mountain bikers! can i get your opinion on this?

okay so im trying to get back into riding, i used to ride everyday like street stuff, stairs, jumps stuff like that, i really enjoy riding and want to get into mountain biking so i went to a local bike shop and the guy working there recomended me to the Trek 4300, Gary Fisher wahoo and Trek Marlin single speed gary fisher edition. the Marlin SS really caught my eye cause its a 29er and single speed which would feel like my old bmx bike....kinda haha...anyways i think im gonna get the marlin so i just wanted to get everyones opinion

here it is

Frameset Sizes 15.5, 17.5, 19, 21, 23"
Frame 6061 T6 aluminum, butted & hydroformed tubing, sliding vertical dropouts, G2 29" Geometry
Front Suspension SR Suntour SF11 XCT V3 w/mechanical lockout, preload, custom G2 Geometry, 51mm offset crown, 100mm travel
Wheels
Wheels Formula DC20 front hub, KT TB5R SS disc rear hub; Bontrager Ranger Disc 32-hole rims
Tires Bontrager 29-2, 29x2.1"
Drivetrain Shifters n/a
Front Derailleur n/a
Rear Derailleur n/a
Crank Truvativ E400 1.1G, 32T
Cassette 20T freewheel
Pedals n/a
Components
Saddle Bontrager Evoke 1
Seat Post Bontrager SSR, 27.2mm, 20mm offset
Handlebars Bontrager Approved Big Sweep, 15 degree sweep
Stem Bontrager SSR
Headset 1-1/8" threadless, semi-integrated, semi-cartridge bearings Brakeset Tektro Novela mechanical disc brakes, 6-bolt; 160mm rotors

what do you all think?

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/gary_fisher_collection/29er_hardtails/marlinsinglespeed/

 

I actually do alot of MTB and Dirt Jumping and in my opinion it's a good bike, maybe see if there is an upgrade for better forks though.

Never ridden a 29er though, so I don't know what's available for them.

 

well since you did jumps and stairs, i think a 29er wouldnt be for you imo. 29er bikes tend to accelerate more slowly since the diameter of the rim is bigger, you need more braking power, tight handling and steering response is decreased when going at slow speeds. also larger wheels require more force when climbing uphill

 

I've been riding 29ers since 2005....
that Trek is basically what used to be the GF Rig.

not a bad bike, but more of a trail bike than an urban bike...

check out this instead if you want a grown-up BMX bike:
http://www.speedgoat.com/Catalog.aspx/Browse?Cat=C239&Prod=19865

 

It all depends on what type of riding you plan on doing. Hardtails are fine for most of the not to technical trails, but you better be in really good shape if you plan on doing repetitive hills on a single speed. Where are you located in VA? The hard tail 29ers don't have the versatility of an "all mountain" bike like my Ellsworth Epiphany, but they are probably cheaper. Paying for a little more bike than you need in the beginning will keep you from immediately spending more on upgrades and changes. Like I said, it all depends on what kind of riding you want to do.

 

or if you want a single-speed do it all mtb, my buddy has this bike for sale (in Virginia!):

On-one Inbred singlespeed mountain bike – 18” medium; Thomson stem and post; White Industries ENO freewheel 18t; Mavic 717 rims - Chris King front hub, White Industries rear hub; Truvativ crank; XTR V-brakes; Kenda Karma tires; Surly 32 T front ring, no saddle, no pedals.

$500

 

If your looking for a BMX type bike try one of the specilized or RMB Dirt jump style bikes, they are fairly nice. I think youcan only get them in 24 or 26 though

 

That's strictly a cross-country bike...

If you want something to play around on hard get something else:

If you are actually going to pedal on singletrack all day, that bike will be fine. I highly suggest gears but apparently not having options is popular right now.

If you plan on leaving the ground very often go back to a 26er with some fork travel 150mm+, lockout is a must.

If you want to ride everything, get a 26er, with gears, full suspension, 150mm fork w/lockout, rear shock w/lockout, disc brakes.

 

Thanks for all the quick responses! im probably not gonna be doing much urban stuff if any, ill be doing mostly trails, sorry if i made it seem like i was gonna be doing more urban.

but elutheros im in northern virginia, fredericksburg/stafford area. i think im in pretty good shape, i work out almost everyday and i am currently doing conditioning for soccer season so im only getting in better shape every week, i also dont mind going up hills, when i test rode the bike it felt really good and i dint have a problem riding it, it is also reallyyy light compared to some of the other bikes they had

 

Don't get me wrong, that's a fine bike, it just seemed a bit specific for your wants... but, the best bike out there is the one you'll ride!

 

yeah i see where you are coming, i do plan on doing single track since there are a few trails out here, but ill also ride whatever i find like if i see a nice jump riding around town or something haha

im definitely going to do a little more research, these three bikes were more in my price range, pretty much the next level bikes i saw were breaking $1k and thats a little more than i want to spend right now

 

29er singlespeeds are fun bikes, I think it would be fine choice for exploring your local trails. You might have to experiment to find a gear ratio that you can use everyday, but the stock setups are usually pretty good these days.

Hard to beat that Marlin for an entry level 29er (and I'm usually biased towards Specialized).

 

Go a full suspension 21 speed Gary Fisher is built in the Trek factory and is a good bike. You may look at Cannondale if you are serious.

 

and sadly, neither are built in the US anymore...