Saracen ZEN 3 or Boardman Team

Steedy

Today i was a about to buy a MTB HT Boardman Team 09 as it seems to have an excellent component package, plus the reviews on this forum are only positive. However after doing some last minute checks, i have found that i can get a Saracen ZEN 3 (2007) for the same price.

I know its a 2007 bike but what would you recommend? A Saracen ZEN 3 (07) or a Boardman Team (09) ???

Appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers

milkywhite

Quite different types of bike. What sort of riding will you be doing?

Boardman is a fast, light XC bike. Good for fast riding XC and trail centre type stuff. Pretty much unbeatable spec for the money and excellent reviews

Zen is a long travel hardcore hardtail, designed for more abuse and rougher terrain. Perfectly capable at what its designed for, but you'll pay a fairly hefty penalty in weight, and the slacker goemetry means it won't handle on climbs as well.

I take it you're looking at paying around £800? Rockhoppers also worth a try at this price point if you lean more in the direction of the boardman.

Steedy

Thanks for the quick response.

Type of riding will mostly be between road usage and weekend fun around the lake district, for example Grizedale Forest etc.

Based on this information, would you say the Boardman Team is best for me?

Steedy

Regarding the Specialized.

I did enquire about these on the cycle to work scheme, however they are either out of stock or else i dont have the budget. The Expert looks quality but my voucher is worth only £800 so this bike is not an option..

Rockhopper Pro Disc 08 - (19 inch) Out of stock
Rockhopper Comp Disc 08 - (19") Out of stock
Rockhopper Expert 09 - (19") available for £880.00

milkywhite

Hmm not sure on the terrain. Don't know the area.

What sort of stuff are you likely to encounter? If it's drops more than a foot or two, and big jumps etc then the boardman isn't really suitable. Someone on here pretty much sheared their boardman frame in two doind 4 foot drops on it (don't let that put you off though. He shouldn't really have been doing it!).

If you're going to be using it on the road however, then Boardman definitely the better option.

As long as you don't do anything too hardcore it'll be fine. Nice bikes...I quite want the pro myself!

milkywhite

Steedy wrote:

Regarding the Specialized.

I did enquire about these on the cycle to work scheme, however they are either out of stock or else i dont have the budget. The Expert looks quality but my voucher is worth only £800 so this bike is not an option..

Rockhopper Pro Disc 08 - (19 inch) Out of stock
Rockhopper Comp Disc 08 - (19") Out of stock
Rockhopper Expert 09 - (19") available for £880.00

Where are you getting it from. Halfords I assume as you're looking at the boardman? The hopper is definitely not out of stock everywhere and Halfords can order in pretty much any bike as long as you pay RRP, but I wouldn't worry if you cant source one. The Boardman is a perfectly good bike.

Steedy

The terrain won't involve major drops or jumps so the boardman should be more than sufficicient for my needs, however before i decide... what would you say is the better bike out of the 'Rockhopper Pro Disc 08' and the 'Rockhopper Comp Disc 08' ?

or is the Boardman Team still the best?

Steedy

Lookin at the spec / components, the Boardman Team wins hands down...

milkywhite

hopper pro and comp will be the same frame, components will be better on the pro, so that will be the "beter" bike

but define "best"

if the comp is fit for purpose then there's no problem with it, but where you can afford it, you're better off paying more for a highter spec bike as you get the advantage of a manufacturer's economies of scale ie. you pay less for the components attached to a new bike than if you upgraded them yourself. IMO its the best way to save money in the long run, but only if you can afford it now.

However, the Boardman has comparable/better spec than the hopper pro at a much lower RRP.

Specialized have the big name pedigree, and lots of followers. Boardmans have been very well received since their introduction.

Personally I would take the names out of the equation and buy the Boardman, as IMO it offers much better value.

Only if it's comfortable to ride though!

Steedy

Great advice... cheers.

Ok, i'm ruling out the Specialized bikes now as i probably dont have the funds for an RRP price. I think i will go for the Boardman as like you say, it has been very well received and the write-ups are all very encouraging and gives me confidence that i'm getting a quality bike.

One last question... CUBE LTD Pro. Any thoughts?

Stoo61

Got an 09 Boardman Team myself, the spec is amazing.

The brakes, suspension and transmission are all top notch, ive never been a name whore so that never entered my mind but with Reba's,Avid, X9/X7 Sram and Ritchey finishing kit what more names dya want?

Please buy in a box though.

milkywhite

nice bikes and they certainly have a few fans on this forum, but its blown away on spec by the boardman, and it may be difficult to sit on one/test it, depending on the location of dealers

I think if you add up the components on the boardman at RRP you're basically getting the frame for free

Steedy

The spec is unbeatable so i'm in agreement.
I've decided, i'm going to order a Boardman Team later today.

