Help with choosing new FR/XC bike!

Wrincle said:

Well, all this sunny spring weather in Canada has got me yearning to bike again. I haven't biked for a long time...and I broke my old bike (P.O.S from dept. store). So, I need a new bike.

- I'm 5'8 and 130 lbs.
- I do drops as big as 6 feet (in Shore-style trails), smaller jumps, singletrack, freeriding (especially in urban environments), and aggressive XC/normal XC.
- I have a $2000 Canadian $ budget.

From all that, I think I need an all-mountain/FR bike. Friends have told me to buy a frame (e.g Santa Cruz Chameleon, Soul Cycles Titan 'ridesoul.com'😉 and dress it up with the right components. Well, I can build a bike, but I have no idea what to buy for components and how i'll fit my budget doing that.

I'm really liking the Santa Cruz Chameleon idea, but judging from their retail prices, it's a bit steep for my budget, unless I bought the frame and built it up.

I have no idea what to get, or what bike to build/with what components, and fit a budget of 2000 CDN. Can you people help me choose?

Thanks for your time.

6' Jumps on a hard tail? well, aside, of course SC are always a good choice.... and I've read some good things about soul cycles - although I don't know anyone personally who has one. mabye someone else can help?!

get one of the specialized enduros I have the pro but you should get one of the lower end models and that is still gonna be a really good bike and will never let you down

Have you tried looking into Kona? Have a look at their website. They have specific bikes for the type of riding you are thinking of doing. With $2000 CDN you should be able to find something there. Being a CDN also; I do realize the limitation of your budget and can sympathize. SC makes great frames, but I don't think that the 2K's will get one you need and even if you did; you would still need to dress it up. Good luck and enjoy whatever you get. Cheers!

I'd second the kona choice.
I picked up the stinky before xmas and gotta say it rides really well, and is more than capable of taking a battering. Its a bit weighty though maybe for your purposes.
Not sure what the prices are like in canada, but you might want to check out the Coiler. Its probably exactly what your looking for.
And if it handles anything like the stinky, would be a great entry level FR beast.

Norco do some nice FR bikes too, they are a bit scarce in the UK though, so havent had a chance to ride them.
Personally on the Specialized front, I think you'd be better off with a Demo range bike, but not sure what the prices are like. You get the travel on the Enduro for sure, and you'll be able to ride it all day long, its had brilliant reviews, but i wouldn't want to be dropping 6ft on it time and time again...unless your smooth 😉

Horses for courses though.