Mountain Biking - 29er vs. Klein Attitude V - opinions, please!

shopping for some new wheels and could use some input.

after a 15 year hiatus from cycling i began riding my current bike, a GF Nirvana S - basically a commuter hybrid with a suspension fork, last summer. it does fine around town and i've tweaked it to suit my asphalt needs.

however, the dirt has been calling me and i've been test riding some HT MtB's.

i'm torn between a GF 29er, an X-Caliber to be precise, which i rode last week, and the Klein Attitude V which i test rode today.

X-Caliber: http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bike_detail.asp?series=trail-29er&bike=XCaliber

Attitude: http://www.kleinbikes.com/us/mountain_bikes/06_-_attitude/attitude_v/index.html

i loved them both and the Klein was sale priced at $1259.

any feedback from readers regarding these two bikes would be appreciated - suggestions for comparably equipped alternatives, etc. pros - cons?

thanks!

*sdr*

p.s. - i don't plan on racing just putzing on local slopes, riverbeds and similar off-road terrain.

After riding a GF 293 for several years, I decided that the F/S was a little much for most XC riding. So now I'm on a rigid Surly KM, and am having a blast. If the 9er thing works for you, I don't think you'd go wrong with the XCaliber.

I can't speak for the X-Caliber, however if you do go for the klein there are still some 05's around which you can get a great deal on, and then maybe you could get the XV. Just another thing to think about. :)

the klien is a great bike, they do some nice paint jobs too.well worth the money

I don't think you would go wrong with either bike. I have a GF Cobia (One below the X-cal) that is great! Great ride and the 29ers are smooth!. Don't feel too many bumps with the 29ers.

I don't think you would go wrong with either bike. I have a GF Cobia (One below the X-cal) that is great! Great ride and the 29ers are smooth!. Don't feel too many bumps with the 29ers.

i rode a cobia last week, also. in fact it was the first 29er i have ever ridden - not 20 feet into the ride i had to look back to make sure i wasn't riding a full suspension rig - really nice and really smooth!

the thing that struck me about the klein that i rode yesterday was the paint job. i believe it's what they call 'linear black' - at first glance the bike was black, then dark dark purple, then green. amazing paint job and a very clean top tube. with the 26" wheels it didn't ride nearly as cushy as the 29er but i loved how responsive it was. it also seemed like i had better modulation with the hayes hfx-9 brakes than i did with the mechanical avid bb-7's that were on the 29er - but then i should have, the hayes are hydraulic.

now that i have "discovered" klein, so to speak, i like the idea of shopping around for an '05 XV.

i appreciate the feedback - right now, although i'm a gary fisher junkie and love the 29er's, i'm leaning in the direction of a klein. i guess i'll just have to test ride a few more before i pull the trigger. basically i'm very impulsive - if i had the bank i'd have one of each.

thanks guys!

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/sweetdaddyroses/10ldhipy.gif

*sdr*