Thanks for your advice milkywhite. ;-)

Steedy

Hi Stoo61

I think most people have the exact opinion as you regarding the Boardman Team. Its good to know you're made up with yours.

You state i should buy it in a box... yeah, i've heard these horror stories about Halfords builds. I'm thinking about getting mine built from a local store with a top reputation.. Only gona cost me £36... However the guys in Halfords do seem to know what they are talking about and one of the guys is a qualified bike mechanic and says he'll do a top notch job...

tv

boardman all the way def for just casual xc

milkywhite

Steedy wrote:

The spec is unbeatable so i'm in agreement.
I've decided, i'm going to order a Boardman Team later today.

Thanks for your advice milkywhite. ;-)

No probs. I'm off work sick today, and can't stray too far from the "facilities", so pretty much confined to my bedroom.

Hope you're happy with your purchase.

BenS999

Good choice on the Boardman - early last year i bought the Comp model, liked it so much i bought the Pro model towards the end of the summer and sold off the Comp to a mate. They are very good for the money, the components are way better than any other bike in the same catogory out there.

Some people have commented that in order to get a bike at this spec Boardman have sacrificied the frame quality, personally i cant find any fault with them and true as long as you not going into 4 foot drops and landing bang on the back wheel you will be ok. This suits my (xc singletrack) riding style just fine.

Go for the Boardman you wont be dissapointed.

Bikerbaboon

milkywhite wrote:

Hmm not sure on the terrain. Don't know the area.

What sort of stuff are you likely to encounter? If it's drops more than a foot or two, and big jumps etc then the boardman isn't really suitable. Someone on here pretty much sheared their boardman frame in two doind 4 foot drops on it (don't let that put you off though. He shouldn't really have been doing it!).

If you're going to be using it on the road however, then Boardman definitely the better option.

As long as you don't do anything too hardcore it'll be fine. Nice bikes...I quite want the pro myself!

thats would be me :evil:
I was behing hard on the poor old frame and i was hammering it over the rocky sections at stainburn. for a good xc bike i would still go for the cb as even though the frame has gone all of the rest of the kit have been swapped on to my new burlyer frame with a plusher fork and im still giveing the kit alot of stick.... Cracking bike for a cash.

also halfords have replaced the fraom for me under warrenty...... watch this space for a new single speeb bike soon...... as i masively rate the frames giometry and feel.

Stoo61

Steedy wrote:

Hi Stoo61

I think most people have the exact opinion as you regarding the Boardman Team. Its good to know you're made up with yours.

You state i should buy it in a box... yeah, i've heard these horror stories about Halfords builds. I'm thinking about getting mine built from a local store with a top reputation.. Only gona cost me £36... However the guys in Halfords do seem to know what they are talking about and one of the guys is a qualified bike mechanic and says he'll do a top notch job...

Aw dont get me wrong im sure Halfords employ some top mechanics but I dont think any of the people I encountered on my travels were one of them. I got it done locally for £30 and it has sung from day one. One thing that the person noticed was that the frame hadnt been faced off properly with the bottom bracket which would cause problems, so that was sorted when the bike was built. Thats not Halfords fault its meant to be done in the factory but its just an example of the kind of thing that can be sorted by a top mechanic who specialises in building bikes.

Problems I have encountered with the bike now ive ridden it a bit more. The saddle is clearly designed and made by a roadie, leaves me quite sore...in a dull way...I wont go into it but you get the idea. The tyres, 2 punctures so far in the back wheel and just today had quite a bad spill with the front wheel giving way on some single track that sent me knee first into a felled tree....my knee is quite a weird shape. Cant have been all the tyres fault im pretty sure a better one would have held on.

Quite an old thread to dig up but relevent I feel.

passout

I ride in that area and there are some challenging routes as well as the 'family day out' stuff. I'd go for the Zen as it would be better for the more technical/agressive stuff that you can find on bridleways around there. I like the frame & geometry on the Zen. That said the Halfords special would cope fine. The Boardman seems more of a pure XC bike to me, but for messing around/fun I'd have the Zen every time. Specialised are OK but I can't help but think that their bikes are dull (illogical I know).

Steve_b77

Personally I would air on the side of the Zen too, as I've got a Handjob, it'll do XC just fine with the fork wound down to 100mm, it'l do woody type trails at 115mm and full on trail riding at 130mm.

I'd imagine the Zen has similar geo at those angles too, not sure on the weight but then again it's not the most important thing in the world.

If it's sub 30lbs it'll be fine. My COve weighs in at just over 26lbs and it ain't built light