Lots of "depends"...
As you can imagine there are lots of threads on this and if you want more info than you can shake a pound of bacon at just search: Bikes for Clydes, Best+Bike+Clydesdale, etc...
That being said, if money is the most predominant factor in your decision the "best" option is the Hoss. The SC Chameleon is a good choice for us, but about 30% more $ (give or take sales). My biggest bit of advice (being a clyde, being an aggressive trail rider, having absolutely zero skill, having once weighed 310+...) is to be faithful to whatever bike you get and do *not* get discouraged when things break, it happens. Despite protestations to the opposite all bits can and do break. Shimano hubs in my experience been one of the worst things a clyde can put on their bikes. It's an area I would drop some coin on. I've rebuilt tons (literally...) of rear hubs (XT) before I decided to just drop some coin on "good" hubs (King). Zero issues since, period. Having a compotent builder lace your wheels makes a shiteload of difference in how those finicky little bastards roll and stay true as well. Factory wheels may have decent bits on them, but machines don't build a wheel like a shop wrench can (in my not so freakin humble opinion...).
Anywho, and back to the question I suppose: give yourself a grand to get a bike, new, or six hundred bucks used and *plan* on things breaking (hubs, seatpost, cranks, rims, pedals). If I could only focus on one part of my bike to put lots of importance on: wheels. They will serve you long and well or cause buckets of heartache just when you don't want it (7 miles into the trail for example?). Other than that, replace things as they come up. *My* 2 1/2 cents on bikes for someone in your position since you asked: Hoss or some hardtail Giant and spend as much money as you can on wheel upgrades. Forks fail eventually and most (not all) OEM forks suck for clydes (fork would be my second upgrade since I like to know my bike will go where I point it...). Thomson seatposts rock, Chris King and Hadley hubs are the best, Race Face cranks? yep (I'm experimenting with Truvativ right now...), stay away from carbon bars for now, Sun rims are flat out the best (rhynolite xl; cheap and reliable!!!!).
Sorry for the length, but I'm stuck in Gold Beach, OR for work and I hate this place...bored. Take care, good luck and if you find yourself in OR wanting to ride send me a message I'm always up for a ride with a fellow clyde! Enjoy the ride my brother in bacon.
Brock...
