I built my 057 one year ago and have beating the crap out of it ever since!!! This is my first hardtail. I've always ridden full squish bikes so i was concerned about the harsh ride as you are. I am 53 years old, 210 lbs, strong and ride 2-3 times a week. Here in North Carolina we ride a lot of single track that tends to be very rooty so if there's any terrain that will test your teeth chattering theory it's here. I ride on Maxxis Ikons front and rear 2.25 so not the widest tires. The bike complete weighs in at 22lbs. It is wicked fast!!! I'm sure there are lighter frames out there and i know my bike could drop a pound/pound and a half but the bike feels light, fast and more maneuverable than anything else i've ridden. I love the bike!!! There is not a nick, scratch or crack on it. The design has been proven over the years and the carbon layup schedule has not been changed because they don't want to screw with the reliability. If you search you won't find many posts about failures.
The frame is very stiff! So stiff i change the bottom bracket twice a year. I'm now going to invest in a RWC BB with ceramic bearings and see if it last longer and pedals smoother. When you get out of the saddle and hammer on the crank it takes all the power you can give!!!. The only thing to think about is power transfer to the rear wheel is so direct you need to put thought into what tire you are going to use to get the most traction you can. When i stand up it's so easy to break loose my Ikons....lol! I'm considering switching to the Maxxis Ardent Race to gain a bit more traction without killing the rolling resistance.
All in all it's a great bike and would recommend it to anyone considering a hardtail. It's that good!!!
