The KHS A-lite has been around a long time also, I love the XTC, the geometry is perfect for me, cornering is effortless, it trails better than any bike I have ever owned. The one down side to it is it's extremely low bottom bracket. (a full inch lower than my F/S race bike ) The very thing that helps it track and trail sooooo great is the thing that makes the big chainring snag on every log crossing.