I have been allocated £1500 of my own money from my loving wife! To buy a full suss bike to replace my trusty but old Rockhopper.
Any suggestions? I Like the Marin Rift Zone and also the Stumpjumper, but am open to suggestions.
I'm 5ft 9 and weigh 12.5 stone. Mainly ride muddy bridleways but get to Wales and Peaks when I can.

Orange Sub3.

Sorted.

Or go nuts and get a 5!!!

Kona Stinky

Spesh Enduro. £1500 should get you an 04 expert when the 05 comes out.

orange sub 3 sounds right up your bridleway.

dont know how much it is but i have a thing for cove hustlers at the mo.

this will change next week of course :)

No point asking really everybody who answers will have a different opinion. There are no real dogs out there for that sort of money so I would read the reviews in the mags and on this website and MTBR.com and narrow it down a bit then try to get a few test rides and see what you like. My opinion for what it,s worth is that Giant seem to give you more bike for the money, especially if you buy last years model. I have a NRS and find that it suits me just fine and in over 2 years I have had no maintenance issues with pivot bearings, bushes shock or anything else.

As Neil says, everyone has their opinion. For what it's worth, I've had a Rift Zone quad for two years.

I think the design and performance is excellent, but the bike is totally ruined by creaking that I can never get rid of for more than a couple of rides. I'm constantly stripping, greasing and rebuilding nigh on everything.

I'm now so pissed off with it that this winter it's going. Trouble is I can't find anything I prefer in performance terms.

I have a Gary Fisher Cake 2DLX, which is very nice. 5in of bob-free rear travel mated to a 120mm fork, weighs less than my hardtail & lets me climb on lumpy stuff that I'd be pushing my hardtail up.

I just got the BMW full suss bike, full xtr! if you try, you should get one for £1600 (originally £2500).
They may be a bit of a pose but they are speced to the hilt on a top quality frame.

Soon this years bikes will be discounted so your budget will cover bikes currently over £1500.
Have ridden a Rift Zone & found the suspension action excellent - What Mountain Bike? Best Full Sus. under £2K 2004.
OR what about a high end secondhand bike?

Have you tried the stumpjumper and the marin ? My hubby has same dilemmma but the marin was wrong size for him too big or too small ...he loves his stumpjumper...don't think there are many / any 2004 left thought so may have to wait .

best advice is look through the mags and net for discounted ones and keep an eye on ebay!!

get down the lbs and try em for size, then wait another month and a bit.By that time we should see the '05 models in the shops,which means that your money will go a lonnnnnnng in getting an '04 model.Personally -kona, but to each their own

i'm in the same boat.
i really like the orange five but i'm waiting to see the 05 first.