Help me buy an old bike, not a new bike

[Pickle]

your skills will develop quicker and you'll spend more time riding than maintaining.

Here here

If you learn on a hardtail, you'll ride like a god on a FS

 

[shovelon]

I'm going to stick my neck out and say that if you're on a budget avoid second-hand FS bikes. You'll get a better hard tail for the same money, your skills will develop quicker and you'll spend more time riding than maintaining.

Others may disagree.....

Boy are you right, some of the new bikes are nightmares. But the San Andreas, and the Proflex 857 are rock solid and very simple single pivot bikes. There is a network of support for the Proflex also.

I have personal experience with both Proflex and San Andreas. I would take a look at Orange's offerings.

Terry