@stb222 as a follow up..... yesterday at ringwood I got to try the a bronson and a 5010 back to back on the same trail....I mean really, it was exactly as i expected...they felt very similar with the 5010 being a little more nimble, but not quite as good on the big hits. Nothing shocking. I loved both of them....Being that im looking for something to do enduro races on, id probably prefer the Bronson...It didnt feel that much bigger/heavier uphill as to be detrimental.
More interesting to me was comparing the hightower to the bronson....Having recent ridden the hightower and now finally getting a chance to try the bronson on some rocky terrain. I have to say, I think I like the bronson just a tick better overall. Both are really awesome, and I could be happy with both I think....but compared to the hightower...I like how the bronson feels more nimble...turns quicker, easier to muscle up and over things...if you want to move the rear wheel from here to there...you can just give the bike a light flick and it responds quickly...It feels more "fun" than the hightower....I bet if I tracked strava times on both they would probably be the same.. I cant say I noticed any real detriment with the smaller wheels....There was one chunky rock garden that I would hit a high speed and just go straight thru without thinking about a line...Both the bronson and the HT were awesome at this...But I would say the high tower felt like it maintained its momentum just a bit better...Hightower to me is like a machine built for paving rocks, it might not be the most fun and playful bike I have ridden, but its DAM good at making the hard stuff seem easier..Really, if I had the funds, I would buy both of them. Both are excellent.
Big thanks to
@jdog for letting me play with all of these toys.