( tall and short was my impression)

not sure that’s an ideal fit whatever bike you choose. It would make downhill kinda of nervous?

if you’re still thinking about importing, have a look at the UK duty calculator below.
.
Duty Calculator
.
Looks like your $1899 frame will end up being about £1500 plus handling fees which can be a lot. Considering you can get a UK one for £1799 it may be wise to buy in the UK.
.
What about an ex-demo full bike, LT with X9 build kit in green for £1870.
Santa Cruz Ex-demo
.
Or an ex-demo Orange 5.
Orange Ex-demo

jockhaggis,

many thanks for that – that’s a great link.
I can’t seem to find a Blur LT2 Carbon frame for the price you quoted-I’ve found £2399 for 2010 frame the best deal.
I realise it’s a risk, but figure, buying a 2nd hand frame from UK is similar in as much that the warranty is for the original purchaser only. Jury is still out if I will go ahead.Thanks too for Orange links, this bike is still the favourite, together with the Blur.

Pawsy_Bear – you’re right although it was more subjective as I am currently riding a Trek EX9 19.5 virtual which is the exact opposite! It felt strange but not bad, I figure I would just have to go over the bars a few times before I adopted my style…!

The Blur LT2 climbs better than the five on technical stuff, the 5 is so much better going down hill,and for me a bike that gives you more confidence, in technical situations, I have a new 5 and I have owned a Heckler and Nomad and test rode several Blurs Lt2’s for me the 5 gives the most rewarding ride of them all, the Nomad was also a fantastic bike, which was probably more capable than the 5 but you never felt the same good feeling after the ride, it was too good for your normal trails.

Did you breath while you were writing that? 😉

Currymad – good move going for frame only & self build. If you’re intending to go the whole hog with spec., I can thoroughly recommend the Gore sealed shifter cables – initial cost is a bit ‘ouch’, but superb shifting performance and make the Five virtually maintenance free 😀

Eventually I will do the forks, Revelation u-turn 150s would cover everything the 5 is best at.

Can also recommend these for the Five – I haven’t got the U-turn cos I wanted Black Box damping, and out of preference, have spaced mine down to 140mm (obviously no faff with U-turn!), the 20mm bolt through really seems to suit the character of the bike (for a 32mm legged fork, it’s b****y brilliant in rock gardens 😀 )

err…Can you tell I like my Five?! 😳

currymad, sorry that was for the Aluminium version using list prices in US and UK.
.
Would be nice to get a carbon for that!
.
I’ve got a Heckler by the way, I bought my frame a few years ago, fantastic bike. Price drop recently means they are currently selling them for £899. Compared to a Five for £1399 it’s a bargain.

Did you breath while you were writing that? 😀

No I was too excited to say my thing….. 😀

Orange Five is a good allrounder.. 😆