[Closed] Which bike would you buy?

5.

That is all.

Why? I assume you have one but for how long. Spoke to a dealer who suggested the 5 was an older frame looking tired against newer designs. Obviously taken with a pinch of salt as dealers do what dealers do, but it seems a relevant point.

Canyon, probaby a Nerve AM or XC depending on how much travel you want. If you're happy with how your Stumpy rides then these are also horst link so the ride is similar. I've got a AM and used to ride a 2004 Enduro, and the general ride feel is fairly similar, just the modern forks and shock seems to work a lot better, plus the extra travel is helpful on the downs.

Trek Fuel EX or Remedy's (depending on travel again) or Specialized Stumpys or Enduro's are all good to ride but you pay a lot more for a similar spec. I've tried a 5 in the past and the suspension action felt very basic.

Get a hardtail and save yourself about £2000. I can't think why you'd need full sus in Surrey to be honest.

If I was after one do it all bike the first one I'd be taking for a spin is the yeti asr 5c. Light, good geometry, enough travel for UK riding. On paper looks like it'd make a brilliant UK trail bike. Dirt mag raved about it a few issues ago.

(Or a Soul if you are thinking hardtail.)

Have you tried any of them? Disregarding specs which do you like?

Gribs - Hadn't heard of Canyon so thanks for the suggestion. Will have a look into them. When you make the point regarding spec and cost for Specialized / Trek, I assume you're advocating beter value from the smaller brands?

CHL - I've had a full sus for nearly ten years so Hardtail is history for me. Surrey might not be regraded as overly challenging but I want a very nice bike for fun and adventure, not to win races. Fair point though.

Mr Blobby - Yeti are looking like a very attractive proposition and thankfully my local dealer has just taken them on. Interesting you note the ASR, the 575 seems to get most press (or I'm not reading enough). I will have to look at both.

Taff - This is just the start. I will try traditional options from my local dealers in the next few weeks, but I want to make sure I don't over look others just because they're not stocked. That's the purpose of my post.

Cheers.

Just read the long term review of the Yeti ASR5. This sounds very good.

Looking at you original list, if you're considering a Lapierre, I'd go with a Zesty rather than a Spicy. 140mm is plenty unless you're looking at Alpine or full on DH riding and the extra weight is a just a hassle. I've got a 714 and absolutely love it - some good deals on 2011 models too if you're looking to buy now.
Of the others, the Five and the Yeti are both nice bikes but I'd agree with the sentiments re demoing first.

I like the lapierre followed by the 5. I don't like the spesh and the others ive not ridden. As mentioned above the Canyon bikes are getting good reviews and I'm hoping to try a nerve out in a few weeks. Yeti 575 does get very good reviews from mags and riders. Personally I would try the lapierre and yeti route as I think that orange is very over priced for what you get

Can't go wrong with a 5, will be nicely bedded in when the Lapierre is ready for the bin.

DO NOT GET A ORANGE

Oh god, here we go again 🙄

The best advice I can give you is to test ride as much as you can. £3k opens up a lot of possibilities, so you're bound to find the perfect bike for you.

I won't say "Buy X" because the decisions that led me to choose a particular bike aren't relevant. Get out and ride. A bike shop worth it's salt will let you try products without pressure.

Intense Tracer? Mine's going on here in a week and half. Its your size too. 🙂

As I'm merely the polar opposite of the M25 to you a test ride is available if you'd like.

Edit: and you'd have a good amount of change from that 3k!

5 sounds good, even better with a 75 after it.
If you can wait a few months there should be some killer deals kicking about once the SB66 starts filtering through.
If you can get a 2010 one with tapered headtube and the improved carbon swingarm then great.
I have a late 09 one and even without those refinements it's the bees knees.
Sounds right up your street.

fbk your comments are well taken. The 'idea' of extra travel is attractive but only from a numbers perspective, as of now I've lived with <100mm and been happy but it's tricky (without having tried it to yet) to shift the idea that greater travel will ultimately lead to more fun.

If (in general) a 140mm setup will not limit access to some areas of the hill I see no reason to go to 160mm, unless a test ride tells me otherwise. As long as I can bury the seat-post nice and low and aim at steep stuff every now and then I'll be happy.

