'affordable' FS at 25#?
 

I have been researching a new full suspension bike for mainly XC trail use a couple weeks now. Found good ideas here and many opinions. Been to the LBS's for test rides. One encouraging thing is that most people recommend the bike they ride. Makes me think there are good choices. What it comes down to for me though is this. My old hardtail is 25#. Can I find a good FS at that weight for under $4K?
Thanks.

Try a Specialized bike.

You can probably find one close to that weight but it might be difficult. My full-suspension XC bike is 26.5 lbs stock and has quite a bit of CF on it. It all depends on how beefy you want the bike to be and how much you want to pay. A Litespeed Sewanee tricked out with a bunch of CF and lightweight XTR parts will probably squeak in under 25 lbs. but it won't be cheap. You're looking at a $6,000 pricetag there. If you drop back to some more reasonably priced aluminum parts for handlebar and seatposts and go with an LX drivetrain, you can get it to just 25 lbs. for around $3,500. The frame weight of the Sewanee is 4.4 lbs. so given that parts mix, that's about the frame weight you want to be shooting for.

S.C. Superlite

What about the epics...I not sure on the weight though..

Good call. A SC Superlight's frame is about a pound heavier than the Litespeed but it's a cheaper frame so you could upgrade all components with lighter parts and still come in under the $4k mark. I saw that the frame with a Float R rear shock and their XTR parts kit with a Fox 100RL fork will put you at just about $4,000. I don't know the exact weight of the entire package but I'd imagine it'd be around 25 lbs.

NRS Composite 1 comes at 3,500.

http://www.giantbicycle.com/us/030.0...sp?model=11134

i had an NRS but didnt like it too much. Great bike and frame just didnt like how the suspension acted. Light though! I'm loving the Epic but i'm terribly biased.