I have a Pike at 150mm and it feels really well balanced with the 135mm rear. For most of my time with the Spitty I've had it in the low setting, but I just recently changed it to the neutral as I was getting a lot of pedal strikes on the rocky trails that make up 90% of my typical riding. The change to neutral so far has been nearly imperceptible at the bars, but noticeably less pedal strikes. Still, only a small sample size with neutral so more riding is needed to get a better picture.What travel are people generally running?
I'm wanting to build up with a more trail/ all day based build (on the lighter end of the scale) have a matoc at 160mm but could lower it to 150 if that sharpens it up (27.5 both ends)
Even though I haven't ridden it at 160mm in the front, I'd say the change of HTA between that and 150mm of about .5* would have around about the same impact as the change from low to neutral at the rear dropouts.
However, the one sorta big difference and in a good way would be you'd get a little higher BB at 160 vs 150 and could keep the dropouts in the low setting, resulting in about 64.5* HTA. All depends on what you're after, though. Maybe 160 up front and neutral might be perfect for your all day type of build, putting your right about 65*
For where and how I ride, this bike has been perfect with 150mm. It covers winch and plummet rides as well as more meandering rides with longish XC sections linking together steep/rocky sections. It is 100% a trail bike that likes it spicy.
For reference, my build is ~30# with pedals and without trying at all to be weight conscious. I do have carbon wheels (Nox Farlow/DT350) and 2.5 Maxxis DHR/Agressor in EXO tires — not to save weight, but because I built up my Spitty from what I took off my old frame and because those wheels and tires work well for where I ride. No other carbon or lightweight components.