Boardman Mountain Bikes

[inman999]

Hi all,

I'm (potentially) looking to buy a new FS Mountain Bike. Now, I have a 2011 Boardman road bike and it is excellent and very good VFM in my opinion. However looking on the Halfords site they only list 1 FS bike in a medium and even on the Boardman site the models listed appear to be 2010 models.

So my question is, are they about to launch new models and running down stock? or is the Boardman brand being neglected, that's certainly the feeling you get if you visit the Boardman microsite. The news section seems to have been abandoned since 2010/2011.

Or, thirdly, is there a better place to put 1000-1200 of my hard earned?

[Gumstabber]

Mountain bike rider magazine have a review this month which happens to feature the boardman. All about entry level F/S bikes. Incidentally I don't think it did well - merely average. I've only flicked through so far.

[shouldbworking]

I wouldn't say the range has been neglected, the boardman fs got a new suspension design for 2012, and there was the 'urban' mtb released that year as well. Probably just halfords website.

I'm just about to sell my 2012 fs team. Good but ultimately not as fun as my hardtail. I'd agree with the mbuk review that it's not as good as the sum of its parts.

Also, OP if you do get one, ditch the oem mountain king tyres. Horrific!

[968CS]

I have a Boarman team hybrid and FS, the FS was an eBay purchase, unused still with plastic covers etc and I've been very pleased coming from a Marin hard tail.

Certainly as an eBay purchase its offered great VFM but I think there's a lot of competition new at this level. Interesting comments on the OEM tyres, I' ve had my doubts once or twice on the trails and would welcome your recommendations on a replacement.

[ED209]

Giant trance x4, problem solved.

[Shambler]

Buy a 2012 model giant/ cannondale etc from a shop like Paul's cycles. You will quite often get a bike almost half price.

[inman999]

Will have to have a think.

I'm in Morzine this week and the bike envy is strong.

The issue I have is I know some information but not enough to know what is a good deal, its not this difficult with cars.

[ED209]

inman999 said:

Will have to have a think.

I'm in Morzine this week and the bike envy is strong.

The issue I have is I know some information but not enough to know what is a good deal, its not this difficult with cars.

Do not buy a bike on the basis of the bikes you see in morzine. You will buy too much bike for both your skills and the use you intend to put it to.

I have seen this done twice by people who had been to morzine, both ended in A and E with nearly new bikes up for sale.

[inman999]

ED209 said:

inman999 said:

Will have to have a think.

I'm in Morzine this week and the bike envy is strong.

The issue I have is I know some information but not enough to know what is a good deal, its not this difficult with cars.

Do not buy a bike on the basis of the bikes you see in morzine. You will buy too much bike for both your skills and the use you intend to put it to.

I have seen this done twice by people who had been to morzine, both ended in A and E with nearly new bikes up for sale.

No probs, the oldish giant XC bike I'm using is more than up to the job so far. We've got downhill bikes hired for the last 2 days which should provide a nice comparison.

[LocoBlade]

Have a look at the Canyon Nerve range, on my recommendation my brother bought one around your budget a couple of months back and thankfully for me it's a cracking bike. They've received a lot of accolades in the press over the past couple of years and spec for spec they're a good £3-400 less than the big brand names. The only minor downside is mail order from Germany only so no try-before-you-buy but they do a very comprehensive sizing chart and will swap or refund no questions asked (via a UK contact point) within I think 30 days if it doesn't fit or you don't like it.