Best to ride before you buy, would she buy shoes, bra or anything else without trying on? Not like normal shopping, once bought unable to return(normally)
Historically Treks can be a bit ridgid at the rear and nervous. Son has an old 8000 and it is brill but beats you up a bit on long rides.

Cubes look good.

What about Meridas? Might even get a carbon?

Having tried a Commencal I would not reccomend that.

Genesis Core or Alptitude? scotabroad raves about his Core.

Raleigh actually have some nice bikes out atm with carbon rear stays.
Carratec?
Specialised
Orange?
Boardman

soooooo many.

What does your lbs or nearest bike shop/s sell?

Might be an idea to go to a trail centre with hire bikes if you cannot get a "proper" test ride. Some town/city shops are not keen on allowing bikes further than they can see them ie down the street!!!

18bikes ( or other) might be able to build you up a Blue Pig for that money????
I love mine…………………..

My girlfriend asked me to to suggest some bikes she could buy. Same sort of budget. I sent her quite a few options and I think I was fairly objective with my assessment of their various merits and drawbacks.

She was very taken with the new Orange Clockwork, and even though I'd pointed out it wasn't the bast value for money, she still wanted it, still loves it now, likes the fact that it's a conversation starter on the trails, and I think liking her bike helps her like mountain biking.

And having ridden it myself, I try not to ride it too often. it's heavier, stiffer and more upright than mine, and harder work on the flat and up hills, but feels so much more fun on the way down that I get a bit miffed about mine!

I guess what I'm trying to say is give her a load of options including some you might not go for yourself, give your take on them as objectively as you can, which she'll value, and get the one she likes the most.

So basically, what BigJohn said, but with way more words!

When my mate needed a bike like this (1K girl's bike) I pushed her toward the Cube and it is a staggeringly good bike. Better than the trek.

Just taken a closer look at the Cube and realised it's the alloy version of the carbon one I was looking at a while ago. I couldn't stretch the finances to teh carbon in the end, but it looks like an ace bike in terms of design and value (and if they did a frame only I'd have snapped it up). Plus I'd do as Mr and Mrs. MC did and spend that left over cash on a lighter wheelset and cassette (you could probably pick up a set of Hope Hoops with Stans 355 rims off here secondhand for within your budget).

I have a Cube and I love it – however, it's the bloke's version as the women's was too small for me. OH also had a Cube HT which she loved until it got nicked – again it was the bloke's version as the women's didn't feel right. Both are/were the 16" frame but very differently set up as we're quite different heights and I've got much longer legs. Great spec and ride really well (for us)

I suppose all this waffle is really just to second the proposal that sitting/playing on/riding is the really important part of the buying process. Dunno where you are based by the Cyclewise guys at Whinlatter were great when we got ours and really helped us through the process of understanding what we wanted.

However, whatever she gets, also second the idea that she really enjoys riding it.

OOO keep us posted with what she thinks of the Cube! I love mine