My new ride - Boardman Team FS
Comments
-
I have had my Team FS for a few months now got it at a great discount with the help of a little website
The only issue i have with mine is that rear brake rubs every now and again which i can live with until i have time to give it a good service in a while
The bike is a dream to ride compared to the Carrera Vulcan i had before that its more then enough for me at the moment took it for a ride round one of the local trial a few days ago
took a vid with my Go Pro if anyone wants a look http://youtu.be/BKNds5xvnYA
Do have a chip on the fame from a rock that must of hit the underside of the rear swing arm anyone got any good tips to dealing with stone chips
had no problem with the Halfords that i got mine from but i always make sure to go round any new bike and make sure all the bolts are tight and gears working fine0 -
Well I have had the Pro version of the FS for nearly 12 months and despite some niggling problems its a great bike for the cash.
The main problem is the BB30 bottom bracket which is basically a crap design for mountain bikes. Its far to easy for shit to get in a ruin what are fairly small bearings. I have had it re-built several times and had 1 new set of bearings. The pivots do work loose and I ended up having them all locktited although on inspecting the main pivot this week I think its time for some new high quality bearing in that to.
Another problem is the lack of tyre clearance on the rear of the bike, it doesn't leave you many options and I can concour with the review that when ur nearly 16 stone it can feel a bit flexi at the rear end.
I have been modding it slowly since I bought it, below is a list of whats on it now.
Nobby Nic evo tyres in trailstar compound, (trialing a high roller atm for clearance on the rear)
Green superstar grips with white lock rings
White superstar 70mm stem
Nukeproof warhead bars cut down to 740mm
Superstar Kevlar pads
Rockshox reverb dropper post
lizard skins chain stay protector.
Wills add a pic to the thread when I get home.
All my mates that have tried it and ride considerably more expensive bikes say they really like it
0 -
Kowalski675 wrote:
Can't say that I'm overly concerned about missing out on that then, lol - I have this:
bit bulky to take on the trails..................
It's a boy , It's a boy , I Shouted Running Into The Street With Tears Running Down My Face.....
That's The Last Time I Holiday In Thailand
URL Pinkbike0 -
My sherpa tows it for me.0
-
Actually got round to doing a couple of miles on it tonight, albeit just on local bridal paths and woods.0
-
Had my ht pro carbon hardtail a year.set up was faultless. Only thing I changed were grips and like you did re mounted shifters and brake levers .anyone thinking of getting a boardman I would say go for it.0
-
Today, armed with a bit of wood from a Ducati crate and some cutting, measuring, drilling and screwing (fnaar fnaar) I managed to get both bikes hung in the garage in just the space the Carrera was occupying before. No more hitting my shin on the Triumph's footpeg while squeezing past the Kraken. Yay me, lol.0
-
Took her for to Gisburn for her maiden voyage on Saturday afternoon and got her dirty (well, very dusty - 'twas bone dry apart from the two stream crossings). My first proper ride on her (well, as proper as my riding gets, anyway, which isn't very proper, lol). Did 13.5 miles, and my poor old legs were knackered by the time I'd finished. Nearly binned it a couple of times (Hully Gully and the drop off on the Hope Line), but not quite. Here's some snaps I took on the way round, should anyone wish to take a peek:
0 -
Nice pictures! Glad you finally got to get out on it.
I had to take my second team fs back to halfords today. Suffered the same pivot failure as per my last one. Wasn't as bad but it was getting there. On inspection there was also a seal missing from one side of a bearing as well. I'm starting to assume it's just poor design coupled with poor manufacture.
Oh (this'll make you chuckle) the young lad in halfords told me this evening that these full suss boardman bikes aren't meant for cross county riding. They are leisure bike apparently and aren't meant for anything heavier. What a twit.0 -
johnsav wrote:Nice pictures! Glad you finally got to get out on it.
Cheers, glad you like 'em - just quick snaps with my compact, can't be bothered lugging my proper camera round 13 miles of trails, but they look ok, I like the composition of the bridge picture. It was long past time that I actually rode the thing somewhere proper, lol.I had to take my second team fs back to halfords today. Suffered the same pivot failure as per my last one. Wasn't as bad but it was getting there. On inspection there was also a seal missing from one side of a bearing as well. I'm starting to assume it's just poor design coupled with poor manufacture.
