Two hardtails but which would you choose?

[Mars]

I like the Whyte brand - the quality is there, they're light, and they're fairly rare (I've never seen another while out riding).

http://www.whytebikes.com/2012/bike_page.php?ModNo...



However, you can't ignore the Boardmans - they wouldn't be so popular if they weren't good.

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/mtb/ht_pro.html



I am selling a bike which should leave me with ~£1000 to spend. The Whyte is a little more than this so I'd hunt for a deal and possibly put some extra into the deal if I had to.

My assessment of the pair is going to come down to specs I reckon. I've tried them both - they're slightly different but I like them both. Both have equal length top tubes and fit me nicely in the shop, but I know I'll end up tweaking them over time anyway. I'm going to use them for trail riding, wheelies and I generally want a bike I couldn't break. I don't think I could justify a full sus, and nor do I think I am yet ready to try full-on DH, despite my wishing I was fit enough.

>The Boardman has Rebas, against the Whyte's Recons - I believe that's a point in favour of the Boardman.
>Why Whyte has SRAM crank, against the Boardman's FSA - I don't know which is better.
>Both have slightly different Mavic wheels and slightly different Avid Elixar brakes.

Ignoring the £150 price difference, which would you choose.

And if neither, what recommendations do you have for alternatives AND WHY please?

Edited by Mars on Saturday 15th October 20:01

[Fetchez la vache]

Been looking into something similar recently, and these 2 were at the top of the list. I'll probably plump for the boardman so that's what I've voted.

To be honest either will more than likely be fabulous, but as ever it's best to try both before making a final decision..

[Mars]

Whyte's website won't let me capture a pic for display here.

Edited: Fixed, thanks to Fetchez

Edited by Mars on Friday 23 September 16:19

[Fetchez la vache]

lets see if this works..

[Mars]

There's a 2.5 degree difference in head angle between them. Am I right to suggest that the Whyte would be slightly "slower" in responding, but might be better if landing front first from a drop off?

A quick blast around the shop on the Whyte didn't tell me much. I'm trying to find a local Halfords to try the Boardman (I've only tried a 2011 HT for general "fit") but the limits of the test ride in this context make it equally pointless I suspect.

Edited by Mars on Friday 23 September 16:20

[caiss4]

There's a Boardman on e-bay at the moment - BNIB apparently - currently £310.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boardman-MTB-Pro-Med-201...

[Mr Gear]

Throwing it out there... this is playing the same game as the other two bikes, but is better specced and cheaper. I have one. It's nice.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/iroko...

[Mars]

Mr Gear said:

Throwing it out there... this is playing the same game as the other two bikes, but is better specced and cheaper. I have one. It's nice.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/iroko...

It's nice but I would dispute "better specced". It's heavier than both the Boardman and Whyte (by ~1Kg) and has a coil sprung fork where I definitely wanted air sprung. And both the Boardman and Whyte have a tapered head which is supposed to be stronger. I want stronger.

It's personal preference of course but I wanted only two chainrings on the front.

I tend to buy clothes, bikes and cars according to specification rather than price. If I can't afford, I will wait and save (to a point, of course). In this case I can afford a little more so while I agree the price on the Pinnacle is attractive, I am aiming a little higher.

Truth is, I could get a better bike than any of these if I wanted 2nd hand. I've never been able to afford a new car (well, ignoring one Caterham) so I enjoy the thrill of a new bike.

[anonymous-user]

thats a really tough call.

the maxle fitted to the Whyte makes it a very tempting proposition. it tightens up the front end so when you throw the bike into the tight corners it justn holds its line a bit better.

the boardman is slightly better specced, X9 thoroughout is extremely good value for money and has a few other seemingly higher spec bits, what appear to be a higher model of rim compared to the Whyte, a carbon post etc. no weight mentioned for the whyte but the boardman is 25.5 with pedals (and big ugly wellgo alloys at that!)

if you are aggressive on the trails and think that the maxle is worth the downgraded transmission spec go for the whyte, if you think that the increased reliability and functional performance of X9 is worth more than the maxle....then go for the boardman. personally i think the boardman is going to be more of an all day mile eater but the whyte will be faster on the technical bits.

