I have a Tallboy 4 in Carbon. I love it but it has been beefed up a bit as a short travel all mountain rig. With the right wheels and tyres you could have a quick bike but its not an XC bike by any means! Having said that it is great for long days out and super comfy plus incredibly capable for a short travel bike. Stack is more than most so quite upright, plus the shock definitely needs a bit more pressure than most recommendations. I found it a bit wallowy at the Fox and SC pressures and have increased by 15-20 PSI depending on backpack or not. The climbing improves dramatically and it has plenty of pop – though I am over 90Kg which doesn’t help!

Thanks for the feedback! Most locals are running bigger rigs than me and doing steeper gnarlier stuff so Assegai and dissector or the new Kryptotals seem to be faves – but on a shorter travel rig they are definitely too much.

We have most tyres here though the Hutchinsons are harder to get. Forekasters seem a good bet but are very pricey.  Specialized tyres are much better value than any other offering which is why I asked the question. Lots of Butcher/Eliminator combos on bigger travel rigs and bikes, but very few seem to be trying the downcountry/light trail options.

As a similar weight to OP, I would be cautious about the lower power motors. Tried an SX and I am not a high enough cadence rider to get the most out of it! The Giant Trance X E+ with the full power motor and smaller battery is awesome though. With the range extender, the whole thing is at least 4kg lighter than my last ebike. Been bombproof reliability-wise since I got it last year though I am in New Zealand so dust rather than mud is the main issue. Without the extender its more than enough for a few local laps and with it could do a decent ride as long as its not in turbo the whole time.

Within the UK the Stirling area is hard to beat, though depends on what you do job wise of course.

Could always move a long way – Rotorua keeps coming up but Nelson at the top of the South Island NZ is better IMO – and why I moved here two years ago! Loads of biking, a great MTB community and a lively small city.

Try any of the PNW posts – I have a cascade on my hardtail and its been faultless for 6 years despite everything being chucked at it. Pretty good price wise as well

Cotics BeFemax – not least as they had a couple of frames on offer as seconds

Another vote for the Speedframe as a helmet – I have been using a headband from Wickflow with my bike helmets for years – genius device with a silicone seal so the sweat runs down in the ear region rather than into your eyes – though it does fall down when you get very hot.  https://wickflow.com/ you have to pay in dollars but delivery is cheap.

Regarding the brakes I have now had similar issues with Shimano callipers one XTR and one XT on different bikes. Started with swapping pads out but the inability to brake and slow down plus the noise returned after a couple of rides. New calliper and all fine so I fear you are right about leaking seals

Would be interested to see if the new rear triangle could be retro fitted to the last model. The shorter chainstays and mullet setup could change that bike significantly as the back end was rather long! Don’t suppose you still have those settings for live valve – it would be good to know what they did.

How old is it – the new ones are OK the old ones were shite and I would just save the cash and go and buy a Oneup or PNW post.

Peter at Suspension inc was fab for my Xfusion forks, used Jtech for the Fox stuff who were fantastic as well so both worth a look.
Though I would look at another post – I have had One-up and PNW and both are seriously good and nicer action than the Reverb IMO. The PNW stuff is really nice for the cash nd loam lever is really lovely!

try the dirty rides lot -0 https://dirtyridesmtbapparel.co.uk/ they have some padding in their downhill trousers – though I would still wear knee pads underneath.

Cotic all the way – I have the Solaris and its very capable – even with a 120mm fork. Great for long days, faster than me downhill and good fun to ride. The team at Cotic are great to deal with too.

I got a set and though the fir is OK it is definitely snug compared to my Freerides. The sole is definitely less grippy as well. Having said that wearing them with long riding trousers means they don’t fill up with water!

Also for 1 by – Deore cassette 10 speed is available, or go flash and get 11 speed Depre with the big bail out gear and a new mech (assuming you can find one……)

If its hips, lower back and possibly knees then shorten your cranks. Plus a bit of Yoga for cyclists from Adrienne on Youtube. Sorted me out and made me faster on the bike. Dropped from 175 crank arm to 170 and I am 6ft1 and have a long leg!

As another Devon local I have some understanding for the rangers but the park authority, as ever, is out of touch and does not reflect the vast majority of the locals. £500 fine for riding a bike on an existing land rover track is madness!

Been wondering about Rahox – used them for a while but no joy on their site for ages.
I ended up spending on the Trckstuff ones and they are very good but a bit spendy.

Evil Offering is awesome, though depending on local terrain you could go Following – so capable – getting hold of either tricky mind. Reckon the Tallboy option is still a good one too – built up with a Fox 36 at 140mm and a DPX2, its way more capable than it should be for the travel.

