2003 Gary Fisher Big Sur or Trek 8000

I'm returning to mountain biking after years without one. I'll be doing
some of everything. Looking for a good all rounder. A local bike shop is
closing out last year's bikes and I'm looking to buy a 2003 Big Sur or 2003
Trek 8000. I'd like some opinions from owners or anyone who has experience
with these bikes. These seem very very similar at first glance. What are
the pros and cons of each? Why is one better than the other? Is there
anything I would need to upgrade right away on either model (I mean any
design flaws or pain inducing components)? The models I'm looking at do not
have disc brakes. Are either one of these bikes disc ready (I mean can I
add disc brakes later for a reasonable price)?

Also, if I'm 6' tall, 210 lbs., and normally proportioned (no oddly long or
short limbs :-P), what frame size of Gary Fisher Big Sur or Trek 8000 would
I be looking for? The GF comes in Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large
(It's like buying a t-shirt). The Trek comes in 15.5", 17.5", 19.5", 21.5".

I know I know I need to go sit on them and ride them. I just want to go to
the shop with as much knowledge as possible so as to avoid getting suckered.

Thanks

KR

"KR" wrote in message
...
I'm returning to mountain biking after years without one. I'll be doing
some of everything. Looking for a good all rounder. A local bike shop is
closing out last year's bikes and I'm looking to buy a 2003 Big Sur or
2003
Trek 8000. I'd like some opinions from owners or anyone who has
experience
with these bikes. These seem very very similar at first glance. What are
the pros and cons of each? Why is one better than the other? Is there
anything I would need to upgrade right away on either model (I mean any
design flaws or pain inducing components)? The models I'm looking at do
not
have disc brakes. Are either one of these bikes disc ready (I mean can I
add disc brakes later for a reasonable price)?

Also, if I'm 6' tall, 210 lbs., and normally proportioned (no oddly long
or
short limbs :-P), what frame size of Gary Fisher Big Sur or Trek 8000
would
I be looking for? The GF comes in Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large
(It's like buying a t-shirt). The Trek comes in 15.5", 17.5", 19.5",
21.5".

I know I know I need to go sit on them and ride them. I just want to go
to
the shop with as much knowledge as possible so as to avoid getting
suckered.

Thanks KR


http://www.fisherbikes.com/index.asp

http://www.trekbikes.com/

--
DTW .../\.../\.../\...

I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing.
The rest I've just wasted.

D T W .../\... wrote:
"KR" wrote in message
...
I'm returning to mountain biking after years without one. I'll be
doing some of everything. Looking for a good all rounder. A local
bike shop is closing out last year's bikes and I'm looking to buy a
2003 Big Sur or 2003 Trek 8000. I'd like some opinions from owners
or anyone who has experience with these bikes. These seem very very
similar at first glance. What are the pros and cons of each? Why
is one better than the other? Is there anything I would need to
upgrade right away on either model (I mean any design flaws or pain
inducing components)? The models I'm looking at do not have disc
brakes. Are either one of these bikes disc ready (I mean can I add
disc brakes later for a reasonable price)?

Also, if I'm 6' tall, 210 lbs., and normally proportioned (no oddly
long or short limbs :-P), what frame size of Gary Fisher Big Sur or
Trek 8000 would I be looking for? The GF comes in Small, Medium,
Large, and Extra Large (It's like buying a t-shirt). The Trek comes
in 15.5", 17.5", 19.5", 21.5".

I know I know I need to go sit on them and ride them. I just want
to go to the shop with as much knowledge as possible so as to avoid
getting suckered.

Thanks KR


http://www.fisherbikes.com/index.asp

http://www.trekbikes.com/

--
DTW .../\.../\.../\...

I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing.
The rest I've just wasted.

Good sites, but they don't offer owners' opinions.

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC
(Remove XSPAM)

"KR" wrote in message
...

I know I know I need to go sit on them and ride them.

