Boardman SLR 9.4 Ltd review: without doubt 2025’s best-value performance endurance bike

Boardman impressed us with the SLR 9.2, sporting a top-level C10 carbon frame, along with Shimano 105 Di2 and Alexrims 30mm-deep lightweight alloy wheels.

This new 9.4 Ltd ramps up the value and improves on performance too, packing Vision’s Tour-de-France proven Metron 5D cockpit, Goodyear Eagle tyres fitted to 50mm-deep carbon wheels, SRAM’s impressive Rival AXS groupset and a Prologo Scratch saddle. 

All this for £3,100, building on a great frameset, makes for one of the best-value bikes I’ve seen in 2025.

• Read more: Best endurance road bikes in 2025: our pick of the best bikes for speed and comfort

Boardman SLR 9.4 Ltd frame details

The SLR 9.4 Ltd has a lot to make it stand out from the crowd, aside from the impressive price tag.

The new SLR embraces aerodynamics to greater effect than its predecessor, with revised tube profiles and full cable integration. 

Boardman says the SLR was wind-tunnel tested at 50kph across -15 to 15-degree yaw angles, with an average 3% saving across the range. According to Boardman’s calculations, that would mean a 24-second saving over 20 miles at 50kph (31.4mph).

The new frame and fork come with a lifetime warranty for the original owner.

The practical features of the SLR include two-position down tube bottle mounts, so if you use two 500ml bottles, you can minimise the aerodynamic impact, or switch to using a 750ml bottle on the down tube.

The rear stays and fork legs feature mounting points for dedicated mudguards, designed in conjunction with Fend Off. These metal guards offer full-length protection while allowing clearance for 32mm tyres. The SLR can take up to 36c tyres without them fitted.

On the underside of the down tube is a third set of bosses to add a third bottle for epic days out (or a tool can, leaving space for two bottles).

The deep aero-shaped carbon seatpost is clamped in place by a hidden bolt underneath the seat tube and top tube junction. While the post is proprietary, you can switch it out for a standard 27.2mm-diameter post with the aid of a wedge-shaped adaptor.

The bottom bracket shell remains press-fit BB386, as on the previous SLR.

The rear dropout is the UDH standard, which means replacement hangers should be easy to come by (because they’re universal, not frame-specific), and futureproofs the frame should direct-mount derailleur designs become the norm.

Boardman quotes weights for the frame and fork of 995g and 450g, respectively, in a size large.

Boardman SLR 9.4 Ltd geometry

The SLR was originally conceived as a race bike; it then evolved in 2021 into a performance-oriented endurance platform. Staying true to its racing roots, it was at the very sporty end of the endurance spectrum.

The 2025 SLR, if anything, has got even sportier, with the stack dropped by 7mm (to 577mm) and the reach stretched out to 394mm – 3mm longer than the previous model in a size large. This is combined with a longer standard stem of 110mm (the previous model had a 100mm stem). 

Boardman has also narrowed the standard bar on the large-size bike to 400mm from 420mm, which is in theory better for rider aerodynamics. The wheelbase is compact at 1,005mm, considering it can run 36mm-wide tyres with especially short 412mm chainstays (dropping to 410mm on the small and extra-small models).

Boardman has relaxed the head angle by half a degree to 72.5 degrees, while maintaining the 73-degree seat angle.

Boardman SLR 9.4 Ltd build

The SLR 9.4 Ltd is by any calculation incredible value for money at £3,100. My size-large test bike tipped the scales at 8.6kg. 

The build is based around SRAM's Rival AXS drivetrain. Here, it’s presented with a 48/35-tooth crankset and a 10-33t 12-speed cassette, the latter of which comes from the higher-tier Force groupset. 

That’s at the performance end of endurance gearing, being broadly the equivalent of Shimano 52/36T crankset chainrings and 11-28t cassette. That said, it offers a lighter gear at the bottom end of 7.44in compared to the 9.03in and a marginally higher gear by 0.5in, at 33.7in.

I quite like the old-school gearing approach favoured here, but I could see some preferring the wider 10-36t that comes as standard for Rival AXS, especially if you ride in hillier terrain.

Up front, the 9.4 Ltd gets a pro-level cockpit in the form of Vision’s Metron 5D ACR EVO one-piece bar and stem. This alone would set you back £640 / $668 / €698 in store.

