Full suspension mountain bike?

Question

I am looking for a full suspension bike but ive been getting alot of different awnsers ive had a few people tell me to look at Cannondale (phrophet 2,3,4) a GT or a Mongoose. But when I call some of the more nicer bike shops they laugh at me when i mention the GT or Mongoose and tell me to go to walmart to get them. Is this true or am i getting played? I have a small amount of biking under my belt but that was 10 years ago i had a Trek full suspension which felt like it weight 100 pounds and alots changed since then. I will be doing easy trails in southern IN and some more tech trails in colorado. The Phrophet 3 or 4 is looking like my best option from what i hear on the phone but i would like some input from people who arent going to be making money on me about which is the best kinda bike to buy. Also 1700 bucks for the Phrophet 3 is REALLY!!!!!! stretching my budget the 1300 for the 4 sounds better but what do you all think

PLEASE HELP!!!!!! thanks in advance

Answer 1

when it comes to a bike, you gotta make an investment.  If a bike shop tells you to go to walmart for a brand, it's because that brand is only a walmart quality, and you dn't want that!  Go to a decent bike shop, tell them your budget, and what you want in a bike, and they'll size you up for one.  A lot of bike shop owners will have experience in biking, so you don't have to worry about getting played

Answer 2

well mongoose is c**p basically(for an experienced biker), mention mongoose PRO and maybe you'll get some better reactions, but not much. Cannondale, specialized,trek are all bike shop quality. So i would suggest them over any mongoose/GT(although they aren't really that bad) spend the little extra to get good quality

Answer 3

Both GT and Mongoose have been purchased and are now offered at dept. stores.

They are now using cheaper components but even worse are being built to ride by unskilled mechanics or just people,not mechanics.

Yet the savings must be adressed as the saving of purchasing these bikes might be less than the total rebuild or true tune up cost after purchase..

This is for you to decide.

The frames offered by both GT and Mongoose are still good but not to the standards that they used to be.

Bottom line,buy a good bike that fits you and that you like,not a name brand you were refered to.

Schwinn was one of the best large manufacturers of frames for a long time but now they are owned,as is RockyMountain bicycles,and by the same company I must add.

The best hardtail of the lot is still the Schwinn in my experiance.

The best full suspension will be the RockyMountain.

When buying a full suspension bike always look at the frame and the rear shock as this is the true chassis of the bike.

If you want a good GT then buy an old one.Not many would argue the strength of an older GT frame.

As for Mongoose,they never could truly compete with GT,yet they were still awesome in many respects.Both GT and Mongoose both started as bmx manufacturers.A great way to start too as a bmx is a tough rig.

I recommend a Norco, Specialized or a Trek for an affordable reliable full suspension bike.Spend the money on the frame and the rear shock,the rest can always be a affordably added or replaced.

Cannondale makes good bikes too.

Yet I have never met anyone that drove a cannondale in the past and still drives one today.They have made several great bikes and a bunch of swell bikes.

Function should always beat out new design.

Any full suspension can be made lighter by the wheelset and the crank/bottombracket.As well tires at times.

If I had 1300 for a budget I would buy a great mail order frame and rear shock and build the rest to my desires.

But noone ever touches or builds my bike but me.[biased]

Please go to a bike shop and try riding these bikes that you might purchase.

If the shop will not let you try one then they are idiots and are not true salespeople not alone true bikers that care about you.

Service is just as important as the bike when your spending a thousand dollars or more.This is the truth.

Sorry for the long post.I am just worried a bit about you and your purchasing.A picture tells a thousand words but a bike purchase needs but one,yes or no.

I hope you can find a bike shop that makes you feel special,this is the only way it should be.

Answer 4

you defiantly don't want to by a bike from walmart. the parts are cheaper and they break easier causing more repairs. i had a friend who bought a walmart mongoose and trashed the brakes and broke the wheels going of a 1 foot jump. my recommendation for a full suspension bike is a specialized stump jumper.

Answer 5

Do not give your business to the store that suggested buying form Wal-Mart.  Period.

Full suspension mountain bikes have improved so much in the past 10 years.  Just do your homework.  Then reward a store with your hard earned money.  And do not let them feed you a line of the stuff that comes out of the end of a bull, if you catch my drift.  Be a bit skeptical whatever you are told by a dealer.  They are in the business to SELL.  Some will sell the best bike for YOUR needs, others will sell what is in THEIR best interest.  Also, do not buy too small a frame.  Say you are 6' tall.  I will bet most shops will point you toward a 17" frame bike.  Yet for road riding you will ride a 58 to 60 centimeter frame.  Remember the size of the frame will dictate how much you bent forward to place your hands on the bars and the controls.  I am 6'1" tall and I ride a 21" full suspension GT.  I have a high rise threadless stem and downhill style bars.  Still not quit tall enough relative to seat height.

Good Luck

Answer 6

WHY DO PEOPLE STILL PUT DOWN MONGOOSE AND GT?? The idiots who laughed about you wanting one of these bikes need to improve their knowledge base.

If you get a Mongoose or GT from a bike shop they are at least equal to but probably better than most bikes in their price range. Just so you know, Mongoose, GT, and Cannondale are all owned by the same company.

Do some rethinking on the Mongoose. It is a good bike. This comes from a person who has to design bikes competitive with theirs- it is not an easy task.

I personally would never buy a Cannondale. They got the nickname "Crack'n'Fail" for a reason.

Answer 7

look for giant and fuji bikes as well. they normally have much better components that other since they come form japanese companies which get  shimano pieces at better prices

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