[Mars]

pablo said:

thats a really tough call.

the maxle fitted to the Whyte makes it a very tempting proposition. it tightens up the front end so when you throw the bike into the tight corners it justn holds its line a bit better.

the boardman is slightly better specced, X9 thoroughout is extremely good value for money and has a few other seemingly higher spec bits, what appear to be a higher model of rim compared to the Whyte, a carbon post etc. no weight mentioned for the whyte but the boardman is 25.5 with pedals (and big ugly wellgo alloys at that!)

if you are aggressive on the trails and think that the maxle is worth the downgraded transmission spec go for the whyte, if you think that the increased reliability and functional performance of X9 is worth more than the maxle....then go for the boardman. personally i think the boardman is going to be more of an all day mile eater but the whyte will be faster on the technical bits.

That is a great assessment/summary. Thanks for that.

Am I right that the Maxle means it's a bolt-through, so isn't a QR hub? Or am I confused.com?

[Mars]

Also, the Whyte is listed at 11.4Kg (without pedals) which comes to 25.1326979lbs according to Google.

That suggests the Boardman just pips it for low-weight (when you account for the pedals).

[Speed addicted]

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

I went for the Revoloution Triad Zero when faced with the same decision. For the money the spec looks pretty good.

[Mars]

Speed addicted said:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?...

I went for the Revoloution Triad Zero when faced with the same decision. For the money the spec looks pretty good.

It's heavier but undeniably bombproof. I admit that I like the look of that. Thanks. I'll give that some thought.

[ewenm]

I'd use the old rule of "get the best frame you can, components can be upgraded later". No idea which of your shortlist has the better frame (and "better" is subjective of course).

[Mars]

ewenm said:

I'd use the old rule of "get the best frame you can, components can be upgraded later". No idea which of your shortlist has the better frame (and "better" is subjective of course).

I think the differences are only subjective really.

Tough call. I'm erring towards the Boardm... no... Whyt... no... Boardm... no... Aggghhh.

Oh well, don't have to make the decision yet. Bike sale on Ebay hasn't concluded yet.

[Mr Gear]

Mars said:

It's nice but I would dispute "better specced". It's heavier than both the Boardman and Whyte (by ~1Kg) and has a coil sprung fork where I definitely wanted air sprung. And both the Boardman and Whyte have a tapered head which is supposed to be stronger. I want stronger.

It's personal preference of course but I wanted only two chainrings on the front.

I tend to buy clothes, bikes and cars according to specification rather than price. If I can't afford, I will wait and save (to a point, of course). In this case I can afford a little more so while I agree the price on the Pinnacle is attractive, I am aiming a little higher.

Truth is, I could get a better bike than any of these if I wanted 2nd hand. I've never been able to afford a new car (well, ignoring one Caterham) so I enjoy the thrill of a new bike.

I prefer the ride quality of coil-sprung forks, but you do pay a weight penalty. No denying the twin-chainring thing... I would have preferred that over a triple.

[anonymous-user]

These under £1,000 HTs are perfect for the cycle to work scheme and consequently loads turn up hardly used on ebay. As many schemes are run through Halfords, the Boardman (which is already a bargain at £1,000) can be found even cheaper.

That's where I'd go unless I was using the scheme in the first place.

[Mars]

My company doesn't do the C2W so this is all paid out of my own pocket. And, as previously indicated, I don't want 2nd hand despite understanding that I could get a technically better bike for my cash.

[anonymous-user]

The boardman pro has just been named what mountain bike's bike of the year apparently. According to Chris Boardmans twitter feed.

[nammynake]

These wouldn't be available on C2W, since they're mail-order only, but IMO are excellent value for money:

Grand Canyon:
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?...

Yellowstone
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?...

Nerve XC
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?...


I have the Nerve XC7, and it's a brilliant machine.