crazycanuck,

I recently made the move from hardtail to full suspension (August last year) and absolutely love my susser, however I still really enjoy riding my hardtail, or at least I will again when I build my new one. I would also suggest that you go for a full-suss but if you can keep a useable hardtail. A hardtail is good for when you feel all the suspension is making you lazy about line choices etc. I will be using my hardtail for shorter more social rides while using the full-suspension for longer rides. Since getting the susser I no longer feel like I've gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson after a 6 hour rocky ride.

Just to keep with the emerging theme of the thread, I also ride a Titus, an XS Moto-Lite its a phenomenal bike. I'm 5ft 4 and have shortlegs/arms and long torso. It has 5" travel which makes it one of the longest travel small frames.

You don't mention your budget however, I live in the UK and a MotoLite frame with RP3 retails here for around £1400, I think a Racer X is more. I wanted my susser to be quite light and that meant paying the premium for lightweight but strong components. I think I spent around £3000 on the whole thing which includes getting the frame/forks and a couple of other bits sent directly from the US when the exchange rate was very good, I reckon I would have spent closer to £4000 if I hadn't done this.

I'm not sure what bike parts, especially American exotica, retail for where you are but importing from the States could be expensive (I did get stung for about £300 import tax but it was still worth it).


I would also suggest you demo anything and everything preferably getting it out on the trails you ride, I got a goood four hour demo on the Titus on some really rocky trails before I decided to spend the money. I also found that Spesh Stumpjumper (same suspension design as the Titus) not bad and surprisingly light, I personally didn't like the Santa Cruz Juliana. I know of people who ride Orange 5 14" frames - not sure if you can get Orange bikes there.