Trek 820

Very good beginner bike. Solid build for people just getting onto the trail. However aspects like steel frame make it not the bike for someone who has been riding before. Got this bike for my GF starting to ride, overall she loves it!

Pros
Affordable
Solid base

Cons
Novice bike

Bought this this bike to share with my son. I converted it to a single speed for commuting to work, my son beats it up around the neighborhood. We take it on MTB trails, and is solid all around. Not a bike I have to worry about other than routine maintenance.

Pros
Solid frame, great for all around riding

Cons
Requires updates to components, but what bikes don't?

Great bike for the price.

Pros
Lightweight, comfortable to ride, durable

Cons
gear shifter on left handle allows rider to push past the 3 level causing the chain to be pushed off the spokes.

I'm a beginning MTB'er with a 6 y.o. 820 which was given to me in '10 and it's definitely a great bike to learn on. Yes, it's heavy - that's why once you learn to control (and move) it you've really got some good basics and conditioning under your belt to take to the next level.

Pros
easy to learn on
forgiving of mistakes
solid frame

Cons
none

This is a good beginning MTB. It is durable and can handle a lot. However, it is heavy and not so good for rugged or technical terrain. The shocks are very tight and make for a rough ride.

Pros
Durable, Cheap, fun

Cons
Heavy, shocks aren't the best

I rode this bike hard for 631 miles last year. Being 6'4" and 250# And those were hard singletrack miles. The bike was not intended for hard mountain bike use, however mine did. Mine weight 33 lbs. The frame was a little small and that's the reason I sold it. Not because it was a bad bike. If fact the guys that bought it from me rides mountain bike trails to and it is still working. The components did need an adjustment once in a while but big deal. Fact of the matter it is a great bike, cheap, held up to a fat man riding it hard. =)

Pros
Cheap, strong frame, gets you riding and you don't have to worry about it breaking like a XMart bike

Cons
NOne

Excellent bike for the price! Stock is great for the average rider, but if you are a bit more serious about trails I would suggest replacing tires, shocks and derailleurs like I did. Perfect for beginners who purchase with intent to upgrade.

Pros
Handling, stability, EZ-Fire shifters. Easily upgradeable (except brakes).

Cons
Derailleur, after a while I had trouble with my rear gears. Can't upgrade to disc brakes up front.

this bike lasted a couple of months without any major problems but the components are bottom lineProscheap
sturdy mtn. bikeConsyou get what you pay for
cheap components

Its trully a great starter bike. Its strong, durable, capable, and as fast as you are. Its made of steel so it can take quite a few hits which is great if you're new to the sport. However that also means its also a bit on the heavy side but this can be useful in some situations like rocks or roots. Its got great stiffness and its not bad on climbs. The tires are designed for a bit off pavement riding and they can loose some of that traction in sketchy situations so its not a bad idea to get some new, more legit tires. But with that said the default tires actualy have great traction on the roads and the whole set up makes it a great commuter bike. One last thing, it is made out of steel so it can rust up. If you get scratches on the handle bars, down tube, top tube, whatever... it will rust if you let it sit in a west environment. All in all, Its a great bike and you should at least give it a test ride before you set your mind on getting a different bike.

Pros
Stable, Durable, Stong, Handels really good. Fast. Cheap. Low maintenence.

Cons
It is a little heavy and the shock/fork has no adjustment to it.

This bike can take a beating, maybe a few upgrades here and there but overall a great bike.

Pros
Durable, easy to pedal, great begining bike

Cons
NONE!!!

Never had a problem with any of the derailers or rims. My son was hard on this bike from jumping and the likes. He eventually out grew it and we sold it off. If they are still manufactured like before for the $329 yo could not do better

Pros
Ours was maybe five to six years old? It was built like a tank with very nice quality components.

Cons
none

For the price you can't beat a Trek 820, its great for a entry level bike. The weight issue will become a problem if you need to push it up steep hills or cross hazards in the trail. A solid plus for this bike is the frame being heavier it'll take some abuse and a few crashes.

Pros
Great bike for the price, heavy enough to stand up to novice abuse.

Cons
Heavy bike.

Good for new riders, should upgrade the fork. Can handle some challenging trails i've been on but could always use more upgrades.

Pros
good value, very stable

Cons
nearly no travel on fork and heavy bike

Overall, i've really enjoyed riding this bike. My primary use is for riding on the prepared trails at the local park and riding around my neighborhood. Plus, it's a Trek.. so I can always keep the frame and upgrade the components.

I'd recommend it to a friend, who wasn't looking to spend a large amount of money to get into the sport.

Pros
Sturdy steel frame.
Entry-level price.

Cons
It's kinda heavy. Other than that, nothing that I really dislike.