Ha! Timing is critical.. the etsx was a popular bike in Central Japan while I was there, and suited those trails well. My next bike was a slayer and it felt overkill for 90% of riding available until I went and built my own.

 True, I guess its mostly Geo that has really changed.. and aesthetics of tube shapes. I am a fan of straight tubes, I like the elegance of simple triangles.

 i love it when people that ride bikes start making bikes for riding, big corp don't ride bikes!! simple is better, less to go wrong.
angles on bikes, a bit of a con i recon, just changing a rear tire for a larger volume changes the head angle, setting the rear shock sag changes the angles, same for front forks, so i don't believe many companies are putting any effort designing anything better other than building same bikes/parts cheaper and maximizing profits. convince me otherwise please

 Haha..I think you know what's up! I like what you said about changing simple things like sag and tyre volume changes head angle.. I kinda like all the hype though..keeps it interesting plus the 2nd hand market is pumping full of descent older high quality bikes for the likes of you and me!

  yeah keep em rolling...we'll pick up the decent stuff when the dust settles

 Thanks Niko. He's doing well.. enjoying the benefits of full suspension and trying some bigger jumps and stunts now. Is fun following his progression along with Mishka and Lily as well. Lily also gets out on the trails.. she has a nice crmo hardtail and she is a really strong climber!

 Sounds like you and the kids are having tons of fun. I need more time to take the kids out, Sarah has told me recently she doesn't want to go to the mountains because she things there are ghost in the mountains, ahahah Then Jax, its a toss up of either biking or skating. Last weekend he wanted to go skating so off he was,ahahhahah Ashley is going to love this beauty! Such a high quality bike, awesome!

 Oh there the best kind.. The ones that you almost kissed always remain sweeter in your memory than the ones you actually swapped bodily fluids with! Same with bikes!?

 Exactly.. one quality bike made of good materials and craftsmanship is worth a thousand cheap crappy bikes that end up in landfill 6months from manufacture.

 Cheers fiver.. Life is short, got to ride it for all its worth!