Nibby.
My GF and I have SC bikes.
I have had a few SC frames over my time.
I have recently sold my SC Blur LT for a Blur LTC.
This was due to me riding my GF Bronson C.
The Carbon version is stiffer, lighter, snappier and flexes differently.
This isn’t a mental difference but a tangible one i can feel when climbing and pushing on at pace.
I used to be able to flex my old SC at the BB side to side a lot the carbon version has none of this flex.
It’s not cheap to get Carbon editions but worth it IMO.
Pikes are a worthy upgrade.
They sink less in the middle of the stroke helping to maintain the head angle of the frame and increase stability.
They are a improvement over the RL fork that will last and improve the way the bike handles.
Kashima coating.
I find the std CTD shock ok but it can be improved.
I bought my Blur LTC with a rp23 none Kashima and instantly swapped it for a kashima coated rp23 I had TFTuned for the previous frame.
The std shock is ok, I found it worth getting the shock push’d or buying a shock like the float X or Monach plus over the std that comes with SC frames.
Also be aware the lever on the CTD gets filled with crud and jams up, keep it filled with grease in the small detents that are on the underside of the blue lever.
I’ve never been happy with the supplied shocks on my SC frames and will look to change to a CCDB air, monach plus or float x in the future. As is my TFTuned Push’d RP23 is good enough.
I can’t put a tangible reason to why i.e. blowing though the travel, poor on large hits, poor small bump compliancy. They just don’t feel sorted.