Why are they needed?

"UK prices still to be confirmed" - usually swapping the "$" for a "£" is fairly accurate isn't it?

I work for an American company here in the UK. On the basis they don't try to make some extra on the exchange rate $1350 equates to roughly £890 which looks very cheap or is likely to be the cost for the frame only

I'll be interested to see the reviews though, they look like awesome

mcj78 is about right, the frames are usually the same in dollars as pounds so the exchange rate is immaterial, looks as though they are finally putting to bed the Heckler? dunno how i'd feel riding a bike the same colour as shite! hmmm......

I'd be surprised if they only came in brown. SC usually let you customize the color.

As for why they are needed, they are a low budget version of the Nomad/Heckler/Blur LT. There is certainly a market + some people prefer single pivots to complex suspension designs.

UK price for both frames are £1299 each with Float R shock

You have to take into account additional costs when bringing products to the UK, such as: Import Duty, Tax, UK Warranty, UK Tech Support, Stocking parts in the UK etc.

Thats why stuff always seems over priced in the UK.

it doesn't seem it, IT IS OVERPRICED IN THE UK! but then again we should be used to getting rogered on tax shouldn't we?

@skonk - I get what you're saying about non-domestic brands, but surely in that case Orang, Pace etc. should be knocking out quality fs frames for roughly the same price as Santa Cruz/Yeti/whoever do in their home market, take the 5 for example, tried & tested design largely unchanged in recent times, single pivot, fairly industrial design - £1300. Surely if it's down to import taxes etc. UK companies shoud be able to turn out frames cheaper than the foreign brands?

But these "big" foreign brands produce more units.

Yep, I understand the basic economics involved - i'd just love to see the net profit/unit some of the manufacturers are making from us, £1300 for a frame would probably seem even steeper!

I like the looks of the new Bucher and I think that it will become a popular bike. I wonder how it will compare to my orange five. Even thought five and butcher cost the same; one is made in England and the other in Taiwan. I rather go European.