Now Im getting a bit older and more fragile/aware of my own mortality, Im thinking of down sizing my bike frame and forks.

Currently I am running a Banshee morphine frame with some marzzochi All mountain 2's on a 2 ring+bash ring set up on the gears.

Im looking to get something that would take a reasonable bashing, bearing in mind I have no finesse what so ever. Id also like something I could chuck a set of slicks onto to do some reasonable road training and possibly even a Triathalon!

Im also considering the gear set up options. 3 or (darse I say it) SS!!!

Forgot to say,

Needs to be a hardtail!

The budget really depends on what I can raise from the sale of the other parts.

I appreciate that makes it a bit difficult when it comes to passing on advice.

I would say at the moment the budget would be around £400 max for the frame then I suppose the forks depends on the frame!

Im not using my bike as often as I used to and Im not travelling to Scotland etc very often either so I suppose the budget should reflect that also.

Nothing too pimp butsomething nice to look at

Didn't think about that!

Might need to talk the Baroness round having 2 bikes.

I would miss the morphine.

I have had 3 Inbred's in various guise, a Cotic Soul and now have a 2007 Cove Handjob XC.

They are all good frames but subtley different.  On-One's have a long TT and are designed for a seatpost with a smidge of layback and a shortish (80mm) stem.  They are stable, good for shitty UK weather and climb well.  Not so hot in the tight and twisty stuff and get a bit out of shape with anything over a 100mm fork on.  Good for open moorsy trails and long days in the saddle.

The Cotic is an excellent frame and handles in a pretty neutral fashion.  A touch shorter than the Inbred with slightly steeper angles so it climbs like a mountain goat, even with a 130mm fork on.  Good on descents but not great at very high speeds - again due to steeper angles.  Brilliant woodsy singletrack machine.

The Cove is a bit of a mad scientist.  It's right on the edge of neutral/too laid back.  With a 100mm fork on it handles OK, climbs OK but needs better technique than either the Inbred or the Cotic when going up.  BUT with the fork wound out to 130mm, it is a fucking hoot on the descents and seems to get better the faster you go.  I had about 8-10 rides on mine since I had it and it's dumped me off twice!  Both times because it encouraged me to fly faster than my comfort zone and I cocked up.  I absolutely love the bike, but it may kill me.  If you love the downs and are willing to work a tad harder with your climbing technique, then the Cove's your man.  IMO, it is best served with an adjustable fork though.  I've a Revelation 426 Air U-Turn on mine which suits it perfectly.

I appreciate the words of encouragment CGD but work and 4 kids get in the way of me travelling to 'proper' trails which I think best suit the Banshee.

I just think that being stuck in the east cost of essex restricts...

No, your right. I need to get back into the right state of mind and get out on it more often.

Might consider a second hand rodie though and ride to work now and then.

aye, in can be difficult to find time, before you know it two or three weeks has passed without going out on the bike and i find the longer i leave it the harder it is to motive myself to get out again. i know its easy to say but now i make time.

i wish my place of work was close enough to bike to (and not need to carry a shit load of tools around with me).save money and get out on the bike with out taking up anytime, its got to be a winner..

If you do change a 456 is a cracking buy.

 I would keep the AM2s on it if you did change the frame as they would be a fine length.  I run 150mm on my 456 (not because I really wanted to, I had them about.....) and its a complete ploughing machine going down, but a careful eye does need to be kept on it going up as its gets wandery/back heavy rather easily (no surprises there.......).  My main beef with the bike is that it is an utter shit to hop over things.

 IMO a banshee is overkill unless you are hucking the crap out of it, and if you were to sell it you may well be able to cover the cost of a 456 as they are great value........

But then as cgd said, if you want to ride more, you'll make yourself go do it regardless of steed! 

Go for the 456 and put your AM2's on it,  cost £150 + new seat post I guess maybe BB,  my 06 AM2's can travel adjust from 130 - 150mm so run them in 130 for a more XC angle feel.

There 1/2lb heavier than Rev's I guess,  but will you really notice or care.

Althought the Rev's are much plusher and better over small bumps than the AM2 which is pretty much a big hit only fork due to there crap damping.

The man speaks the truth!