I tried them both back to back on a short test ride @ Cannock and my thoughts were:
Summary
M-109 – flippin fast and furious, but not stupidly XC ‘only’
T-129 – Good fun & able to handle most stuff the UK has to throw at it, not as F&F but not lardy either
The M-109 is as close to my SC Superlight in that it was fast and wanted you to ride it faster, but not so head-down, bum-in-the-air that it wasn’t some fun at the same time. I didn’t feel that the steeper headangle detracted from it’s abilities, though admit the cannock demo track is hardly steep or gnarly. I found half way round I been in the outer ring of the triple from the start and didn’t feel I was struggling… so so fast.
If anything I came away from the T-129 a little underwhelmed. It is not a bad bike, hardly. It was the traily type bike I like/want, more so that the M109 but just no ‘soul’ or maybe a better description was that it handled everything so well/easily it didn’t feel like I was involved(?). Maybe this would pay off when the terrain gets steeper, as no doubt it can handle a lot more than I currently ride*. I also tried the Spesh Enduro, for a laugh, and the T-129 was well on it’s way to being a short(er) travel version of that, so so capable if a bit clinical? (for me)
Conclusion
Though the M109 was the faster bike, I didn’t feel it was a ‘fun’ bike either, more something you’d do lots of miles on fast. The ‘fun’ bike is definitely the T-129’s mantle, and capable of anything you could throw at it, expect a full on DH course.
…I came away thinking I want a Orange Gyro 😳 in your case I’d suggest the M-109 will do what you want (though jumps might push it a little).
*I feel I was more than a little distracted by my demo on the Gyro, to take in the T-129 ride’s to draw indepth conclusions about it. After the test ride I’d decide it was my next bike but then I rode the Orange.