Choices choices-yet another question about what bike to buy.

Fridge-Seal

Hi,
I live in Australia and have been looking at some Full-suss trail / XC bikes, I've got a budget of around $4000 give or take about $400 (Thats about 1300 pounds in British money) and my requirements are-more than 100mm travel, has to climb fairly well; and has to be under about 14kg-weird choices

Mongoose Teocali Super- 140mm trave, freedrive linkage, TALAS forks, Fox out back, read some good reviews, but a bit heavy and on the upper edge of my budget- for me in australia.

Specialized Pitch Pro-140mm travel (some sites/reviews say that this counts as an all-mountain bike) awesome reviews, but a friend of mine who tried it said that it didn't climb so well, so does anybody who have one know how they climb??? Cos I don't want to have to haul it up hills

Specialized Stumpjumper FSR comp- more towards the XC side of things than the others, 120mm travel; light bike, fairly good reviews

Haro Sonix expert- I read a really bd review of this (the bikeradar one) but a friend of mine rode one and said it was great!!!
My choices so far might be crossing categories a bit . I am leaning towards the trail bike category because XC dual suspension bikes tend to be really stiff out the back-or so I'm told- and I would rather a fairly plush rear suspension, plus the trails I ride are fairly rocky in some spots and I wouldn't want to invest $4000 in a bike that I keep bottoming out

My current bike-http://www.apollobikes.com/apolloproducts/id/9/cid/8/parent/0/t/apolloproducts/title/Ascent but I have since put white lock-ons and Shimano M520 pedals on it-L love clipless b]pedals although my friends cannot understand why on Earth you would want to be connected to your bike!

Thanks [/i]

xtreem

You'll have to try to see if it feels good for you.
Btw, try some of your mates bikes and see how it's like.
Visit some shops and at least seat on some.

Here's a few choices to consider: In AUD (under $4000)
GT Force 2
Scott Genius 50 2009, under $4000 here.
Trek Fuel EX 7 2009

Fridge-Seal

Yeah, I went to (one) of the many bike shops in my town and tried the Pitch Pro, it feels so stable, but after talking to the knowledgable person at the shop, he reckoned that if I really wanted to climb well I should look at the Stumpjumper rather than the pitch, so at the risk of confusing people I am now considering the StumpJumper Comp.

http://www.specialized.com/au/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=39192&eid=95 StumpJumper Spec page

http://www.cube-bikes.de/xist4c/web/STING-SUPER-HPC_id_31056_.htm#anker Cube Sting Super spec page

I also finally checked out the Cube bikes site as well- oh my god those bikes look awesome, and I can get one Stereo The One or Sting Super HPC XT/K18 through Chain-Reaction cycles for around $4500/$5500- is that a good price- can the either of them (Sting Super/Stereo) climb well- how do they handle, good componentry spec?

If the Sting Super XT is definately worth it, I will extend my budget, but only if it is a really good bike.

Sorry for confusing anybody reading, but thank you all so much for your help!

xtreem

Damn, that X0 looks really nice.

I think the Stumpjumper is ok, but the Stereo and the Sting have better spec.
The Sting Super XT puts me away a bit because of the fixed 120mm on the fork,
so the Sting Super K18 is better and cheaper option, but no 15mm axle.

But the best choice I think it would be the Stereo The One. 15mm axle and
adjustable travel on the fork, and it's the same spec as the Sting XT, cheaper,
but the bike is more heavier.

If you don't plan of taking any jumps than the Sting Super K18 will be a good buy,
but if you enjoy a bit of air, then the Stereo is better option. They will both climb well.

Fridge-Seal

I don't do any dirt jumping as such, but I'm not going to avoid pulling any air at all, but on the other hand I'm unlikely to pull any huge air- definately under a metre at max!

But the Sting Super's look totally amazing + it's carbon, the K18 is about the same price as Stereo The One through chain reaction cycles- or pretty close to it!