Ok, so I’m out of the loop of what’s good out there, but a colleague has £3k burning a hole in his pocket and has asked me for recommendedations.

Wants it for all day jaunts, not just trail centres.

Apparently, my Krampus isn’t what he had in mind when I told him what I ride.

Whyte t130 or spesh camber.

Orange Four

Cotic Flare

Whyte T130

New Bird Aeris 120 (120 refers to rear travel)

Saracen Kili Flyer

Whyte should probably be top, but they’re the 2 wheeled equivalent of an Audi now…….

Any of the above if built sensibly should be light enough for all day riding.

Transition Scout

Whyte should probably be top, but they’re the 2 wheeled equivalent of an Audi now…….

Oh… really? They look like great bikes, have my eye on one.

Not that any association bothers me if they’re decent to ride

Trek Fuel Ex?

Another vote for the Cotic Flare Max…… There doing a round of demos atm well worth trying one out

SC 5010 alloy?

I’m thinking of the t130 but also look out for new kili Flyer on 1st September

I’d look at 29in for an all day bike.

Lots of short travel 29er threads on here over the past year or so.

If it was me I’d have a Transition Smuggler

Bird have just launched the new 120/130 Aeris!!

Does a Yeti SB5c Enduro not fit into that price bracket in the UK?

Lots of good suggestions here. I am a happy Cotic and Transition customer, the new Flare looks great and they are currently doing demos having just launched the bike. Many Bird fans on STW. That’s a decent budget for an all roind bike and there’s lots of choice including all the mainstream brands like Giant, Trek, Specialised, LaPierre etc

I’d look at 29in for an all day bike.

Id look at bikes and ask the wheel size after.
Plenty of crossover. Where are these jaunts, what are they like, how does he ride? Something comfy but playful or playful that you can ride all day? Mile munching or big mountain fun?

Santa Cruz 5010c and as luck would have it I’m selling one for a lot less than £3k 🙂

2017 fuel ex range, much better looking frame than last year and a great pedalling suspension system

Orange Five and make the most of the extra 10mm.
Orange Four.

Canyon Spectral 29er.

Giant Trance

Jeffsy?

Id look at bikes and ask the wheel size after.

There’s enough variety of bike styles within the 29in fold now to just rule out smaller wheels IMO.

I’m sure the majority of 130mm bikes of any wheel size can be ridden all day, but bigger wheels just make for easier work, more technical capability and just as much fun IME.

Giant Anthem SX and a grand to spare ?

If he’s just going to buy something without test riding a few first then he should just go for whatever YT or Canyon takes his fancy. He’ll get a great bike at that budget and the spec will be on a different level to half the suggestions above.

Cheers All..

I’ve passed on my findings. 8)

bigger wheels just make for easier work, more technical capability and just as much fun IME.

I’m not sure I agree with your middle point. In what sense do you believe 29ers are more technically capable? I’ve found that 29ers can make things easier and are as much (if not more) fun (sometimes), but this is at the compromise of technical ability. E.g. tackling tight twisty downhill sections and getting around switchback climbs. I suppose it depends on the definition of “technical”…..

T129 with a 130mm fork.

Yes that’s what I ride but I’m sure it would fit the bill. It’s an incredible bike that should allow him to ride anything he wants.

I suppose it depends on the definition of “technical”…..

True, I was thinking of tackling rugged trails – but I think decent geometry 29ers can get round twisty stuff about as well as smaller wheel bikes.

Riding steep, rocky switchbacks can feel a bit cramped – but there’s a positive in that you don’t stall as easily.

It’s like the thing abotu getting bigger wheels up to speed taking longer. Yeah it’s true, but it’s massively outweighed by the momentum boost.

Won’t go far wrong with this from the Orange offers page.@£2700

https://www.orangebikes.co.uk/shop/factory/ex_demo/2016_segment_rs_large_kermit

Just got a SC 5010 and absolutely love it. A bit above budget new if you go for fancy carbon, but second hand or ex-demo, older model may get it in budget. There is alloy also. Lightweight though is where you want to be for a short/mid travel agile trail bike.

Primarily was after a 130-ish travel general go to full sus that would be at home on technical steeps as much as hammering around trail centres and yet fast pedalling for speedy xc rides, plus light and climbable.

Basically a do-it-all bike for the 90% of riding I actually do.

Meanwhile I keep my 170 Nomad for beefy stuff. Plus bonus of hard tail when I feel like hard tailing it.

Anyway, if going alloy, 120 Bird seems ideal also.

chakaping – Member 
It’s like the thing abotu getting bigger wheels up to speed taking longer. Yeah it’s true, but it’s massively outweighed by the momentum boost.

I find the opposite. Momentum from big wheels is fine in a straight line, but accelerating out of twisty corners, setting off down a trail, I get up to speed and blast away quicker than those big wheels and it’s less energy. On a fast ride on straight climbs is where I get killed by 29ers though, though most those I ride with are also very fit.

Nukeproof Mega TR? Though the Bird looks pretty cool too

Adore my camber evo – obviously all evo for 2016/7 – good for XC mile munching, singletrack, techy stuff and steep stuff (to my ablity)

My riding has improved massively on this bike and more importantly so has my enjoyment

Clearly, there is nowhere to try out a Canyon for Size in the UK, is there?

SC5010
Whyte 130

Orange seem poor value for money at the moment IMHO

Orange seem poor value for money at the moment IMHO

They’ve always been poor value for money.

They’re actually better value than they have been for a while IMO.

If you fancy a Segment Sunset MTB are knocking out the current frame in custom colours and 1×11 for a couple of quid over 2k.

Santa Cruz 5010c and as luck would have it I’m selling one for a lot less than £3k

Unless I have misread your ad you want £1900 for the frame only. That leaves the OP £1100 for the rest of the bike.

OP there is so much choice best of luck 😉

First choice would be the T130
Second choice would be the Transition Scout
Unfortunately getting your hands on 2017 versions before xmas is going to be hard, especially the Whyte as I believe (may be wrong) they have sold all their allocation until then.

@jambalaya

Yes you have misread my ad completely. That’s for a Nomad frame, which is now sold, I now have a complete Solo CC for sale for £2300 which I have yet to list. Thanks

Depending on which side of the travel range you want to be:

Giant Anthem SX
Giant Trance