Thread: WTB: Cheap Hardtail or XC bike $500

My vintage Marin Indian Fire trail that was the love of my life was stolen out of my shed so I'm looking for a lighter hardtail or XC bike. I'll be scrounging to come up with $500 but I'd figured I'd give it a shot here. My other bike is a 2007 Medium Reign X1 and I'm looking for something that can do some mileage on road as well as off and no lockouts on my poor mans Reign isn't ideal although I've done a fair amount on it lately both on and offroad and my tires are showing the effects. I'm short at 5'8 30" inseam, a medium would be ideal.

I know most of you guys are rocking some pretty expensive bikes but surely you have something out back that would work for an old overweight hack of a rider guy.

Early '90's Specialized Stumpjumper S-Works aluminum medium frame. Rockshox fork from same era (came on bike). Mostly XTR components (1st year they were gray). Right now a basket case about 90% complete. $150 plus shipping from tahoe.

What year was your IFT? I had one of those back in the day. Sorry for your loss.

cooltsi - take a look at JensonUSA's full bikes too. Might see something there in your price range, or close to it.

I have a hardtail 29er. I could do some parts swapping to get it down in the $500 range if you are interested. PM for full details.

QUOTE=Dromond;3323640]What year was your IFT? I had one of those back in the day. Sorry for your loss.[/QUOTE]

I think it was a 98, it was about 2 years old when I bought it in 2000. Mostly XTR, some XT stuff remained, Marizocchi Z2, blue annodized nipples and hardware on the bike. Nothing fancy but through it's usage it was a sub 22 pound bike.

Similar pic:


I've been checking out the discount places over the past few days. I could probably pick up a decent frame/cheap components for around $700 at the likes of Jenson.

Bump...still looking, nothing has panned out yet.

Got a 29'' hardtail, its a Felt Nine Sport in pretty good shape, its over the pass in jackson

I've got a 1996 GT Karakoram in your size that I would part with for less than $500.

Has v-brakes, Judy fork, stiff chromoly frame, rapid fire shifters, 22/32/bash, velociraptor tires. nothing high end but everything is in decent shape.