Nah Mate,you don't need rear suspension. It has it's place,but in the $600-ish price range (new),you'd be looking at a 40 lb bohemoth w/ bottom barrel frame and components (think Wallymart Mongoose,then add a couple hundred bucks :? ).There are a few exceptions (like Giant's Rekon),but they're the exception,not the rule. You can get a decent hardtail,that's worthy of a few upgrades for kinda that scratch,tho. You'd be looking at some kind of alluminum,or 4130 chromo frames,mid level fork (or rigid),V's or cable discs,or at least disc ready. Should have a mix of mid-level Sram (X5 or 7) or Shimano (Deore,or-no longer making LX,it's-SLX) components,and mot likely house brand cockpit and wheels.
I'm like,the mtn bike freak of the groups I regularly get to ride w/ (ask any of em
),and I personally get a kick outta beatin my buds riding 5" dual sussers up every (down most) hills and back to the trailhead on these (a 100mm Fox forked SS-that's singlespeed-and fully rigid 29er runnin a 2x9 drivetrain). Hydraulic brakes do bring a notch or three above mechanical discs,but in recent years,Avid's line of bb series have grown a very loyal following,and rep (I run bb5's with 185mm rotors front and rear on the 29er).
A good dealer is more important than a slightly lower price,or slightly better components in the long run. And take as many test rides as feasable,make sure the frame you pick fits you well,and remember,perfect fit usually doesn't happen before a couple good rides,where you tweak minor adjustments. Wear a friggin helmet to! Look at the middle of this vid of me and my oldest friend last Wednesday-we were just goofing off in the rain for a few hours,and he figured "hey,we aren't really riding,just playing"...on wet logs and wet leaves,his crash was funny,but had he been over to the right just an inch,I woulda had to figure out how to get two bikes out of there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykJDOauGlMs
