Boardman Bikes has just released its 2021 range, including updates to its SLR endurance bike and the release of its new ADV gravel bike.
Boardman Bikes has been notably quiet recently. That’s because it has been gearing up for the launch of its 2021 range. Plus, it hasn’t had a lot of bikes to sell, since the Covid-19 outbreak sent bike sales through the roof.
Now it’s started to roll out the new 2021 bikes, and the undoubted headline grabber is the limited-edition SLR 8.9 – an all-carbon Shimano 105 equipped machine for just £1,000.
With only 500 available across men’s and women’s models, Boardman expects it to sell out fast.
Chrisr Boardman himself is still very much involved in the launch of the new bikes, assisting in development and signing off the design of all new models. “I’ve kept that connection because I still love it, and even after more than a decade, I get excited about seeing each new model being born,” he says.
You can pre-register your interest in the new bikes immediately, as they are live on Boardman’s and Halfords’ sites, although availability will trickle out for different models over the summer.
Boardman says that there will be further new 2021 models, including mountain bikes and hybrids, as well as further road bikes announced later in the summer.
2021 Boardman SLR 8.9 Carbon Ltd Edition
The limited edition of the rim brake SLR endurance bike boasts a carbon frameset, with aero flourishes, which has been selling well for Boardman for a number of years. But whereas the £1,000 SLR 8.9 spec was kitted out with 10-speed Shimano Tiagra, the limited edition gets a spec upgrade to the lighter 11-speed Shimano 105 groupset.
- Frame and fork: C7 carbon, endurance geometry
- Drivetrain: Shimano 105, FSA Gossamer 50/34 chainset, 11-28 cassette
- Wheels: Boardman SLR tubeless ready
- Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro Pro G2.0 25mm
- Brakes: Tektro R315
- Bar: Boardman alloy
- Stem: Boardman alloy
- Seatpost: Boardman alloy
- Saddle: Boardman SLR
- Price: £1,000
- Availability: Week of 6th July
2021 Boardman SLR 8.8 Disc
The new 2021 alloy SLR 8.8 Disc, as its name suggests, swaps out the previous iteration’s rim brakes for Tektro MD-C511 mechanical disc brakes. There’s a Shimano Tiagra 10-speed groupset and the bike rolls on 28mm Vittoria Rubino tyres.
Boardman says that it has redesigned the frameset, which is triple-butted aluminium alloy with hidden welds. There are mounting points for mudguards and a rack. It’s paired with the C7 carbon fork seen on pricier SLR models.
- Frame and fork: Triple butted alloy, C7 carbon fork
- Drivetrain: Shimano Tiagra, FSA Vero 50/34 chainset, 11-32 cassette
- Wheels: Boardman SLR tubeless ready
- Tyres: Vittoria Rubino 28mm
- Brakes: Tektro MD-C511 mechanical disc
- Bar: Boardman alloy
- Stem: Boardman alloy
- Seatpost: Boardman alloy
- Saddle: Boardman SLR
- Price: £750
- Availability: Mid/late July
2021 Boardman SLR 8.6
Boardman’s entry-level to its SLR range is the SLR 8.6. It’s priced at £500, a £100 drop from its predecessor. It features a new hidden weld frameset, with aero tube profiles and a rear triangle redesigned to add extra compliance. There is women’s and men’s sizing available.
Like the SLR 8.8, there’s a full carbon fork and mudguard and rack mounts, although that model’s disc brakes are replaced by rim brakes. Eight-speed shifting is provided by Shimano Claris, while the Boardman SLR wheelset is tubeless-ready.
- Frame and fork: Triple butted alloy, C7 carbon fork
- Drivetrain: Shimano Claris, FSA Tempo 50/34 chainset, 11-32 cassette
- Wheels: Boardman SLR tubeless ready
- Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro 25mm
- Brakes: Tektro R315
- Bar: Boardman alloy
- Stem: Boardman alloy
- Seatpost: Boardman alloy
- Saddle: Boardman SLR
- Price: £500
- Availability: Mid/late July
2021 Boardman ADV 8.9
Also new for 2021 are upgraded models in the ADV adventure/gravel bike range, which Boardman says up the bike’s mixed terrain handling. That includes a swap to thru-axles from quick releases on the ADV 8.9 for improved handling and more precise disc rotor alignment.
The frame’s geometry is also more stable than the road range, with a longer wheelbase, slacker head tube angle and 70mm of bottom bracket drop, paired with shorter stem length.
For £1,000, the ADV 8.9 gets a Shimano GRX 10-speed double chainring drivetrain, with a super-compact 48/32 FSA Omega chainset paired with an 11-36 cassette for plenty of off-road climbing range.
Stopping power is provided by Shimano GRX hydraulic disc brakes, while the Boardman ADV tubeless-ready wheels come with 38mm Schwalbe G-One Allround TLE tubeless-ready tyres.
- Frame and fork: Triple butted alloy, C7 carbon fork
- Drivetrain: Shimano GRX, FSA Omega Adventure 48/32 chainset, 11-36 cassette
- Wheels: Boardman ADV tubeless ready
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Allround TLE 38mm
- Brakes: Shimano GRX hydraulic disc
- Bar: Boardman alloy, flared
- Stem: Boardman alloy
- Seatpost: Boardman alloy
- Saddle: Boardman ADV
- Price: £1,000
- Availability: Late August
2021 Boardman ADV 8.6
The ADV 8.6 spec is a new entry-level gravel bike for Boardman, which it says drops the price by £100 from its previous ADV 8.8 starter gravel bike. It’s available in women’s and men’s sizes.
The frameset shares the geometry and many of the features of the higher-spec ADV 8.9, but with quick-release wheels replacing thru-axles. Shifting is 9-speed Shimano Sora with a 48/32 FSA Velo Pro super-compact chainset, while brakes are Tektro MD-C511 mechanical discs.
- Frame and fork: Triple butted alloy, C7 carbon fork
- Drivetrain: Shimano Sora, FSA Velo Pro 48/32 chainset, 11-34 cassette
- Wheels: Boardman ADV tubeless ready
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Allround TLE 40mm
- Brakes: Tektro MD-C511 mechanical disc
- Bar: Boardman alloy, flared
- Stem: Boardman alloy
- Seatpost: Boardman alloy
- Saddle: Boardman ADV
- Price: £650
- Availability: Mid-July
