Mountain Biking - Finally got to test ride some bikes

I went to Dallas Saturday and went to two bike shops to try out some FS bikes I've been looking at. The problem is, I still don't know which bike to get. I've narrowed it down to three bikes:

Kona Kikapu - $1,100
Jamis Dakar XLT - $1,400
Cannondale Prophet 600 - $1,450

To me, the Cannondale was VERY comfortable and looks awsome, but the lefty fork scares me. The kona was a little less comfortable, but just seemed more stout (I'm 250lbs, btw). The jamis was good, but nothing really stood out from the rest. It just seems like a good package.

I liked the Prophet, but am scared of that lefty fork, and haven't heard much about them, good or bad (Except for magazines. They named it bike of the year). Any help would be nice.

These are all the bikes I tried:
Kona Coiler - too heavy.
Kona Kikapu - nice, but is it too xc?
Kona Dawgmatic - meh.
Kona Dawg - Okay, but over my budget.
Jamis Dakar - Felt kinda cheap.
Jamis Dakar Sport - Okay, but didn't impress at all.
Jamis Dakar XLT - nice package and love the hydros. Heavy.
Specialized FSR - Tried several models & sizes. Couldn't get it to work or fit right, so I gave up.
Cannondale Prophet 600 - Felt great. Jumped some curbs and couldn't feel a thing. Felt like bottomless suspension.

You seem to like the Cannondale the most. get that one. The Lefty works fine and you'll get used to it.

I hear yeah on the shock. Cannadale makes killer bikes and I met a guy who has one with the lefty shock. He loves it to death and swears by his bike.

get the Cannadale, if it fits and it's nice man, do it

i got me a kikapu. i am not a fan of cannondale at all, so i didint even visit their site in my quest for a bike. the kikapu works great for me. i have no real complaints(i would like a better fork, but this one is serving me fine so, it aint going anywere.) there are alot of leftys around the trails i go to, i think they are rediculas. they might work fine, but regular forks have stood the test of time so i will stick with them. if you dont have cleats either get them or get platforms becasue the pedals they come with are horrible. i have a set of old bmx pedals on there now untill i get cleats. the float works pretty nice, it is a solid kona frame.

get the kona if you feel un-easy about the cannondale.

At 250 lbs, you SHOULD be looking at bike like the Coiler.

Although the other bikes you listed are all good bikes, you my friend are a CLYDESDALE! And I mean no disrespect. I've been one for over 10 years!

Lightweight XC bikes will kill your wallet.

You need a bike that can take the beatings you will give it.

Remember F=MA ? Your Mass (and mine) will exert a whole lotta Force. You need a bike like the COILER or a SPECIALIZED ENDURO or their ilk.

Trust me, I've been doing this for over 20 years.

I'll have to agree hear. I too looked at Cannondale F800 lefty blah blah before i bought my Kona HOSS DEE LUX. MY BIKE IS SICK....I cant bend a rim, cant hurt this thing at all, and I'm a little heavier than you 265....I'm scared of Full suspension for big guys...its gonna bob like crazy...buy a hardtail, ride like nuts...lose weight, then buy a full susp.

You can as a Clydesdale ride full squishy, you just have to stick with a coil over spring and special order spring rates above and beyond the normal call of duty. I've got a 900 lb spring on my Enduro SX.

yea, i didnt see that i would take the advice from the kid with the south park.

yea, i didnt see that i would take the advice from the kid with the south park.
He isn't a kid Sparky