I've been out of the scene for a year or and knowing that things have moved on (and everything from a year ago is clearly crap or so the marketing guys would tell us…) I'm looking to either build up a new bike or get something off the shelf via the bike to work scheme.

I'm currently riding a Yeti ASX, and used to own a Heckler but what is out there now worth looking at. I want to keep angles fairly relaxed so the likes of BlurLT's and other tighter angled bikes are out.

Cheers for the help.

Blue pig with a 150mm fork, you know it makes sense!

intense tracer vp,5.5./6 inch travel,nice slack h.a,pedals uphill REALLY well,or my other choice rocky mountain slayer sxc(super cross country),again 68.5 h.a and pedals uphill very well and is a wonder on the downs,
this is just my personal experience from owning several 6 inch travel bikes including the r.m and intense,
i hear good things about the current trek remedy and lapierre spicy/zesty also,i don't own these so can't give you an honest opinion though,
happy hunting.

Might be worth a gander at the heckler again as the frame price has just come down to£900 . Or the new SC Butcher

[pedant mode]
yep, 6 foot should be enough to cope with all the mountain
[/pedant mode]

well noticed, 6" would be a little closer to the mark. I've been looking at the Spicy, Butcher and my old fave Heckler so far. They all seem pretty similar on angles so I guess it's down to trying them. The heckler price does look tempting though………..

I always thought the Intense bikes were sharper angled than their SC cousins… I may also consider a nomad, wonder if I can still get one with 1.5 headset??

sorry, couldn't resist.

Haven't got much of a clue about the bikes listed here, but bang-per-buck the new Heckler price has got to be close to unbeatable?

I'll second a Rocky Mountain Slayer SXC. Climbs well, descends well. Not too many around either (and that's not a reflection on it been crap).

Must admit always fancied a heckler after demoing one about 2yrs ago but worried I've been spoiled with a 66 deg head angle on my enduro when it comes to steep techy bits. Hecklers 68 isn't it? S'pose I need to demo somewhere more techy than llandegla next time?

My LTc with 150's is not steep. 66.5 deg with 150 FiT RLC's

Giant Reign X0 6.7" rear travel and 6.2" fork travel… I bought a 2008 model from Pauls Cycles… brilliant machine…lovin it… 8)

Ive just custom built up a Transition Covert – I will be able to tell in a week what its like.

I test rode one in the shop and it was good – the custome bits Ive fitted wont change the way it feels, just details and the way it looks.

I tried the butcher and heckler back to back. Butcher felt too slack to me. Climbed okay, descended great if it was steep/fast, but on the gently sloping twisty stuff that makes up 90% of my riding it felt rubbish. Much preferred the heckler. Maybe everyones going a bit too far with this whole slack angled, short stem, wide bar trend at the moment?

So are you planning on getting rid of the Yeti then?

Trimix – i hate you! REALLY want a covert.

new Norco Range looks good & getting good reviews, not sure if it'll be over here though.

HoratioHufnagel – Member

Maybe everyones going a bit too far with this whole slack angled, short stem, wide bar trend at the moment?

nah.

S-C didn't have a light, low and slack bike last year – the heckler's quite steep, and the bullit's heavy and steep.

those bikes are still available, but now there's the option of something less steep.

now 'steep' people have bikes they like, 'slack' people have bikes they like, happy days!

Oh, and to answer the OP: no-one's mention the Hemlock yet, so i will. – Hemlock.

Peachos – to make it worse, if your ever in the Chilterns your welcome to have a go.

Ive got it custom painted and will be using the Hammerschmit thing, full Chris King, Thompson, Saint brakes, braided hoses, floating discs, bling bling.

Should be ready in a day or two.

that sounds awesome mate! what colour? although i'd be hard pressed to choose anything other than the metalic green…

Full build Enduros are worth a look. £2000 for one of them (forget the model name) with good gear on it. But if you've got a good budget then why not get a Nicolai Helius AM and get some nice custom geometry and stuff. Frame and shock alone will be the same as the Enduro though!

Can deffo recommend the Spicy. Test rode a Transition Covert too, but the Spicy's by far the better bike.

barnsleymitch, yup the yeti is going just as soon as I figure out what to go for next. Shame as its a nice bike.
I didn't realise slack head angle were back in trend, I just want something that will feel a little like the yeti at 66.5 (I think). Anybody have an idea what angle the heckler with something like a 36 Float up front would have? Canyou still get the Heckler with the DHX5 coil or is it just air (bbblllleeeuuuugggghhhhh) shocks now?

Now all I need to do is convince the wife… 😉

peachos, trimix's covert was last seen being ridden by lord lucan alongside shergar. it is a figment of trimix's imagination and he rides an ancient whyte whilst making "ooh look at my new bike" noises. Its rather tragic.

to the OP the Covert does look (from web pics, never seen one in the metal. so that makes 2 of us eh trimix) like a nice bike and I was surprised its the same price as the "mid range" SC butcher/nickels.
Hecklers are blinding value at their new price, I cant see why anyone would buy the equivalent Orange when you could get a heckler and nice fork for the same price.

What about a Santacruz Bullit.

Norco Fluid LT. HA is around 66.5, I did the Mega and 2 weeks in the alps and full on DH race on mine and it just munched it up. It's a lot of fun. Singletrack loved it, as did MBUK.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_A8w6G_CyHUE/S9nRl2jO68I/AAAAAAAAAk8/yvw9jl7r5yI/s640/norco%20002.jpg