4wordSOUL

Newly joined...native of Colorado. My bother professes the merits of Apex and how awesome Frutia is...and finally I'll be picking up MTN bike in the next few months. I'd like some advice on a decent entry-level ride...looking at two contenders:

Stumpjumper FSR Elite

Yeti 575 Enduro

Any thoughts?

Dannihilator

575 easily. Stronger frame, built in Colorado, doesn't come with inhouse tires and the mega pile of junk triad rear shock that the stumpjumper does.

dminor 

575. Two Colorado natives find each other.

4wordSOUL

I've read some good reviews of the 575 and I want to support my CO peeps...anyone else want to weigh in?

born2bahick

I see the 575 as a bike with more capabilities and roles to play, than the stumpy.

theextremist04

Definitely the yeti.

frankenmike 

It seems to me that the main difference performancewise between the two is the rear suspension design. The yeti is a swingarm travel(wheel moves in a circular arc) and the fsr is a horst link(wheel moves in a straighter line). Research the two designs and see which one better suits your anticipated riding style. (To save you some time, the fsr is better.)

ed 

On paper.

Dannihilator

The fsr was better before the days of platform valves, when they came about that argument pretty much became moot.

born2bahick

How so?

theextremist04

I take it you've never ridden a Yeti.

hocker

I love Apex and many other Jeff Co. rides. We are truely spoiled here and getting a great bike is essential IMO. You are gonna' have a blast. You should note that these bikes are NOT entry level, but high performance machines.
My final choices were the 575, Stumpy Elite, Trance X1 and the Trek EX8. I test rode them all and did a ton of research and ended up choosing between the 575 and EX. I finally settled on the EX because I got a great deal from Wheatridge Cycle. Treks new suspension design is superior to all of the other rides, I am convinced of this. You should give the EX a good look. The 575 spec'ed out the best and felt tough as nails on the trail and super solid on descents...probably the best bike, but like I said I got a deal. The Stumpy's suspension seemed a little gimmicky to me and the ride felt a little wierd on the descents and when I braked hard it bucked like a mule. I would definetely go to Wheatridge and check out the Treks, Pivots, Stumpy's and Yeti's and compare them. Sports Garage in Boulder has a good selection too. Stear clear of Bicycle Village IMO. Remember, they are all fantastic bikes and don't get caught-up in the details.

frankenmike 

True enough, and I'm sure that they are sweet. I just wanted to offer a perspective involving more than the location of the company. The fsr design has more benefits than just reducing pedal bob (purpose of the platform valve). The path of travel, being mostly linear, reacts more consistently to the terrain throughout the full length of its movement (on paper anyway). That being said, I've personally ridden both swingarm and fsr on gnarly rides and honestly they both felt pretty plush. If it were me, I would get whichever one is sold at my favorite shop.

dminor 

^^ Normally I would agree with the FSR recommend, too. It's a proven design that has withstood the test of time. However in this case we're talking a Yeti as the other choice. Single pivot or not, I am so thoroughly sold on Yeti as a bike and as a company that I do not hesitate to give props where it is due. The fit-and-finish, the attention to details and the commitment of Yeti to their products will give the OP a 'boutique maker' bike at a somewhere just a little above mass-production price.

M_S

I don't think the 575 is stil made in Colorado.

That said, I personally would prefer the Yeti, but the stumpy is a litle more XC inspired, especially depending on what build the yeti has, so it depends on what you want to do.

Zephyr11

Fact. Doesn't make it any less capable a bike though.

I personally would go with a 575...I almost bought one myself, except that I'm really short and don't weigh much, and I found myself more comfortable on something a little lighter and smaller. I don't think you can go wrong either way though. I ride an AS-R and I have a friend who rides an Epic, and neither of those companies make crappy bikes. I would demo both of them if I were you. I played with a Safire (the women's version of the Stumpy) and didn't like the way it rode (for some reason that I can't even put my finger on), so you may find that one of them feels better than the other.

CercaMemorial

Wow, I wish my entry level bike could be one of those. The 575 is nice. Get it.

dminor 

Frames are welded by their contract mfr in Taiwan. Theoretically, if a Yeti has the team colors, the frame was welded in Golden. Any other color was made overseas.

Zephyr11

dminor 

^^That's why I said "theoretically."

Dannihilator

If I ever build up another fullsuspension bike, it will probably be a 575.

4wordSOUL

Wow, you guys kick ass. Thanks for the feedback and discussion. I'm totally new to this, I'm learning a ton.