I am loooking to buy a new MTB, in order to upgrade from my Mongoose Rockadile AL. The current bike is good and I would have kept it for longer but as it is the wrong size (Medium and I am 1.86cm) it is painful.
As my riding has improved, I am after a FS bike. However I want it to be a "master of all trades". I am willing to pay for an excellent frame and save money on the peripherals and upgrade them as they break / wear down.
I am quite heavy (110kg) so my main priority is not the ultra-light / race oriented bike than might break/bend/crack under my weight. On the other hand I do not want a 'freeride' bike that will be difficult and perhaps more tiring than needed on ascends etc.
My main riding now invlolves rocky dirtroads with some steep ascends (and therefore descends). I am not interested in 'Freeriding' but I would like the bike to be able to handle minor jumps and drops (note my weight)
After doing my reserch on the net I have limited my choices between the Yetis (ASR, ASX, Kokopelli or the new ASR575), the Santa Cruz (Blur or Heckler) and Klein Palomino.
Any one ridden these bikes ? Any of the above bikes fit the bill ? Are there others that I may have missed ?
As my riding has improved, I am after a FS bike. However I want it to be a "master of all trades". I am willing to pay for an excellent frame and save money on the peripherals and upgrade them as they break / wear down.
I am quite heavy (110kg) so my main priority is not the ultra-light / race oriented bike than might break/bend/crack under my weight. On the other hand I do not want a 'freeride' bike that will be difficult and perhaps more tiring than needed on ascends etc.
My main riding now invlolves rocky dirtroads with some steep ascends (and therefore descends). I am not interested in 'Freeriding' but I would like the bike to be able to handle minor jumps and drops (note my weight)
After doing my reserch on the net I have limited my choices between the Yetis (ASR, ASX, Kokopelli or the new ASR575), the Santa Cruz (Blur or Heckler) and Klein Palomino.
Any one ridden these bikes ? Any of the above bikes fit the bill ? Are there others that I may have missed ?