Boardman - Giant or Specialized

[bkulacs0410]

Hi there, I am in between a decision to buy either: "2021 Specialized Sirrus X 3.0 Hybrid Bike In Silver (£849) 8kg" or Boardman HYB 8.8 Mens Hybrid Bike 2021 (£800) 10.4kg" but I am not sure which one to choose. I am also aware of the "Giant" bicycles out there, but have not looked into them so much yet. How important is it to have a lighter bike over a heavier and how good is it to have only 1 cog in the middle? These are some factors I was looking into. Also- I am 183cm with 34" inside leg. I had a Boardman MTX 8.6 Mens Hybrid Bike 2021 in Large before and I found it way too Large for me even though the size chart recommended to have it in this size. I never had a Specialized so I am not sure if I would get a Medium it would be small as they are different in sizing


Thank you

Regards
Balint

 

[vickster]

I’m very very surprised the Specilaized is only 8kg with alu frame, fat tyres and disc brakes. They never used to publish weights.

I had a Sirrus, large at 1m77, 34” inside keg. A medium would be small for you surely?

What sort of cycling will you be doing, what terrain?
Go try the bikes out.

 

[bkulacs0410]

Ahhhh you know what, as I’m looking more into it and checking the videos. I need to revise my post as I did a mistake there. I think it is 0.8kg lighter then the previous X 2.0 version. Sorry for the misleading information.
And thanks for your quick reply. What’s your opinion though?

 

[bkulacs0410]

Unfortunately it does not let me revise it. Sorry folks

 

[Kajjal]

The main thing is the bike fits you, has the gearing you need and this may sound odd but having a bike you like the look of makes you want to ride it more. 2x gearing normally gives a better range of gears that are closer together for climbing / riding on trails as well as on road where you can go faster. Also for disc brakes decent hydraulic ones work better than cable ones.

 

[fossyant]

The Boardman will have better components.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

On a hybrid or a MTB, I want a triple crankset up front and I don't want a cassette the size of a dinner plate or a low hanging, easy to damage and expensive to replace derailleur mech at the back. In my book 1 x transmissions are strictly limited range gears for relatively flat terrain, short urban journeys. In other words a bike to pop down the shops or go to the pub on, and nothing more than that.

 

[gzoom]

On a hybrid or a MTB, I want a triple crankset up front and I don't want a cassette the size of a dinner plate or a low hanging, easy to damage and expensive to replace derailleur mech at the back. In my book 1 x transmissions are strictly limited range gears for relatively flat terrain, short urban journeys. In other words a bike to pop down the shops or go to the pub on, and nothing more than that.

Not in my experience.

The x1 drivetrain on my Boardman gives enough range to go up 14% hills and cruise at 20mph on the flat, all without the faff of a front derailleur.

I'm actually thinking about the possibility of changing my road bike to x1, and I would be amazed if new road bikes in future don't go down the x1 route.

 

[shnjmsn]

Not in my experience.

The x1 drivetrain on my Boardman gives enough range to go up 14% hills and cruise at 20mph on the flat, all without the faff of a front derailleur.

I'm actually thinking about the possibility of changing my road bike to x1, and I would be amazed if new road bikes in future don't go down the x1 route.

I just got a new Planet X Space Chicken gravel bike delivered this week with a 1x. Only 3 rides in but so far very impressed ! It's SRAM which is a first for me but I'm quite liking it. Agree with you on this GZ, I've done some decent hills on it and it's fine on the Somerset flats at 20mph. Looking forward to testing it on some gravel roads and fire tracks in the Spring All in all, it seems easy, clean and the range of gearing is good.......and to be honest I've noticed no difference in gaps between cogs as I thought I might.......... So far so good...............

 

[vickster]

Not in my experience.

The x1 drivetrain on my Boardman gives enough range to go up 14% hills and cruise at 20mph on the flat, all without the faff of a front derailleur.

I'm actually thinking about the possibility of changing my road bike to x1, and I would be amazed if new road bikes in future don't go down the x1 route.

Isn't it electric though? Unless you have two Boardmans (men?)

@bkulacs0410 you haven’t said where you are based or what sort of terrain you are riding
The Whyte R7 range would be on my list for a flat bar and Specialized off it, mainly for lack of value for money reasons.
The Trek FX range is good too (but again on the more costly side for spec)

 

[DRM]

On a hybrid or a MTB, I want a triple crankset up front and I don't want a cassette the size of a dinner plate or a low hanging, easy to damage and expensive to replace derailleur mech at the back. In my book 1 x transmissions are strictly limited range gears for relatively flat terrain, short urban journeys. In other words a bike to pop down the shops or go to the pub on, and nothing more than that.

No they're not, they're for seriously steep off road terrain and are so far removed from a limited range of gears as can be, for MTB's & Gravel bikes they're perfect, giving a good spread of gears, & no front derailleur means the ability to fit a wider tyre in the rear, and on a gravel bike the redundant shifter can be used to control a dropper post, triples are perfect for touring bikes to give a wide spread of gears with smaller gaps.

 

[gzoom]

Isn't it electric though? Unless you have two Boardmans (men?)

Yes its electric but the gear range is absolutely fine regardless of the electric bit.

I'll happily buy a x1 road bike for my next purchase.

 

[vickster]

So you don’t use the electric bit on 14% hills? Glutton for punishment

 

[bkulacs0410]

The main thing is the bike fits you, has the gearing you need and this may sound odd but having a bike you like the look of makes you want to ride it more. 2x gearing normally gives a better range of gears that are closer together for climbing / riding on trails as well as on road where you can go faster. Also for disc brakes decent hydraulic ones work better than cable ones.

That is good, I think I am going to go with the Boardman then. Thanks for your reply

 

[bkulacs0410]

So you don’t use the electric bit on 14% hills? Glutton for punishment

Yeah I don’t want electric bicycle this time, most of the areas I’ll go are flat anyway