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Russco
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 9
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 Posted Sun Nov 1, 2009 3:58 pm |
Hi all,
Nov is my companies one month Halfords Cycle 2 Work window and after lots of internet forum reading (mainly this one - thanks), magazine reading and bike shop sitting I’ve narrowed it down to either a 09 Fury or Boardman Sport HT. I also had a GT Aggressor XC1 on my list and nearly bought one a while back however really wanted lockout forks.. so didn’t.
Reading various posts it sounds like both of these are good bikes for the money and it will come down to which feels the best to sit on. Although I understand the technical comparisons and having sat on both they feels fine (5’10 sitting on large) I have very little / none MTB experience outside of mucking around on a 15 year old solid fork Shogun with a marshmallow fame.
Being Halfords I can’t take a test ride so I’d appreciate any feedback from anyone who has either bike and what you think they pros and cons are from actually riding them. My paralysis by analysis summary so far is:
Fury
Pros
Just won the WMB shootout - both value and overall
Unbeatable technical spec for the money
Great forks and brakes for this price point
Highly regarded but everyone on this forum
Cons
From comments I’ve read it can have wonky welding
It’s bling white (personal taste)
Not much else…
Boardman Sport
Pros
Good spec for the money (but lower than Fury)
Better brand value for future sell-on if I get the hang of MTBing
Higher spec Boardman bikes get very good reviews
Cons
Lots of reviews/comments/info on higher spec Boardmans but couldn’t find much on the Sport
It has Dart 3 forks (I’m told genrally Darts are rubbish ?)
Negative build quality comments, which I guess could be shop related rather than product.
Spec sheets and shop sittings are one thing but practical riding is another so any info from owners would be much appreciated !
Cheers..
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mac man
Joined: 18 Aug 2009
Posts: 210
Location: A Lancastrian living in West Yorkshire
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Posted Sun Nov 1, 2009 4:06 pm |
wait till halfords have another sale on Carreras.... could swing it pricewise with another 10-20% off.
With no fences or walls on the Internet, who needs Gates and Windows? |
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Briggo
Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 85
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Posted Sun Nov 1, 2009 4:12 pm |
You dont have to buy a Halfords bike through the cycle2work scheme, they can order in any other bike on the market.
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supersonicLives Here
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 47929
Location: Chapeltown, Sheffield
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Briggo
Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 85
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Posted Sun Nov 1, 2009 4:14 pm |
Oh really, that sucks, I was going to order some more vouchers.
Know if its confirmed or just hearsay?
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supersonicLives Here
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Posts: 47929
Location: Chapeltown, Sheffield
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Russco
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 9
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Posted Mon Nov 2, 2009 2:15 pm |
Thanks for reading my post. Both the Fury and Boardman using C2W seem a lot of bike for the money and I think I would be happy with either. I've seen some bargains on 'old' model bikes from other places not using C2W but I've not seen anything that betters the C2W saving as yet. I'll try both in the shop again but was just interested in any comments from people who have owned or ridden them.
Cheers.
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Northwind
Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 4511
Location: Edinburgh
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Posted Mon Nov 2, 2009 2:21 pm |
Dart 3s aren't bad forks at all, don't worry too much about that.
The answer's going to depend more on what you want to do with it i think, the Boardman's more of an XC bike, whereas the Fury's more of a "trail" bike. Either one will do both jobs but the Fury's the one you'd probably rather be on if you were at Fort William or Kirroughtree or similiar.
I'd have the Fury, myself, but that's a personal taste thing, they're both ace.
We still do it because we're forever chasing what we've already found |
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jayson
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Posts: 4053
Location: York, United Kingdom
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Posted Mon Nov 2, 2009 2:40 pm |
Of the 2 bikes u listed my money would go down on the Fury over the Boardman, theres nothing really wrong with either for the money but the fury will take more punishment than the boardman and i really like the white frame.
*Old Red - STOLEN*
VULCAN |
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Russco
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 9
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 8:06 pm |
Hi, thanks for the replies. I placed an order for a Fury today and the comments were helpful.
I was edging toward a Fury after reading WMB but also tried riding around the shop on a Kraken and Voodoo Bantu. The Kraken felt fine and was a lot cheaper but didn’t feel as comfortable and the forks also felt a bit bouncy. The Voodoo was ok but they were not willing to budge on price so Fury it was. Not keen on white but will get over that...
The other dilemma for a novice was frame size. I’m 5’10’’ so the charts say 18 inch but that felt small so I ordered a 20 inch. Time will tell if I got that right !
Cheers..
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RockingDad
Joined: 12 Jun 2009
Posts: 74
Location: Clacton on Sea
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 8:09 pm |
all the welds on my 09 fury are spot on and most are smoothed anyway.
RockingDad
Carrera Fury 09 |
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Northwind
Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 4511
Location: Edinburgh
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 8:38 pm |
| Russco wrote: | The other dilemma for a novice was frame size. I’m 5’10’’ so the charts say 18 inch but that felt small so I ordered a 20 inch. Time will tell if I got that right !
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Did it feel too small lengthways? I'm your size and tbh there's no way I'd go with a 20 inch fury, but if it felt cramped to the bars then it might not be a terrible idea. If it felt small vertically, that's pretty much how it should feel, so if that was it I'd think maybe you should change that order. I think it might well be too big.
We still do it because we're forever chasing what we've already found |
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RockingDad
Joined: 12 Jun 2009
Posts: 74
Location: Clacton on Sea
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Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 11:16 pm |
hmm i'm 6' 2" and i've got the 20" frame
Carrera Fury 09 |
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Russco
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 9
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 3:41 pm |
Well I'm certainly not 6'2'' if a 20 inch frame fits you ok… hmmm maybe I’d be better off with a medium then.
It was the reach to the bars not the overall height and around the shop at least the bars on a large felt more comfortably spaced then a medium.
I’ve tried a Scott Aspect 45 in a large and I know that is about right, the medium was too small. According to the Scott web page that has a 23’’ top tube. I’ve not been able to find dimensions for a large Fury but this months WMB says a medium has a 22.6’’ one.
I only placed the order yesterday so would be able to change it from an L to an M tomorrow. As I mentioned before I have no real experience to call on over what just feels ok so will listen to more knowledgeable opinions !.
Thanks..
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Northwind
Joined: 06 Sep 2008
Posts: 4511
Location: Edinburgh
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 4:14 pm |
Well, only you know your own fit...
We still do it because we're forever chasing what we've already found |
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jake_tenfloors
Joined: 15 Jul 2009
Posts: 117
Location: Huddersfield
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Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 5:43 pm |
i'd of thought that the 20" might seem alright in the shop but as soon as you get it on the trail you'll wish you had the 18".
It seems a little large for a 5ft10 guy but then again, everyones different.
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Russco
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 9
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Posted Mon Nov 9, 2009 5:07 pm |
I went back to Halfords today and tried the 18'' and 20'' frames again side by side and have now changed my order to an 18''. It felt ok and I could understand what's been said about it possibly being too big.
Thanks very much for the comments / suggestions, help and guidance. It aways pays to ask experts 
Cheers..
Now.. what size bike helmet should I buy ? (just kidding..)
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