Oh (this'll make you chuckle) the young lad in halfords told me this evening that these full suss boardman bikes aren't meant for cross county riding. They are leisure bike apparently and aren't meant for anything heavier. What a twit.
They really do employ some real f**kwits. Remind me what exactly the failure on yours has been? What's happening with it now? I've got a warranty frame on order to replace mine, due to it having a small dent in the downtube (luckily I spotted it before I'd ridden it, so they couldn't accuse me of having done it), but I want the cranks replaced too (or at least the left arm), due to the damage the idiot who bolted on the pedals did. I certainly won't be letting them rebuild the bike onto the new frame.0 -
The horst link, or chainstay pivots started to creak again. On the first one the thrust washers in the pivot, which look to be ally, just started wearing away and caused some damage. The second one I had started to develop the same creak and the same symptoms with the washers being damaged. I'd assume the steel spindle that goes through the pivot, being a hardermaterial, is to blame. Never a good idea to mix different metals like that in my opinion. One of the bearings was missing an inner dust seal and both bearings felt like they were on the way out, notchy. Not bad for a 5 week old bike!
Anyway, its gone now. Took it back and won't have another one now. The comment about them not being designed for xc use really sums up the wallys that halfords employ.
I've not done badly however... I only paid 849.99 for the bike and got a refund for 999.99 lol!0 -
Every cloud has a silver lining, lol. I'll have to keep an eye on mine, no creaks so far.0
-
I probably did 100 miles on this last one0
-
Mine's probably got about 80 miles left before it breaks then, lol... :roll:0
-
The supervisor I spoke to told me that they aren't selling a full suss for the new range due to the issues they've had. Shame really0
-
johnsav wrote:The supervisor I spoke to told me that they aren't selling a full suss for the new range due to the issues they've had. Shame really
That's contrary to what they told me - my branch reckoned there was already a replacement for the Team FS showing on their computer system (albeit without any details on spec), but I wouldn't believe a Halfords employee telling me that grass was green, unless I could see it for myself - I think most just make it up as they go along.0 -
There's is a new FS on the way, 650b0
-
Pnev wrote:There's is a new FS on the way, 650b
That's what I heard, but they could just be talking shite - we are talking about people who can't even use a spanner or allen key without damaging something, after all...0 -
Kowalski675 wrote:Pnev wrote:There's is a new FS on the way, 650b
That's what I heard, but they could just be talking shite - we are talking about people who can't even use a spanner or allen key without damaging something, after all...
Nope, it's true. There's a new Boardman range coming out this Autumn (don't have a specific date) and many (if not all) of the models come in 26, 650B, and 29ers. I also heard rumours that they may have been going over to Fox/Shimano instead of the RS/SRAM but that part is just rumours down the grape vine I heard at work.
And yea I guess you haven't had a good experience with Halfords but I'm not ashamed to say I work there as a mechanic and can literally do any type of repair on a bike with no issues or 'damage'. If you don't like your local Halfords, got to a different one or an entirely different shop.0 -
Whilst its good that you can do any repair on a bike it has to be said that nothing on a bike is especially technical.
I'm not trying to belittle your job but more make the point that people shouldn't have to go to an alternative halfords if they aren't happy. There should be a set standard that you should be able to expect from ALL halfords.
I'm on my 4th Boardman in less than 3 months now and fortunately I had a happy ending with a chap called Lee in my local store who was brilliant. Whilst I can't blame the build issues I've had with previous bikes on Halfords staff, because to be honest the building they do is limited to putting a wheel and a stem on, the general lack of common sense and intelligence from some workers in the Brighton store just made life so much more difficult.0 -
johnsav wrote:Whilst its good that you can do any repair on a bike it has to be said that nothing on a bike is especially technical.
I'm not trying to belittle your job but more make the point that people shouldn't have to go to an alternative halfords if they aren't happy. There should be a set standard that you should be able to expect from ALL halfords.
I'm on my 4th Boardman in less than 3 months now and fortunately I had a happy ending with a chap called Lee in my local store who was brilliant. Whilst I can't blame the build issues I've had with previous bikes on Halfords staff, because to be honest the building they do is limited to putting a wheel and a stem on, the general lack of common sense and intelligence from some workers in the Brighton store just made life so much more difficult.
