Originally Posted by dminor

I'm sorry stapfam, but you really should stick to your UK bike paths and quit trying to dispense mountain bike "advice."

To the OP: Sounds like you've got a solid line on a very good bike; if you like the full suspension and can swing it, the FSR XC is a fine choice. Only you can answer whether or not it's worth it to go the extra for the Stumpy; but JG makes an excellent case above. Just don't buy into the nonsense that one should start out on a hardtail and "graduate" to FS - -that's utter BS that I'm bound and determined to kill dead-dead-dead on this forum.