it's steep, high bb, short top tube for it's size.
Roughly what I said above from my experience. Which could be good or bad depending on how you look at it. What is the head angle anyway? I'd like to know….
I never felt that with 15.5st of me on it!
the pivots are crap and fall apart,
The one I rode was fine, and it had been neglected a bit. That can happen to any bike as well, and is probably the reason the one you rode felt flexy!
As I've already said, the rims are 200g+ (pair) heavier than my Pitch OE rims, the tryes are big heavy ones (Which suit the nature of the bike) and those forks will not be light either. But it'll be tough, which is the kind of bike it is. It's NOT an XC bike remember!
OK. I'll take that at the price
it either blows through it's travel or doesn't move on small bumps
Set-up or service issue. The RS shock is fine. Could be those worn pivots on yours again!
And remember, (Wild guess) teenagers aren't renoun for looking after their bikes either……
And MOST IMPORTANTLY remember it NOT AN XC BIKE!!!!!!! Lots of people bought Pitches than sold them when they realised they were heavy, lenghty old beasts and a handfull in tight singletrack and a bitch to get uphill