Raleigh 1996 Raleigh M-400

This is my first "real" mountain bike. Before I bought this bike, I have compare prices all over town. This is the the best deal for an entry level hardtail. The other big name (GT, Trek, Specialized, etc) are usually a bit more expensive than this one. Anyway, I think I couldn't get a better bike with the amount of money I spent.

This bike bring me into the world of mountain biking and got me hooked. haha~ Good and stiff ride from the straight guage 7005 frame. The the RockShox Indy C suspension is heaven compared to rigid fork. It took a lot of the beating from the road and trail away from me. The LX V brake worked fantastic. It's powerful and easy to adjust.

On the down side, it's a bit heavy for a hardtail, i.e. ~30lb. The Indy C is flexy. It would flex enough for the front brake to rube the rim when I pedal out of saddle. And the undamped fork would bounce on everything, very much uncontrolled. Riding a hardtail is really tough on my back. I am not an old man, but who won't want more comfort and control when going over rock garden.

I think is bike was an excellent beginner bike. Good part picks plus an unbeatable price. I should have kept it even when I purchase my next full suspension. I would totally recommend Raleigh's bike to people who want to get into the sport of mountain biking but don't have a over swellen wallet in their pocket.

Here is the spec.