Boardman FS Pro
Discussion
I've had an old Gary Fisher hardtail for years and have now decided that it is getting a bit past it so I've decided to get myself a new bike and spend a bit more time playing on it!
I've been around the local bikeshops and have had a mixture of advice given the budget I set myself (about a grand). One bikeshop thought given that I will be mainly riding with my kids or on mild forest trails that a decent hardtail would fit the bill, I went to another today who went to pains to alleviate my concerns that 1K wouldn't get me a decent spec full suspension and recommended a Giant Trance X4 or the Specialised FXR XC Comp(1100). I was tempted by the Specialised but am also keen on the Boardman FS Pro which is a wee bit over my original budget but seems to be a pretty good spec bike for the money.
Thoughts welcomed from those more in the know than me!
I've been around the local bikeshops and have had a mixture of advice given the budget I set myself (about a grand). One bikeshop thought given that I will be mainly riding with my kids or on mild forest trails that a decent hardtail would fit the bill, I went to another today who went to pains to alleviate my concerns that 1K wouldn't get me a decent spec full suspension and recommended a Giant Trance X4 or the Specialised FXR XC Comp(1100). I was tempted by the Specialised but am also keen on the Boardman FS Pro which is a wee bit over my original budget but seems to be a pretty good spec bike for the money.
Thoughts welcomed from those more in the know than me!
Edited by Steve996 on Wednesday 19th May 23:31
you probably dont "need" a full sus for what you describe but to be honest, modern ful sus bikes can ride quite similar to hardtails now with lockout suspension and the like but the boardman is a great bike and constantly gets good reviews winning group tests... if that doesnt appeal, there are a few good suspension bikes from forgotten brands around for under a grand that will suit your needs. have a look at univega and merida.
i would also have a look at the trek 6700 hardtail http://www.bikebike.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b1s2... or the scott range. boht are very reliable and well regarded.
i would also have a look at the trek 6700 hardtail http://www.bikebike.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b1s2... or the scott range. boht are very reliable and well regarded.
If your riding really is going to be as simple as a family ride, then the hardtail will suit you fine. If you think you may want to do a little more cross country riding, up and down hills, then I personally would recommend a full sus bike. The two bikes you have mentioned (Giant and Specialized) are both excellent bikes for £1k and £1.1k. You also could add the Boardman FS Comp for £800 or Pro I think for £1.1k which is a full sus bike.
Edited by cliff123 on Thursday 20th May 08:52
I've reserved an F2 PRO for collection tomorrow!!!! Didn't really NEED a full sus but fancied one and with the spec of this bike for the money and the ability to lockout the rear shock on the pro I'm thinking it probably covers all my options and will future proof me as well if I decide (get fit enough!) to get a bit more serious.
If your spending £1100 do check out the specilized xc fsr, same money, but better frame. okay the gearing and bits might not match the boardman, but you can upgrade them over time, you can't upgrade the frame. either bike is good, just check it out, have a sit on both. but enjoy which you get, all the best.
cliff123 said:
If your spending £1100 do check out the specilized xc fsr, same money, but better frame. okay the gearing and bits might not match the boardman, but you can upgrade them over time, you can't upgrade the frame. either bike is good, just check it out, have a sit on both. but enjoy which you get, all the best.
Cheers Cliff, yup had a sit on a Boardman and a good look over the beastie before I committed and decided that I couldn't see any discernable difference in the frame quality, preferred the colour scheme and thought the components were a couple of notches up. I had a sit on the Specialised a couple of days ago and I liked it too. In the end I spent a little more and went for the Boardman, I now have it home but typically this afternoon we have had about a months worth of rain in a series of really major thunderstorms so apart from a little blast around the drive I've not had the chance to do anything on it. Feels really light and responsive though compared to my old Gary Fisher hardtail!To be fair a full sus is a complete waste of time for what you're doing and will be a hinderance.
lockout on the rear doesn't always do so 100%, it'll restrict accessories you may wish to add and will be heavier and harder work to lug about.
For what you're doing you could get a very nice spec hardtail that will be very light, great fun, great feedback and still do the kiddie rides no problem.
The frame quality will be better, the component quality will be better, it will be much better VFM for you.
If you're looking to do telegraph road (leith hill) in Surrey at over 20mph then yes, a full sus will make it a bit more comfy and controllable.
