[ep3w]

I'm looking at buying my first full suspension bike and want to check out all my options. First off I am looking to spend around $2k. I will be moving to Seattle in about a month and want something that will let me take advantage of all the new terrain. Currently I ride mostly XC, but I want something that I can use to get into more all mountain/occasional lift served type riding. Nothing too big, smaller drops/jumps etc. I'd like something that won't be too out of place and let me try new stuff. Currently top on my list is the Stumpjumper FSR comp or Reign although I have looked at the Diamondback Mission and Trance X also. So far I have only ridden the Trance and Stumpy around a parking lot and really liked the feel of the stumpy. Any other opinions? Any other bikes I should be sure to check out? Is the Reign going to be too much if I still ride a decent amount of technical XC trails? I'd like something not too hard to find locally just so I can try it first.

 

[ep3w]

Anyone?

 

[Frogeye]

Stumpy fsr comp

I ended up going with a stumpy fsr comp 29r. Great bike. Climbs well, does dh well too. Best of all it's <30lb. The rear Fox Triad allows 5 inches of travel and the front Rock Shox Reba SL has120mm of travel. Plenty of travel for XC and AM.

I would test ride and test ride and test ride. Good luck.

 

[mnigro]

The Trance and Stumpy might not be enough bike for bike parks but I guess that depends on how you'll ride them.
What I would suggest is that you wait until you get to Seattle. Once there you'll be able to check out some of the places that you'll be riding, see what types of bikes (not brands) others are riding on.
It'll also be time for the new season's bikes to hit the market and you'll be in a better position to pick up one of the bikes you've mentioned when it is on sale.

All that said, can't really go wrong with Spec, Giant or Trek. You also might find some other brands in the local shops to test ride.

 

[ep3w]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am getting eager, but being in Chicago now there isn't a whole lote of options to test ride as far as 5"-6" travel bikes. I have been focusing a bit more on finding shops with the bikes I am lookin at in Seattle to test ride. I'm hoping to pick up a 2010 model on sale or something. I'm really starting to lean towards a Reign, but I just don't want to feel like I am hauling around too much bike 95% of the time, but it seems like Washington should have the type of terrain to take advantage of it if I want to.