Best budget bike?

[flyingfisher]

Hello all, I am trying to find a good bike for my dad as a christmas gift. We usually just ride holy jim or the fullerton loop so i'm just looking to buy him a hardtail. I've got $450 at the moment to spend on a complete bike. Any ideas on what to get the old man?

-Steven

 

[Hotchkiss]

If you don't mind buying second hand craigslist is the place. My buddy just picked up a next to new kona hoss for $390. Another friend of mine went down to the path and got a great deal on a Specialized Hardrock. I think thats in that price range, and I'm sure will do fine on any cross country trails around here.

Thats an awesome gift by the way.

 

[robmcd]

Yeah craigslist for sure. Ive bought 2 bikes from there in the past 3 months and both were less than 400$. Im still lurking on craigslist to find one of those bikes, a Gary Fisher Wahoo disc, that was stolen from my back yard. I see a ton of great deals there for really good prices. In fact, check out this one http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/2111256571.html

 

[10K2HVN]

I seem to find GT hardtails, decently spec'd, for a good price. If buying brand new, I don't think you could find a specialized or trek with similar components around the same price.

 

[Dune66]

Incycle has these on sale

http://incycle.com/product/10-specialized-rockhopper-57512-1.htm $449

http://incycle.com/product/10-specialized-hardrock-disc-57508-1.htm $359

 

[flyingfisher]

Thanks all for the great advice, I ended up picking up a Gary Fisher Advance at Jax since he loves riding my Marlin with the G2 Geometry.
I've found a lot of great reviews on them so hopefully a good pick.

-steven