On the whole, if you want a full-suspension bike that doesn't weigh a ton or bob excessively on climbs, this is it. It loses nothing to ultra-stiff hardtails except a few pounds. I am definitely faster on this bike than I ever was on a hardtail. Very light and strong. The chainrings cause crapy chain shifting.
Bottom bracket creaks a lot.
Manitou Mars CL Forks really suck. Forks have too much rebound and flex too much in ruts and thick dirt. I know I did. Now my bike is a lean mean race machine. Its plush and shifts on the dime.