So I want to buy my bro a new mountain bike to replace his almost 20 year old Cannondale. My budget is about 1400 max. Giant is really the only name brand that makes a full suspension in that price point in the
Stance. The frame is decent, but the build kit is just meh. I'm also not a fan of how they use flexion of the seat stays for the rear suspension.
Would I be better off with something like this
2011 Trek Fuel EX 8 (He has it listed as a 2013 but searching the frame color shows 2011)
It sucks because it seems like 2k is the cut off to get something really nice but just too much for me to spend. Is going as far back as 2011 too old to compare to that 2017 Giant?