Need some advice on MTN bike

[n3dmax]

I went to a few of my local bike shops.
The 4 bikes below are about the same price. I don't know much about what components are good or bad.
Prices are very close to each other so price aside just on components wise which one is better bike or less of a bike?

GT Aggressor 1.0
2011 Raleigh Talus 5.0
2012 Raleigh Talus 4.0
Specialized Hardrock Disk

 

[vspa]

please look at them over the internet so you can post us the components list on each of them, including wheels

 

[n3dmax]

GT Aggressor 1.0 TYPE OF FRAME 6061 Aluminum Frame, Triple Triangle™ Frame Construction, CNC'd Bottom Bracket, Dropouts, and 1 1/8" Head Tube FORK SR Suntour XCT-V4 w/80mm Travel CRANK Suntour XCC 42/34/24T BOTTOM BRACKET Cartridge Sealed SHIFTERS Shimano EF-51 EZ Fire, 8-Speed COG SET Shimano CS HG-31, 11-32T, 8-Speed CHAIN KMC Z72, 8-Speed FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano TX-51 REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Acera RIMS Alex DM25, Doublewall 32H FRONT HUB Alloy 32h Q/R REAR HUB Alloy Disc QR (Cassette) 32H SPOKES Stainless 14G TIRES GT All Terrain, 2.1"/1.9" (F/R), Wire PEDALS GT Slimline Flat FRONT BRAKE Tektro Novela Cable, 160mm (F/R) REAR BRAKE Tektro Novela Cable, 160mm (F/R) BRAKE LEVERS Shimano EF-51 HANDLEBAR MTB Riser Bar STEM Alloy Ahead HEADSET Ahead Steel, 1 1/8" SADDLE GT MTB SEAT POST GT Alloy, Microadjust REAR SHOCK N/A EXTRAS N/A 2012 TALUS 4.0 FRAME Atomic 13 SL Custom Butted Aluminum, Formed Downtube, CNC Machined Headtube FORK SR Suntour XCT 100mm w/Preload CRANKS SR Suntour XCT V3 22/32/42t BB Sealed Cartridge F.DERAIL Shimano TX-50 R.DERAIL Shimano Acera SHIFTER Shimano EF-51 EZ Fire 8spd BR.LEVERS Shimano EF-51 BRAKES Tektro Novela Mechanical Disc, 160mm Rotors GEAR Shimano HG40 (11-32t) RIMS Weinmann XC260 Double Wall TIRES K-879 26x1.95 PEDALS Avenir ATB Resin Platform HANDLEBAR Steel 25mm Rise x 620mm, 25.4 STEM Alloy Ahead 4-Bolt 20º SEATPOST Alloy Micro Adjust 27.2x350mm SEAT Avenir 200 Series Mountain HEADSET Ahead 1-1/8" COLORS Pewter/Red, Black/Yellow CHAIN KMC HG40 HUBSET (F) Joytech Alloy Disc QR 32h (R) Joytech Alloy Disc QR 32h Cassette SPOKES 14g Stainless Steel GRIPS Avenir Single Moto EXTRAS Rack and Fender Mounts, Water Bottle Mounts, Cateye Reflector Set, Clear Coat, Owner's Manual 2011 TALUS 5.0 SIZES 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 FRAME Atomic 13 SL Custom Butted Aluminum, Formed Downtube, CNC Machined Headtube FORK SR Suntour XCM 100mm w/Preload CRANKS Shimano MC311 Octalink 22/32/42t BB Shimano Octalink ES25 F.DERAIL Shimano Acera R.DERAIL Shimano Alivio SHIFTER Shimano Alivio 8spd BR.LEVERS Promax XL86 BRAKES Promax DSK720 Mechanical Disc, 160mm Rotors GEAR Shimano HG40 8spd (11-32t) RIMS Weinmann XM260 Disc TIRES Geax AKA 26x2.2 PEDALS Avenir ATB Resin Platform HANDLEBAR Avenir 100 Series Alloy 15mm Riser, 31.8 STEM Avenir 100 Series Alloy Ahead 4-Bolt 10° SEATPOST Avenir 100 Series 27.2x350mm SEAT Avenir 200 Series Mountain HEADSET Ahead 1-1/8" COLORS Matte Gray/Lime, White/Silver/Blue SPOKES 14g Stainless Steel GRIPS Avenir Single File EXTRAS Rack and Fender Mounts, Water Bottle Mounts, Cateye Reflector Set, Clear Coat, Owner's Manual NOTE Specifications are Subject to Change
[COLOR= rgb(102, 102, 102)]Hardrock Disc[/COLOR]

