Why did I choose to buy Specialized,..??
Well, for about 4 months prior to my purchase, I did a lot of research, (consumer reviews), company background investigation, P&L, past year end reports, their degree of customer satisfaction, warranty issues, number of product re-calls, internal company research and development, and their comittment to building a superior product.
Before that, I tried and test rode many different manufacturers bikes, Giant, Gary Fisher, Trek, Cannondale, Raleigh and others.Then, after comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges, I myself felt Specialized was the hands down winner in my book.
Now, don't get me wrong, there are many fine quality mountain bike manufacturers out there, and while there are just as many different likes and dislikes when it comes to an individuals preference when it comes their choice of what to purchase, I can only speak for myself and I chose Specialized.
Lifetime frame warranty, excellent customer satisfaction ratings, limited Specialized used bikes for resale, (consumer loyality, and people evidently keep their Specialized bikes for many years), quality in each and every Specialized bicycle, quality components used, a name recognized worldwide, Specialized "Body Geometry", a comittment to continual research and development, the quality in all Specialized products, from their tire levers, helmets, shoes and clothing, to their "S-Works" bikes, the company's support for professional bicyclists, etc,...etc,...etc,...!
(I could ramble on and on about my feelings for Specialized)
Needless to say, I am a die-hard Specialized fan, the company has my utmost respect and admiration, so much so, that I not only chose to purchase and ride a 2004 Rockhopper Comp, (which IMHO is a fantastic hard-tail), I also bought a 2004 Hardrock Sport Womens for my daughter and a 2004 Hardrock XC for my son. We ride together every weekend, and we all thoroughly enjoy riding together, and we are very proud of our bikes.(we call ourselves,.."Team Specialized"),...*S*
In closing, everyone has different tastes, likes and dis-likes, ergo the number of different bike manufacturers. Specialized may not be the bike of choice for some, and for others it may be the "Holy Grail" of bicycles. But for me, I will always choose Specialized products, and my bike of choice will always be a Specialized.
"nuff said,..?"
Ol' DirtDawg