In regards to frames....
 

Alright, so as I posted on here a while ago I got a 2009 GF Tarpon last Christmas (I have hence nicknamed it the Tampon) and got a good deal on some upgrades so went ahead and changed out the der's and wheelset as well as shifters. Anyways i ended up dropping $250 on the bike itself and then as of now dropped about another $2/250 for a grand total of about $500 and ended up with almost a completely rebuilt bike which i except the fork. Anyways my real question is about the frame.... I've been looking at the frame before i started building it up and it looked like a good frame and i really like the design and geometry. Anyways, the Tarpon frame is a Gold Series 6061 T6 aluminum, G2 Geometry, butted DT, cold-forged dropouts & BB.... i used the niftey little compare feature on GF's website and the frame is the exact same as the $1100 Tassajara, the only step up i can see is the Platinum series aluminum on the Hoo Koo. Anyways i have for a grand total of $5/550 i now have a frame which is the same the 2nd highest end GF hardtail with the following setup: I have added XTR rear der, XT front der, new foldable continental tires with a Mavic crossmax wheelset and s-works hubs (the rear my buddy who works at the LBS took apart and said its some beefy $200 swiss hub) new Ritchey SC riser bars with an easton EA70 stem, Shimano Deore FCM-442 crankset and a new octalink bb, also upgraded to a 9-speed cassette which of course i had to replace with rapidfire shifters and deore brakes. As of now I'm done and dont plan on throwing anymore money into it unless i find a pimp ass deal on a fork and maybe some clipless pedals. My main question is is there really any difference between the frames besides the paint scheme? It looks to be the exact same frame on the higher end GF's and i love it but dunno about dropping a few bills on a nice fork if the frame is for some reason not that great. Anybody have any input? Otherwise, I'll throw a few pic's up on the "Hardtail" post once i get back from Spring Break so ya guys can see what i got myself into lol

You added all that for $250?!

Haha ya i got it for a steal. $150 for the wheelset/cassette/hubs/shifters/der's from a guy on craigslist that was parting his bike out then i got the stem/bars/cranks off of Jensonusa.com for like $80 (thanks to this forum for that pointer) and the tires/brakes and few other odds and ends at my LBS for a good discount... did all the work myself except for the cranks and der's which my buddy helped me out with for a bottle of jack so i guess the grand total was more like $250+ a bottle of whisky hehe

You paid $150 for Crossmaxes?! And basically got XT/XTR stuff thrown in? Crazy!

If it's the same frame as the Tass, that's not a bad frame. I say upgrade the fork. The stock fork probably sucks, and a good fork makes a world of difference. If you upgrade the frame later, you can always move over components.

You sent me a PM, just now found your post, sorry long day and I am tired. If you got all that for 500, you did very very well. You are correct about the frames, they are all the exact same frame with the exception of the paint colors, until you get to the HKEK model. And that one is just a tad lighter than the gold series, alot more $$$$$$ for little upgrade, at least in the frame. For some people out there the fact that it says Tarpon on the frame vs Tassajara would make them embarressed, but those are major bike snobs worried about decals. Seeing as to what you have upgraded it to now,Dude spent the cash and get a nice fork, you wont regret it. And im sure you will get a deal on one. Then you will have a $1200. bike for around $700-800
I havent had a chance to ride the 09 G2's yet. But I am hearing those are freaking sweet frames.