Boardman bikes - quality?

[NorthernDave]

Small screens don't see sigs, remember.

Here you go:

 

[mjr]

Probably worth doing the setting up and maintenance yourself or getting a proper bike shop to do it.

Let them do the setup else they may blame faults on the setup. Just check it yourself before you ride.

 

[Drago]

Really? I am saving for a Merida ride 300 or I have my eyes on one of these going cheap Merida Scultura Alloy 901 2014

Indeed. Mainly designed in Europe to suit the local market, manufacture sub contracted out to one of the zillions of manufacturers in Taiwan. Nothing exciting about that for the money, but nothing lacking either. Just bike frames from where the bulk of the Worlds bike frames come from.

If you want superb value for money performance then look at B.Twin. If you want a great performer with the reassurance of (likely) consistent high quality then stick with Trek, Giant or Spesh. Boardman sit in the middle, neither fish nor fowl these days. The market they stroked when then first appeared has polarised in opposite directions, and there are budget performers of equal 'quality', whatever you actually mean by that word, for less money from other sellers now.

 

[fossyant]

I have a Boardman FS Pro 650B. Managed to get it in the sales with BC discount for £1000 and not the £1,600. It's still a bargain at full price, and the suspension alone retails for £800. Other makes and you are looking at over £2k.

Just a note about the smooth welds. They are actually 'filled' to make the smooth appearance. Nothing wrong with that, and it's a reason I like it, looks neat. I've seen a frame that's been blasted before spraying and they are normal welds.

 

[ozboz]

Ive looked at them in Halfords, id say they are pretty good , and as said they are built by Merida , who also build Specialized,go for it !!

 

[Johnno260]

Indeed. Mainly designed in Europe to suit the local market, manufacture sub contracted out to one of the zillions of manufacturers in Taiwan. Nothing exciting about that for the money, but nothing lacking either. Just bike frames from where the bulk of the Worlds bike frames come from.

If you want superb value for money performance then look at B.Twin. If you want a great performer with the reassurance of (likely) consistent high quality then stick with Trek, Giant or Spesh. Boardman sit in the middle, neither fish nor fowl these days. The market they stroked when then first appeared has polarised in opposite directions, and there are budget performers of equal 'quality', whatever you actually mean by that word, for less money from other sellers now.

Cheers for the reply, main reason I was looking at Merida is the LBS seem to specialise in them.

May see check Evans as well Trek, Cannondale at nice prices at the mo.

 

[fossyant]

Halfords have Boardmans at 20% off again, add in 10% for British Cycling discount.

 

[Apollonius]

It is interesting to compare the weld quality on two of my friends' bikes. One is a Specialized Dolce and the other is a Halfords Boardman. Since they are made, I believe, by the same people, the difference in quality is astounding. And not the way round you might think, given the relative pricing.

 

[cyberknight]

Halfords have Boardmans at 20% off again, add in 10% for British Cycling discount.

pity you cant use BC discount with C2W , just checked and its a no no .

 

[vickster]

It's not really a surprise as with C2W you aren't buying the bike, your company is and then hiring it to you for the duration of the scheme

 

[User16625]

It's not really a surprise as with C2W you aren't buying the bike, your company is and then hiring it to you for the duration of the scheme

Thus rendering the scheme a farce. It should be made so that you buy the bike and have the payments deducted from gross pay. Ownership should lie with the rider rather than the employer. I certainly wouldnt consider the scheme and can only wonder how many others have been put off. Potentially good ideas are often implemented badly.

 

[NeilnrLincoln]

I've got two Boardmans, one of which is the hybrid team and the quality is excellent on both.

 

[Johnno260]

I would say my Boardmans frame is decent, wheels didn't last long, brakes (BB5) I personally hated, bottom bracket was replaced, but it's going back in as 400miles later it's starting to fail again.

In fairness to the bike I had heard that the BB used is a little sucky and many people complain about them.

Would I buy another Boardman? not from Halfords, they talked me into getting a Hybrid, something I now regret and I wish I had gotten a road bike as planned, they advised against it, I was on the fence a little but now a year later I am saving like crazy to get a road bike, also I feel as if the frame is a little undersized for me? it's 54cm I am just over 183cm with an inner leg of around 89cm.

Again many of my issues aren't with the bike, but as Halfords are the main outlet your stuck with them unless you buy 2nd hand, also when I have gone back to Halfords for tweaks and adjustments I don't feel like they have listened to me and just taken the bike for a day and called me later to say it's done.

 

[Grant Fondo]

I had a full suspension MTB, team FS I think, got cheap on cycle 2 work scheme...but totally hated it and ebayed after 3 months....stuck with hardtail Cannondale which is years old but light years better.
no idea what the road bikes are like, but would never be on my shopping list, Chris is a great bloke but his bikes are a bit, er, dull!

 

[mjr]

Again many of my issues aren't with the bike, but as Halfords are the main outlet your stuck with them unless you buy 2nd hand, also when I have gone back to Halfords for tweaks and adjustments I don't feel like they have listened to me and just taken the bike for a day and called me later to say it's done.

Try another branch. It's nicknamed half odds because half the time you get the lift, half you get...