I’d be trying to build a BFe or Carbon 456 with a cheap SLX groupset and Sektor for that money.

Blue Pig isn’t going to be an ideal all day xc bike. Would think a Piglet would be better suited in terms of a choice from Ragley.

BFe, Prince Albert are my two. Adjustable forks for most flexibility (Sektor 150/120 on my BFe). Perfect for what you want just need to manage the build to hit the price point (a complete bike will always be hard to match as they have bulk buy discounts)

Soul would be very good but with frame at £500 vs £300 for BFe you’ll probably struggle to hit the price point.

You can get a 456 Evo comfortably within budget.

X9 Blue Pig
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=62610

X9 Pilet
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=62608

X7 Blue Pig (900 quid!)
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=62609

all in the sale. have recommended the Blue Pig to a friend who is after a LT HT.

don’t have one myself, but at that price you can sell the frame and swap the bits.

I loved my orange crush – brilliant fun bike.

I might be looking sell a rather nice Dialled Apline, with a very good spec:

16″ Dialled Alpine, fox 36 rc2 float 20mm bolt through, hope tech M4, hope pro evo wheels (EN521 rims), renthal stem and bars, xt shifters, cassette and mechs, slx cranks (double n bash), Blackspire Chain guide Thomson elite post, hope headset, hope seat clamp, charge spoon brown saddle, high roller 2.35, ruffian grips, superstar nano tech pedals.

Been building this up for a few months and got it just right!

Honest stuff, stanchions have a couple of scratches of them, the frame has lost its shine in a couple of places, rims have a couple of scratches, pedals are loosing their coating.

The forks have been recently serviced by me where I fitted a new bladder + seals etc.

Would do a much better price than the £1000 – £1200!

Simon

I built my BFe for £1260 with revelation rlt’s, slx & xt drivetrain, elixir cr carbon & elixir 5 brakes. Don’t buy anything at rrp (except the frame) and be prepared to wait for sales. Mine would cost over double had I bought everything at rrp. As above I’d do it again! I wish I had bought 2 of everything now! then I could have made a couple of quid 🙂

Have you considered one of the 29ers?

Felt have some very reasonably priced 29ers that are well specced. but not long travel (100mm). Also, more XC geometry.

Kona do the Honzo. Slacker geometry than the Felt, depends on what you want to use it for.

Honzo retails for £1,600. Naturally, we lease ’em for a lot less:D – well within budget.

I’m in the same market but going to push the boat out a little bit more to £1300 and get the cube reaction gtc

Hi not sure if you’d be interested but got a 17″ dialled prince albert for sale, £400.

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