My mate wants a FS around the grand mark, minimum 120mm travel, has to be new (he wants a warranty). Looked at the Boardman team FS and the Canyon Nerve AL 6, any thoughts on these, or can someone suggest something better?

Those 2 are right up there for that budget.

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b4s1p3504/GIANT-TRANCE-X4-2011

But this is really a better bike, just budget a 70mm stem and some wide handlebars and they are awesome:

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m1b4s1p4431/GIANT-ANTHEM-X3-2012

Sorry, but the spec/fork on the Canyon and Boardman pisses all over the Giant. I agree the Trance is a nice frame though.

Both bikes have great specs for the money, and both look fantastic. The boardman may be easier to deal with if you did have any problems and can be easily sent back to halfords. The canyon does look like a cracking bit of kit though!

Maestro suspension verses Horst (?) – will ride differently and different dependencies on the propedal type functionality in the shock.

I would get the Giant myself.