Geometry/travel is in the realm of what I was looking for. There are very few bikes in this category available in the US right now, so each one tends to be novel (i.e. ~180mm travel bikes with DH geometry (~64 deg head angle) and an AM seatpost angle).
Knolly Delirium? The new one seems perfect for you
That's what I wound up buying. I like it a lot, although a little more travel in the rear would be nice. Darkside's seatpost angle is too slack. Canyon isn't available in the USA yet, and the geometry of the Torque is steep/high instead of low/slack.
170mm is not enough? You want a pedallable 180+ travel bike? I think Ancilotti had an enduro bike with 190mm of travel. Though the frame was heavy and it had an interrupted seattube.
It's enough, but just barely. This is my only DH bike (sold my pure DH bike last spring), I use it for resort riding and I prefer old school rough technical DH over flow/jump trails. I had an Enduro EVO last year and it's 180mm worked out fine. I'm faster on the Knolly but that's due to geometry that suits me better.
With a 298mm bottom bracket height.
I really like it but the chainstays piss me off. Not sure about the susp. Their old dh model was meh.Yet another option from Germany, other than the longish chainstays the numbers look pretty good.
https://www.propain-bikes.com/Spindrift2017
This guy says you just need to ride moar.
It all depends on the trail. I'm starting to like the idea for people who live in the hills. On the other hand if you have some steep uphills the bike may be a slog.This guy says you just need to ride moar.
Long travel bikes can be ridden uphill, slowly, but possible.
Oh it's a total slog pedaling up. For quite a while my only bike was a 46 llb. DH sled geared as low as I could get it and with a full length seat post and quick release. This was while I lived in the mountains. Rode it as a trail bike, DH shuttle bike, and commuter. Climbing on it made my legs strong but oddly did almost nothing for cardio.
Your argument is invalid since Cedric Gracia won Rampage on a Canondale.
Tbh I like Long chainstays. I just think since it's not a full blown dh bike I'd rather see it a bit shorter and a bit more agile but I think some people want an uphillable bike that will be close in stability to a dh bike. Though then I'd change a few other geo numbers too
