So, about to purchase a new 160+ AM bike to compliment my Sanderson 140mm hardtail (which I built up from my 5 year old Commie meta5 components). I wanted the Sanderson as my day-today riding is techie alpine singletrack but I wanted a hardtail for ease of maintenance (also knowing a 160 bike was on the cards).

Now i am looking for an AM full suss that i will use occasionally for the more serious descents around my home and trips to local uplift spots (climbing ability is not top of the list). I live in the Lake Como/Maggiore area of italy and there are ever more small ski resorts close by opening lifts during the summer – Italy has been bit slow on the update on this (as usual!), Pila excepted of course.

Budget is £2.5k max and due to my location and hectic life there is no way I will get to do test-rides (I have always bought bikes this way without issue so far – lots of research).

So I have narrowed it down to 2 bikes (sorry can’t get links to work):

Orange Alpine 160 2014 (26) – £2250 Sunset MTB – sale
Cube Fritzz 180 2015 (27.5) – £2299 Tweeks – not sale

Alpine is is a 26 and the Cube 27.5, having only ridden 26 I have no idea how much difference this makes. A lot of my riding is steep tight singletrack and I like to play around on the trail so I think 26 would be ok.
The cube has a dropper post and bigger forks which I see as advantages.
The climate is dryer here and it will not be my main bike so resistance to UK winters is not a major factor.

Internet research leads me to believe the Orange may be the more playful bike.

Anyway I was just interested in opinions and any suggestions to help me finalize and push the button!

Of course if anyone finds themselves in this part of Italy I will happy to show off some of the good stuff..

I couldn’t believe the price of that Fritzz when I saw it last week.
Is there a review about?

why not a proper DH bike if you have lift access?

Nothing available locally?
You are probably in the Canyon/YT price points too.

Usual thread will ensue with a lot of I like what I have and I predict an Orange win due to weight of numbers….

due to my location and hectic life there is no way I will get to do test-rides

Do you find time to ride your bike? 😉

In the usual spirit of recommending what you’ve got, in addition to the two above I would also suggest a look at an orbea rallon. The basebike is just over 2k . It descends absolutely amazingly and climbs ok. It way better than my old ibis mojo hd at going downhill, but not quite as good uphill.

I bought frame only with the bos Kirk shock.

If you want second hand my ibis mojo hd frame and ccdb air shock is currently on eBay and is fetching only £700, which I think will be a bargain for whoever gets it if it stays around that price.

Are you a small?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/nukeproof-mega-am-275-comp-bike-2014/rp-prod107266

Am I a small, err no, unfortunately not ;0) (18″ is my size, 5,11 , 95 kilos)

@mike, yep always find time for riding (trails on doorstep) – cleaning and fettling bikes not so much!

I would love a DH rig just for uplift days (and maybe in the future) but I also need something for the bigger descents away from the lifts which would be 70% of the usage.

I love the mojo, one of the guys i ride with sometimes has one but at 95 kilos I don’t think I could trust carbon, I know that is in the head only but i think it would be in the back of my mind anyway..

oh and regarding being available locally, yes but normally much more expensive than in the UK. Also enduro/freeride/DH bikes are harder to find, Italian MTB culture is still very XC orientated so only specialist shops sell bikes 160+ (this is slowly changing)

Typical STW over budget suggestion…
http://www.yt-industries.com/shop/en/Bikes/Trail/Capra-CF-Comp-2

If it was me I would go for a Specialized Stumpjumper Evo or Enduro from Bike Scene in the sale, both are well capable for the Alps and you get piece of mind with their warranty if something goes wrong. They also have a first class crass assisted replacement scheme if it all goes pear shaped.

The Fritzz gets good reviews in the German press (suprise), the only one in English is:

The Review | CUBE Fritzz 180 HPA SL 27.5