Climbing is not an issue. Still not sure why we were all told the front wheel would flop around due to a slack HA. After recent geo changes it has become clear that some was talking bollocks.

Endura Humvee – hard to beat

Interested in a variation on this one!

Offering or Newer Tallboy with Fox 36 at 140? I know they are doing different things – looking at “trail” with a bit of comfort! Trading up from a Whyte T-129RS. Due to Covid I have not had a chance to ride either.

KMC ones work fine but all the new ones are meant to be single-use unfortunately.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone, I think the biggest issue is finding something the right size and in stock! Though DRa can supply of course.

Another vote for a Sonder – cortex or Evol – but you should be able to demo and pick your fave. Great value and shop teams have all been superb with customer care. And on the door step…..

Morvelo stormshield are good as an alternate – problem with them is stock.

check the insertion you have on your Seat tube as well. Kinks and pivots may get in the way! Get the longest drop that will fit definitely. I have ended up buying longer droppers for each bike as I have got used to riding with them.

If the BrandX is not available then have a look at the PNW cascade – I have one on my Cotic hardtail and it is very nicely made and you can change the drop by 30mm enabling maximum drop on the bike – Think it will be about £30 more plus the lever on top.

I think for the bigger players they will just suck it up and deal with it – Canyon, Orbea and YT all sell enough to make this part of the deal. Bikediscount.de et al could be the same. The Downside is that it will increase prices from Europe without a doubt. At one stage if we went WTO rules it would have meant bikes from outside Europe could have been had with taxes! Not happening now though.

Cost for an aluminium equivalent probably £5-600, or try the DT swiss 1700 which is slightly heavier but you should get for less. XM1501 is now carbon so I dare not look at the price or the XMC1200 but I would bet on £800-900!

I would second sticking more grip on the Antem up front and a dropper – the PNW ones are great value and the Loamlever is excellent.

As poah says those are good DT swiss wheels and to get lighter you will need to spend serious cash. Get set up tubeless and personally, I would stick with the minions over winter – they are heavy but they have traction and decent puncture protection. Going up to 2.6 just increases drag and weight and I don’t really see the benefit on a decent FS rig. For winter use Ikon/Recon is a waste of time.

Bizarrely thats a bit of luck! The break should heal well without any probs. If the AC joint had dislocated and popped up it never really heals. I did mine 5 years ago and when I saw my GP he said it would have been better to break my collarbone! Get well soon.

I now have a 591 but started with the 561 – if the cables are long enough you can turn the fork through 180 degrees which gets you an extra few mms depending on offset – my Whyte has a 51 offset so it worked quite well. Otherwise its bite the bullet and move to a 591 or 598

@molgrips – PNW – Got one on my hardtail – works well and lever action is good, Like the collar actuation as no cable rub on the frame. Only had it 6 months but no reliability probs or rotations etc.

Have an OneupV2 on the FS and that has been great, though my KS lev from 3 years ago has been fine too – that now on a mates bike and still going strong without a service.

For value both the PNW and the Oneup are very good IMO

The one up has a valve under the seat so you can play with pressure, though thats more about getting it back up again. I reckon they should be fine with compressing it.

For my money I would look at going 12 speed – sunrace 11-50 cassette and new rear mech/shifter. Then you will fit with that all in the future. It will fit your freehub but you will need a new chain as well……..

As for the oval – there are lovers and haters. I got one as my pedalling action is shite and it evens it out. For me it gives better traction when climbing as a result. Unsure about the efficiency stuff some speak about but I feel a benefit!

Had a Thomson till recently – 5 years and going strong (another dirt flap user here) but the service costs are silly. If you go for the full-on service it’s nearly £140 now. New PNW cascade with lever was the same cost and its a 170 drop.

Another vote for the Lezyne one here. I love it mainly cos I am old and blind so I can actually see the numbers!

Another one here to look at bike setup rather than HA. For me 66 should be fine. Bars likely to be way too wide though. Have a read of enduro mags piece about EWS bikes out earlier this month – If Mr Rude only needs 750 bars then 800 is going to be way to wide for most. Mine are cut down to 780 and I’m a 6’2″ gorilla!

Those adidas things are absolutely hideous! Thanks for the thought though.

Looking like SPDs and shoe covers for the winter then.

Cheers for the suggestions – genuinely stunned at the lack of even vaguely watertight options for flats!

I could go back to my SPDs and planetX neoprene shoe covers (great BTW) but really thought there would be something……