Hi
I have a 2017 Slash that I built up from a frame and it’s fantastic but a bit of a steam roller and therefore I don’t use it as a general trail bike.
My Following is much more playful and involving and I have a Santa Cruz Tallboy LTc that is a better xc/trail bike than both of them.
I honestly can’t decide which of the 3 to use for the Ardrock next year. I ride in Reeth all of the time and any of them would do the job.
Have also owned a first generation Carbine 29er (with140 rear travel) and that is a fantastic bike which I would still have if I’d bought the correct size and could easily be used for the OPs intended use.
Im 6ft and bought a medium second hand and it was just too short. The mate I sold it to managed to pick up a large frame on eBay which I hadn’t been able to source and swapped the frame over and I would have that in a second.
The latest version of the Carbine sounds more like the Slash but I’ve not ridden one.
Cheers
Steve