Took the Tallboy out on a ride last night (which was a mistake since my back is not healed yet, so I'm feeling it today). The bike is actually pretty tricky to get in the air. Even if you preload before hitting the lip of a jump, it's got a pretty long top tube so you're in a very forward position.
But, that thing is FAST. It's crazy how much more confidence inspiring it is at speed. The Fox shocks are so good at small bump compliance that you don't even feel any of the normal chatter, and you feel better and better the faster you go. I was EASILY 25% quicker than I was on my hardtail. Rear traction is crazy good. It's also strange to feel zero slop in the hub engagement when you start to pedal.
Things I need to change - seat, just not comfortable for extended periods.
Handlebars - previous owner used really narrow 740mm bars, I like around 780. Between the long stem, narrow bars, and slacker head angle, I actually drifted off the trail a few times not realizing just how hard I had to move the bars to make it want to turn.
Stem - too long, has me in a very forward riding position, need to get more upright/weight back.
Chain ring - 30 tooth is going on the front. There is no way I can make it up any sort of extended climb with the 32 tooth. I just barely made it up the short punchy ones and wanted to kill myself, was always hunting for about two more gears.
Volume spacers for the fork/shock - I like where the air pressure is, but too easy to use up all the travel. Needs some volume spacers to firm up the mid-end stroke.
I did hear the BB creak the PO mentioned, so I'll probably replace that when I do the chain ring since he gave me a spare. The dropper lever is also not working right and needs to be bled. If a bleed doesn't fix it, I will probably get rid of the reverb dropper and go to a mechanical dropper. It also drives me nuts how low the levers are on the XT shifters. The brake levers are in the right spot for one finger braking, but the shifter housing is already up as high as it will go, and you feel like you really have to wrap your hand forward/reach down to upshift.
All in all, I don't regret buying the bike one bit. It's so good it almost makes me look like I know what I'm doing, I can't even imagine how hard someone good would be able to push that thing.
Biggest con to yesterdays trip - they reversed the direction of the trail we ride most often (I think they do it every year), and it SUCKS in the new direction. The jumps are gone, the pump track section is now just a murderous uphill climb, the rock garden is now uphill, and all of the berms are on the uphill. I'm super bummed out by it.