I was in a similar position to you a few months ago - I tested a Ghost AMR (quite nice, but not "special"), a Niner FS thingy (fast and fun, but not worth the money in my eyes), a Yeti ASR-5 (I wanted to love this, waited a ages for a test ride and absolutely hated it) and a Santa Cruz Nickel. I bought the Nickel - the most fun, climbs well and comfortable.

End of topic, buy Krytons TRACER!, awesome, and probably the most sexual looking bikes on the planet. Oh and uber rare, unlike your list of run of the mill stuff.

Yeti, 5, SC etc.....ZZZzzzzzz

Here it is, now minus mudguard, but plus a Ti coil instead of the steel one:

[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/5817806246_662d698cf5.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/5817806246_662d698cf5.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/kryton1957/5817806246/ ]Tracer[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/kryton1957/ ]kryton1957[/url], on Flickr

Running 140mm rear and those are 150mm Rev dual air teams (blackbox)

🙂

Maverick Durance or Ellsworth Epiphany. Stand apart.

That Tracer is gopping.

A couple of nice Yeti ASR 5 frames on ebay at the mo, this frame/bike is excellent, or you can get good deals for around £1350 frame only from freeflowbikes or full price with a CK headset and bottom bracket. Also a dropper post is well worth the money. I can recommend the Rockshox Reverb from HIBIKE in Germany for £190 delivered.

I was in the same boat as you earlier this year. Needed a special bike for big days in lakes and Scotland with it being useful in the Alps too. Tested quite a few of the bikes you mention and settled on a Santa Cruz Blur LT with 150mm forks. Still can't believe how good this bike is, easily the best bike I have ever ridden, very fast, totally inspiring and looks amazing too.

Save yourself some time like I did, try a 5 1st then you'll realise there's no point in trying owt else.
& before anyone mentions the predictable (look crap/filing cabinet bollox) you should mainly be riding it not gawping at it.

Popped into a local bike shop late this afternoon and had a look at Lapierre Spicy & Zesty, Santa Cruz Blur LT Carbon, some Scotts and BMCs. No test rides but just sitting on a few makes me think 120mm to 140mm might be best for my riding. The 160s 'feel' very long...? Obviously need to (properly) test but and make sure but interesting all the same.

What I did see was a Ghost AMR Lector 2011 for about £4k. By good it was nice to look at and felt awesome static in the sadle. Any comments on the brand as they're new to me. Raindog feel free to comment further.

Go 120mm, it'll be enough and light.

Although in the Surrey Hills I find my 456Ti is perfect 🙂

5, Zesty and Stumpy EVO from your list IMHO. Can't go wrong with any of those.

I'm a bit disappointed in a dealer that says a 5 is looking tired.

Uppy-downy post - yes, do it. It makes a ride so much nicer and you'll use it tonnes more that you thought you might just because those bits where you don't [i]really[/i] need to drop your saddle, but it's nice if you do, then you do because you can.

Ghost get lots of good reviews. They're a small(ish) German brand, friend of mine has one of the older models, his wife does too. Got them before they were in the Uk, and when we did an Alps trip together I was impressed with the frame's build quality and the spec (The Xfusion shock was crap though).

what about a heckler. because the frame is cheaper than the blur, you can afford to spend more on really nice wheels, brakes and bars etc, and exactly the groupset you want.

you don't have to buy a ready made one, get someone like 18bikes to custom build you one.

I'll second a Heckler, the frames are under £1k so you should get a great build within budget.

To answer your question about dropper seat posts.. Yes, just buy one, they can really enhance your riding.

Giant Anthem is plenty of bike for Surrey, and pretty dam amazing. Rides more like at least 120 mm rather than the actual 100mm and is fantastic up hill and through twisty stuff. Some people might find it a bit twitchy downhill but I think its great!

To echo what others have said I'd definitely go Zesty rather than Spicy looking at where you riding and the others you are comparing to. I have a Zesty and love it but if I was thinking of changing it the bikes I would be looking at (apart from a later model Zesty) would be the Yeti SB66 or a Ibis Mojo of some flavour.

