Upgrade Boardman Sport or Buy Full Suss ?

Recruit18

Recently got into MTB. First bought a Specialized Crosstrail (yes I know everyone hates hybrids but its perfect for my commute 50% country lanes and 50% rough canal paths) it even got round follow the dog at cannock chase with no problems.

Anyway, enjoyed my first experience of proper trail riding so much that I decided to buy a proper mountain bike. Went for a s/h Boardman Sport off ebay based on good reviews/spec for the money.

Took it to Cannock with a mate and was a little dissapointed. Must say at this point my mate had borrowed a Whyte full sus - not really up on high end bikes but a quick google search suggests these aren't cheap. Well going down the rough parts the Boardman was bouncing me around to the point where I was struggling to hold on and having to back off on the speed in order to stay in one peice. I would say from memory it was worse than the crosstrail Then tried the same section on the Whyte full sus - wow what a difference. I was gliding over the rough stuff and going at probably twice the speed.

Now am I expecting too much from a £550 RRP HT especially when compared to a much more expensive F/S or do you think the front shock needs looking at as it felt as if I was riding a rigid bike??

Is the Boardman sport worth upgrading with better front forks or should I get the Dart 3 shock serviced - any idea of cost? I'm a bit useless at bike maintenance ATM but I'm booked onto a Maintenance course at Edinburgh cycle shop in november.

Other option is to sell the Boardman and buy a full sus, but my budget doesn't stretch to £1k+ and I'm not too keen on spending £500+ second hand . Is this any good or will I be disappointed compared to the Whyte I tried.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus ... 360037552/

Bike will be used purely for trail riding probably twice a month.

Eranu

Review here of the Superbud.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... t-09-34130

I think you'd be better off upgrading the fork to a Reba or something and then saving up for a better full sus, if that's what you want.

HandjobDan

The whyte is a dream bike over £3k in price, comparing it to a HT is difficult, compared to a second hand HT is nigh on impossible.

Upgrade the forks and then see if that helps, on one sell a mega pair of reba's for £250 you won't find better spec for the money, and they're really capable forks.

Then start some serious saving if you want a whyte in the future.

Recruit18

Thanks for the advise.

The Whyte was a few years old but obviously still a cracking bike.

So you think the Boardman Sport frame is worth upgrading and would be better than a budget F/S - thanks for that review, looks like they don't like the rear shock much.

Anything else I should be looking to upgrade soon on the Boardman that will give a decent boost for sensible money?

FEATURES & BENEFITS

Lightweight double butted aluminium frame for faster climbing and better power transfer
RockShox Dart 3 suspension fork with 100mm travel, adjustable rebound damping and lockout
SRAM X5 27 speed gearing for reliable shifting performance (I have X7 on the rear)
Powerful Tektro Auriga Comp hydraulic disc brakes provide reliable braking performance in wet conditions
Truvativ 5D Powerspline chainset
Ritchey Pro rims with sealed bearing hubs for longer bearing life
Maxxis Dy-No-Mite 2.1" tyres
Ritchey finishing kit
The Boardman MTB Sport offers real off road performance and durability with a high quality specification at excellent value for money.

Eranu

I wouldn't change anything unless it breaks or wears out. Having said that it has cheap tyes maybe change them if you don't like them. The fork will make a big difference and I'd do that first above all else.

simmo3801

Excellent was thinking of doing the same on a Kona Cindercone 05 as lack of funds for new full suss. Although old it hung in the garage for 2 years whilst I went road riding and it's still in good nick. Not the best bike I know but it does me round Glentress fine.

Which Reba forks, team, SL or race are best for general XC or all mountain?

Does "Steerer is cut to 210mm and fitted with a star fangled nut" and "Steerer Tube - Aluminium 1.1/8 (Cut to 252mm - SFN fitted)" make any difference to fitting them to a cindercone? I'm assuming one of the figures is a misprint...

The Team has Blackbox Motion Control whatever that is???

Appreciate any advice re these forks

supersonic

You need to measure the steerer length that you currently have.

simmo3801

Ok supersonic how do I do that? Do I need to take the forks out or can I do it leaving them in? I'm assuming it's the tube part of forks that fits inside the head tube. If I need to take them out is it the top nut to tighten first or side nuts when re fitting to remove play?

bails87

simmo3801 wrote:

I'm assuming it's the tube part of forks that fits inside the head tube.

Pretty much. It'll be the distance between the bottom of the headtube and a few mm below the top of the stem.

HandjobDan

You want the Reba Teams, with Black Box Motion Control as it's uprated damping circuitry that means it should handle better, 1 1/8th measurement is the diameter of the steerer tube itself, how old is the cindercone? does it have a threadless headset on already and 1 1/8th steerer?

simmo3801

Ok thanks bails. They're the rebas on On-One not sure why they would all be cut if they're new. I thought they would come one length for cutting as they were fitted.

Are the Reba Team my best buy over SL and Race?

simmo3801

Handjob it's an 05 cindercone so I'm sure it's threadless. I had Marzocchi MX Comps fitted after I bought it. It's the length of the Reba steerer tube that's confusing me on On-One as I thought a new fork would just need to be cut to fit? But as I said it mentions 210mm then 252 mm in same ad on their site for the Team Rebas......

supersonic

They are OE forks - pre cut.

HandjobDan

I've just read it, I'd just make sure that 210 will fit ok and then if you receive one that is 252 you won't have any problems.

Most headtubes will be between 100-140 depending on make and size, my 17.5" inbred has a 198 steerer tube on the rigid forks and I need a spacer to get the proper height for my stem.

simmo3801

Ok thanks all I will pop my existing forks out and measure them fingers crossed!

simmo3801

Ok measured head tube this mornong and it is approx 132 mm so will have plenty of steerer left over!

Thanks for the tip re On-one Handjob, upgrading commences!!!!!!!!

bails87

Good luck, I've got an 08 Reba Race on my bike, and it's a million miles away from the cheap suntour on my old one, so smooth and controlled. The 09 Team will be even better, enjoy it,

Recruit18

Talk about being a noob. Just been reading a bike maintenace book the mrs got from the library and it was talking about adjustment on front suspension. Just had a look at the bottom of the dark 3 and there's an adjuster to set the rebound which was at min. Just changed it to max and what a difference. Think I'll try it like this for a while before splashing more cash.

simmo3801

Ordered!!!!!!!

Recruit18

The front dy-no-mite tyre is pretty worn but the original owner put a new cst general style tyre on the rear. What tyre would you recommend at the front? Some of the continentals on wiggle seem good value but are they any good for trail centres?

simmo3801

Blimey! Ordered online Sunday from On-One card from courier through door when got home tonight! I'd phoned On-one to check they had order as i didn't get confirmation email from them and they said that they thought the steerer was 210 when they bought them in but they're actually 252 so anyone who was unsure these should fit any bike. Bargain!!!
Will post how they feel once fitted