hey all.

Im here to ask the typical "What bike do I buy?" question, that everyone seems to ask at one point or another.

Alright, so I am no real stranger to bikes as I useto race BMX back in the day. I had quit about 4 years ago to persue other, seemingly more lucrative endeavors... Yea, that didnt work out too well...haha. Anyway, I've made the decision to come back to the biking world but this time in the form on mountain biking.

The world of Full Suspension is basically greek to me, let me just put that out there. I know basically terminology and thats it. So you guys will probably need to do some explaining on the way through this.
I've been shopping around the internet and my various LBS places around town. Ive located awesome traisl 15 minutes from my place. My goal is to get into freeride/all mountain riding. Being the beginner that I am I basically am going in blind. These traisl I have found are no weak singletrack either, loads of switchbacks and drops up to 5 feet. I figure I can handle all that coming from the BMX background that I am.

Anywho, in my uneducated stupor, I have found some bikes that I like. I have no idea if they are right for where I want biking to take me or what, and that is why I am asking this question.

Bike #1: Santa Cruz Heckler or Blur LT
Ive come to a liking for Santa Cruz bikes from the sales job of one of the employees at my LBS. These two seemed to have the least sag witht the most shock travel. Shock travel is cool in my book.

Bike #2: Trek Fuel X
Different Suspension Setup in the rear, and I dont know the pros or cons of that or anything. I just liked the way it felt. Not as much as either SC though

Bike #3 is up to you guys.
As I really dont know what I am looking at half the time, and as of right now I dont really trust my LBS to give me the right bike rather than merely a good sales job, I leave this up to your suggestions.
I would like something with ample travel but little sag, as Im sure most of you full suspension riders do too.
Keep in mind, I am 6 ft, 170 lbs. and my budget is about 2500 give or take.

Any input is welcome. and thank you all

Option 3:
Transition Covert or Preston FR are right in your range both for use and price:

https://www.transitionbikes.com/2007/Covert.cfm

https://www.transitionbikes.com/2007/PrestonFR.cfm

You really haven''t discussed the type of riding you plan on doing. That will dictate the bike. If looking for a good crosscountry bike - check out the Santa Cruz Superlight. If you think you might be doing some gnarly downhill riding consider the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Pro. Also consider "off brands" Foos or Ventana or Turner. For $2500 you can get alot of bike.

Seeing as how he made this statement, and the fact that he comes from an aggressive-riding background, we can probably make some educated guesses.

What on earth are you talking about? You do realize that Specialized offers at least four complete lines of bikes that are better suited for "gnarly downhill" than a Stumpjumper, right?

good info. I like the Transition Covert from what I can see.

To BCIpam. yea, as i stated earlier I would like to get into Freeride/All mountain riding. Coming from BMX, i like lots of speed and jump and drops. things of that nature.

I don't understand your fear of "sag". I run quite a bit of sag on my bike. I never have any problems, just a nice plush feel. Takes big hit and small ones just fine.

im just worried that with too much sag, i wont get the power im looking for in my pedal strokes. it may just be an uneccesary fear of mine. i dont know. i just remember riding "walmart bikes" back in the day before bmx and whatnot. I just dont want my 2k dollar investment feeling cheap that's all, and from my past experiences, sag=cheap; which looking back, is an entirely untrue statement from the sounds of it

The newer shocks(coil and air) pedal very well. I have 7" of rear travel on my bike and run about 35% of sag. My legs let me down far more than my bike.

hmm...so many possibilities