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Rode a 150mm travel Saracen Ariel 650b with 150mm RS Pikes this morning - and was completely blown away by its performance, handling and pedal-ability. Just an incredible bike that seemed good everywhere - swoopy singletrack, climbing and descending.
Having owned various generations of Turner 5 Spots for years (my current model being a 2010) and watched as the industry moved on to 29ers, 650b, and slacker geo's it all rather passed me by. I bought a 29er a year ago and sold it after 2 months, absolutely hating the ponderously wallowy steering and what I felt was clumsiness of it all.
But I am seriously impressed by the Ariel. Before I go bonkers and buy one, has anyone ridden one back-2-back versus something they thought even better?
Worth looking at a Stumpy in tweenerwheelerflava certainly. The Spesh dropper is a bit average, but bike overall rides very well.
That I've ridden?
Rocky Mtn Altitude with the adjustable geometry chip.
The Ariel is a great bike. Wouldn't want to put you off one at all.
The other option I'd recommend is a Pyga Pascoe - 140mm rear optimised for 150-160mm forks.
Maby a trance 27.5 in any flavor is a very capable bike
Lapierre spicy/zesty, depending what you're riding focus is. If you can get one with an ei shock, mores the better.
Or a bronson.
My ride focus is fast, pretty aggressive style. Love swoopy single track, rough as hell, and smallish jumps.
Zesty then.
Banshee Spitfire of course
I ride the 26 wheel version of this
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/products/bikes/mtb/all-mountain--tour/granite-chief/
Brilliant bike.
The Granite Chief 2, full xt plus pikes for £1900 is bargainous
Rose is good, other options on my list for same thing includes
YT Wicked is £1900 with X11 Reverb and Pikes
Canyon Strive Race CF is £3k
Mondraker Dune is all about the frame at £2.5K with Pikes but utter poverty spec with spline cranks and 9 speeds!
Nukeproof Mega is worth a look if you ride hard and heavy - can be had for £2.1K
Whyte G150 is very sprightly at £2.5K with Reverb
Kona Process 153 is a very sweet package at £2.8K
I dismissed all of the above and bought an Enduro 29er...
You know you want an Ariel... It suited you!
The Spesh stumpjumper 650 is a Spesh, and a poor attempt at jumping on the bandwagon that Specialized missed.
Just get an Ariel!
Am loving my Ariel, having built up a 15x frame - comes in at 28.5lb with 1x10 and a dropper so happy with that for a 150mm bike. Got me up some techy climbs in the Peak yesterday, and is a great laugh back down again!
Winstanleys have them down from £2899 to £1999