like the 5-6 inch range.

i have 100mm FS and im dreaming of a 140-150mm FS. just wondering what my options are.

This is where everyone chimes in and says that their trail bike is the best! Lol

So I'll start... I'm a fan of the Nomad.

But seriously you can't go wrong with SC Nomad or Blur, Giant Reign, Intense Tracer/Carbine, Speshy Enduro (even though I don't really like Specialized), Banshee Rune or Spitfire, etc, etc, etc.

x2 For the Nomad

I'm the last person that should (or will) offer specific advice on a FS bike.

I will say, you can be driven to certifiable insanity if you spend too much time researching and not enough time test-riding.

But of course you have to start somewhere, and asking the good folks here is a great start. An idea of your budget will help narrow things down.

Then, keep an eye out for demo days and ride the bikes that meet your criteria. Maybe try a rental for a weekend once you narrow things down even further. You might even get an offer to try another DT'ers bike.

Then, buy a Canfield One.

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"Those skilled at the unorthodox are infinite as heaven and earth, inexhaustible as the great rivers."
— Tzun Tzu

One of my Instructors always said this, "It Depends."

Main thing is, what is your budget?

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My Favorite Trail is unknown to many, everybody here loves it.

Nomad.

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"My favorite part of riding a bike is when I get off the bike." - Jim Gaffigan

While we wait for your budget, I will offer the following observations.

Danny you seem like you are going to be riding for a long time based on your posts and your obvious enthusiasm for the sport. I have seen many riders like you get a trail-bike "in the $800 to $1,200 range," only to upgrade a few months later to a bike costing much, much more. Maybe you have already gone through this? Do yourself and your checkbook a favor and find out what your dream bike is and go for it, provided you do not trigger bankruptcy or a divorce.

Then, you will delay upgradeitis for a longer period of time since you paid dearly, and will enjoy a really nice bike LIKE A TURNER for a longer period.

Have fun shopping!

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"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

Isn't a Nomad a bit big to be called a trail bike?

In my case I bought a used Chumba XCL and I like it fine. I rode a buddie's Nomad up in Santa Cruz for a weekend and it certainly seemed a much bigger bike.

As for the 'buy a trail bike and upgrade soon after', I noticed some people ride the crap out of what they have, others always have excuses for why they need a bigger bike. Just sayin'.

Is it a Turner 5-spot? I hope so, because I'm jonesin' for that bike...

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"New York City is a mismanaged carnival of stupidity that is desperate for revenue and anxious to criminalize behavior once thought benign."
--Alex Baldwin, unknowingly describing his socialist utopia.

Yeah a 6 inch bike is usually classified "all mountain" and 5 inch as a "trail bike" but IMHO they're so close I'd just go for the 6 inch bike. You can build a pretty light 6 inch bike and they climb so damn well I don't really see the benefit of shrinking an inch of travel for slightly less weight and slightly steeper geometery. Unless you need an excuse for not riding stuff "If only I had a bigger bike... "

YMMV

I'm looking for a new frame to, and I've narrowed it down to five bikes.

Nomad of course

Firebird

Slash 9

Enduro

Chicoltin

All pricey and freaken awesome.

All around the 6" trail bike mark. We all know 5" is not enough

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That's...


what....


she...



said!!





(and by "she" I mean Italo's mom!)

I love this question....


The only bad 5"-6" bike is the one that doesn't get ridden. Everything else is great (take that with a grain of salt)

I ride a Diamondback Mission III. I love it.
Used to ride a Diamondback Mission I... loved it.
Used to ride a Giant Reign 3.... loved it.
Used to ride an Ironhorse... loved it.
Used to ride a Mongoose XR200... loved it till it almost killed me.

Get one that has tires, decent brakes, and some SRAMano components and you'll be smiling from ear to ear in no time.

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Best riding advice I ever got... "make sure you have air in your tires"

Based on what I ride and my buddies ride.....

Santa Cruz Blur LT or Nomad for the "burlier" stuff.
Turner Spot
Pivot Mach 5
Giant Trance or Reign

All good rigs indeed.

Now get your ride ON!

at my current position in life i can not afford a santa cruz, turner, titus, pivot, yeti bike as much as i drool over looking at them. maybe in 10 years when im making more money and are more stable financially.

i kind of want one of the kona dawg's in good condition. that would be ideal! and more in my price range of sub 1k.

if i had the flow i would get a rocky mountain altitude or slayer. or a yetti 575. or a pivot mach 5.