Due to the stupid increase in prices and lowering of spec on bikes this year, anyone recommend a good frame inc shock? Giant X1 is popular, any others?

Giant Anthem X can't really fault it on anything. It is 100mm but can take 120mm fork easily, it is about as light as a FS frame can get without going silly expensive and has no pedal bob to speak of.

Unless the 900£ it costs is too much (I think it is very reasonably priced considering what most decent FS frames cost) then not much that competes with it.

Having said that this looks very very very nice – no clue how it rides though

Santa Cruz Superlight

Despite Giant offering framesets cheaper than most other high end manufacturers, you could get one cheaper by buying a low end bike with the same frame and sell all the parts on unused?

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/15290/Orange-ST4-Frame-.html?referrer=froogle1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid15290

Looks as if it could be a bargin???