I have two bikes that sit in this area, both XL & both mentioned above, they are…
Transition sentinel v2, 160 front, 150 rear, full 29er, currently Fox 36 & Float x2 with Exo+ Maxxis, etc
Nukeproof Mega v4 297, 170 front, 165 rear, MX wheels, currently Fox 38 & Fast coil with DD Maxxis etc
On paper they read very similar, but in reality they a quite different, the Transition is lighter, pedals better, carries speed better across flatter terrain, has a livelier, poppier feel, but also has a slacker head angle, lower stack & longer wheel base, its also quicker to lose composure in the big stuff and can be more cumbersome in tight turns.
The Mega is a plough, its hammers thru the rough, but is noticeably heavier, the frame and the build, it rolls slower & require much more energy to cover ground, but it is much more composed in the rough, handles the steep stuff better with its higher stack and turns better with the smaller wheelbase & smaller rear wheel.
I Prefer the rolling speed of the full 29er in general, obviously the lighter weight of the transition, but the higher stack & shorter reach & steeper head angle of the Nukeproof, I often ponder combining them both but always find a compromise & have no real idea where I would land, I often look at the new Bird Aeris AM carbon, the Transition Patrol, and several others, what I would say is know the geo, the fit and the suspension platform you want, the difference I notice least is the travel amount!!
