[kail]

So I'm contemplating selling both my big bike (SC Bullit W/ 66RC2X/Avalanche DHS) and my trail bike (08 RM Slayer SXC 30) and getting something that's a compromise between the two. My Slayer would need a new fork for next year, as the stock Marz 55 is a pile and getting worse by the minute. But a decent fork (Fox Talas) would set me back at least $1000. That bike handles 90% of all the rides I do with ease, but occasionally I go to B.C. and there are a couple trails here that warrant my Bullit. The Bullit is a nice ride but it's getting old and weighs about 42 pounds. Most of the riding I do involves steep 3-4 mile climbs and then bombing back down. I have cleaned one of the steepest local trails on my Bullit, but I wouldn't say it was fun. I'm not into long XC rides anymore, but someday I might return to that with a different style of bike. That said, I'm in great shape and am not afraid of climbing on a 37+ pound bike. Also, I used to be into quite hairball freeride stuff, so I'm not willing to quite abandon a more DH feel in my new bike. I need something that climbs acceptably but can survive being ridden hard and occasionally hucked off 10-15' drops to nice landings. Most trail bikes these days have plenty of travel but they still don't feel nimble at high speeds and nasty terrain.

My Slayer would be perfect if it was a little stiffer and had a slightly slacker head angle. Does the SX trail fit the bill? How does it climb with the stock fork (eventually I'd like to get a Talas for reducing travel on the climbs)? Will it rail nasty terrain like my Bullit? Thanks for any feedback!