The Boardman 9 series SLR is faster and more UK friendly than ever

Boardman has launched an all-new 9 series SLR platform, replacing the whole of the current 9 range with updated framesets that are more in keeping with industry trends.

The new line-up includes rim and disc brake options and was developed specifically with UK riding conditions in mind.

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Boardman 9 series SLR spec highlights

• Endurance race geometry, slightly more relaxed than pure race
• Rim brake and disc options
• Truncated aerofoil section tubes
• New fork design and dropped seatstays for improved comfort
• Hidden mudguard mounts (disc version)
• Two women’s specific models
• Clearance for 28mm tyres on rim brake models, 30mm on disc brake models

Aero, comfort and… mudguards

The new SLR frames follow a template that’s become very familiar, and that’s no bad thing. Round tubes have been replaced by aerodynamically-slippery truncated aerofoil sections, saving a claimed 10W over the old SLR at 40km/h.

The seatstays have been dropped for more squish at the back, while the chainstays are big and boxy for stiffness. So far, so predictable.

Boardman pitches its geometry as being slightly less aggressive than that of a traditional race bike, with a touch less reach and 15 to 20mm more stack.

Perhaps more interestingly the new bikes are designed with bigger tyres in mind. Rim brake models are specced with 25s but their direct mount calipers will happily accept 28mm tyres. The disc bikes ship with 28s but have room for 30s.

Better yet, the disc frames have hidden mudguard mounts. Hallelujah!

9 series SLR range overview — mostly Shimano, with a dash of SRAM eTap

While the SLR 8.9 Carbon has already effectively replaced the seemingly evergreen Team Carbon as the £1,000 option, the 9 series range currently starts at just £249 more with the SLR 9.0 (£500 more full retail price). The 9.0 is built with Boardman’s C8 grade carbon, Shimano 105 kit and Vision Team Comp 30 wheels.

(I’ve asked Boardman to shed light on its grades of carbon and will update this piece if/when that’s forthcoming.)

For £1,499 (£1,800 full retail) you can have an SLR 9.0 Disc instead, which gets 105 hydraulics. It’s notable that both 9.0s have previous generation 105 5800 components rather than the latest R7000 stuff, but they’re still well-specced machines.

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More cash gets you Ultegra R8000 options in every flavour combination of rim brake, disc, mechanical and Di2.

While the wider range could be considered unisex, the SLR 9.2 and 9.2 Disc are offered in women’s specific versions with different finishing kit and paintjobs.

The 9 series range tops out with the SLR 9.8 and 9.8 Disc. They’re the only bikes in the range with SRAM groupsets (eTap and eTap HRD respectively, but not the newly launched eTap AXS).

The new bikes are available to buy immediately. Full specs for the range including claimed weights are below. 

Boardman 9 series SLR: specs, weights, prices

Boardman SLR 9.0 

• C8 Carbon frame and fork
• Shimano 105 5800 groupset
• Vision Team Comp 30 Clincher wheelset
• Boardman Alloy cockpit
• Fizik Antares R7 saddle
• Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ 25mm tyres
• 8.3kg

Boardman SLR 9.2

• C10 Carbon frame and fork
• Shimano Ultegra R8000 groupset
• Boardman SLR Elite Seven wheels
• Boardman Elite Alloy cockpit
• Fizik Antares R7 saddle
• Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ 25mm tyres
• 7.7kg

Boardman SLR 9.2 Women’s

• C10 Carbon frame and fork
• Shimano Ultegra R8000 groupset
• Boardman SLR Elite Seven wheels
• Boardman Elite Alloy cockpit — reduced reach and bar width
• Fizik Luce saddle
• Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ 25mm tyres
• 7.7kg

Boardman SLR 9.4

• C10 carbon frame and fork
• Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8050 groupset
• Boardman Elite Alloy cockpit
• SLR Elite Seven wheels
• Fizik Antares R7 saddle
• Vittoria Corsa G+ 25mm tyres
• 7.6kg

Boardman SLR 9.6

• C10 carbon frame and fork
• Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8050 groupset
• Knight Composites 35mm TLA carbon tubeless wheels
• Fizik Antares R7 saddle
• Vittoria Corsa G+ 25mm tyres
• 7.4kg

Boardman SLR 9.8

• C10 carbon frame and fork
• SRAM Red eTap wireless electronic groupset
• Zipp 202 Firecrest Carbon Clincher wheels
• Zipp Service Course SL cockpit
• Fizik Antares R3 saddle
• Vittoria Corsa G+ 25mm Tan Wall tyres
• 6.8kg

Boardman SLR frameset

• C10 carbon frame and fork
• Incudes headset and SLR carbon seatpost

Boardman SLR 9.0 Disc

• C8 carbon frame and fork
• Shimano 105 5800 11-speed hydraulic disc groupset
• Boardman Elite 5 Disc Wheels (J-bend spoke)
• Boardman Alloy cockpit
• Fizik Antares R7 saddle
• Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ 28mm tyres
• 8.7kg

Boardman SLR 9.2 Disc

• C10 carbon frame and fork
• Shimano Ultegra R8000 groupset
• Boardman Elite Alloy cockpit
• Boardman SLR Elite Five wheels (straight pull spoke)
• Fizik Antares R7 saddle
• Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ 28mm tyres
• 8.3kg

Boardman SLR 9.2 Disc Women’s

• C10 carbon frame and fork
• Shimano Ultegra R8000 groupset
• Boardman Elite Alloy cockpit — reduced reach and bar width
• Boardman SLR Elite Five wheels (Straight Pull spoke)
• Fizik Luce saddle
• Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ 28mm tyres
• 8.3kg

Boardman SLR 9.4 Disc

• C10 carbon frame and fork
• Shimano Ultegra Di2 Hydraulic disc groupset
• Boardman Elite Alloy cockpit
• Boardman SLR Elite Five wheels (straight pull spoke)
• Fizik Antares R7 saddle
• Vittoria Corsa G+ 28mm tyres
• 8.2kg

Boardman SLR 9.6 Disc

• C10 carbon frame and fork
• Shimano Ultegra Di2 Hydraulic groupset
• Knight Composites 35mm TLA carbon tubeless wheels
• Boardman Elite Alloy cockpit
• Fizik Antares R7 saddle
• Vittoria Corsa G+ 28mm tyres
• 7.9kg

Boardman SLR 9.8 Disc

• C10 carbon frame and fork
• SRAM Red eTap HRD wireless electronic groupset
• Zipp 202 Firecrest Carbon Clincher wheels
• Zipp Service Course SL cockpit
• Fizik Antares R3 saddle
• Vittoria Corsa G+ 28mm Tan Wall tyres
• 7.4kg

Boardman SLR Disc frameset

• C10 carbon frame and fork
• Includes headset, thru-axles and SLR carbon seatpost