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Hi
Just looking some advice on picking my next mountain bike. Any thoughts/opinions welcome.
I won’t be doing anything too stressful ride wise - something for pottering around with kids mainly but something that still be decent enough quality for when I do start doing more extra curricular activities
I’m doing the cycle scheme and getting a road and MTB. I’ve settled on the Boardman SLR 8.9 105 with a brake upgrade but I’m struggling with the mountain bike and I’m not sure which features I should be using to make my decision on.
Initially the thought for dropper post as standard and full suspension that Boardman 8.8 comes with appealed but as I looked into MTB groupsets I’m wondering is the full suspension really what I need Vs a higher quality group set option.
Using this view I’m probably now more gearing towards the Shimano XT/SLX groupset offered by the Giant bike below.
1)What would your preference be?
2)Would you have any other suggestions?
3)Can’t find reviews of specific Cube & Giant models below. Any views?
Appreciate this question is basically - basic full sus or slightly better equipped hardtail. Just looking a little sanity before I pull the tigger if you please
Boardman MTR 8.8 - full suspension, with dropper & 11 speed Shimano deore M5100.£1350
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/mountain-bikes/boardman-mtr-8.8-mens-mountain-bike-2021---s-m-l-xl-frames-371014.html?stockInventory=undefined
Cube Attention SLX - Hardtail.12 Speed Shimano XT and Deore mix of drivetrain £1100 and adding dropper comes to £1240> https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Attention-SLX-Mountain-Bike-2023-Hardtail-MTB_259511.htm >
Giant XTC SLR 29 - Hardtail £1395. Shimano XT/SLX mix drivetrain & tubeless
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-XTC-SLR-29-1-Mountain-Bike-2022-Hardtail-MTB_256888.htm
thanks
Not the Giant. Check out the recent warranty thread.
The 2 hardtails are very different in intention to the full suspension bike. They’re both full cross country and they both have a worse suspension form than the Boardman in actual fact.
The deore 11 speed is just as good as deore 12 speed in my mind - you lose a little bit of range but it’s not something that would really matter riding off road much. Would rather have the recon fork on the boardman to the own brand giant one (never come across this before) or the skinny legged Judy on the Cube.
The Boardman has modern trail geometry - sensible reach figures, 66 degree head angle, 440mm chainstays, steepish seat angle. The 2 hardtail look like head down / arse up cross country machines to me.
Of course it really depends what you’re going to use the bike for as to which will be most appropriate for your riding. The boardman will be great at trail centres and anything a bit rowdy - without it being an extreme enduro ish type thing. The other 2 bikes will be more responsive on the pedals and possibly turn a bit quicker on very tight stuff, but on the flip side will be way more nervous at speed and you’ll get a clattering on anything rocky.
deore is fine from a spec perspective - works well and is cheap to replace if you break something. Perfectly suited to your level of riding.
for the road bike its worth noting you can't upgrade it to disks, but you can add a better road caliper if its also long-reach (which a lot aren't, so you don't have massive choice). That said, I'd expect that tektro brake to be good enough
Have you looked at the Boardman hardtails? There top of the line model is a decnt spec for the money.
The latest issue of the mag has a review of the Boardman FS.
I've got the disc 8.9 and it's a hell.of a bike, did quite a few sportives on it last year. STW has a review of a full Sus Boardman and it's very well rated, except the saddle and seatpost. Might be overkill cross country.