Standard answer from me – track down a Blur 4X. I had a Soul for a couple of years but wanted something that would take more of a beating, allow me to run bigger forks (had a trip to the Alps looming too) but pedal like a hardtail and be ok for long days in the saddle. Blur ticked all the boxes.
Run mine with 160mm 36 Floats, doesn’t feel wander-ey at all. Ever. 70mm stem, 760mm bars, Joplin 3, 1×9 setup etc. Its superb. Really, really superb.
I’m a bit of a serial bike swapper but every time I get itchy feet with the Blur, I look at what else there is out there to replace it with and/or go for a ride on it and change my mind.
Well worth trying to track one down if you can. Mines a medium and I’m 5’8″ – wouldn’t want to be any taller on a medium. The large is about the same height but an inch longer I think…