Aside from that I'd not bother...
and that's me talking as a full sus owner!
lockout on the rear doesn't always do so 100%, it'll restrict accessories you may wish to add and will be heavier and harder work to lug about.
For what you're doing you could get a very nice spec hardtail that will be very light, great fun, great feedback and still do the kiddie rides no problem.
The frame quality will be better, the component quality will be better, it will be much better VFM for you.
If you're looking to do telegraph road (leith hill) in Surrey at over 20mph then yes, a full sus will make it a bit more comfy and controllable.
Aside from that I'd not bother...
and that's me talking as a full sus owner!
dubbs said:
Just read you've bought it... oops!! 
Ok - so, I suggest you get out there in that weather and become a damn good XC rider You've got a pretty good steed that'll be wasted if you don't!!
Yup deed is done £1300 spent on a bike! Wife is shaking her head in bewilderment!Ok - so, I suggest you get out there in that weather and become a damn good XC rider
You've got a pretty good steed that'll be wasted if you don't!!In fairness the spec on the FS Pro is pretty high.......but I take your point I'm going to have to get my lardy ass out to justify having bought it!
FRAME:
Superlight 4 bar linkage fs with 120mm travel and super butted tubing
REAR SHOCK:
RockShox Monarch 3.3 with adjustable rebound, compression and lockout
FORK:
New RockShox Reba Race with 100mm travel, Motion Control damping, external floodgate & lockout
GEARING:
SRAM X0/X9 27 speed
BRAKES:
Avid Elixir R carbon hydraulic disc
CHAINSET:
Truvativ Stylo Team GXP
WHEELS:
Ritchey WCS rims with cartridge bearing hubs
FINISHING KIT:
Ritchey Pro
Bit of a bump; How are you finding it?
I found out my work scheme do the Cycle2Work scheme at Halfords, and one of these is looking like a very real contender. (For the £1000 Halfords FS it would be around £550 over 12 months I think - seems a bargain to me!)
Is it reasonable to ride on road as well as off? (IE, could you do 10 miles with relative ease on road with it, even on the off road tyres?)
I found out my work scheme do the Cycle2Work scheme at Halfords, and one of these is looking like a very real contender. (For the £1000 Halfords FS it would be around £550 over 12 months I think - seems a bargain to me!)
Is it reasonable to ride on road as well as off? (IE, could you do 10 miles with relative ease on road with it, even on the off road tyres?)
Edited by matty_doh on Wednesday 9th June 19:00
matty_doh said:
Bit of a bump; How are you finding it?
I found out my work scheme do the Cycle2Work scheme at Halfords, and one of these is looking like a very real contender. (For the £1000 Halfords FS it would be around £550 over 12 months I think - seems a bargain to me!)
Is it reasonable to ride on road as well as off? (IE, could you do 10 miles with relative ease on road with it, even on the off road tyres?)
Finding it very good. I have done some mild forest/trail stuff with it to the limit of my fitness and ability and the bike certainly exceeded my capabilities. I cycled a 14 mile road round trip at the weekend on it and again got on fine with it. I found out my work scheme do the Cycle2Work scheme at Halfords, and one of these is looking like a very real contender. (For the £1000 Halfords FS it would be around £550 over 12 months I think - seems a bargain to me!)
Is it reasonable to ride on road as well as off? (IE, could you do 10 miles with relative ease on road with it, even on the off road tyres?)
Edited by matty_doh on Wednesday 9th June 19:00
matty_doh said:
Is it reasonable to ride on road as well as off? (IE, could you do 10 miles with relative ease on road with it, even on the off road tyres?)
These bikes are actually quite good on the road. Mine weighs 12.3kg with pedals and 11.9kg with its slicks on. I'm using Conti Sport Contacts in 1.6 and running 70psi. In this set up, with the rear suspension unit pumped up to 190psi and locked out and I can average 14mph on a hilly 25 mile ride and 16mph on a flat ride. Wind resistance from the higher seating position and the extra number of spokes is the biggest hindrance. The Boardy is absolutely flat out at about 38mph.If your mates aren't serious road riders, I think this is good enough performance. When you consider its coming from a seriously focussed FS off road bike, its damn impressive.
Unfortunately my mates are pretty serious about their road stuff so I'm looking for a road bike too.
