the Talon 29er 0 uses a coil spring Rock Shox, so it's not much better than the Suntour.

Both companies have solid and reliable bikes in the $600 range, but you don't get a huge improvement jumping up to the next level, in my opinion. I have the Trek Wahoo, which sells for about $600, but I upgraded to XO, Avid brakes, and a Rock Shox fork. That route would easily exceed your price range, but if you are handy and shop around, you can upgrade it over time and come out with a better bike. I scored some uncommonly good deals, which resulted in $1,000 in upgrades for about $140. You're not going to get that, but you can certainly come close. I have seen nice Rock Shox on eBay for $200, and complete groups for the same price. So spend a grand, and have a nice bike, or spend $600 and have an ok bike too, but another $400 could turn it into a great bike.

There are other 29ers out there, but these are the two I am most familiar with. If you're not fussy about the label on your bike, Bikesdirect offers a couple of 29ers with better spec than either of the above bikes, priced from $900 to $1300.

[davereo]

Cannondale SL4 http://tinyurl.com/cr4n3db

[rttuner]

Thanks for the help. I have 105 gears for my road bike and there pretty much bullet proof. Is there a group that has something similar for mtn. bikes? Basically, what gear set up is reliable but not top of line for my budget.

[Industry_Hack]

Any group will be reliable. You pay extra for weight savings and shift quality. My SRAM X0 will shift under load, and when so filthy that Shimano would pack up and go home.

[Poolie]

+ 1 on the Mamba. The frame is the same one Trek uses on several models up the price ladder so you could upgrade components as you can afford to and not have to worry about throwing money at something not worthy of the upgrade.

I have the Trek X-Cal which is a couple models up from the Mamba and love it. My only upgrades have been a carbon handlebar (smooths out the ride) and lighter rims.

The only thing I didn't like, and it was because it was different to me is that unlike the Shimano shifter where the index finger controls one shifter lever and the thumb controls the other, on the SRAM both levels are controlled by your thumb. Took a day or so to get used to that but now I can switch back and forth between Shimano and SRAM without even thinking about it.

[Jahwarrior]

I have the Trek Mamba - Love it, not one complaint or regret.

[Industry_Hack]

Got my first Trek over 20 years ago. Pretty solid company.

[Farrowlane]

Save your money!

Go to bikesdirect.com and get the Fantom 29 X5 29er @ $700

Just use the following sizing chart:

http://bicycling.about.com/od/howtoride/a/MTB_sizing.htm