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Toying with the idea of a new bike (too little work, too much time on net). Have had a trek liquid and got a nomad at moment, but looking for something smaller and more nimble. Nomad is great in big terrain but local riding not that extreme, with lots of linking farm tracks/back roads. 4" travel would be good, but don't want a racing snake. Fancy the look of Orange ST4 or Giant Anthem X. What others, any opinions? (stupid question)
Santa Cruz superlight.
The ST4 is very good but not really a classic 4" bike, it's 5" up front, weighs the same as something on the meatier end of 5" and rides like it too.
Got much more in common with something like a Marin Mount Vision IMO (and was quicker)
I've only had a brief blip on an Anthem but from what I experienced, it was startlingly good. And surprising on the downs.
Loving my Mongoose Canaan, only 4" travel but pretty slack and stable. Cheap as well, not what you'd call light (not the model I bought anyway!) but by no means a porker. Worth a look IMO
Didn't the Anthem win bike of the year in a WMB recently?
I rode a pretty techy XC course at Margham Park this year on a trek top fuel 8. great handling bike and felt super quick on the climbs. well worth getting a test ride if you can
I've got an Anthem X and absolutely love it - fast, nimble fun! 😀
Go for the anthem. Amazing bike and will handle more than it should. I was riding everthing in the Alps on mine 2 years ago (rolling, not with air) and it was great. Also the Maestro system means that pedal bob is minimal and anything else feels sloppy!
I have an Anthem and it is great, excelent bike. light, fast, pure bike porn...
She live in the spair bedroom away from the rest of the bikes in the bike room 
Anthem X, got one built up from a 2010 frame and it is just unbelievably good. Can be built very light, pretty much no pedal bob to speak of and very good terrain feedback. An absolute blast of a bike.
Turner Flux. Lovely.
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Ellesworth Truth
SC Superlight is good but if you have the bucks go for the SC Blur XC carbon..dribble..
Got to say the Anthem X is good - if you can get one to fit - for me a small was too small and a medium too big - shame there isn't an in between size as it would have been perfect.
Another vote for the Superlight also.
Giant Anthem X advanced SL O ...drool...
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I've fallen for my ST4 big time but it's my first full sus. bike so I don't have any reference point. However, I can already see that most of the reviews are on the money. It is already turning me into a hooligan. For me, it is the perfect all-round UK bike. From trail centre blasts to Enduros and 24 hour races. It'll be doing the lot with me.
Here's mine almost built.
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No pictures since it got built as I've been having too much fun riding it to stop and get the camera out!
+Mongoose canaan .. mines the elite 😀
Full xt , fox / rockshox etc ..... 100 mm of lovelyness
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Titus Racer X?
Anthem's a superb all day kind of bike, but in the mucking around stakes the st4 wins hands down
Surfr, what weight did yours end up?
My Isis a burly 4 incher can't get em anymore though
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Pace have got a new 4" model FS out next year if you can wait, nice slack head angle, well slacker than most 4" bikes.
Chumba XCL, super tough, agile and VERY stiff. Seriously this frame is a great UK short travel frame, very underrated!
I have a couple of frames on offer too 🙂
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4 hours Si? You are losing it!
The turner flux looks like a nice bike, haven't tried one in case I like it and then might be tempted to buy one.
+ about 12 for the Anthem X...! 🙂 And even more so if you run it with slightly longer forks - it comes alive.
but local riding not that extreme, with lots of linking farm tracks/back roads.
A nice, comfy hardtail. Spend what you save on a biking holiday.
st4 ftw
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4 hours Si? You are losing it!
yeah, my Dad's business has just burnt down so been a little busy helping out.....
Meta 4??
Anthem X. It's just mind blowingly good.
Don't have a weight for mine yet. Will pop to the LBS and see if they have scales. Feels ok to me and lighter than a friends 18 inch five
I had a stock ST4 Pro with pedals at 28.5lb so about the same as Mount Vision 5.8
Blur XCc
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(OK, mibbe I'm cheating a little with 120mm up front.)
All of the fun of a bigger bike, stiffer than most, and without any weight penalty.
ASR SL - if you can find one.
This year I've been lucky enough to ride several of Merida's 96 range.
They may be touted as race bikes but I put a set of risers on the carbon framed one I had for a fortnight (back when all the trails were baked hard) and have never ridden anything that puts fast and comfortable together as well as that bike did. Even the lower specced ally versions seem to do that too.
Superlight. Been on a diet since the summer and does exactly what it says on the tin
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I've been riding a commencal super4 all summer and have to say it's been great.
Have had zero reliability issues, and other than changing the contact points, bars (for carbon) and tyres (which were great on dry hardpack, shite on everything else) haven't felt the need to upgrade anything.
Well worth a look