Mountain Biking - FS for heavyweight $1000-$1900US ?

OK Guys, I've been bombing around on the Hoss Deluxe for 2 years now and am thinking of a 2008 FS in the price range mentioned. Mostly I do trails and a little XC style but I like a heavier build to support my own heavier build. I dont have any recent FS experience and would like some good advice Re: models that might suit and why.Cheers:)

Edit: around 230lbs/108kg

Anyone?

what kind of riding do you do?

He said XC and trails.

Well...


Mostly I do trails and a little XC style but I like a heavier build to support my own heavier build.

I was looking at the Kona range but was wondering what equivilents/alternatives to, say, the Dawg Deluxe and four deluxe there were.

Here ya go big guy:
http://wheelworld.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=3878

Here ya go big guy:
http://wheelworld.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=3878

Fantastic buy! but I'm in Aussie and I'd like to buy from a local for a bunch of reasons I'm sure you'd understand. Thanks anyway. Regarding Giant how does their newish rear end stack up to the other mass prods? Bikes over here are a little overpriced but some more than others, Scott, Specialized, Merida and Avanti (New Zealand?) are sold at a premium. Giant is usually cheaper as are Haro and to a lesser extent Kona. How do any of the Giant and Haro range stack up against Kona's? Likie I say I dont have FS experience so some opinions re the bikes would be appreciated. Cheers.

Following the inundation of helpful comments I decided that I should do whatever the hell I wanted and bought this,
http://wheelworld.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&ID=4213 The plan is to transfer all the still good parts from my Hoss Deluxe to the 06 Kikapu frame.

Thanks for your help Y'all.

have fun building!

Well...



I was looking at the Kona range but was wondering what equivilents/alternatives to, say, the Dawg Deluxe and four deluxe there were.

That was going to be my recommendation. You could also look at transition. They have a range of mid travel bikes that will EASILY support a heavyweight. And they come in relatively cheap to (for a small bike company)

http://transitionbikes.com/2007/Covert.cfm

I've had my hissy fit I'm over it now. Re: the Covert, yet another beautiful frameset from the northern hemisphere, you guys have it good. My Kikapu frame arrives Tuesday but I wont be able to satrt swapping parts for a week or so. So in the meantime I'm off to give the Hoss another flogging around the hills.

Thanks for your help Y'all.

Hold up - why are you stealing my dialect?