Conference noted::bicycle

    The Hookooekoo is supposed to have the Quad21R.  Last years was silver,
    this year's is yellow.  Out of all the bikes listed, that is the best for 
    the money IMO.  O'Neil's in Worcester has left over 95' with Grateful 
    Dead graphics for $699.00.  O'Neil's in Leominster sells the 96' 
    Hookooekoo for $724.95 for the 96' version.  The Treks and Fishers are 
    not the same even though Trek bought Fisher.  Materials are different as 
    is geometry.  Both make quality bikes as does Mongoose.   
    
    IMO, if you are looking in that price range, I would forgo the shock 
    unless it has at least the Quad 21R.  Go for the best frame and STX or 
    better components and throw a shock on later.  You can get away with 
    this on a CroMo bike for the short haul.  Shock prices have fallen
    with the Quad21R selling for 230.00 mailorder and a Judy XC for under
    300.00.  The Mach 5 Pro SX has been advertised around $275.00.  I did
    this and by mid summer, I was wishing I had bought a better bike from
    the get go.  I am now in the initial stages of an upgrading frenzy.  I
    bought a GT Tequesta which came with the STX gruppo.  Functional but
    not fancy.  I have since added clipless pedals and a Judy XC and am
    looking at upgrading the drive train to XT and adding V-brakes.  The
    frame is not the best but it offered a decent upgradable platform to 
    start with.     
    
    Buying in this price range with a shock is difficult because the
    companies are trying to hit a price point.  They will give you a low
    end shock and then chintz on the frame and or drivetrain, brakes etc.  
    The Mountain Bike (magazine) Buyers guide had a pretty good write up on
    suggested ways to approach this.  
    
    Just to throw another wrench in your gears, take a hard look at the
    Klein Pulse Comp II.  @899.00 it is a mix of LX and STX-RC and comes
    with the Quadra21R.  Grip Shift 800 X-Ray.  Beautiful bike and an
    excellent value IMO.  
    
    Good luck!
    
    Brian

    
    You need to take a look at your riding plans and make sure that 
    you need shocks in the first place. If you are planning on riding
    hard enough that you require shock, then as Brian said anything 
    under the quad21 like the quad 5 or 10 is a big joke in my opinion. 
    On a beater bike that I had i put the quad 10 and it is only good 
    to go over cracks in the asfault (sp). If it has to be Rock shox then 
    the lowest I would go is the Judy XCs.  There are other great shocks 
    in the market. Check out the Girvins, Marzocchi's and Manitou's 
    
    Shaw

    
    The Quad-21 is actually not a bad fork for recreational use. It has 
    inherited some of the technology enhancements from the JUDY. 
    (the elastomer stack)
    The replacement for it is already slated to be coming out later this 
    summer...
    The Quadra-5 isn't for hard for off road riding. I recommend it to
    lighter (<130lbs) and less agressive riders.
    There also happens to be a recall out on them ....
    
    /todd
    

I found the '96 Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo for $699 at Butchika's in (tax free) Salem,
NH. I'mpretty much sold on this bike. I just need to find the best price and
shop. It's down to Nault's (Manch), Butchika's (Salem) and Spokes and Slopes
(Peterborough). Let the best deal win!

Of those, Nault's has the best service policy and is closest, Butchika's had a
good price and good salespeople, Spokes and Slopes is where I got my road bike.

Included below is the spec sheet from the Fisher homepage:
  See http://www.fisherbikes.com/hookoo.html

Comments welcome.

-Jeff


                           * ROCK SHOX QUADRA 21R
        60mm travel, magnesium fork brace and sliders; 7 oz.
        lighter than a Quadra 21.


                              HOOKOOEKOO SPECS

        COLOR:              Matte P.C. Green
        SIZE:               11.5, 15.5, 16.75, 18, 19.5"
        WEIGHT:             26.5 lbs / 12.0 kg
        FRAME:              True Temper TIG welded, double butted
                            Cro-Moly
        FORK:               Rock Shox Quadra 21R MCU elastomer
                            suspension, 60mm travel
        HEADSET:            Dia-Compe ST-2 Aheadset, 11/8",
                            oversize
        CRANKSET:           Sugino Impel 300 w/SS3 chainrings
                            42/32/20
        FRONT DERAILLEUR:   Shimano STX new top swing
        REAR DERAILLEUR:    Shimano STX SGS
        SHIFTERS/GRIPS:     GripShift SRT-400 w/Kraton rubber grips
        BOTTOM BRACKET:     Shimano BB-LP26 cartridge
        CASSETTE/FREEWHEEL: Shimano STX 11-28, 7spd
        CHAIN:              Shimano IG31
        HUBSET:             Fisher Ginzu Team suspension front;
                            Shimano Alivio rear
        SPOKES:             Union 15G stainless
        RIMS:               Matrix Lobo, welded, 32 hole
        TIRES:              Tioga Psycho-KS front; Psycho-TS rear,
                            26 x 1.95"
        BRAKES:             Shimano new Alivio Easy Set w/Dia-Compe
                            PC-7N leversoffset for GripShift
        PEDALS:             Steel cage, resin body sealed w/clips
                            and straps
        HANDLEBARS:         Aluminum alloy, 230g
        BAR ENDS:           Fisher Fish Sticks, 125g
        STEM:               Aluminum alloy Aheadset, 10 degree
                            rise, 185g
        SEATPOST:           Aluminum alloy, micro-adjust, 290g
        SADDLE:             Bontrager Plus 10
        ------------------------------------------------------------
        Bike model availability varies by country.
        Specifications are subject to change without notice.

    Go for it.  Sounds like everyone is dropping prices due to slow sales. 
    I heard that the weather has put a damper on buying enthusiasm and
    there is a lot of stock lying around.  I know several people with the
    Hookooekoo and they all like them.  Happy riding!
    
    Brian