Boardman MTR 9.0 review: a class act, but there's better value on offer elsewhere

SQUIRREL_13401632

Boardman is a brand known for offering killer value, but the new MTR trail bike isn't as affordable as its direct rivals.

Thanks to less travel (130mm, down from 140mm) and a much lighter frame, plus updated geometry, the MTR 9.0 is calm and composed with impressive suspension kinematics.

Those looking for performance on a budget will be impressed by the spec list, with the potential of the parts ratified by great riding characteristics.

This 9.0 model is the best dressed and most expensive of the four-level MTR line-up, retailing for £2,400.

• Best mountain bikes in 2025: find the right MTB for your riding and budget
  

Boardman MTR 9.0 frame, suspension and geometry

Boardman’s 6-series aluminium frame uses a true four-bar suspension design, with the rear shock mounted under the top tube in a way that’s not dissimilar from Canyon’s Neuron at first glance.

Rather than a yoke wrapping the seat tube, though, the MTR drives the RockShox rear shock from underneath with an inverted, forged aluminium link.

This then connects to the seatstay and all the way back to the extra Horst-link pivot in front of the rear axle that’s key to making the MTR's suspension more tuneable.

One thing to be aware of is the suspension layout leads to a higher-than-normal top tube/seat tube and Boardman’s bike is taller than the other bikes I tested it alongside, with the same reach.

The rear triangle uses a SRAM UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger) dropout that will be a big help if you damage the derailleur hanger and need a replacement.

This aspect is perhaps even more relevant on budget mountain bikes, which have historically tended to be harder to find replacement parts for.

The front triangle is much cleaner and neater than previous MTR models, and uses lighter tubing that results in a claimed 300g weight saving over its predecessor.

There’s more kicked-out geometry too, with a 65.5° head angle and steeper 77.5° seat angle that’s about as on-trend as it gets for a modern trail bike.

Boardman MTR 9.0 kit and specifications

You’d expect a bike backed by Halfords’ buying power to deliver a load of top-value kit, and the MTR does.

The RockShox suspension controlling both ends not only works brilliantly, but at the back end at least, it’s the highest tier the brand offers.

The stiff, 35mm-legged, 140mm-travel Pike fork is Select-level, and the Ultimate-level RCT Deluxe shock is the exact same kit you might see on top-tier bikes costing up to £10,000.

Elsewhere, it’s a similar story. The majority of the Shimano drivetrain is SLX-level, including four-piston SLX brakes.

These are slightly lighter, more sophisticated and use bigger brake pads for extra bite, meaning stopping power here is adequate, even with 180mm rotors.

Boardman has saved a few quid on the MT510 crankset, and Deore M6100 chain and cassette, but the result is still a practical and tough 12-speed setup with a 10-51t range to help you climb the steepest hills.

Although the dropper post is unbranded, it has a very smooth and light action with a stiff, but not flimsy remote.

That said, there’s less drop than many bikes have – only 125mm on smaller sizes and 150mm on the large and extra-large.

This could pose a fit/clearance issue for some riders, when the MTR frame is already taller than many.

The wheels here are WTB STi30 models and, like the Saracen Ariel 30 I also tested, there are Maxxis tyres at both ends.

The MTR 9.0 has a full 29er setup, like the Neuron, rather than the mullet found on the Ariel, and comes with tyres that are the best on test.

The rear Rekon rolls very fast with a good balance of speed and grip, and the front Dissector is a pricier 3C (triple-compound) MaxxTerra version (not the budget/dual-compound version) that’s significantly more grippy in the wet, adding tons more confidence when riding.

Boardman MTR 9.0 ride impressions

This new slacked-out MTR is remarkably calm and composed.

There's nothing cheap-feeling about its ride whatsoever, and with 10mm more travel up front, the RockShox suspension feels well balanced at both ends, so there’s no pitching about of rider weight.

The fork and shock are so plush and sensitive, ironing out small bumps and vibrations nicely, and can handle rapid, repeated hits without flinching.

Downhill, this translates to the Boardman feeling relaxed – there never seems to be any drama or moments when it’s not easy to ride and control, on or off the brakes.

The flipside to this, however, is the ride is not as dynamic or lively as Saracen’s Ariel with its snappier 27.5in rear wheel.

The MTR is similar to Canyon’s Neuron in terms of off-the-top suppleness and tracking, but with the bottom bracket feeling a bit high when you’re riding.

There’s also a sense the rear end could feel more damped because it's slightly firmer and pushes you onto the fork, so you feel a tad more upright and less connected to the terrain.

The MTR handles big hits and compressions better than the Canyon, though, where that bike can occasionally blow through its travel too readily.

Superior Maxxis rubber means you can ride many descents more safely and with better control, even if I'm not a fan of the ‘grip gap’ on the front Dissector tyre, with its blank space between the central and shoulder knobs.

The tyres don’t roll as fast as the Schwalbes on the Canyon, but there's much more braking control and cornering grip, so it feels like a better compromise.

While the MTR holds its shape very well, even through deeper holes and bigger hits, it’s a little surprising this tighter feel doesn’t translate fully to the bike’s pedalling and climbing manners.

The upright seated position is great, but the rear suspension feels a tad more active around its sag point when cranking or climbing than either of the other two bikes I tested.

This means the rear end moves/bobs more than the Saracen or Canyon (especially at the top of the big cassette), but there’s still some support when loading up and driving weight through the cranks.

This equates to the bike feeling a bit less zippy and urgent, and even a sensation of needing to be one gear lower/easier to feel comparable on the same climbs.

It’s hard to explain why, too, considering the Boardman isn’t any heavier. That said, there is the option to flick the shock’s lever and firm things up.

The front end of MTR frame also feels a little flexy (especially compared to the stiff and precise Saracen Ariel chassis).

But this might just be a reflection of the 31.8mm bar and stem being noticeably flexier than the other two bikes, and the thin grips not offering as much cushioning.

There's a vague sense the front end (and therefore, the whole bike) feels a bit flimsier and less rigid when you’re really driving it.

Boardman MTR 9.0 bottom line

Drilling into the MTR 9.0’s details feels a little nitpicky because the Boardman is such a solid all-rounder.

RockShox suspension at both ends, that is arguably the best-balanced package on test, is a superb touch.

That only really leaves the pricing here to criticise (compared to the Canyon and Saracen), because you can’t argue with much else in terms of its spec and ride feel.

SQUIRREL_13401632