Buying a 2008 Enduro Racer

It's that time again, to goto market and research what the best bang for my buck enduro racing rig. As per last time, the focus is on 24 hour solo racing, this rig will carry me during my shot at the solo nationals at Easter in 2008.

The Candidates

Here's the bikes I am comparing, in order of preference:

Rig	Price	Travel (F/R)	Weight	Notes
Giant Anthem Advanced	$7000	100/90	10.6kg	Gear: XTR; Pro: Spinks and Willo use them, cost; Neg:?
Santa Cruz Blur XC	$7000	130/110	10.45?	Gear:; Pro: Big fork; Neg: Max rider weight limited to 90kg (weak?)
Scott Spark 10	$7500	100/110	10.5kg	Gear: X0/Avid; Pro: weight; Neg: 5yr warranty, proprietry shock
Cannondale Rush Carbon 2	$7500	110/110	11.6kg	Gear: XT + XTR rear der; Pro: fast; Con: Value
Specialized Epic Marathon Carbon	$7500	100/100	11.3kg?	Gear:X0/Magura Marta;Pro:;Con: Heavy for carbon, proprietry shock and dodgy brakes (but vicmtb will replace)
Giant Trance Advanced	$7000	100/100	11.8kg	Gear: XTR/Avid; Pro: Love my Trance 1 (so this should be good);Con: Already have a Trance 1 (no real upgrade/change for the money)
Ibis Mojo Carbon SLX	$7600	140/140	12.8kg	Gear: XTR; Pro: travel, sexy; Con: bobs, weight

Some Testing Results

I took an Anthem out for a blat at Sparrow on the same test course as last year. It felt wicked fast and it was. Rough as guts ride though, but I guess that's the trade off for speed? Now I am curious, maybe I can just make the Trance fast by making it as stiff and harsh as the Anthem...

Bike	Laptime	Heartrate
Trance at 135psi	4:49	157
Trance at 135psi	4:44	158
Trance at 135psi	4:33	155
Trance at 150psi	4:37	152 (too low to trust this result)
Trance at 200psi	coming
Anthem	4:28	163 (I was excited ;))

I note the Trance go faster for less HR there, maybe I was getting to know the course better. It never got as fast as the Anthem though, being 2-7% slower. The Anthem test has at a higher HR, which concerns me (results accuracy wise), and it was set up with seat too low and the brakes where hard to use, so I think it could have been faster (although maybe at 158bpm HR same speed).

Update: I got a great deal on an Anthem, couldn't say no to it! Took it to the 2007 MONT 24hr and did some back to back lap comparisons of the Trance vs the Anthem... it was very interesting. The Anthem was between 30 and 60 seconds faster per 34 minute lap, which at the time I thought was not much, but in hind sight, 1 minute per lap is the difference between our 16th place result and 8th place, so 2% faster does translate to a difference in the results.
The difference was a little less than I expected/hoped for I guess, but at least it's an improvement, I would be shattered if she was slower! The course at Majura was pretty rough, so I think the Anthem may be even faster again on smooth courses.