BOARDMAN SLR 8.6
£550 The award-winning SLR 8.9’s little brother – and just half the price
Boardman bikes need little introduction. The brainchild of ex-pro rider and world-record holder Chris Boardman MBE (surely he should be a ‘Sir’, by now?), the brand has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2007.
The SLR 8.6 sits at the bottom of Boardman’s extensive road-bike range but it still manages a well-appointed, triple-butted aluminium frame and a full-carbon fork – both the blades and steerer are carbon – though the steerer is not tapered. The frame is semi-compact with a gently sloping top tube, it has dropped, keyholeprofile seatstays for rear-end comfort, front and rear mudguard fittings as well as fittings for a rear rack. It’s also the same price as it was a couple of years ago without any reduction in component quality, which as supply issues and inflation take hold in the cycling word is becoming increasingly rare.
Unlike the Wizard and Triban bikes, which have nine-speed set-ups, the Boardman uses eight-speed Shimano Claris with a slight down-spec to an FSA compact chainset and Tektro deep-drop calliper brakes. There were no issues with the chainset even if it’s not quite as smooth and slick as Sora and above, and the SLR 8.6 even has one advantage over the 8.9 – and over the 2020 SLR 8.6 – in that it has a widerrange 11-32 cassette rather than 11-30. Yes, this inevitably means bigger jumps between gears – especially as there are only eight sprockets – but that lower bailout gear is always welcome on my local hills, many of which are over 10 per cent, and it will be a real boon to newbie cyclists or returning older riders. Braking is okay without being inspiring, and I’d certainly recommend upgrading to cartridge brake blocks when the non-cartridge blocks go the way of all things.
Boardman claims a maximum tyre size of 28mm or 25mm with mudguards, though I reckon you might be able to fit wider tyres than 25mm with guards as the clearance is pretty generous. The Boardman SLR rims are the same as on the 8.9 and they’re tubeless-ready, which is good to see on such a modestly priced bike. The downside of that tubeless compatibility is that tyres are a very tight fit – even removing tyres from these rims requires strong hands. Vittoria’s Zaffiro tyres are training tyres that maximise durability over suppleness, but even in their 25mm size they proved both comfortable and grippy enough, so no immediate upgrades are required. The stem, handlebar and seatpost are the usual standard aluminium own-brand stuff you’ll find on pretty much all bikes at this price, and I got on very well with the Boardman SLR saddle, which has a long pressure-relieving groove.
Boardman describes the geometry as ‘endurance’ and I think that’s about right. It’s not sit-up-and-beg upright, but the top tube is a little shorter than the Mango’s – its nearest competitor here – as well as having a longer wheelbase, a shorter head tube and shallower head angle. All of these will slow down the handling and increase the stability, making the Boardman a good commuter and long-distance ride. The ability to fit full-length mudguards and a rear rack maximises its versatility, with the limit on tyre size the main drawback, confining it to tarmac and only the least challenging unsurfaced tracks.
If you’re looking for a wellpriced bike for road riding – commuting, fitness riding and perhaps the odd weekend away – Boardman’s SLR 8.6 is one of the best you can buy at this price. Claris may be an entry-level groupset but it shifts well, braking is good enough if not exceptional, and the slightly-upright endurance geometry and comfort are ideal for day-long rides. I’d upgrade both the tyres and the brake blocks when they wear out, but the frame and the other components are all fine as they are – and modest tyres and brake blocks are the norm and not the exception at this price. Finally, Boardman has to be congratulated on keeping the price the same for the last three years.
This bike is the same price as it was a couple of years ago without any reduction in component quality, which is increasingly rare