worldtraveller

Hi with a choice of so many brands out there. I am considering later in the year to purchase a new mt. bike now I am wanting to go with full suspension. For XC riding

I want to have bike that is capable of epic long rides and some mt bike marathons

So more less a bike for good XC riding. to handle it all.

Price wise at least 3000 I want to spend.
So good quality frame. reasonable light and good components . now i don't need top line XTR etc

So i like some suggestions of brands and links to specific bikes Perhaps a frame of carbon fiber might help.

so to help to narrow down my search etc.
thanks


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Daspydyr 

I like the Scott Spark or Salsa Tallboy. In that price range you should be able to find a well set up bike.

Nino Schurter has posted a couple of of XC Wins on his Scott. He is using 650B tires. He has a hardtail (Scale) and a FS, (Spark).

frankenmike 

I have been quite satisfied with my stumpy fsr for that type of riding.

dminor 

Yeti ASR-5.

pablosnazzy

ibis mojo sl-r. https://www.ibiscycles.com/bikes/mojo_sl-r/#

dminor 

Nice try there, Pablo, but worldtraveller's looking for a bike for around 3K - - not just the frame

Dilberto

What size are you? I may have your bike....

pablosnazzy

ah, i thought he said "at least 3000"...yes, well in that case...

santa cruz blur - https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/blurlt/

Zephyr11

Yeah, I read that as he wants to spend at least $3000 also. Although generally bikes around the $3k mark come with options for parts packages, so you can spend more if you want. If you're dropping that kind of coin though, you really want to test ride these bikes.

ed 

I got my butt handed to me riding my Parker the other day. My Parker is a 4x6 34.25lbs slopestyle bike. I was riding XC widdit.

The guys that killed me were riding S-Works Carbon Stumpy FSR 29'ers. I would say...I think they were riding good XC bikes and I would recommend them to the OP.


Ooops...just read the price limit was 3k. Sorry OP. Disregard. Will leave as a recommendation though in case you feel like selling a kidney or 3.

mrgrunt99

Devinci Dixon RC. A bit of a longer travel bike for xc, but with the adjustable geometry (via hi/lo setting on rear swingarm linkage) you can steepen or slacken the geometry to suit your needs for a particular ride. It comes equppied with hella nice componentry,and mine weighs in at 29lbs and some change. I now have ONE bike to suit my needs rather than an xc bike and longer travel bike. Luvin it!!


https://www.devinci.com/bikes/browse_9#9_31_95

Pamestique 

If you have $3000 to spend you can buy alot of bike. Probably one of the best pure cross-country bikes out there is the Santa Cruz Superlight. Speedgoat has them for around $2000 (cheaper version $1600) and with the money you save you can build up some custom wheels and have an XT crank; CK headset (which I was able to negotiate for when I bought the bike). I have an older Superlight (2006) and the newer version (2012) and like both equally. The bike now also comes in a 29er if that's your preference. And as the name denotes, it is a nice light climbing bike (weight 27 lbs which can be lightened up with different components) ) that does OK on the downhills (I added a stouter fork which helps).

lambo2124

Northrock XC6 is great.

ncw

Is it possible to not get a good bike for 3k+ these days from pretty much any brand? (Assuming it fits you, of course.)

I want to recommend the Giant Trance (my X1 was $2600 and I really like it), but I'm not sure if it really qualifies as XC and I'm probably not qualified to recommend anything anyway. My mtb experience is limited to my Trance and my entry level Revel 1. On Giant's site the Trance is listed as "Trail", in between "All Mountain" and "Competition/XC". It's made "to handle it all" as you said, which it does well. The Anthem is more of an XC bike. It comes in 26" or 29" and aluminum or carbon. The Trance is 26" only (for now), but also has a carbon version. https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-ca/...el=performance (Canadian link, I see you're from Canada.)

side note: I'm amazed at how many different bike brands there are. These "what bike" threads always have several brands I've never heard of and more that aren't available locally (that I know of). Maybe because I'm in a mostly roadie area.

bikeme

You're going to hear a lot of options, lol. I'm really enjoying my Santa Cruz Superlight with R-kit (XT, etc.). It was $2000. I swapped out seatpost for one with more setback, swapped grips and tires. I'm 6-1, 176# and ride XC, keeping the bike on the ground. If you're looking for bigger hits, maybe look at their Heckler or Blur. My SL is a fun XC ride, climbs well, soaks up bumps nicely. I've never bottomed out the travel but then again, I don't launch it.

TacomaSailor

I second the Trance recommendation - my X2 (somehow it ended up with XTR stuff on it) is a fantastic XC bike. I just did 26 miles and 3000' feet of climbing in the Laguna Mountains and it was ever so comfy!

And... no need to pay $3000 - I bought mine used (I couldn't see any wear anywhere) for $1000 - and had to supply pedals and seat.

lubes17319

RDO

errorunknown

I would say stumpjumper FSR, mines been working great. If you want an even faster XC machine with 29" wheels, consider the Specialized Epic or Trek Top Fuel.

ColinL

you can get really good deals on 26" bikes new and used because the world is going 29er crazy right now. if I bought a 29er in this price range, though, I would look hard at the Giant Anthem X, Santa Cruz Tallboy and the Trek Superfly 100. that was my shortlist before I decided that 26" prices could not be passed up.

I am starting the process of building up a Blur. actually... I'll just open my own thread about it.