When you Spesh, you mean Specialized right? I was looking at that one and pedal those around a little bit. The slack geometry makes them definitely good for descending. Sub 30's is what I am looking for and definitely not a hardtail, already got one that I never ride even on 100km rides I do out here. Thanks man.
Yep, Spesh=Specialized. They have awesome warranty as well. I cracked the frame on my Enduro last year and they replaced it in days. From what I hear Santa Cruz might not always be so swift. The component set on an Enduro is actually pretty decent too. I like the index shifting as compared to the SRAM X9 I got with my Nomad, and although it's an easy switch, the stock bars on the Enduro are narrow enough to sneak through tight PNW toothpick farms, whereas the Easton bars on my Nomad give me cause to brake and wiggle thru things. I'm feeling the Nomad out for now, but if I had a choice I would probably go for an Enduro again. Also the Enduro is like over a grand cheaper than a Nomad, but some folks prefer it. The modular features of the Nomad are hard to beat. I'm running a DHX 5.0 coil and a 7" front fork so it's basically an STX Trail, but peddles awesome. No bob on the Nomad. The Enduro, because of the slack geometry, like to be "stuffed" into tight corners at speed, and the rear end can be tossed hard. The Nomad feels more solid in terms of build, but doesn't have the geometry to transition easily. You have to break it in, and alter your styles a bit. I was riding Paper Bag, Placenta Descenta, and the Vein in Nelson, BC a few rides into buying my Enduro. I haven't had the chance to really pace the Nomad in terms of rides of that character, but it seems to want to eat up descents. Also, the clearance of the Enduro was superior for getting over obstacles, and the standover height of a medium Nomad is higher than the Enduro.
Also don't rule out the Mongoose lines. They are winning loyal customers for value and performance if that's your thing.
Good luck.
