hi guys any ideas for me as i want to upgrade my xc bike.
i,ll try and find a good s/h one if i can.
cheers all.

any veiws….anyone…. 😕

Very subjective. S-Works Stumpjumper or Fuel Ex 9.9 would get my vote, depends somewhat on the budget though!

I'd look at a fuel mate stumpy's are now 140mm. Fuel is alway gettng a good write up in the press and I have not seen a bad post about them.

those new ghost amr thingys look good vfm

ellsworth epiphany, looks are marmite but you can easily build a sub 25lb bike with up to a 150mm fork on the front if you wanted to, goes best with a 130mm fork. They ride like a very fast xc boinger with an emergency extra boing if you need it.

07/08 felt virtues were fantastic as well is you are looking for a second hand one.

Fuels are very good as well

robhughes- if you are northwest or midlands based you can try my elli out for a ride.

tomac automatic?

thanks anyway tazzy but a little tooooo marmite for me 😉
the fuel sounds good though.great reviews.

LOL no worries 😀

forgot to put that i only want the frame to up from 100mm xc bike.
iv,e got a set of revs for the build.

Some posts on here are suggesting Santa Cruz Superlight frames are coming down to £900. A custom build with 120mm forks would make a nice bike.

http://dirt.mpora.com/features/tests/bike-test-cannondale-rush.html

Not quite 120mm on the back, but silly quick none the less.

giant trance x – or the advanced if you have the budget

am loving my trek fuel 9.9 – think a 15mm qr would make a huge improvement to the front end as well

Fuel Ex is available as a frame too, I love my Top Fuel, would definitely have an Ex.

Another marmite one.. Nicolai Helius

And yet another marmite choice, the Maverick Durance.

Climbs like no other full sus bike, 5 and a bit pound frame weight, super quick and super stable. Some ridiculous bargains out there too if you can find one…

we should have a marmite bikes forum ride complete with a bell and a chant of "unclean" 😀

Specialized camber….

bit of a wait though

I've got a fuel ex9. Fairly light build but with 140mm rev u-turns on it. Rides well with forks at 125 but I've got the 140 and maxle there if I want it when things get hairy. Superb bike, can ride any thing on it.

I'm considering the carbon frame when the ally one dies.

That Ghost does look very good value and got a glowing review in ST.

Has anyone mentioned the Yeti ASR5? Just been for a long weekend in Aviemore with my new 'rig' and it is honestly awesome. Lightweight, planted, stable, stiff, nimble, responsive etc etc

If you're near Edinburgh, Mark at The Bike Chain can hook you up with a test ride (and put an order in when you come back grinning).

we should have a marmite bikes forum ride complete with a bell and a chant of "unclean"

Hahaha

Nice one tazzy, great idea! Only problem is I can't ride 3 of my 4 bikes at the same time… Which one to choose? 😉

Orange ST4 ?

Turner Sultan (ok so it's a 29er) … let me know if you can find one to demo!

liking the st4 idea simon.

Despite praising the Fuel EX – as I have one and like it a lot….

I'll second the ST4 – which I'm currently lusting after, not sure why… but they sound like my kind of bike. Wonder if I can get a demo of one somewhere.

Cube Sting? 120mm, carbon frame, good spec, 10.4kg-11.6kg allegedly.

I almost bought one, but went for a Cube AMS Pro100 instead due to a limited budget

Nicolai Helius CC, might as well throw that one in as it's a damm fine if slightly expensive option

Yeti Asr5c without doubt. Stunning bike,
(or the alloy Asr5 if the carbons over budget)

Turner flux with 120mm fork? Frame only 100mm though it rides well with 120 up front.

Turner Flux, Ellsworth Truth

Chumba Vf2, 127mm of travel. Can be built to around 25lb and is also very versatile.

race mode – The Aussie distributor for Chumba built this Vf2 for what they call 'Super D' racing, which i think is like a mix of XC and downhill. He runs a 120mm fork rather than the normal 140mm most run and seems to like it a lot.

iv,e sussed out a 2010 st4 frame cheap.
what,s orange sizing like.
i,m sort of an average 5"8 so 16" or 18".

They are pretty long frames. I'm 5'8 and like long frames with short stems so I'd be going 18" with a longer fork on it.

If you're going for more XC (110mm ish fork) and like a longer stem (90mm ish, I'd consider the 16"

Not sure if that helps.

Incidentally, where you source the cheap frame from ? they got many left? How much ?

Did anyone mention the Santa Cruz Blur XC Carbon?

stooo £700.but there,s 1 18"(red) and 2 16"(white)left.
but that would be telling. 😉
if i don,t buy one in the next few days i,ll let you know.