Steve996 said:
Finding it very good. I have done some mild forest/trail stuff with it to the limit of my fitness and ability and the bike certainly exceeded my capabilities. I cycled a 14 mile road round trip at the weekend on it and again got on fine with it.
Raven Flyer said:
These bikes are actually quite good on the road. Mine weighs 12.3kg with pedals and 11.9kg with its slicks on. I'm using Conti Sport Contacts in 1.6 and running 70psi. In this set up, with the rear suspension unit pumped up to 190psi and locked out and I can average 14mph on a hilly 25 mile ride and 16mph on a flat ride. Wind resistance from the higher seating position and the extra number of spokes is the biggest hindrance. The Boardy is absolutely flat out at about 38mph.
If your mates aren't serious road riders, I think this is good enough performance. When you consider its coming from a seriously focussed FS off road bike, its damn impressive.
Unfortunately my mates are pretty serious about their road stuff so I'm looking for a road bike too.
Cheers for the replies, definite food for thought If your mates aren't serious road riders, I think this is good enough performance. When you consider its coming from a seriously focussed FS off road bike, its damn impressive.
Unfortunately my mates are pretty serious about their road stuff so I'm looking for a road bike too.
It will primarily be used for off-road stuff, but it will occasionally be roped in for an 11 mile commute, when I can't pinch my dads old bike! I rarely ride on road with friends anyway, it tends to be light DH and a mix of other off-road stuff.
Would both of you recommend them for the price?
You can only buy these from Halfords and you might need to drive about or order to get a Pro in your size. They don't stock more than one size in each branch. I treated them as a vendor and they won't see my bike again, although they did set it up well. It will go to a good LBS once a year for a fettle.
They are worth £2k let alone £1300.
The only thing I found that I liked more was a carbon Stumpy at £3k and that was way over my budget and probably not aimed at recreational riders.
They are worth £2k let alone £1300.
The only thing I found that I liked more was a carbon Stumpy at £3k and that was way over my budget and probably not aimed at recreational riders.
Edited by Raven Flyer on Friday 11th June 11:44
Raven Flyer said:
You can only buy these from Halfords and you might need to drive about or order to get a Pro in your size. They don't stock more than one size in each branch. I treated them as a vendor and they won't see my bike again, although they did set it up well. It will go to a good LBS once a year for a fettle.
They are worth £2k let alone £1300.
The only thing I found that I liked more was a carbon Stumpy at £3k and that was way over my budget and probably not aimed at recreational riders.
Yeah, I have visited both the local stores in the last couple of days and neither had one in, though did say they will contact me if they do get one for me to look at. They are worth £2k let alone £1300.
The only thing I found that I liked more was a carbon Stumpy at £3k and that was way over my budget and probably not aimed at recreational riders.
If I do get one, I'll be buying one on the Cycle to work scheme - At the moment I'm unsure whether to spend the extra and get the Pro, or whether the Team will be ok for me. I'll build it myself or have a mate build it (Professional bike mechanic) - the last time I had a bike from Halfords, it was incredibly badly built!
Thanks for the information!
Raven Flyer said:
If you select the bike on Halfords website, it will tell you your nearest store that has your size and model in stock.
Yeah I did that, it doesn't appear to be very accurate. Checked that and it said both my local stores had them in (One medium, one large) - Got there and neither of them had it in!matty_doh said:
Raven Flyer said:
You can only buy these from Halfords and you might need to drive about or order to get a Pro in your size. They don't stock more than one size in each branch. I treated them as a vendor and they won't see my bike again, although they did set it up well. It will go to a good LBS once a year for a fettle.
They are worth £2k let alone £1300.
The only thing I found that I liked more was a carbon Stumpy at £3k and that was way over my budget and probably not aimed at recreational riders.
Yeah, I have visited both the local stores in the last couple of days and neither had one in, though did say they will contact me if they do get one for me to look at. They are worth £2k let alone £1300.
The only thing I found that I liked more was a carbon Stumpy at £3k and that was way over my budget and probably not aimed at recreational riders.
If I do get one, I'll be buying one on the Cycle to work scheme - At the moment I'm unsure whether to spend the extra and get the Pro, or whether the Team will be ok for me. I'll build it myself or have a mate build it (Professional bike mechanic) - the last time I had a bike from Halfords, it was incredibly badly built!
Thanks for the information!
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