Ghost are a German brand, not long in the UK with their mountain bikes. I tried one because Llandegla (my LBS) stock them. They only sell smaller brands so they have a good relationship with their suppliers. The AMR 7500 is their biggest selling bike this year (I suspect the Orange 5 is second). They are very well finished for the money and the bike rode very nicely, but to me it felt more like a good hire bike than something I wanted to own - difficult to put into words, but it didn't feel like it had any "character" having said that, I'm a lot fitter now and I think the Ghost is a bike that would respond well to a damn good thrashing 🙂 To be honest I think my heart was set on the ASR-5, but the demo bike (direct from Yeti) was tired and the forks were completely shot, I'd happily have left it by the side of the trail and walked back, very disappointed....I have talked to a couple of other people who feel the same, so try one before you order one for sure.
In comparison, when I tested the Nickel I grinned all the way round. I do have feel a bit of an affinity to SC though as I've previously owned and loved a Blur and have been round the factory in California.

What you need and what your ego tell you you need are two completly different things! For general riding fun something like a Trek EX9, Lapierre Zesty, Canyon Nerve XC is plenty enough. I ride in the Lakes and get my arse handed to me regularly by mates on 120-130mm travel bikes and it leaves me wondering whether I need my 150-160mm? Is it a skills compensator and I'm really pants or whether I too would be faster on another bike...

A bike is such a personal thing, and for some people that means they need to feel special or an individual and they go and buy some niche boutique brand and for others they want value and performance etc etc. Test riding can be expensive but making the wrong decision is really expensive!

I bloody love the Surrey Hills so much I might move there.

As above (and I agree br ti456 is the bike), perfect bike for Surrey is 120-140mm, I'd say go for less.

I used to own a Blur LT, got rid of it because was too much bike for racey xc stuff I'm doing but if I lived near Westcott I reckon that would be the bike. Or staying with SC, a Butcher? I hired one in Morzine, 140 x 140 and a very nice dropper post. Liked it a lot.

New Ragley FS are going to have a 120 x 100mm option? I like the sound of that.

But the answer to most "What bike?" threads these days is usually "Canyon". I did.

http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2077

Look at that spec.....I'd get that.

I rode a 5, having wanted one for years, and just didn't like it. I was aware of there being suspension all the time(coming from a 1994 Marin quad-link), I didn't like how it climbed, and it was far too rear end light under heavy braking for my liking. Didn't do it for me at all, although was great on jumps.

Now have a Canyon AM 7, and £1200 in my pocket compared to the roughly equivalent Orange.

Probably means nothing though. Canyon was right for me, but it might be completely wrong for you. Loads of people love the 5. Just get a test ride!

All mountain and efficient climber ? Buy Horas 5-spot frame and build it light for Surrey Hills - can't think why he would want to sell it.

Nirvana probably have a demo, and Lappys and Gaints - I took one out back to back against a Trance X and the Turner is the next level up in terms of suspension performance.

fbk your comments are well taken. The 'idea' of extra travel is attractive but only from a numbers perspective, as of now I've lived with <100mm and been happy but it's tricky (without having tried it to yet) to shift the idea that greater travel will ultimately lead to more fun.

A longer travel bike might be less fun. It depends on the kind of riding you do. I'm thinking of something like a Giant Anthem or SC Superlight, which is all the bike I need for the trails near Bristol. Any more would just be a bit of an armchair, IMHO.

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For Surrey hills riding?
- Slacker geometry and more aggressive setup.

Ransos have you ridden both yet? Imo the Anthem is leagues better than the SC.

..oh and 100mm is fine for the Yorkshire moors, trail centres, Lakes, Dales's

As TurnerGuy suggests, you should concider a 5 Spot if you can test one. I have an Iron Horse Mk 3 which is very similar to the 5 Spot :-similar angles and design and the same DW link suspension platform. I really like the way the DW link suspension works and feel it is pretty efficient up hill and a load of fun down, although i have read reviews where some others don't seem to get on with it.

If my Iron Horse ever snaps the 5 spot is top of my list to repace it.

+1 less is more.....I ride a big loop from Westcott, Barry Knows Best, Yoghurt Pots, Telegraph, Summer Lightning and all the bits in between......I do it quick on a 100mm race bike with flat bars and ends, its fantastic fun and in the dry plenty of bike. Add a bit of mud and slippy roots I'd want a bit more up front.

Did I mention how much I love the Surrey Hills? Might head down there this weekend if anyone fancies a fast blast with no jumps or other wheels off the ground idiocy.......gonna be scorchio.

Imo the Anthem is leagues better than the SC

Agreed - I tried a Superlight as I have always fancied one, but it felt really lossy compared to the Giant and Turner on climbs.

You should test ride a 5, among others. If you like it you will really not regret buying one. If you don't like it you won't have lost anything. But I think they are ace. Make sure the shock is set up properly.

