Help with Bike spec

[Frik]

Good morning cycle-types.

I'm looking to obtain a Malt 4-09 from those lovely chaps at Merlin on our company's cycle scheme. The bike must be under £1000 fully specced but I've been out of the game recently and don't have a great idea about what's hot and what's not in the options list.

Your help would be much appreciated.

[Beyond Rational]

I'd go for the SLX groupset, the XM317s should be fine, if a little heavier than XC717s. I don't know enough about the Rockshoxs but I'd expect the basic Raceface kit to be ok for the money. Can you spend £1100 due to the 10% discount at checkout?

[Frik]

No, you get the price cheaper than the RRP, but not the extra 10%.

Cheers for the help, BR.

Any Rockshox experts in the house?

Edited by Frik on Thursday 7th May 17:50

[plfrench]

How about a Malt 1 with slx and reba race. I'd spend extra on the forks, as the dual air spring on the reba is very smooth and progressive, whereas the tora sl is at the lower end of the RS xc range. All Merlin frames are good, so no probs going for the entry one.