TL;DR: I'm looking for a playful but trail capable hardtail mtb, that won't break the bank.
Hey bikers!
I'm currently looking for a hardtail mtb for local riding and fun laps in the bikepark. I already got a DH and a dirtjumper and am looking for something to fill the hole. I really like riding hatdtails and think they are a good learning opportunity, great for jumps and uphill sections, and also not that expensive to service, and i already got the DH that eats my money lol. I've been looking around for a while and found the Santa Cruz Chameleon would be a perfect fit for my preferences, because i want a more playful/jumping/technical mtb and not a XC orientated one, which seem to be dominating the market. The problem is that this thing is so f'ing expensive( also i don't want the basic version because i'm a little spoiled now).I'd like a mullet or 27,5". 29" wouldn't fit me. I also don't want a used bike because i really f'd up with my used DH. I spent so much money on the AL Sender to fix all the small things and build it to my preference, that i could have bought a new Carbon one… So long story short, i'm looking for a playful hardtail which is also suitable for trails and doesn't cost 2000€. It would be allright if it's a little cheaper an o'd have to upgrade to breaks or gearshift something, as i built up some spare parts that i could use. Any recommendations are appreciated, also recommendations what not to buy.
PS: I just read the rule to include my experience level. I'm currently only riding in bikeparks and would say i'm something between advanced rider and wannabe expert but i want my bike to be sturdy because it definitely will have to handle regular crashes, as i hope i can use the hardtail to push the limit a little, and well, practice which will involve crashing from time to time
PPS: I listed a lot of preferences, but feel free to give other recommendations if you think I should have a look at it.
PPPS: A 140mm back hub would be a big plus, because I got a nice spare Hope hub. But it seems this size isn't the standard anymore
by hanz_herpez