You seem to have the same desire I had when I bought my Five-0. You wanna be able to get up hills, in order to go down them!

If so then buy a tough hardtail with a ludicrous great fork, the fork letting you throw it at anything and the unsprung rear keeping it interesting. Forget that rear suspension nonsense. 🙂

I'd be on the Yeti ASR5 if I was picking.

Have heard nothing but gushing praise for it, it looks mint (as long as it doesn't have gold wheels on it), Yeti build a nice bike, and all the numbers (maybe bar the one on the price tag) look great.

You seem to be more into getting out and getting in the miles, rather than really technical stuff? If you're coming from a 100mm hardtail, i'd say something around the 120-140mm travel mark full suss would be ideal.
I'd go for an ARS5 or a Lapierre Zesty, from my own pootles on other's bikes. and they are both pretty. The anthem is brilliant though, and the 2010's have the requisite thru-axles/tapered steerer malarky which makes them much more rigid, despite shorter travel. (as opposed to buying a second hand bike)

Also, if you've been off the bike for a while, you might want to look over your other riding kit; with winter on the way, a good pair of shoes, and some good quality, comfortable kit such as wicking baselayers, windstopper jacket, new helmet, winter gloves, socks, decent eyewear, etc might soon add up to another few hundred quid- and might make the difference to riding though the winter or not.

Also, if you want a good looking bike, you've got to have the kit to match!? Some may disagree, but it's all about fun in the end, and if it feels nicer and more encouraging to have some natty threads on to get yourself out in the middle on January, it's well worth it.

My last bike purchase was gonna be a 120mm trail bike for riding in the South East mainly with a few trips to more northern/Scottish/Welsh trails a year. Test rode more bikes than I care to remember but ended up buying the 100mm travel AS-R. T'was weird as I had my heart set on a Blur but just couldn't get it to feel right no matter what I did - which is the main reason I ended up riding all sorts.

Best 3 for me were the AS-R, Anthem and Zesty and the worst being the Blur, 5 Spot and 5. On paper, there shouldn't be too much between these but they were poles apart when actually riding them on local trails.

If nothing else I learnt to test as many bikes as you can before throwing a few grand at one - you may surprise yourself.

3k!? Flippin' eck. Are you a Dr/Burglar/Art Dealer/Dreamweaver?

You could probably get a custom frame boshed out for that which is what I think I would do in answer to your original question. Some kind of LTHT piece of art.

Remote droppers are a very good idea, whatever you chuck your money at.

Ransos have you ridden both yet? Imo the Anthem is leagues better than the SC.

No - and thanks for the info. Why do you think it's better?

I have a Trance (old version) at the moment, and whilst it's a lovely bike, I find it a bit laid back for the riding I do.

love the idea of someone saying zzzz to Santa Cruz whilst recommending an Intense, which is a SC rip-off with gopping fiddly tubes and misaligned rear ends....

Might be too small for you but this is an example of the sorts of bargain quality bikes that crop up (£3K bike half price)

http://www.freeborn.co.uk/devinci-2010-hectik-3

Evolution were knocking out similar bargain Yetis but theyve just lost the distribution rights.

I had a Mk1 Nomad (VPP) and hated the pedal interaction on the granny, replaced it with an Alpine 160 (burlier take on the Orange 5). Definitely try get demos and see what bikes or sus designs work for you.

I'd go for an ARS5

You could add this to the "one letter from disaster" thread.

😉

Oh, and which bike would I buy?

Something light with 140mm travel, perhaps with a 150mm RS Rev RLT ti at the front - slack-ish HA.

Possibly a Mondraker Foxy if it fit me right, or the 2012 Stumpy Evo with a fork swap.

Thanks to everyone for their input, please keep it coming. Your comments and opinions are a huge help, it's become apparent that anything around the 120-150mm mark will likely suit my preferences.

I'm fairly curtain that what I'm after is a middle ground from where I am now and where I thought I was heading. What would be interesting to know (from those who have tried them) is which of the longer travel bikes (140/150) compete with shorter travel bikes (120) for general blasting along flat trails and hiking up hill. They're the ones I really want to have a look at because I may be happy to sacrifice a little weight and speed for better control downhill, but only a little!

