Originally Posted by unsuspended
I don't want to burst your bubble but ultimately I don't think you will be happy with an $800 fully.
Especially abusing it (in the best sense of the word) at mammoth mountain.
I would go hardtail for that money with better components. Better durability.
Exactly. I'm not a fan of going full boingy unless you're going over $1000. I think you tend to get an inferior ride below that price, plus you're making sacrifices in overall quality and component spec that I'm not wild about (e.g., the Judy and Suntour fron derailleur on that bike). That's just me, though, and I'm a hardtail kinda guy.