The wheelset is Boardman’s new 9 Series RD Carbon wheelset. This features a 50mm-deep and 28mm-wide (external) rim profile, with a contemporary 22mm internal width. The rims are tubeless-ready and come with tubeless tape installed. The package includes tubeless valves in the box, aiding a quicker conversion from the stock clincher installation.

The wheelset is constructed with straight-pull double-butted spokes, features a four-pawl hub design and replaceable cartridge bearings, and weighs in at a claimed 1,580g.

Goodyear Eagle tubeless-ready tyres round out the rolling stock.

This Boardman’s value for money is impressive for 2025 (as is the whole SLR range). In comparison, Trek’s Domane SL 5 Gen 4, at £3,000, comes with 105 mechanical and alloy wheels. Specialized’s Roubaix SL8 Expert, with Rival AXS and carbon Roval wheels, is £5,500. 

Only Canyon’s Endurace CF 7 Di2 fitted with a Shimano 105 Di2 R7100 groupset, at £2,799, and Ribble’s Allroad SLR, also with Shimano 105 Di2 at £3,199, come close (accepting both have alloy wheels).

Boardman SLR 9.4 ride impressions

The SLR 9.4 offers a formidable combination of sporty ride position, quick handling and a balanced feel on the road.

I love the Boardman’s handling; it's sharper than a lot of endurance bikes, although it doesn’t get twitchy or make me nervy when the road surface is less than optimal, as some thoroughbred race bikes can.

Meanwhile, the combination of aerodynamic tube shapes, dropped stays and the straight-legged fork would suggest a stiff ride, but on the road, the SLR is anything but. 

While it felt very responsive and firm in all the right places, the 30mm tyres played their part in the comfort stakes (relative to narrower rubber). The 9.4 certainly felt smoother than the 9.2, especially at the front end. It shows the upgrade to the carbon one-piece bar is paying dividends, and is a surprisingly good match for a bike clearly capable of covering long miles.

Although the firm but not uncomfortable ride, combined with nimble handling, might seem at odds with the frameset’s practicalities, that’s no bad thing.

Where the new Cannondale Synapse, Cervélo Caledonia 5 and Canyon Endurace all get in-frame storage, Boardman, by adding a third set of bottle bosses on the underside of the down tube, has achieved similar functionality with a lot less effort.

Throughout testing, I’ve been able to store a tool can there while still running two bottles for long rides. This simple alternative makes sense, especially if you run more than one bike and don’t want to have to double up on a riding toolkit for each.

At 8.29kg, the SLR 9.4 is plenty light enough for a bike with 30mm tyres and 50mm-deep carbon wheels. It climbs well, feeling even lighter thanks to the swiftness of the tyre and wheel combo. 

Over rolling terrain, it’s an easy bike to keep up to speed on. The aero cockpit and wheels, along with the frameset, contribute to a feeling of efficiency at speed.

The Vision Metron 5D cockpit is ergonomically excellent; the semi-compact drops have just enough flare to enable me to sprint out of the saddle without my wrists fouling the bar. The deep aero-shape tops provide a comfortable hold when climbing and are deep enough to provide a little support for your forearms should you want to get into a tuck.

On the 9.2, I could induce a bit of rotor scraping at the front when sprinting out of the saddle, and the same happened here, indicating that the fork is designed to offer a little flex.

The tyres offer supple smoothness, along with great cornering grip, and they are tough enough to take on poor road surfaces without breaking a sweat. Higher-tier tyres are available, but I wouldn’t rush to upgrade these.

Boardman SLR 9.4 Ltd bottom line

The Boardman SLR 9.4 Ltd is a great endurance bike that leans heavily on its racing roots. 

Endurance design elements such as the generous tyre clearance and proper mudguard options are matched to a ride that’s firm yet forgiving, and fast without being furious.

The ride feeds back enough of the road to keep you aware and involved without being isolating, yet it remains a comfortable bike to rack up high mileages.

It’s this character that makes the SLR a solid competitor to the latest-generation endurance bikes such as the Cervélo Caledonia 5 and Cannondale's Synapse, while it’s also up there with some of the best examples of recent years, including the Giant Defy Advanced and Vitus’ Bike-of-the-Year winning Venon Evo.

Throw in the outstanding value, and it’s a real winner.