Full Sus Bike for £1k

Peripheral

I've recently gotten back into proper cycling after 3 years of being out of it and am looking around for a full susser for some where around 800-1000. The bike will get a fair bit of use around the city I live in, to and from uni etc. but the bulk of the usage will come from forest trails and heavy descent around the Cairngorms.

So far I've got around 4 options floating around, these being:

The Boardman Comp FS
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

The GT ID5 I-Drive XCR
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65499#dtab

The Felt 3 Virtue 2009
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Felt_ ... 360044008/

The Specialised FSR XC Comp
http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/speciali ... 45245.html

Focus Super Bud Pro 2009
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus ... 360037550/

If there are any other suggestions for suitable models I'm open to those, any feedback would be great.

Thanks.

Edit - cut the Merida out due to weight and replaced with the Focus Super Bud Pro.

supersonic

Hello and welcome to Bike Radar.

Some nice bikes there: ther is no doubt the GT is designed to be ridden harder than the others, and is a little heavier because of it. The Merida just seems to be heavy full stop. Boardman is great value, and the felt is not too bad at its reduction either.

Can you try any out for size?

I would take a look at the Specialised FSR XC too, and the more expensive Boardman Team.

Peripheral

Thanks for the welcome, been lurking for a couple of days reading hundreds of reviews!

I have access to the Merida and GT, a fair bit of travelling would need to be done as the nearest Halfords that stock the Boardman of any design appears to be Aberdeen. I was veering away from the Merida, I wouldn't have considered it normally, at 32 lbs it isn't exactly light, I'm not even sure where the weight comes from as it doesn't seem to be designed for heavy work as the GT is.

I'll have a look at the Specialised FSR XC, had seen it mentioned in your "Which Bikes" thread.