I did short demos on a 275 and a 290 last year. Then I did a long demo on the 290, then I bought one. The 275 seemed very competent but didn’t really excite me. I really enjoyed my demos on the 290 and have been very happy with my own one since it arrived.

It’s a much slacker and longer bike than any I’ve owned before and it is also the first 29er I’ve owned or ridden much. However I wouldn’t say I find it cumbersome. It’s a good shape and it’s stable without feeling slow, so I find I can manoeuvre it at least as well as I could move my old bikes as it doesn’t try to tuck or fight my movements.

While Chris was shopping I did some testrides as well out of curiosity and felt pretty muc the same, the 275 was fine but the 290 is a beast. I ride a Remedy 29 which I love, but the Mega’s not far behind and in some ways better out of the box- I had to go up a size and slacken off the remedy to get the shape I want, the Mega’s pretty might right first time. 3 years newer design and it shows…

Also, the real magic trick is making a massive full-on bike like this, that also feels decent on easy stuff, and they nailed that. Remedy’s a trailbike kind of pressed into enduro service so it’s got that nailed too, but no 29er I’ve ridden walks that line as well as it and the Mega.

I don’t own one, I could though.