Boardman has launched its new 2021 mountain bike range, with key changes to the MTR trail bike including revised geometry and more travel.
The arrival of the brand's mountain bike range follows the launch of the 2021 Boardman road and gravel line-up in June.
MTR redesigned for UK trail riding
The MTR is Boardman’s full-susser and has gone from the previous 27.5in wheels to 29in. In parallel, the MTR’s geometry is now longer and slacker, as is now common, and front and rear travel have been increased.
Boardman says these changes make for the best balance of agility, stability and control across a range of trail conditions, making the bikes ideal for UK riding.
Matt Dowler, product manager for Boardman Bikes, says the new MTR range has been two years in development and is tailored around how Boardman sees UK riders using their trail bikes.
“With 29in wheels, longer travel and a progressive but not super-extreme geometry, we think we’ve created a versatile range, ideal for UK trail centres and capable of taking on bike park sessions too,” says Dowler.
“However, we’ve strived to make sure the bikes still pedal efficiently and are agile enough to be fun on more mellow, flowy singletrack.”
The MHT 8.6 hardtail range also graduates to 29in wheels, matching that of the carried-over MHT 8.8 and 8.9 models.
New 2021 Boardman full-suspension bikes
Boardman MTR 9.0
- Buy now from Halfords
Top of the MTR tree is the MTR 9.0, which Boardman says gets flagship 9-series billing thanks to its upgraded X9 alloy frame, with hidden welds and blue fade paint scheme.
Spec-wise there’s a 150mm travel RockShox Pike Select fork and 145mm RockShox Deluxe Select+ shock. Gearing is provided by a 12-speed Shimano SLX groupset with a 10-51t cassette, while there are SLX four-piston brake calipers and 203/180mm rotors.
The bike rolls on WTB ST-i30 TCS rims on Shimano hubs, with a Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5in tyre on the front and DHR II 2.4in rear tyre. The wheels come pre-taped and with tubeless valves.
Finally, there are 780mm bars on a 45mm stem and a Satori Sorata Pro dropper post, offering 125mm travel on the medium frame and 150mm on the large and extra-large, topped off by a Fizik Taiga saddle.
It's priced at £2,000 and available from this week.
- Frame: 6066 X9 alloy
- Fork: RockShox Pike Select, 150mm travel, 42mm offset
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select+ with lockout and rebound adjust. 230x60mm
- Drivetrain: Shimano SLX 1x12 – 10-51t cassette with 32t chainring
- Brakes: Shimano SLX four-piston with 203/180mm RT-70 rotors
- Wheels: WTB ST-i30 rims on Shimano MT510/MT400 hubs 110x15 front, 148x12 rear
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5in EXO TR front, DHR II 2.4in EXO TR rear – tan sidewall
- Seatpost: Satori Sorata Pro dropper, 150mm on L/XL, 125mm on M
- Saddle: Fizik Taiga
- Price: £2,000
- Availability: This week
Boardman MTR 8.9
- Buy now from Halfords
The MTR 8.9’s frame geometry is the same as the 9.0, but uses a lower grade/more affordable X7 triple-butted alloy.
There’s a RockShox Gold 35 fork with 35mm aluminium stanchions and a Deluxe Select+ shock. The drivetrain is SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed with SRAM Guide T brakes.
The Maxxis tyre combo is carried over from the 9.0, but in 2.3in width and mounted on Boardman’s own wheels. There’s also the same Satori Sorata Pro dropper post.
The 8.9 is available immediately and priced at £1,600.
- Frame: 6061 X7 alloy
- Fork: RockShox 35 Gold, 150mm travel, 42mm offset
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select+ with lockout and rebound adjust
- Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle 1x12 – 11-50t cassette with 32t chainring
- Brakes: SRAM Guide T four-piston with 180mm rotors
- Wheels: Boardman MTR wheelset – 30mm rim, 110x15 front, 148x12 rear
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.3in EXO TR front, DHR II 2.3in EXO TR rear – tan sidewall
- Seatpost: Satori Sorata Pro dropper, 150mm on L/XL, 125mm on M
- Saddle: Boardman MTR
- Price: £1,600
- Availability: This week
Boardman MTR 8.8/8.8 Women’s
- Buy now from Halfords
Step down to the 8.8 spec and the geometry is the same, but paired with a RockShox Recon Silver RL air spring fork and the same Deluxe Select+ shock. Shifting is taken care of by Shimano with M5100 Deore 11-speed components and MT200 brakes.
The price drops to £1,300.
- Frame: 6061 X7 alloy
- Fork: RockShox Recon Silver RL 150mm travel
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select+ with lockout and rebound adjust
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 1x11 – 11-51t with 32t chainring
- Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic with 180mm rotors
- Wheels: Boardman MTR wheelset – 30mm rim, 110x15 front, 141 QR rear
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.3in EXO TR front, DHR II 2.3in EXO TR rear
- Seatpost: Satori Sorata Pro dropper, 150mm on L/XL, 125mm on M
- Saddle: Boardman MTR
- Price: £1,300
- Availability: This week for the men’s bike, week commencing 28 September for women’s
Boardman MTR 8.6
- Buy now from Halfords
Finally in the 2021 full-sus range is the £1,000 MTR 8.6.
It’s available towards the end of September and includes a Suntour XCR34 LO-R DS Air 140mm travel fork and Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain with Tektro HD-M285 brakes, but omits the dropper of the higher-priced models.
- Frame: 6061 X7 alloy
- Fork: Suntour XCR34 LO-R DS Air 140mm travel
- Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select with rebound adjust
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 1x10 – 11-46t with 32 chainring
- Brakes: Tektro HD-M285 hydraulic with 180mm rotors
- Wheels: Boardman MTR wheelset – 30mm rim, 110x15 front, 141 QR rear
- Tyres: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.3in EXO TR front, DHR II 2.3in EXO TR rear
- Seatpost: Boardman alloy
- Saddle: Boardman MTR
- Price: £1,000
- Availability: Week commencing 28 September
New 2021 Boardman MHT hardtails
Boardman MHT 8.6/8.6 Women’s
- Buy now from Halfords
Matching the higher-spec MHT 8.9 and 8.8 hardtails, the new MHT 8.6 now comes with 29in wheels. It’s kitted out with a Suntour Raidon 120mm travel air spring fork, Shimano Deore M4100 10-speed shifting, Boardman tubeless-ready wheels and Vittoria Barzo tyres.
It’s available now and priced at £650.
- Frame: 6061 X7 alloy
- Fork: Suntour Raidon XC LO-R 120mm travel
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 1x10 – 11-46 with 32-tooth chainring
- Brakes: Tektro HD-M285 hydraulic with 180/160mm rotors
- Wheels: Boardman 29in wheelset – 25mm rim, 100mm QR front, 141 QR rear
- Tyres: Vittoria Barzo 2.25in wire bead
- Seatpost: Boardman alloy
- Saddle: Boardman MHT
- Price: £650
- Availability: Now
The hardtail range is completed with the £1,000 MHT 8.9 and the £850 MHT 8.8, the latter in men’s and women’s versions, and both rolling over from the 2020 model year.