FRAME Specialized A1 Premium Aluminum, fully butted, disc only, 6061 alloy, double ORE down tube, externally relieved head tube, forged dropouts and reinforced disc mount, alloy replaceable derailleur hanger FORK SR Suntour XCT (SF12-XCT-V4-DS), 1pc. alloy lower, 28mm Hi-Ten stanchions, 1-1/8" Hi-Ten steerer, coil/mcu spring w/ preload adj., 80mm travel HEADSET 1-1/8" threadless, loose ball w/ seals STEM Ahead, 4 bolt clamp, 20º rise, 25.4mm HANDLEBARS Hi-Ten riserbar, 35mm rise, 8º backsweep, 4º upsweep, 25.4mm GRIPS Specialized Enduro, dual compound FRONT BRAKE Tektro Novela mechanical disc brake, dual pad angle adj., post mount, 160mm rotor REAR BRAKE Tektro Novela mechanical disc brake, dual pad angle adj., post mount, 160mm rotor BRAKE LEVERS Tektro, die cast lever, included w/ brake FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano Altus, 8-speed, 34.9mm clamp, top-swing, dual-pull REAR DERAILLEUR SRAM X3, 7-speed, long cage SHIFT LEVERS SRAM X3, 7-speed, trigger CASSETTE Shimano 7-speed, 12-32t CHAIN KMC X-8, 8-speed, reusable Missing Link CRANKSET SR Suntour XCT, 8-speed, square taper spindle CHAINRINGS 42/32/22, replaceable outer BOTTOM BRACKET Square taper, cartridge bearing, double crank stop PEDALS Composite platform w/ molded pins, toe clip compatible, 9/16" w/ reflectors RIMS Alex HR Disc 26", alloy double-wall, disc, pin joint, 24mm, 32h FRONT HUB Disc hub, QR axle, sealed loose ball, 17mm contact, 32h REAR HUB Sealed loose ball, 19mm contact, QR, 32h SPOKES Stainless silver, 2.0mm (14g) FRONT TIRE Specialized Fast Trak LK Sport, 60 TPI, wire bead, 26x2.0" REAR TIRE Specialized Fast Trak LK Sport, 60 TPI, wire bead, 26x2.0" INNER TUBES Schrader valve SADDLE Specialized Body Geometry Hardrock, steel rails, front and rear bumpers, 143mm width SEATPOST Alloy, 2 bolt head, 30.9mm, 12.5mm offset, micro adjust SEAT BINDER 34.9mm, alloy, extruded QR lever/collar

 

[n3dmax]

2012 TALUS 4.0 FRAME Atomic 13 SL Custom Butted Aluminum, Formed Downtube, CNC Machined Headtube FORK SR Suntour XCT 100mm w/Preload CRANKS SR Suntour XCT V3 22/32/42t BB Sealed Cartridge F.DERAIL Shimano TX-50 R.DERAIL Shimano Acera SHIFTER Shimano EF-51 EZ Fire 8spd BR.LEVERS Shimano EF-51 BRAKES Tektro Novela Mechanical Disc, 160mm Rotors GEAR Shimano HG40 (11-32t) RIMS Weinmann XC260 Double Wall TIRES K-879 26x1.95 PEDALS Avenir ATB Resin Platform HANDLEBAR Steel 25mm Rise x 620mm, 25.4 STEM Alloy Ahead 4-Bolt 20º SEATPOST Alloy Micro Adjust 27.2x350mm SEAT Avenir 200 Series Mountain HEADSET Ahead 1-1/8" COLORS Pewter/Red, Black/Yellow CHAIN KMC HG40 HUBSET (F) Joytech Alloy Disc QR 32h (R) Joytech Alloy Disc QR 32h Cassette SPOKES 14g Stainless Steel GRIPS Avenir Single Moto EXTRAS Rack and Fender Mounts, Water Bottle Mounts, Cateye Reflector Set, Clear Coat, Owner's Manual

Originally Posted by n3dmax .


GT Aggressor 1.0 TYPE OF FRAME 6061 Aluminum Frame, Triple Triangleâ„¢ Frame Construction, CNC'd Bottom Bracket, Dropouts, and 1 1/8" Head Tube FORK SR Suntour XCT-V4 w/80mm Travel CRANK Suntour XCC 42/34/24T BOTTOM BRACKET Cartridge Sealed SHIFTERS Shimano EF-51 EZ Fire, 8-Speed COG SET Shimano CS HG-31, 11-32T, 8-Speed CHAIN KMC Z72, 8-Speed FRONT DERAILLEUR Shimano TX-51 REAR DERAILLEUR Shimano Acera RIMS Alex DM25, Doublewall 32H FRONT HUB Alloy 32h Q/R REAR HUB Alloy Disc QR (Cassette) 32H SPOKES Stainless 14G TIRES GT All Terrain, 2.1"/1.9" (F/R), Wire PEDALS GT Slimline Flat FRONT BRAKE Tektro Novela Cable, 160mm (F/R) REAR BRAKE Tektro Novela Cable, 160mm (F/R) BRAKE LEVERS Shimano EF-51 HANDLEBAR MTB Riser Bar STEM Alloy Ahead HEADSET Ahead Steel, 1 1/8" SADDLE GT MTB SEAT POST GT Alloy, Microadjust REAR SHOCK N/A EXTRAS N/A

 

[vspa]

ok great, im not a MTB specialist but i would recommend a couple of things: fork travel 100 mm BB sealed cartdrige 8 speeds double wall rims as you can see everyone of the 4 bikes have something that is better than the other and something that is not as good as the other, so it is not an obvious choice here, i would decide on the Raleigh 2012 Talus, then the Specialized HardRock Disc don't forget size, size would be the primary specification you need !

 

[Adam-from-SLO]

If your 5' 10" (roughly) or taller, do your best to get a 29er at the best possible price you can. Its all about the wheel size! I'm 5' 10" w/o shoes, and I still have fun on my 26er, but in terms of going hard on the flat and going down-hill , the 29er is superior in terms of tracking, keeping momentum up. It blasts through ruts.