OT - Mountain Bike - what to get??

Find a popular trail for mountain bikers and go out there early one Saturday morning and steal one of their bikes when they're not looking.  That's how we procure mountain bikes in New Orleans.

You said you want to ride with wife and kids and also hard core bikers? Dude your gonna want 2 different bikes. There is no use for a full suspension for riding with the wife and kiddos as threre is no way they are going to ride that hard as well. I would say get a nice hard tail. If you want to spend a little more get it with a fox shock. And if you want to break the bank go carbon fiber. If you want to clime like a goat up the mountain trust me the lighter the better. 
To find even a good hard tail new for 500 I would say won't happen. Fat tire bikes are great in the snow and a lot of fun but again to get a nice one will hit you 2K or more. And the catrike that was mentioned...very nice recumbent bike for road use only but damn 3K they are proud of them.
You can't go wrong with any name brand really...trek, cannon dale, GT and many others. Go ride a few you will know when you get the right feel on the right bike.

StillSmoken said:

I bought a Trek hard tail about 4 years ago.  After moving to a new house and my bike sitting for 6 months the brakes were locked up completely.  I took it to my local bike shop and Trek put new brakes on it for FREE.   The shop said it would of cost me $400.   I sold on Trek.  

Mechanical discs? 

If you have the means, then support your lbs. But if you are on a budget, get a $1000 msrp bike for $500 on Craigslist. It's much better than getting a brand new $500 msrp bike for $500.

also look into bikesdirect. Back when I used to be an enthusiast, I found their website.... And if you compare the components on one of their bikes to a similarly equipped brand name bike, you'll find that you are saving maybe 50% on a bike of the exact same quality. I am convinced their frames come out of the exact same Taiwanese factory as the brand names as well. You will need to be handy and assemble and tune yourself.

Before you spend any $$on a bike you need to decide how and where you are going to ride.  
If you are planning to ride on mostly fire trails or bike paths then buy a bike for the frame not the components (those can be upgraded as you gain experience and riding miles).  A good mid range MB should cost between 500-1000.  
If you are planning to ride single track groomed or ungroomed trails then then be prepared for wallet shrinkage.   (The cost are the components: full or hardtail suspension for stability, handling, traction and comfort; and high end components, including the headset that can to hold up under the stress of riding the trails.)
Bikes, like any other personal items should be comfortable and be outfitted for the type of riding intended.  I would never take my Cooper (touring and club rides) or my SerottaTI (fast rides) on single track trails, nor would i ride my Trek mountain bike on a century ride.  (My sore body would remind for several days of that mistake).  
Ride as many bike as you can to get the feel of how the bike handles and how your body reacts to the bike fit.  Also, take a test ride on two wheel recumbents and trikes.  Due diligence now will mean many years of enjoyable rides and not a uncomfortable bike just gathering dust.  
(Our stable includes 2 road bikes, 2 touring bikes, 1Mtn, 1 tandem set up for fast rides and two Catrikes.  (The trikes are the ultimate for body comfort.)
PM me for more info

I've got an '06 GF Tiburon that I paid $300 for.
Solid, like my Chevy. 

It's Al, and a little heavy, but the 700c wheels are nice on or off the trails.  The weight is great at handling the abuse it gets.

Between that, and my CF roadie, I'm covered for the riding I do.  A fatty will be the next one, would cut down time to and from the tree when hunting, and fun on the trails in winter.

Equally important as finding the bike via test rides, is having the bike professionally fit to you.  I see so many people riding with a poor fit.  

Yeah you could be "that dude", that buys an amazon or CL bike, roll it in, and they'd take care of ya.  But like the egg, or bow, or gun, it's good to build rapport with a LBS, to try things out, and get a proper fit.  You don't have to run right out and drop 2Gs on a bike to ride with the "cool kids".

Brandon where is the spirit there brother? This is a egg forum. We need to talk him into the carbon fiber full suspension that he needs to buy for only 9K. It's HIS money we are spending not ours remember.

If it's the GT sensor 4.0 he is letting you demo you will love it I will bet. That is what I have now. Bad thing is unless they brought it back it is no longer made. Mine is a 2011 model.