Heckler all the way. I've had mine 2 years and ridden the living daylights out of it in Derbyshire. Other than changing the bearings once a couple of months ago I've hardly had to touch the frame. Mine's built up kinda solid like (Z1s, discs, IRC Kujos) but it'll still outclimb nigh on anything else (hardtail or full sus), and it rocks on the way back down. The superlights seem to build up really light and seem to be equally bombproof - I reckon they'd make a really good Trailquest/Polaris machine. They're also quite comfortable to carry should you ever have the need, unlike far too many other comedy frame designs.
I chose the Santa Cruz for it’s simplicity, the fact it had been around a while, folks raved about it and I could just about afford it. I knew couple of people who had owned them, I took advice, test rode a Heckler and the awful bouncy Orange O2 (to show me what a full suspension bike shouldn’t do) around some local woods. It felt just like my Kona hardtail only with more traction, less skipping and a smoother ride. That was two years ago, I didn’t need to try anything else. I’d bought the Kona, not because they set the world alight, but because people rated them, the frames didn’t change much from year to year because they had it right in the first place, and the 1994 componentry looked like a sensible choice. I reckoned a decent frame was the way to go, the components would get changed when they wore out. This way I don’t have a garage full of purple bike bits or framesets with elevated chainstays and lots of other innovations which fell by the wayside. However I do respect people who go and buy the more ‘interesting’ stuff. If it wasn’t for them and their feedback we wouldn’t get anywhere would we? I personally don’t have the time or the inclination to be buggering about fixing stuff that doesn’t work, I want something I can get on and ride without too much aggravation. That’s why there’s loads of Marin full suspension bikes out there, they are affordable, work well and are reliable. They get minor modifications each year keep them up there with the best. They may be the Ford Mondeo of the mountain bike world, so what, that’s surely a great compliment isn’t it? So my Heckler does the job admirably, a mixture of old ‘98 Shimano stuff, thumbshifters, 7 speed, XLIte, Pace RC36’s, Greaseguard headset all easy stuff to keep running. As for dull, I suppose that depends how you define it. I was trying to demonstrate to a friend how much better his biking could be if he just spent some cash, so we swapped bikes. My Kona for his Raleigh Lizard. We rode down a twisty, steep tarmac hill in the Yorkshire Dales, his bike may have been dull, the experience certainly wasn’t.
I had finally progressed up to my dream bike (Zaskar Le), when I had a go on a buddies Heckler.. Oh bugger, I had a new and bouncy superlight soon after. It does everything my Zaskar did, but a lot faster and dare I say it, it actually goes uphill quicker as well. I was sceptical at first, because I was of the belief that full sus took the fun out of riding, and whilst it does allow you to take stupid lines over the trail, the main thing is that I come back after every ride with a huge smile on my skint mush... I also test rode the whyte preston bike before I went for the superlight, but I was unimpressed with the dead feeling of the front end compared with my pace evo2 forks. Even though my new bike is amazing, the component that I have really enjoyed and never regretted buying was a set of hope sport discs, and every quickly ridden bike should have em :-)
I've got a Scott G-zero. I tried most of the other popular full-sussers out before I bought it and preferred the Scott. I use it for general trail riding, Polaris, etc. Single pivot is a big plus (take it from someone who used to work in a bike shop...) as there's a lot less to go wrong. The Scott also has the advantage of having bearings that are easily obtainable from any car supplies shop.
For me the Marin's are the best combination of value and performance, but special praise must be heaped on them for the backup service. I've had 2 Mount Visions, a B17, a DH-FRS and borrowed a Wolf Ridge many times. I've seen the new Marins and they llok more expensive for next year, but there's been quite a price hike.
Santa Cruz Superlights are flasher, less common and definately have more kudos, but are not as stiff laterally. I'd recomment these if you have money to burn and don't ride too aggressively - but bear in mind that when you do get a good suspension bike you WILL ride harder!
The new Trek Fuels and Klein's look interesting, but we'll see.
The Specialized are good unless you want to lower the saddle for a bit of freeriding and you do have more pivots and therefore maintainence may become an issue later.
For lateral rigidity don't go past the Orange Mr XC or Sub 5, bigger rear travel than anything else at the weight and comes built with hope hubs and whatever colour you want, our demo bike just won the Scottish Champs a couple of weeks ago on a very hilly, technical Ae course. Santa Cruz SL is sweet but you may want to hold on for a look at the new Scott Strike 20 carbon framed bike, I saw it at the Scott dealer day and it is incredible, it'll blow away the lightweight stuff and you can get in pure XC 100mm travel or a longer travel playbike geometry, Psylo equipped thrash bike Strike FX which still weighs in at only 12.6 kg. Whatever you do tho' don't believe us go and test ride them all.
i have 98 riftzone with 99/2000 parts much better than a hartail. mines for sale but if you have the money go for on of the new marins (as in this months mbuk(november)mines for sale so i get the new20001 mount veision(spelling!) santa cuz are good. marins better value. santa cruz have a better selling on price. want bikes did this years trailquest chamipions ride? marins!
I'm also waiting receipt of my new full sussie frame from Giant, the XTC Team. At under 2Kg with shock and at £750 rrp it's a real bargin. Had many good comments from those who have them although there not many as they are like Chicken s---t due to the limited production. This years model is even better and has a further travel reduction facility. Cheers
Listen to Rik Alsopp. I've had my Sub5 now for a month or so and in that time been to the top of Hight Street in the Lakes and other epic stuff. The extra travel at the back combined with the superb fox shock means you can ride over / up stuff you wouldn't believe - it climbs FAR better than a hardtail. Coming back down hill again is awesome - the frame's so stiff it really inspires confidence. PS. Kered - don't you mean rocking horse s--t, chicken s--t's pretty common....
