Long response - apologies...
New bike will be the one bike I didn't think I'd buy again - another Ripmo, but a size L this time. Sounds counter-intuitive given I'm 6'2", but it's basically the same sizing when standing/descending as my current 5010 which feels pretty bang on, and I've briefly ridden both a size L Ripmo and size L Trance 29er recently and I just felt like I could absolutely rip corners with the shorter (reach) sizing on these two bikes - plus negiotiate tight sections of trail and pull manuals way easier. If I feel I need to down the track, I can still add a bit more front centre and slacken the head angle with a angle-set as they still have press-in headset cups.
Basically the reason for the change is I've been struggling a lot climbing (when seated) on the 5010 as it pretty much permanently wants to wheelie - steep fireroads are the most noticeable but unfortunately that's also what most of my climbs consist of. So even with the seat slammed forward and sitting right out on the nose of the seat - I get lots of back-ache wrestling to keep the front wheel down. Ripmo will likely feel a little more cramped when doing seated climbing, but also will be much kinder on my back - and will give a good balance overall between the current 5010 and the XL Ripmo I had previously for all other riding. Personally I just found the XL Ripmo a bit too long, and I had a fairly heavy wheelset on it so it always felt slow and like it was a lot of bike to muscle around. If I rode high country shuttles all the time, I'd have gone another XL, but for tooling about at my local trails it just felt too big and awkward in the tight bits, and didn't come alive until the trails opened up and the speed flattered the longer wheelbase.
The Ripley 4 was what started the new bike lust kicking, but after a short time I started thinking about upgrading the fork and shock, and then that I do still ride aggresively and in places that warrant a little extra travel at times - so the Ripmo just made more sense. It'll still be plenty efficient enough for me on climbs (I'm no racer), but with more adjustable suspension and more travel if needed, but just that touch smaller & still light enough for just goofing around and having
fun riding than the XL was, instead of having to just go flat-out fast. I enjoy mucking around trail riding more than true enduro riding, so this'll be a long-legged trail bike, and most importantly for me - will still fit a stupidly long dropper post so I can position the bike wherever the hell I feel like.
