[growlie]

for 10 yrs i`ve been riding a big box store (C.C.M.-canadian) mtb with dual susp. its time to upgrad to a real mtb, but due to budget it will be modest. im thinkin trek 4300, but not sure if i will b disappointed going to a hardtail after a d/s. mayb i should hold off. im also thinkin KHS xc 204. at 51 yrs old it will prob b my last bike purchase. what do u ppl think??

 

[salpic]

Shoot, if it's going to be the last bike you get, why not go all-out and get a FS?

 

[theMeat]

At 43 I prefer a hardtail on all but the gnarliest of trails. Get a ht and you'll have both.

 

[JonathanGennick]

at 51 yrs old it will prob b my last bike purchase. what do u ppl think??

Hey, try to be more optimistic. :thumbsup:

If budget is modest, I would lean towards a hardtail. Full-suspension is a lot of fun, but if a Trek 4300 defines your budget, then any full-suspension bike you are likely to get in that same price is likely to represent too much of a compromise in terms of weight (heavy!) and poor parts.

What are the trails like where you ride?

 

[carlos91]

well i got the 2010 trek 4300 about 10 days ago and i have put 200 miles on it 45 of those miles were from trails this bike has performed extremely well. the only bad thing about the bike is the rims they tend to bend but that is fixable

 

[growlie]

hey, i am optomistic. i`v really thrown myself back into mtbing, hence the pinched neck nerve sidelining me to the comp rite now. too hot to ride atm anyway.
main concern is will i find a hardtail too stiff, or will the switch b like going from tricycle
to 2 wheels

 

[S_Trek]

for 10 yrs i`ve been riding a big box store (C.C.M.-canadian) mtb with dual susp. its time to upgrad to a real mtb, but due to budget it will be modest. im thinkin trek 4300, but not sure if i will b disappointed going to a hardtail after a d/s. mayb i should hold off. im also thinkin KHS xc 204. at 51 yrs old it will prob b my last bike purchase. what do u ppl think??

Last bike? 51yrs old! Thinking about dying already? I'm 51 and still having fun

 

[aland10]

I own both (hardtail and FS) and while I don't mind riding the HT on dirt single track anything remotely rocky/technical and I find that once you go FS it's really tough to go back...I'd advise looking at a quality, preowned FS bike. good luck

 

[jyellard]

It depends on what type of riding you do. If you ride trails with alot of rocks or roots, then I would suggest holding out for the FS. If not, I suggest borrowing a HT on your favorite or typical trail to see how you like it.

 

[RicKaysen]

I'm 58 with a two month old Trek 6000 and already thinking two or three bikes into the future.

 

[growlie]

thanx for the replies ppl. the trails i ride r very rooty. thinkin now i should hold out for f/s
since im used to it on the big box store bike.
i only say "my last bike" because i want the right bike for me that i can just upgrade for yrs to come. I LOVE MY RIDING!!! hope u do 2

 

[bad mechanic]

Most big box store full suspension bikes might as well be a hardtail for how well the suspension works. I wouldn't worry about missing it too much.

 

[gingus]

Don't know what the 4300 go for, but I saw an add for Jensen that was doing a killer deal on a jamis f/s for ~ $1,300. looked really good, but I just bought a new bike last year.

 

[growlie]

so i borrowed a buddy`s gary fisher big sur hardtail for some local trail riding.
even tho my f/s is a big box store big, i really miss the rear susp. us skinny butts need all the protection we can get. my LBS is a KHS dealer so im leanin towards
KHS XC204. dont know why website says RST firstair fork when pic shows
Rocckshox Dart 3. any thoughts on this choice?

 

[475856]

If it is at all feasable, financially speaking, get an FS bike. I had a hardtail 29'R and liked it a lot, but my back was killing me so I traded it, after only 2 months, for a FS and haven't looked back. 10 years has made a huge difference in how the bikes are these days....

 

[larlev]

If the 4300 is all you can afford then it's the right bike for you. I rode a HT for 15yrs and you couldn't pay me to ride one again.
Bikes like a used specialized fsrxc can be found rather cheap. Since you enjoy riding...I would get something really good. Your old FS bike won't even compare to a trek or specialized FS. Go test ride one at a shop and you'll see for yourself.

Buy a FS with a lockout feature and you can have both.

 

[Eric2.0]

I never rode a FS, but I have some time on a HT and I love it.... I adjust the ride with airpressure, soft tires makes it grip and feel better on your butt.

FS is for girls with little touchies....LMAO..J/K..... it's not your guy's fault for wanting a powder puff, plush ride...It's totaly understandable..lol

J/K....don't hate.

 

[marc32]

If your looking at the trek 4300, you may want to a look at the gary fisher marlin disc as well. If I recall they are in the same price range. I vote for the marlin

 

[CONoobie]

I rode a hardtail bike for years, just recently I bought a good used FS bike.... Wow, I think it will be hard for me to go back to my HT's!!! The newer FS bike is more comfortable, smoother, easier to ride, and I don't know if I go faster, but I feel like I am! Ride the old one into the ground and save up for a decent FS bike, if you don't mind used, maybe look around for a nice used bike- the bike I bought looked almost new, I may have put more scuffs on it after just 1 ride! hehe