came across this full suspension bike in my price range, what do you guys think of it
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/700ds.htmI know people who can assemble it properly so going to a lbs isnt i major issue in gettin sized properly just too keep in mind im open to an online purchase. THanks for all the advise so far guys , keep it comin
+1 for what others said - I'd stick with a hardtail in this price range. If you're unhappy with the component groups available in your price range, I'd suggest putting off the purchase for as long as it takes to save for the next level in the bike you're interested in. Never a bad thing to buy a bit more bike than you need, and cheaper than a post-purchase upgrade.
That being said, LX is nothing to be ashamed of. Heavier than XT and XTR, but reliable and trail worthy.
While I've nothing against online shops per se, I prefer to make all large bicycle purchases locally, as it it better for buyer (support, advice, link to the sport), seller (small business needs our support - especially in this economy, lest our only choice be WallyWorld), community (does your town need more vacant retail space and the concomitant loss of jobs and tax base? - mine doesn't), and sport (local shops are among the most active in trail preservation and access activities).
A few notes about the Motebecane ad:
(1) I'd shy away from any listing/dealer that doesn't clearly state the travel of the shock and/or fork
(2) "...NOW with 27 speed Shimano Mega 9 technology" the fact that this is stated as if it is a cutting edge, state-of-the-art advancement in 2009 scares me. A lot.
(3) You were concerned about parts spec - personally, I'd be much more comfortable with an LX derailleur than a bunch of Skye components (especially hubs). I have no idea who Skye is, but I'm guessing the parts are bad.