My shortlist is starting is looking like this;

Lapierre Zesty
Ghost AMR Lector / AMR Plus
IBIS Mojo SL or HD 140
Specialized Stumpjumper
Trek Fuel EX / Remedy
Yeti ASR5, 575 or SB66
Canyon Nerve XC/AM

I'll still take a peep and Orange and SC. I think SC will push my budget a little too far though. Where do I get an opportunity to see a Canyon? they're factory direct from what I can see.

OK you're 16 stone which is faily heavy. I'd say something burly but not OTT. Are you a jumpy kind of person or a wheels on the ground type?

Surrey hills cater for both markets IMHO there is plenty of testing terrain for those with the nuts to take it on.

A Heckler/Nickel would build up into something lovely for 3k so talk to Howard at Pedal and Spoke in Peaslake.

Zesty pedals very well for a 140mm bike and if you're looking at the 514 would be a respectable weight. New geometry on 2012 models and tweaked suspension too.

Might make it the best 140mm on the market, apart from the push-fit BB.

Mojo is also light and pedals well, but suspension feels a bit more neutral/less involving (based on one test ride).

If you're thinking Trek it'd be worth considering the Top Fuel as well as the Fuel, the Top Fuel being a more agressive ride.

By the way, I've a Fuel EX8 and love it to bits so I'd recommend that although I'm liking your shortlist. One of my mates has both an EX9 and a Top Fuel 9 and he reckons the EX is great for all-dayers and the Top Fuel is more for a quick blast.

We spend most of our time just up the road in Swinley.

Have fun test riding all those bikes!!

Not sure if it helps but I've heard lots of good things about canyon bikes and was able to throw my leg over one for a par park bounce once, it felt very nice (was their FR bike). Not sure how you test one.

Another for the mix, how about one of the new ragley FS bikes? The 100m travel one looks ace and would be great for Surrey Hills if it lives up to the hype.

I wonder why the Orange 5 is such a divider of opinion? I mean loads of people swear by them, and then lots of other people hate them. Strange? I have found that shock tune is very important, makes all the difference. Personnaly the only bike I would buy is a new 5, odd.

I love riding Holmbury and Leith on my 575. It doesn't weigh a lot and can still take a beating. To aid climbing though, I'd probably stick a pair of Talas forks on it so you can drop it down a bit for the ups. If I had to choose non Yeti it'd probably be the Zesty, though having never tried one, that's simply based on the fact they look damn nice.

If you don't want to spend the cash for a SC then the Ibis and Yeti are probably out. I see quite a few people on the Canyons, they are all happy with them - the deal breakers for me were the lack of demo bikes and the lead time (I'd sold my old bike).

Nicolai AC - head for the hills in dorking have a test one. Or an ibis mojo (also at HFTH as a test bike though not sure which mojo is their test one).

Where are you using it? Just Surrey? If it's nothing 'burlier', I'd look at something 100-140mm travel otherwise you're just lugging unnecessary weight and slacker 'big hill' angles.

If you can, test test test!

Here goes, Yeti ASR5 for the weekend, can't wait...

The Canyon's are a problem for me for this reasons you note Raindog. No way I'm buying a bike without (a) a test and (b) someone local to call if things start breaking.

Judging by your responses, and ignoring the fact I'm selling one, why not try a Tracer/intense? Even new the frames are at a good price.

In short travel mode it rides like a 120 bike - due to the vpp making the ride firmer than most, plus the head angle is steep than most AM bikes. You'd have a great climber, plus something burly on the way down.

Not sure why you excluded it from your test list btw, unless you have something against the bike, it may be worth you experiencing vpp before you commit. have a look at the Carbine - all carbon- could be right up your street.

Just a thought.

If you're riding the Surrey hills give freeborn a call and ask when they're back doing demos. They're there most sundays with dexter, Dixon some elsworths etc. Also have a word with Quest down in Worthing they've got a demo Whyte T120 in just now and should be getting 146s in soon really helpful shop too. Also pedal and spoke in peaslake have loads of demo Santa cruz's but I think they charge £50 a time for them so maybe test them last?

I tried a load of 120 and 140 bikes recently (2k budget for me) but ordered a T120 just felt "right" pretty much as soon as I tried it. Fuel ex8 was good as were dexter and Dixon, didn't like the stumpy just too slack and bouncy with the brain, thought zesty was too long in the rear could feel it following along behind me and 5 was just a bit heavy too expensive and too on-off for me wanted something more active and it stretched my budget too much for any decent kit. Wanted to try the remedy as I liked the fuel but couldn't find one locally. Overall Whyte was best package for me but if I had your budget I'd be waiting on a 146S just now...

