So I’ve been riding a GSXR and other sports bikes for years, I’ve also been riding and jumping Dirt bikes for years. I by no means had any interest at all in touching a bike that has to be pedaled, I thought the only people who would ride mountain bikes are the ones that can’t afford dirt bikes. I have but recently chose I force want to dabble into the world of mountain biking just a small bit. The main reasons are.

1. To play around in the yard, and in front of the house when I’ve got about 30 minutes to kill, which isn’t enough to load up for a trip dirt biking.
2. Although wheelies and stoppies and tricks like that are much more fun on a GSXR, its like your risking a couple thousand dollars in repairs if you were to screw up. On a mountain bike I can work on all sorts of tricks that I wouldn’t want to risk on an expensive motorcycle. (and hopefully some of the skills transfer a bit also).
3. I’d like to learn some of the tricks that you can’t really do on most dirt bikes such as bunny hops, 180 bunny hops, hopping onto material, riding backwards and doing a 180 back frontwards, 360 bunny hops off small ledges, 180 stoppies, and similar trials type material. I force do a small skatepark riding on occasion. I suppose I force take it on a small trail on occasion, and small jumps on occasion, but nothing much, I’ll reserve that mostly for the dirt bike.

Heres the thing, since its just my first mountain bike (not together with when I was a kid), and since Its definetly not going to be a primary leisure activity, but just something I do for a small period here and there, I don’t want to spend more than about $100-$200. I’d consider new or used. In particular some of the things I’m wondering are
1) Would I be better off say buying a new department store bike since that’s about all that’s in that fee range, or must I try and find a used bike that force be a better brand off craigslist? And if I were to buy a used bike, what would be a brand/type to look for that I could realistically find in that fee. Like what’s a excellent brand, that still sells within that range used? What’s a cheap brand to watch out for?
2) What type of brakes would I want to look for. I know they have to be the strongest type around to lock up the tires strong for hopping on the wheels. Are the V type clamps the best?
3) What’s the best suspension setup to look for for the types of riding I’ve described? Based on youtube videos, they seem to all ride hard tails for those types of tricks, but then some people seem to have front suspension and some don’t. I like the thought of at least having a front suspension minimum, but will it hurt my abilities for doing some of the tricks I’ve mentioned? (I know I’ll do plenty of stoppies, and want to learn stoppie 180’s, but as far as bouncing on the front tire, that will doubtless not be likely). Am I right in guessing a hard tail, with front suspension is my best bet?

Any other tips on buying? Thanks.

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