Strengths: Really supply suspension eats the hits.
Weaknesses: Coming from a hardtail its hell on the climbs!
Overall: Spent only 1 weekend at Coed y Brenin on the bike as it was lent to me whilst my hartail was indisposed. Having ridden the trails a number of times before on hardtails the bike was a revelation downhill. The big grippy tyres work really well and the fox forks and shock eat the hits. Climbs were not so good. Almost no bobbing whilst seated in the middle ring but other than that its all over the place. I'd want lockouts I think. Its also a long bike which takes some getting around tight corners. If you ride XC with emphasis placed on the downs it could be the bike for you. If like me however you like to beat people up the climbs as much as tear up the downs you might want to look elsewhere.
Strengths: Cheap, looks good, rides well. Stable handling maybe not as lively as the Kona it replaced.
Weaknesses: Not as light as an aluminium frame would be at the price. Paintwork a bit poor.
Overall: I ride the odd XC race, all kinds of trails from Lake district passes to Coed y Brenin and Glentress, Polaris and have done the Sleepless solo on it and its never let me down yet. Merlin sorted out the hub when the axle snapped so I cant complain about them either.
Strengths: Fast tyre that copes with mud surprisingly well. Used on Sleepless in the Saddle this year which was quite muddy and these tyres were excellent. They obviously slide more than a wider tyre but it seems to be predictable and therefore controlable.
Weaknesses: Not for rocky terrain. Need to switch to a wider tyre for that. So a weakness is lack of all round use causes tyre changes. Only had them a few months so cant comment on durablity.
Overall: Great tyre for softer conditions and when speed is at a premium.
Weaknesses: freehub seized and drive side cones shot after 6 months use. Should probably have serviced every three but thought every 6 months should be fine.
Strengths: Easy to fit and remove. Keeps bike much more stable than paniers. Off road capable. Roll top bag is totally waterproof (tested in Norway!). Cheack out the sealed bearings in the wheel. Above all it looks cool!
Weaknesses: Cheap!!!! Yes I mean it. Look at the price of quality paniers. An offroad capable rear rack alone costs £50 then add £80 for paniers then front rack and paniers and a bar bag. Quality items will add up to more than £240.
Overall: It will carry everything you will ever need for touring on and offroad much better than paniers (except for small light loads).
Strengths: erm..................... Routes are usually OK of the few I've done but are always too short. Workshop stuff is good when its appropriate to your bike
Weaknesses: They go to exciting foreign places and only tell you who to pay to be guided by, I want to get route info before I go and do it on the cheap. Shite> Why do they not do what seems obvious and test race bikes in races? Then they'd maybe understand why riser bars and long travel forks are not fitted to every bike. Similarly other types of bike are criticsed for not being suitable for what they want regardless if thats what they're aimed at.
Overall: Good ad's for mail order and thats about it
