No, not the title of a new magazine, but that [not] age old question: if you realise you’ve never been able to reconcile yourself to foul suspension and find yourself willing to sell of your steed(s)to buy one supreme hardtail, which should it be?

Criteria are:

V. decent spec but not mega-bucks
Pedigree and individuality
Possibly UK inspired/built (certainly not American!)
Not too hardcore, but neither too jey
Endurance race ready
Dark peak friendly
Fun and agressive

Hmmnnn…. Should I just go back to my 1999 Kona?

Any thoughts?

Any thoughts?

Yes. Don’t use the words steed, pedigree, aggressive and….well most of the above when describing a bike.

Sorry, I’ve been out of riding for too long, my vocabulary is still c.2004, when the mag was still worth reading and not a pile of adverts !

Take it easy dude!

This looks a great deal, there are other options as well.

this.
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FTOOSC26XCRL/on-one-scandal-26er-xc-rolling-chassis

And this.
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/MTB++Parts/Transmission++Gears/Groupsets+-+MTB/Shimano+SLX+Disc+Brake+Groupset_SHIMANO-SLX-DISC-GROUP-10.htm

All for under £820

That blue pig thing looks like it ticks most of your boxes.

Cotic Soul, job done.

i love my blue pig, but endurance race ready? dont make me lol 😆

ticks all the other boxes though

Always liked the looks of the Genesis IO. I think my next bike will have an Alfine. Hopefully the 11 speed version.

certainly not American!

yes, what would the neighbours say? 🙄

I may or may not have a vested interest here, but I can highly recommend a Kinesis Maxlight Pha5e. It ticks all your boxes!

They’re very hard to find now, but I just happen to have one for sale, and seeing as it’s near Christmas, I’d be prepared to accept £120 for it, posted.

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fs-kinesis-maxlight-pha5e-frame-1

Sanderson Life.

Based on my recent Cotic purchase, one of those 😀 Soul sounds like it’ll tick all your boxes – I got a BFe but it’s probably too heavy for what it sounds like you want.

Sounds like you wrote your criteria for a Soul… or Life. Both spot on in my experience. Ragley Piglet sounds like it might fit the bill too.

Sanderson Life

Back to the proper Kona.

Pipdream Sirius R853 or Ti ,sliding dropouts = SS or gears or even 650b
takes a 130mm fork and takes a 2.5 tyre . British not American ..

456 Carbon, ticks all your boxes better than those suggested above.

Singular Swift. 29er. Looks great, fast, lovely springy feel, and equally fun to ride round Thetford Forest or the Yorkshire Dales. I’ve used mine in a couple of enduros (K100, D2D) and it’s been just fine.

Haven’t tried it round the Dark Peak(*) but I think it would be brilliant.

(*) Hmmmm. <Checks calendar….>

Endurance ready?

Sanderson Life.

Agree with all the above re Cotic Soul.

Fits your description like a glove and if you got/had a Kona then you’ll love it.