Originally Posted by Fat Boy

Then get a Honda CRF450R if you want to clear everything. You know what they say about 4 wheel drive, It doesn't stop you from getting stuck, it just let's you make it further off the road. A big travel FS rig is the same deal. You just start going over bigger stuff faster so when you finally crash you end up in a body cast.

You ever notice how the _really_ good XC guys are pretty much always on a HT? I'm pretty sure there's a lesson there. I'd say the longer the ride, the less I'd want to carry around a rear suspension. If you're doing a downhill off of a chair lift, then it'd be great, but lugging 10 extra pounds of bike around takes it's toll after a while.

Whatever, to each his own.