Full Suspension, £1500 - £2000. Suggestions?

Paddler Ed

Currently ride: 1999 Cannondale F700sl, 2000 Kona Kiluea (bitsa)
Want to spend £1500 - £2000
Type of riding: All day trails; some trail centre, some get the OS map out and see where looks good
Me: 6'4" with 34" inside leg, 90kg on a good day

What do people suggest?!

I'm edging towards a 29er as I like the combination of speed and size, especially as I'd be looking at a Large/Extra Large frame size.

GF has a Giant Trance X1 which I now struggle to keep up with as my bikes have a top of 70mm of travel (in fact if you added up the travel that both of them have, you'd get the travel that she has!!!) so I've decided that I can't beat her so I need to join her with a FS bike. She's quicker than me descending but I'll climb better than her, so something that can climb is what I'm looking for.

On the short list:
-Trek Superfly 100 (I've been offered an ex-demo in budget)
-Specialized Camber 29
-Scott Spark 29 Team
-Cannondale Scalpel 29er

On the outsider's list (ie if they're worth waiting for I'll save up for them!) again all 29ers
-Trek Rumblefish
-Spec Camber Comp
-Orange Gyro
-Santa Cruz Tall Boy
-Cannondale Scalpel 29er 3
-Giant Anthem X 29er 2

Ideally I'd like at least SLX rear mech (I'm still a bit of a tart with gear like that; my XT mech on my 'dale has only just started to give up the ghost which isn't too bad after 8yrs of use... I've been away the last 2 in Australia) SRAM isn't an issue (as long as it's equivalent to SLX or higher)

26" wheels aren't completely ruled out, but I'm very keen on the 29" concept. I know that I'd get better spec for the same money on a 26", but that's the same with buying a Cannondale back in the early 2000's, there was a premium for the frame and fork as they were different/better than the alternatives.

I locally have Specialized, LaPierre, Scott, Trek, Giant, Orange, Santa Cruz, Cube and Cannondale dealers (or if not locally one that I trust to get a bike mail order/travel to get it from)

Any suggestions/recommendations/experiences?

Thanks in advance,

supersonic

I'd certainly be looking at the Anthem series, almost universal praise in both 26 and 29 format. Same with the Spark, both are light, good value machines.

oodboo

I'd be looking at the Specialized Camber 29ers, the Giant Anthem 29ers and the Cube AMS 29ers.

Of them three the cube looks pretty good to me:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 9-12-45970

Paddler Ed

Just been out for a curtailed test ride (couldn't see 25metres in front of me, and took the wrong trail... doh!) on a Gyro. I liked how it rolled but felt that it was too short even with a longer than stock stem on it; always felt I needed to be sitting on the back of the saddle and have my arms another 1" forwards, so I think an XL will be the size I'm looking for, at least that rules some options out now.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm off to see some more shops after the long weekend, and will be hopefully having a good look at the Scott and Trek offerings in 29", and possibly the Cannondale if they've got one in stock.

supersonic

Pay close attention to sizes though - some XLs in some models could well be shorter in reach than L in others! They vary so much.

Paddler Ed

Tried the Trek Superfly in an XL today, and a Giant Anthem 29er 1 in Large (no XL built up) but the Giant rode without bob whereas the Trek was constantly bobbing (and that was with the rear shock at 225psi and 5 clicks as per Trek's set up guide, the Giant was at 200psi)

The Trek still felt a little short, had to slide the saddle back a bit on the rails.

Didn't get a look at the Scott as I've not been able to find the right size, nor the Cannondale.

So the winner seems to be the Giant.

HTH

supersonic

The sus system is more sophisticated on the Giant (more anti squat) so does not bob as much.

playasyougo

I ride a 2011 Trance X2 and loved it since the day i bought it. Tested Specialized Stumpjumper range but just never fitted me well and i never liked the way the cables were routed under the BB. I'm still keeping the X2 but just bought this - http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes ... tml?b=2570

Here is the X2 for £1699.99 - http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b0s1p3506