Having looked in to the Top Fuel 7 and Ripley these are the 2 on my shortlist.
Short travel and around £3k for light trails and longer smoother down country type of rides.
Anyone ridden either? Then it’s finding stock or waiting for stock. ML Trek and large Ripley.
So far have only seen a Ripmo in stock.
Anything else compare to these 2 for around 3k?
Not sure of pricing, but have a look at the Banshee Phantom.
You’ve seen the recent Pinkbike down country field test?
https://m.pinkbike.com/news/video-2022-top-fuel-vs-element-vs-jet9-vs-trance-29-vs-blur-tr-vs-lux-trail-field-test-roundtable.html
Also, Canyon Spectral 125, but that might be going a bit to trail for what you’re after.
Did see the test but they are all way above my budget.
It’s finding bikes to try at the moment will stock levels so bad.
Does a Sonder Cortex fall into that category? Not quite as bling a brand - but they’re meant to be good value. Vitus don’t really have a bike quite in that category sadly - escarpe is too big and rapide fs is probably more xc leaning.
The GX Eagle Cortex fits in your budget with £300 to spare - which I’d spend on a charger damper for the revelation fork that comes on it.
With the cortex you can go into the shop and have it specced however you want. Ive just seen a Cortex that came with Pike ultimates and Hope wheels. Looked ace.