Pros: Great Components, Brain Lock-out, Includes Command Post, 29er is Great, Rolls over anything with 5 inch travel, using XTR M985 Pedals

Cons: a bit heavy at 30 lbs., Silver and Black Oakland Raiders Color Scheme :-)

Recommendation: Highly recommend the M5, Brand NEW $2,800 Out the door!!! The Spec's listed are a bit wrong DT Swiss 520SL, 2 x 10 X9 and XO, Carbon Crank - 2011

Pros: It was available for rent at the trail head. Full-suspension. Brakes - Juicy Ultimate. XO rear derailleur.

Cons: Very sluggish. Average handling. $3,300 for this? You could build a comparable custom for the same price or less!

Recommendation: Take this with a grain of salt since I ride a custom built from the ground up. As you may be able to tell, I rented one of these. I rode about 22 miles on it on the Flume Trail in NV. Although this was a rental bike, it was new and well maintained so the fact that I rented it didn't really apply. Liked the XO, have on my bike, liked the brakes (Juicy Utimates). However, the bike felt extremely sluggish, I checked more than once to check that there was enough air in the tires, but they were full. Bottom line is that I loved the trail so much that I was able to overlook the bike's shortcomings and have a great ride. As for the bike, it's OK. It loses more ground when you consider the price. It's kind of heavy, handles poorly and as I said above, you could buy a similarly equipped custom (yeti, turner) for the same price. Do your research and stay away from mass produced "tiger-made" brands like Specialized if you're planning on spending anything over 2K.

Pros: This bike has a great accessory package. Love the Juicy 7's, shifts well. Light bike. Handles nicely.

Cons: I have had this bike just over 1 year now. It has been in the shop about 10 times. I'm a big rider. About 250 lbs. Maybe I'm just too big for this bike. The weakest link on this bike is the tires and rims. Had about 15 pinch flats in the first 6 months riding. I even checked my tire pressure before every ride. I found on the internet that others were experiencing this same problem. So I put a beefy set of Kenda tires on - and problem solved. I also have taco'd the DT Swiss X430 rear rim trice. I didn't rebuild it the second time but bought a different rear rim. Additionally the bike has a severe creek where the seat post meets the frame. It sounds like I'm dragging a coffee can full of bolts behind me. People hear me coming a mile away. i know what your thinking -this guy need to maintain his bike better - not a chance, I wash, degrease, and lube almost weekly. Just al of of really annoying stuff that keeps you from enjoying your ride.

Recommendation: I bought this bike because it was reviewed well. Maybe, I just got the bad apple in the bushel, but for $3300 it's a tough pill to swallow. I'm sure a year later I couldn't even sell it for half what I paid. I'm looking now at a Santa Cruz Heckler to replace this bike with.

Pros: Brain Pack, Fox suspension, Avid Juicy, SRAM-0, top of the line everything

Cons: Can't find anything to dislike

Recommendation: This is my first full suspension, previously owned a Trek OCLV Carbon hardtail...the extra weight of the full suspension(7 pounds heavier than OCLV) takes some getting used to. In my first weeks of ownership have ridden US Whitewater Center in Charlotte and all Tsali loops. The bike rides smooth like a Lincoln when on the saddle, firm and sure uphill, geometry feels good downhill. The brakes work well as advertised. The bike is pricey, but you get what you pay for.

Pros: Climbs well and very nimble on narrow trails. Give you lots of confidence (probably more than my ability) going at 30mph down a forest track with a width just wider than the bike!

Cons: Rear brake 'rings' at high speed. Probably solved soon with a small adjustment.

Recommendation: This is not a cheap bike but 'you gets what you pay for'. Componant quality is excelent especially the SRAM shifters and rear mech and the Juicy 7 brakes. What a change from Shimano XT and V brakes!