Post-burglary dilemma!!

littleandy0410

Sorry everyone, my first ever thread and it's a "what bike?" query!!

I had my Giant Trance 4 (with Hayes HFX 9's and RockShox Tora 318s) stolen from my garage between xmas and New Year. Luckily, my house insurance is covering it, and the insurance co. has contracted it out to Halfords bike replacement scheme.

They phoned me today to offer me a GT i-drive 5 elite http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_271259_langId_-1_CarSelectorCatalogId__CarSelectorGroupId__varient__categoryId_106167_crumb_33980-33957-106165_parentcategoryrn_106167
RRP £1200.
However, it's a new model, and appears to be exclusive to Halfords, so I can't find any reviews of it. Also, it's maybe a bit heavy for what I want - more of an XC guy, so I am hoping they'll be able to give me a halfords voucher and order in other brands of bike (I know they can do this for the cycle to work scheme)

If they can, I'm looking at either a Focus Super Bud from wiggle (£999) or a Specialized FSR xc Expert (£1099)

SO... the question is, if it was you, which would you go for? Any experience of any of these bikes?

Thanks all, sorry for the long post!!

supersonic

Hmmm, choices choices! Halfords usually do order in with insurance vouchers, or at least did when I worked there a few years back. Problem is, you are comitted to it once ordered, and will not have an opotunity to test. However you should be able to get a fell for the Idrive. Last year the XCR got a great review, and while this version is more expensive, it has lighter better components. I think the Idrive system is one of the best, if not the best pedalling bikes around.

If I had to shoehorn the bikes into categories, I would say the Focus is an XC bike, the FSR more trail oriented, while the XCR for gnarlier, harder riding.

acac

my bike is with helfords through my house insurance but i was told by leisure lakes that you can get abike through helfords from leisure lakes give you abetter choice.
they may not tell you this as they wont make as much money but they get adicount from leisure lakes