Why? What would that prove? The difference between the two bikes boils
down to whether you prefer the inventor of the modern mountain bike or the
five time winner of Le Tour. When you choose a bike, you are really just
choosing a soundtrack for your ride. They all have the same/similar
components.

L or 19.5

TM wrote:
"KR" wrote in message
...

I know I know I need to go sit on them and ride them.

Why? What would that prove? The difference between the two bikes
boils down to whether you prefer the inventor of the modern mountain
bike or the five time winner of Le Tour. When you choose a bike, you
are really just choosing a soundtrack for your ride. They all have
the same/similar components.

Please tell us you're kidding.

L or 19.5

Most likely right (original "size content" missing now).

Bill "frame MOST important decision" S.

Exactly. I think I already know what the manufacturer thinks on their
products...

Plus I've already been to those sites a countless times. I want to know
what riders think of the bikes.

KR

Zilla wrote:

D T W .../\... wrote:
"KR" wrote in message
...
I'm returning to mountain biking after years without one. I'll be
doing some of everything. Looking for a good all rounder. A local
bike shop is closing out last year's bikes and I'm looking to buy a
2003 Big Sur or 2003 Trek 8000. I'd like some opinions from owners
or anyone who has experience with these bikes. These seem very very
similar at first glance. What are the pros and cons of each? Why
is one better than the other? Is there anything I would need to
upgrade right away on either model (I mean any design flaws or pain
inducing components)? The models I'm looking at do not have disc
brakes. Are either one of these bikes disc ready (I mean can I add
disc brakes later for a reasonable price)?

Also, if I'm 6' tall, 210 lbs., and normally proportioned (no oddly
long or short limbs :-P), what frame size of Gary Fisher Big Sur or
Trek 8000 would I be looking for? The GF comes in Small, Medium,
Large, and Extra Large (It's like buying a t-shirt). The Trek comes
in 15.5", 17.5", 19.5", 21.5".

I know I know I need to go sit on them and ride them. I just want
to go to the shop with as much knowledge as possible so as to avoid
getting suckered.

Thanks KR


http://www.fisherbikes.com/index.asp

http://www.trekbikes.com/

--
DTW .../\.../\.../\...

I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing.
The rest I've just wasted.

Good sites, but they don't offer owners' opinions.

"KR" wrote in message ...
Also, if I'm 6' tall, 210 lbs., and normally proportioned snip

First, don't listen to any pipsqueaks. They'll tell you how fantastic
cookie cutter bikes are because they don't weigh enough to break one
of those POS bikes under normal use. If you are going to ride instead
of pretending to ride, save your money and buy a quality bike that
will not fall apart as you ride it.

JD

So are you saying that these two bikes might fall apart?

KR



"JD" wrote in message
om...
"KR" wrote in message
...
Also, if I'm 6' tall, 210 lbs., and normally proportioned snip

First, don't listen to any pipsqueaks. They'll tell you how fantastic
cookie cutter bikes are because they don't weigh enough to break one
of those POS bikes under normal use. If you are going to ride instead
of pretending to ride, save your money and buy a quality bike that
will not fall apart as you ride it.

JD

"S o r n i" wrote in message
...

Please tell us you're kidding.


Ask a silly question...

In hindsight, I should have just called him a BELLYWHACKER.

L or 19.5

Most likely right (original "size content" missing now).

Bill "frame MOST important decision" S.


T "agreed" M

"KR" wrote in message
...
So are you saying that these two bikes might fall apart?

I think he is.

KR



"JD" wrote in message
om...
"KR" wrote in message
...
Also, if I'm 6' tall, 210 lbs., and normally proportioned snip

First, don't listen to any pipsqueaks. They'll tell you how fantastic
cookie cutter bikes are because they don't weigh enough to break one
of those POS bikes under normal use. If you are going to ride instead
of pretending to ride, save your money and buy a quality bike that
will not fall apart as you ride it.

JD