Yea I agree, the 'quality' of staff in a lot of stores is poor, but thats what you get when a company does not offer proper training. I'm glad you've found a decent employee somewhere down the line because they do exist! It may just take a few stores to find one unfortunately, which is not how it should be but it just is!.
But enough of highjacking this thread. The Team FS is a bargain for the price and a nice looking bike! especially as recently it had been down as low as £850. Can't wait to see what the new Boardmans look like in the autumn!0 -
oxocube1 wrote:And yea I guess you haven't had a good experience with Halfords but I'm not ashamed to say I work there as a mechanic and can literally do any type of repair on a bike with no issues or 'damage'. If you don't like your local Halfords, got to a different one or an entirely different shop.
It's my experience of several branches, not just one. Unfortunately, if you want to buy a Boardman then you can't go to another shop - it's a shame that they're good bikes, but only available from such a shite supplier. After my Carrera was so poorly assembled I always said that if I ever bought another bike from Halfords I'd take it boxed - I should've stuck to that. I'd certainly never go to Halfords for any after sales mechanical work, and I won't be letting them anywhere near the bike for building it onto the warranty frame, when that arrives.0 -
johnsav wrote:Whilst its good that you can do any repair on a bike it has to be said that nothing on a bike is especially technical.
I'm not trying to belittle your job but more make the point that people shouldn't have to go to an alternative halfords if they aren't happy. There should be a set standard that you should be able to expect from ALL halfords.
the general lack of common sense and intelligence from some workers in the store just made life so much more difficult.
Can't argue with any of that.0 -
oxocube1 wrote:
Yea I agree, the 'quality' of staff in a lot of stores is poor, but thats what you get when a company does not offer proper training.
They shouldn't have untrained staff assembling and/or servicing products which could cause serious injury (or worse) if not done properly - many customers won't necessarily have the knowledge to recognise faults, or the know-how to correct them.But enough of highjacking this thread. The Team FS is a bargain for the price and a nice looking bike! especially as recently it had been down as low as £850.
CAWT though. I paid £850 for mine, and it's very well specced for that price, and rides well too (as far as I can tell, with my limited experience and lack of ability). Yes the bikes I rode costing £2500 upwards felt better, but not three or four times better (maybe for someone who has the talent to exploit the difference, but not for me).0 -
Swapped the front 2.2 Bonti XR3 Team Issue for the sme in 2.35 flavour this evening and added all important matching lime green valve caps, lol. Colour coordinated valve caps must make me faster, surely. 0
-
Swapped tyres after 20 miles of riding and waiting for a new frame? Why?
The boardman may seem good value for money, but if you had got a bigger brand, more expensive bike, I very much doubt you would be needing a new frame already. And I think this whole thread is confirmation that frame damage on these bikes isnt an isolated incident..0 -
rapid_donkey wrote:Swapped tyres after 20 miles of riding? Why?
'Cos I like to tinker, I was bored, and the XR3 Team Issues are currently on offer at only £19.99 each at my LBS, so I just thought I'd see if I could feel any difference with the 2.35 compared to the 2.2, and the 2.2 can go on the back when that one wears out, plus it means I have the option of carrying a spare tyre (that will do for either wheel) if I want to.The boardman may seem good value for money, but if you had got a bigger brand, more expensive bike, I very much doubt you would be needing a new frame already. And I think this whole thread is confirmation that frame damage on these bikes isnt an isolated incident..
The warranty frame is nothing to do with a manufacturing defect. It's due to a small dent in the downtube that's obviously been caused during transit or storage - that makes no difference whether it's a Boardman or any other make of frame. The frame's covered by a 2 year warranty, so I'm not going to waste time worrying about whether it may or may not develop any faults during that time.0 -
I'm now on my FIFTH boardman in 3 months.
They are undeniable vfm but whilst being a fan itselfally do think that the frames are where some money is saved. Finishing quality and attention to detail are lacking.
the pro ht I got last week had a thread stripped from the front direct mount and the mount itself was welded on the frame wonky resulting in a mech that was impossible to get parallel. I'm just glad my local halfords keep taking them back with no fuss!0 -
I'd be asking for my money back and going somewhere else0