Really enjoying my Helius CC with a 140mm fork. It's all the bike I need for riding everything from trail centres to Lake District passes. It seems to be a true all rounder - it climbs really well and is fun on the way back down but is equally at home on smoother bridleways.

I would have probably bought an ASR5 if I hadn't got a great deal on the Helius CC.

Have ridden a mates Blur LT with a 150mm fork and didn't click with it. It seemed a bit too much bike somehow and also felt too short in the top tube - we're both the same size.

The Five is probably a nice bike but I absolutely hated mine.

The Lapierre(s) are developed in part by a certain 10time champ winner who knows a thing or two about bikes - probably more so than a single-pivot frame from Yorkshire if we are honest huh.

Failing the Lapierre I'd look at the Evo as you mentioned OP.

I reckon I'd get one of those nice browny-orange carbon Trek Remedys 🙂

[img] [/img]

My history of bikes, include the 575 heckler gemini (loved that bike) and s-work Enduro 04. 06 and 3x Enduro SL's, last year had a 2011 S-works SJ until the brain rotated on its mount on two frames so swapped that for the 2011 SJ evo.

I went from a 06 Enduro to a 575 and just couldnt get on with it after having an FSR bike before hand really noticed that fsr was great on rooty off camber stuff which showed the failings of the 575. The heckler I bough was great but the reliability of that bearing and the bolts snapping and the bearing seized in the housing. for my height I was exactly in-between sizes and I noticed the wheel base to short and great at long rides but not 'quite' right on the downs. The 3 enduro SL's were superb even the fork which I was able to strip down and rebuild every 3 months to give a plush ride, nice long wheelbase with the perfect headangle. The SJ s-works was my return to a brain bike and though excellent for 95% of my riding the time I wanted it to be better it could be caught out on my circuits of brechfa. So on to the evo, one very solid confident bike, quickly changed the fork to a Revelation WC and it as fast as the 06 enduro DH and with a tweak on the stem and bar suited to my area of Brechfa. I have ridden my mates Zesty and Specialized have done their homework and I find the SJ more sure footed and better when pointed down. The other guy on his Zesty 514 has fitted a coil shock and a 36 fork.
My mistake over the years has not been to test ride bikes. I have been lucky with the Evo though.
If canondale still made the Prophet I would love to compare that to the heckler. The orange 5 has so many good reviews but I've never ridden one.
Bikes that would be on my list. (not that I need to try bikes)

Trance x
Trek Fuel
Transition (can't remember which one)
Cove hustler
Banshee spitfire
I'm always between Santa Cruz sizes.
Have a On-one 456 in size 14" with a kashima Talas 140RLC for my night rides.
Longest post I have ever done.

Just cant ever seeing me liking a mojo as the shape turns me off.

This and swap all your bits over

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/fs-brand-new-lapierre-zesty-514-m-frameset

Although the seller is being a bit optimistic with the pricing IMO.

at this very moment in time..

If I had three grand burning a hole in my pocket.. or even a way to sell my granny for three grand, I would be dropping it straight on a Transition Bandit..

All mountain and efficient climber ? Buy Horas 5-spot frame and build it light for Surrey Hills - can't think why he would want to sell it.

Hard to put my finger on but it feels tall and steep for my taste. Angleset headset in, next is the offset bushes and a lower setting on the Lyriks- converting them to U-turns (cheap fix).

OP I rode (briefly) two Lapierres and they felt lovely- the only issue is new they only come as bike only and I only buy frames ($$ in wallet). This would swing in your favour as you have 3k to drop.

Although the seller is being a bit optimistic with the pricing IMO.

A [i]bit[/i] optimistic?
That's at least £500 overpriced

Carbon 456 is the way I've gone - now trying to get rid of my full susser. I used to ride in Surrey but now live in 'real' mountains in Spain. Hardtails are just so much more 'fun'. I think on-one do complete builds for around £1500 - save the rest for some great trips abroad.

Glad you're making sure you test ride the bikes your thinking about. It really does make a lot of difference. I really didn't get on at all with some bikes that on paper looked great.

Spend some time with the shocks though. A few psi here and a couple of clicks there can make all the difference!