I ride a ’10 Stumpy FSR 29er so I can’t speak personally for it. My girl however rides the ’10 EX 8 and loves it. The tires that came with it sucked in muddy conditions so those had to be replaced, but other than that, she has thrashed it on the trails and loves the EVO link and the Fox fork. She said to tell you to go for the 8 and you will love it.