Looking for help to chose between these two bikes

frozenwhite

Hi guys. I'm in the market for a new MTB. I do a bit of road cycling just now but really want a MTB to try downhill and trails. I have narrowed it down to these two and needing some help to decide. Any help would be appreciated

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... reId=10001

http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/calibre-bossn ... lsrc=aw.ds

frozenwhite

Sorry going to chuck this into the mix as well as £1000 Is stretching my budget but if people tell me it's worth the extra I can probably stretch to it for the bossnut

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rockrider-5 ... 79043.html

wmorgs

Deffo the bossnut !
Only needs tubeless and dropper post in futrue upgrades !

frozenwhite

Is that a no brainer? I'm clueless when it comes to MTB to be honest

cooldad

wmorgs wrote:

Deffo the bossnut !
Only needs tubeless and dropper post in futrue upgrades !

What he said.

But depends what you mean by trails.

And you really don't mean Downhill. Riding down hills maybe.

frozenwhite

cooldad wrote:

wmorgs wrote:

Deffo the bossnut !
Only needs tubeless and dropper post in futrue upgrades !

What he said.

But depends what you mean by trails.

And you really don't mean Downhill. Riding down hills maybe.

You are probably correct. I will probably be riding glentress and innerleithen mostly with some trips up to the highlands in the summer. Anyone know if there is a size chart for the bossnut? Couldn't see one on the go outdoors website

cooldad

For that, the Bossnut. Great trails, was up there earlier this year.

Can't see a size guide, just geometry.

Worth either getting to a shop or calling I suppose.

joshuagame94

I would say the bossnut as it is more inline with aggressive modern geometry. It was also voted best trail bike under £1000 so it seems the better option.

frozenwhite

Cheers everyone. Think I'll go for the bossnut

frozenwhite

cooldad wrote:

For that, the Bossnut. Great trails, was up there earlier this year.

Can't see a size guide, just geometry.

Worth either getting to a shop or calling I suppose.

Is that based on a negative reason for the Boardman?

I guess I am looking for where the bossnut bests the Boardman and vice versa

cooldad

Good bike for the price, but the Bossnut is a more up to date trail design. Longer, slacker.

Or what joshuagame94 said further up.

Worth a watch.

http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/cheap-bike-vs ... ike-365291

frozenwhite

I really need to make a decision but keep going back from one to the other :roll:

cooldad

Toss a coin.

frozenwhite

Is there a lot you can do on a full sus which you can't on a hard tail?

cooldad

Depends on the bikes.

The Rookie

While both modern trail bikes, they are subtley different, the Boardman has a slightly steeper head angle and shorter rear stays, it will become it the better climber of the two and it will also be a little more nimble, the bossnut (updated now with the geometry from the beastnut) will be the faster descender of the two and will plough through the rougher stuff a bit better.

loudog

Go boss nut, had all the top reviews

frozenwhite

LouDog wrote:

Go boss nut, had all the top reviews

It has but every review i have seen for the Boardman has been really good as well

cooldad

So listen to what he said.

The Rookie wrote:

While both modern trail bikes, they are subtley different, the Boardman has a slightly steeper head angle and shorter rear stays, it will become it the better climber of the two and it will also be a little more nimble, the bossnut (updated now with the geometry from the beastnut) will be the faster descender of the two and will plough through the rougher stuff a bit better.

If you are planning more twisty singletrack, XC, or not too gnarly trails, get the Boardman.

If you want to do more serious trail centres and seriously steep rough stuff, the Calibre will be more suited.

But both will do either, both are decent bikes at good prices.

Only you can decide.

But any MTB is better than no MTB, and the longer you faff around, the less you can ride.

frozenwhite

cooldad wrote:

So listen to what he said.

The Rookie wrote:

While both modern trail bikes, they are subtley different, the Boardman has a slightly steeper head angle and shorter rear stays, it will become it the better climber of the two and it will also be a little more nimble, the bossnut (updated now with the geometry from the beastnut) will be the faster descender of the two and will plough through the rougher stuff a bit better.

If you are planning more twisty singletrack, XC, or not too gnarly trails, get the Boardman.

If you want to do more serious trail centres and seriously steep rough stuff, the Calibre will be more suited.

But both will do either, both are decent bikes at good prices.

Only you can decide.

But any MTB is better than no MTB, and the longer you faff around, the less you can ride.

I think this post has probably made my mind up. For starting off I doubt I will anywhere near seriously steep rough stuff so Boardman will probably be better for starting me off. Apologies for the indecisiveness but I just want to make sure I get it right. As you say only I can really decide however I appreciate the guidance

tallpaul_s

Just to throw a spanner in the works, CRC have this on offer at the moment:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-escarpe-suspension-bike-deore-2017/rp-prod146547?icn=week47_2017_vitusescarpe&icb=bspot2-c2-week47_2017_vitusescarpe

With the BC discount (including the £22 cost for membership) it comes out at £922, and the frame will be better than the boardman, you can gradually upgrade the parts and have a very good bike. The same frame is used on a £2200 bike.

frozenwhite

TallPaul_S wrote:

Just to throw a spanner in the works, CRC have this on offer at the moment:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-escarpe-suspension-bike-deore-2017/rp-prod146547?icn=week47_2017_vitusescarpe&icb=bspot2-c2-week47_2017_vitusescarpe

With the BC discount (including the £22 cost for membership) it comes out at £922, and the frame will be better than the boardman, you can gradually upgrade the parts and have a very good bike. The same frame is used on a £2200 bike.

Thanks for ruining my night dude :roll:

tallpaul_s

No worries

You do get some nice upgrades over the boardman on the Vitus:

Through axle rear - will be stiffer than the 135mm QR on the boardman
Monarch RT vs R - gives you an open/pedal compression switch along with the rebound damping, just rebound on the boardman
Tyres are decent WTB ones
Better brakes with 180mm rotors front and rear
Internal dropper post routing


The travel and geometry are perfect for general singletrack trail riding, the sommet is their longer travel gnarlier biased FS bike, this will be great hacking round some twisty singletrack.

The head angle is slacker at 66.5 vs the 68.5 of the boardman, BUT the seat angle is steeper at 74.5 vs 73 - so not only shuld it descend better but it'll climb better too

frozenwhite

Need to make a decision this weekend. Still torn between the two. Have ordered a Boardman in to local halfords to have a sit on it. I can also get a Bossnut for £850 :?:

chrissymk7

Good luck and let me know your decision, i'm also looking for a bike around £1000

frozenwhite

chrissymk7 wrote:

Good luck and let me know your decision, i'm also looking for a bike around £1000

Going for the Bossnut. Going to order it today. Getting 15% off it