How committed to you are mountain biking? Are you absolutely certain you will stick with it, or are you still "testing the waters" at this point?
Also, what is your skillset and how do you plan to ride this bike?
I ask because I was in a similar situation in 2006, when I first got into mountain biking after not having ridden since my teens.
I started conservatively. My first trail bike was a piece of crap department store hardtail (my "ShopKo Special") that I rode hard and wore out. My skillset was minimal, and it was the perfect bike in that regard because it kept the costs of my "learning experiences" to a minimum. I taco'ed three rims in two seasons before deciding, in 2008, that I was hooked on trail riding for life and needed something better.
It was at that point that I purchased an "entry level" hardtail--a 2008 Raleigh Mojave 8.0. It's very basic in terms of features and handling, but the differences between it and the department store bike were night and day.
I've ridden the Mojave to hell and back (very little on it is original, including the frame) and am definitely ready for an upgrade, but the money isn't there right now so I'll probably go at least another season on the Raleigh.
Though I covet a high-end hardtail or a quality FS ride, I'm very happy with the choices I've made because I think they've taught me to be a better rider. (If you can clean a very technical section on a heavy hardtail and with platform pedals, you can clean it on virtually anything.)
There are a lot of excellent hardtails in your price range (even some 29ers), but your choices for full suspensions are much more limited. At $1,100, I think you'd pretty much be stuck with something like a discounted Trek Fuel EX5.0, which is still a lot of bike for the money.
Regardless of what you buy, I would strongly recommend disc brakes. If all you've ever ridden are v- or cantilever-brakes, you might go endo a few times adjusting to discs, but you'll appreciate the extra stopping power and superior control.
Hope this helps and happy trails!
-- HP
Also, what is your skillset and how do you plan to ride this bike?
I ask because I was in a similar situation in 2006, when I first got into mountain biking after not having ridden since my teens.
I started conservatively. My first trail bike was a piece of crap department store hardtail (my "ShopKo Special") that I rode hard and wore out. My skillset was minimal, and it was the perfect bike in that regard because it kept the costs of my "learning experiences" to a minimum. I taco'ed three rims in two seasons before deciding, in 2008, that I was hooked on trail riding for life and needed something better.
It was at that point that I purchased an "entry level" hardtail--a 2008 Raleigh Mojave 8.0. It's very basic in terms of features and handling, but the differences between it and the department store bike were night and day.
I've ridden the Mojave to hell and back (very little on it is original, including the frame) and am definitely ready for an upgrade, but the money isn't there right now so I'll probably go at least another season on the Raleigh.
Though I covet a high-end hardtail or a quality FS ride, I'm very happy with the choices I've made because I think they've taught me to be a better rider. (If you can clean a very technical section on a heavy hardtail and with platform pedals, you can clean it on virtually anything.)
There are a lot of excellent hardtails in your price range (even some 29ers), but your choices for full suspensions are much more limited. At $1,100, I think you'd pretty much be stuck with something like a discounted Trek Fuel EX5.0, which is still a lot of bike for the money.
Regardless of what you buy, I would strongly recommend disc brakes. If all you've ever ridden are v- or cantilever-brakes, you might go endo a few times adjusting to discs, but you'll appreciate the extra stopping power and superior control.
Hope this helps and happy trails!
-- HP
And you can absolutely get a nice ride on that budget.
