mstateglfr 

Looking at options for a 1x bike with air fork for under $900.

BD has a few options that are 27.5, 27.5+, and 29, but with geometry that is 72degree HTA.

diamondback syncr is intriguing as the spec sheet is great and it costs $870 shipped to me.
but is the 68 degree head tube angle radically slack for flat twisty river bottom singletrack?

there is no long downhill around here, it's all flowing or twisty with lots of tree roots and tight steering.

JonathanGennick 

I like Diamondback's Hook/Line/Sync'r lineup. The geometry is on trend with longer top tubes and slacker head angles. Specs look decent for the price. For me it would be the Sync'r.

mstateglfr 

So is a slack HTA at 68degrees something thats useful/beneficial for the style of singletrack near me or would something with a steeper head angle be better?

Basically i understand that slacker HTA is trendy and good for downhill. But i wont have/do downhill riding around here.

If its a wash and 68degree HTA is still plenty fun and fine on flowing forest singletrack, then super. Just trying to understand if its really noticeable.

JonathanGennick 

I see what you're getting at, and I really don't know what advice to offer. I often wish I could buy two bikes and try them both, and decide later. I mainly just adapt to whatever I happen to have. This summer I've been riding an old Devinci Dexter frame (26er race bike) that was originally designed around a 100 mm 26er fork, and now I'm running a 120 mm 650b fork. The difference in handling was noticeable at first, but I quickly adapted and haven't thought about it since. I'm not riding your specific trails though, so I don't know whether my experience would translate for you. Our trails are machine-built flow trails.

Gconan

A 67.5 ° head tube angle helps me with even short drop offs. Keeps me from going over the handle bars. I believe the slacker head angle longer top tube is a great improvement in mountain bikes. Weight centered instead of way out front. Should have happened a long time ago.