My search for a MTB - advice please

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Please help if you can.

 

My short list after a looong search and study.

 

Firstly I am fairly new to off road and will be doing quite

a bit of single track.

 

Anthem X2 2009 for +-  R 17500

 

Merida TFS800 for +- R17000

 

Anthem X2 2010 for R23600

 

Second hand (have given up searching)

 

The 09 X2 looks good (I want the bike to look good) but is

spec?ed worse than the Merida. The Merida is actually very well spec?ed, but

its very RED. And for me it is a new brand name.

 

The 2010 X2 is better spec?ed than the Merida in the

following areas that might be important.

 

XT brakes vs  Avid

Elixir 5

 

Fox shock vs Manitou Minute 120

 

How important if so is the above?

 

How many points does the 120 travel on the Merida shock

carry?

 

Is the extra R6000 for the 2010 X2 worth it?

 

What other help can you offer me?

Thanks

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WTF.........................

 

Why does py post look like that, copied and pasted from Word.

 

Must I retype the whole damn thing.

 

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Please delete this post, I reposted.