Boardman’s MTR range has been one of our top bargain trail bike recommendations for years. The older model had 150/140mm travel but this latest version drops that to 130mm both ends with an all new, lighter frame. And the 8.9 model here looks like the sweet spot of a 4 model range, with a 12 speed Shimano drivetrain and RockShox Psylo fork. How does it stack up against the the best mountain bikes under £2,000? It’s up against some pretty fierce competition now Calibre has released the latest Bossnut. Here’s my take…

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Boardman has made a killer bike in the MTR 8.9, perfect for proper trail riding

Boardman MTR 8.9 need to know

• Affordable 29er wheeled all rounder trail bike
• 130mm RockShox suspension, including the new Psylo
• Full Shimano Deore 12 speed transmission
• Lighter frame with totally up to date trail geometry
• Maxxis tyres, and dropper post as standard
• UDH dropout and internal cable routing

A UDH hangar makes the MTR really simple to upgrade or repair

Frame and geometry

The frame mounts its shock on the top tube, there’s a single bottle mount on the downtube and internal cable routing that all carries over from previous MTRs. The asymmetric chainstay rear end also looks similar but comes with future proof, repair simplifying UDH dropouts. Straighter, lighter main tubes and a new single piece forged rocker link make the frame over 300g lighter. Geometry is made a shade radder too with a slacker 65.5° head angle and a properly steep 77.5° effective seat angle at either end of the slightly longer 480mm reach of my size large test bike. The upper bracing pipe makes for a tall 460mm seat tube that limits potential seat post stroke.

The MTR 8.9 gets the new RockShox Psylo fork, with 35mm stanchions a DebonAir spring and Isolator RC 3-position damper it’s a solid performer

Components

There are four models in the MTR range starting with the 8.6 at £1,300, but the 8.9 looks like the sweet spot. The dropper post (complete with Shimano remote lever) is the obvious gain over the £1,600 8.8 but you also get the new RockShox Psylo RC fork with Isolator RC damper. The Deluxe Select+ rear shock also adds a lockout lever to increase pedalling efficiency. Shimano’s Deore transmission is 12 speed with no hidden downgrades like cranks or bottom bracket, and it uses the latest MicroSpline cassette mount so upgrading wheels will be simpler too. Not that there’s anything obviously wrong with the supplied wheels as they’re tubeless ready if you add tape and valves.

Maxxis’ Rekon isn’t the grippiest rear tyre out there, but it definitely keeps you rollong quickly on the MTR 8.9

The Maxxis Dissector EXO front tyre and Rekon EXO rear suit the bike’s fast but not frightened trail remit well. Low rise 780mm bars and a 45mm stem suit the handling, and the knurled grips and Boardman branded saddle are fine. Production bikes will come with four piston Shimano BR420 brakes not the two piston BR410 of my test bike.

Uphill the MTR is really rapid thanks to its light build and tight suspension feel

How it rides

It wasn’t long ago that my bike reviews – particularly on more affordable machines – were dominated by dimensions and geometry. They’re still obviously important, but the great news is that very few new bikes are a bad shape now. The Boardman is certainly bang on trend for all round trail work and in fact the super steep seat angle will take more traditional riders a while to adjust to. It works really well to amplify the efficiency of the relatively tight suspension tune and fast rolling rear tire on climbs though. And while 15kg is still a chunk of mountain bike to shift it’s as light as some carbon bikes for double the price. In fact the only new bike that’s significantly lighter at a similar price is the Specialized Chisel FS. That’s only got 110mm of X-Fusion shock controlled flex stay travel and a decidedly XC feel too.

This is where the new Domain fork really shines, it has plenty of support and the 35mm stanchions keep you on line and out of the bracken

In contrast the suspension on the Boardman is really well sorted, particularly the Psylo Gold RC fork. Premium seals and suspension fluid mean it’s smooth off the top with a comfortably progressive natural spring rate. The impressively consistent damper lets you push it hard down long descents rather than rapidly losing it’s cool like most forks on bikes at this price. While it’s a heavy fork for it’s travel the 35mm legs mean it tracks accurately. So while the Dissector tyre has a bit of a grip gap as you drop into turns it’s still a front end you can take the fight to sketchy trails on. While it sits high in the travel when cruising, the actual BB height is low enough to boost stability once you start loading the bike with cornering Gs too. Those ‘harder you push it the better it feels’ cliches rarely apply to bikes at this price, but in this case it’s true.

This is the bike you need if climbing and twisty singletrack is your bag

While it feels a bit ‘nutty’ with tubes still in the tyres and the rebound rewards some experimenting to find the floated ideal, the rear end suits the bike too. It’s tight and stable enough under power to make the lockout an occasional flick for ‘Launch Control’ attacks on smooth climbs. It still burbles and connects well over roots and rocks though and while collection of bigger hits isn’t with a warm smothering hug, it never drops the catch.

I dropped out the shock and swapped it for a plusher unit, and figured out the bike’s tight feel comes from a firm compression tune

Dropping the shock out shows that the full bearing rear end moves very easily too, confirming that it’s the compression tune on the shock that makes it feel tight rather than pillowy plush. Switching in a more open tuned shock (off the Voodoo Canzo as it happens) delivered a softer, smoother ride that still pedalled OK thanks to the torque response of the suspension geometry. Ultimately I went back to the original shock though as it suited the hustler tendencies of the forward ride position, relatively quick rubber and comparatively light weight for cost.

Deore… do you really need more? It’s crisp and fast enough for me

The 12 speed Shimano Deore really is a “why do you need more?” masterpiece in terms of light, accurate shifting even under power. While it adds weight and rapidly rusts if not lubed straight after washing, the steel chainring is a super durable win. Shimano’s Deore-level brakes are equally trustworthy and if you really do get the four pot version on production bikes the currently adequate power will become usefully pokey stopping. While stroke is short at 150mm the Shimano dropper lever made me smile every time compared to the wobbly or even plastic triggers you often get at this price.

How good does the Boardman MTR look in 2024? Stunning