New MTB for around £1,000?

[Stupeo]

I've got a C2W voucher for £1,000 and I've been after a new MTB for basic trail rides etc to mix up the road cycling. It would also probably be used for some commuting to the station - about 10-13miles down the canal each way.

I've been looking at the new Boardman MTR 8.6 which looks good on paper:

https://www.cyclerepublic.com/catalog/product/view...

Thoughts?

I am not fussed about hardtail vs. full sus or brand really. I could put some money towards but need to buy the bike through Halfords/Cycle Republic.

Thanks,
Matt

[gradeA]

If it's just for basic trail rides and commuting then I'd say a 29er hardtail would be a much better bet. Will it be locked up outside the station, as if so, I would be wary of getting anything too nice! You're better off with a nice MTB and a cheap £50 hack for station runs.
.
Either way, the Boardman MHT 8.9 looks like a better proposition than the MTR.

[Fetchez la vache]

I'm with the above for the commute bit - there's no way I'd leave a £1k bike by a station.

For that money without the station bit the world is your oyster tbh, but don't worry about the full suss as it sounds like its extra weight for what you won't need - way overbiked for a canal path.... but then I'm typing on a car site where the top speeds are way over the 70mph legal limit so...

...plus the extra weight of a full suss may be good if you want a good workout - I commute on a full suss for this very reason (plus it's currently my only bike )

[Stupeo]

Thanks both - agree with your points, but my thinking on that bike was:

- I already have the vouchers for £1,000. I don't particularly need any accessories etc and if I don't spend it, I still pay for it.
- I leave my bike at a secure bike hub in Manchester that has showers etc. Security of the bike isn't an issue (I sometimes leave my £2k carbon Di2 road bike there).

[SwissJonese]

I bought a Cube Acid 2x Hard Tail. Flipping lovely bike, super fast, even did battle on the beach a couple of weeks ago on it. Was £900 or there abouts + add in pedals and some accessories = 1K. I preferred it to the Scott and Trek (But prefer Trek for my Full Susp)

[sjg]

In the same boat and want something for the local night rides (nothing super technical) - the Boardman MHT 8.9 is definitely a front runner, it's really well specced for the money - theses days forks with steel stanchions, Deore or lower groupset, etc are commonplace under a grand.

Halfords C2W does have other options - e.g. Tredz can take them (they do Cannondale, Orbea, Scott, Cube, etc), Alpkit/Sonder (direct sales) along with plenty of local bike shops, so you can get almost any brands you like.

[Usget]

If you just want to do some knobbly paths, I'd struggle to see beyond one of these:

https://www.cyclerepublic.com/catalog/product/view...

Great spec for the money and would double up as a winter/distance bike. Since I've had a gravel bike I haven't used my MTB once.