Halfords-owned brand also updates its line-up of award-winning ADV gravel bikes

By Jack Evans

Published: Wednesday, 17 July 2024 at 14:16 PM


Boardman has unveiled a new range of affordable TRVL gravel bikes, which are designed to handle adventurous off-road riding thanks to front suspension and 50mm tyre clearance. 

The Halfords-owned brand has also refreshed its award-winning stable of all-round gravel bikes: the ADV 8.9 topped our Budget Bike of the Year category in 2021 and 2022.

Starting at £950 with the alloy ADV 8.8, the Boardman gravel range tops out at £3,800 with the 12–speed GRX Di2-equipped Boardman ADV 9.6.

We haven’t officially heard from Boardman when you’ll be able to buy the bikes, but judging from the Halfords website, stock is due in July and August. 

Boardman gravel bikes range 2025

The line-up includes six alloy gravel bikes priced between £950 and £2,100. 

Boardman’s four new carbon gravel bikes are priced between £2,200 and £3,800. 

Boardman ADV 9.6 Carbon

A carbon frame, carbon Zipp wheels and 12-speed GRX Di2 will cost you £3,800. – Boardman

Boardman’s 990g C10 carbon frame and 420g fork (both claimed weights) form the basis of the range-topping ADV 9.6. 

A middle-of-the-road 71.5-degree head angle keeps handling predictable on and off-road, according to the brand. 

The frame has mounts for full-length mudguards and a pannier rack, and bosses to attach bottles and bikepacking bags on the top tube, seat tube and down tube. 

Boardman specs a standard seatpost, but the frame is compatible with dropper post routing. 

A full 12-speed Shimano GRX Di2 groupset and carbon Zipp 303 S wheels round off a keenly priced build. 

The claimed weight is 8.8kg in an unspecified size. 

Boardman ADV 9.2 Carbon

Boardman ADV 9.2 carbon gravel bike
Next in line is the ADV 9.2 with alloy wheels and SRAM’s cheapest electronic groupset. – Boardman

The second-tier Boardman ADV 9.2 uses the same frame and fork as the ADV 9.6, but is built around a SRAM Apex AXS XPLR groupset and own-brand alloy wheels. 

This version of SRAM’s cheapest electronic groupset features a 12-speed, 11-44t cassette and 40T chainring. The Boardman ADV wheels are tubeless-ready and have a 22mm internal width. 

Boardman says the ADV 9.2 Carbon weighs 9kg in an unspecified size. 

  • Frame and fork: C10 Carbon
  • Drivetrain: SRAM Apex AXS XPLR
  • Wheels: Boardman ADV alloy
  • Tyres: Goodyear Connector Ultimate, 40mm tubeless-ready
  • Brakes: SRAM Apex AXS, hydraulic disc
  • Bar and stem: Boardman alloy
  • Seatpost: Boardman alloy, 27.2x350mm (S, M), 400mm (L, XL)
  • Saddle: Prologo Akero AGX
  • Price: £2,500
  • Availability: August

Boardman ADV 9.0 Carbon

Boardman ADV 9.0 gravel bike
The ADV 9.0 is the most reasonable full-carbon bike in the range. – Boardman

Boardman specs the third-rung ADV 9.0 with Shimano 12-speed mechanical GRX, consisting of 46/30T chainrings and an 11-34t cassette. 

Like the slightly more expensive ADV 9.2, the ADV 9.0 rolls on Boardman ADV alloy hoops. 

  • Frame and fork: C10 Carbon
  • Drivetrain: Shimano GRX RX820
  • Wheels: Boardman ADV alloy
  • Tyres: Goodyear Connector Ultimate, 40mm tubeless-ready
  • Brakes: Shimano GRX, hydraulic disc 
  • Bar and stem: Boardman alloy
  • Seatpost: Boardman alloy, 27.2x350mm (S, M), 400mm (L, XL)
  • Saddle: Prologo Akero AGS
  • Price: £2,200 
  • Availability: July

Boardman TRVL 9.2

three-quarter shot of Boardman TRVL 9.2 gravel bike
The TRVL 9.2 is the top-of-the-range model. – Boardman

Boardman says its TRVL range of gravel bikes is designed for more rugged terrain than the ADV range. 

They have 40mm of front gravel suspension, clearance for 50mm-wide gravel tyres and dropper post routing, although Boardman supplies a standard seatpost. 

The TRVL 9.2 comes with alloy Boardman ADV wheels and a SRAM Apex AXS XPLR groupset. It is claimed to weigh 11.1kg in an unspecified size. 

Like the ADV, the alloy TRVL frame is peppered with mounts for mudguards, bags and a rack. 

  • Frame and fork: 6061 alloy; RockShox Rudy, 40mm travel
  • Drivetrain: SRAM Apex AXS XPLR
  • Wheels: Boardman ADV alloy
  • Tyres: Goodyear Connector, tubeless-ready, 700x45mm
  • Brakes: SRAM Apex, hydraulic disc 
  • Bar and stem: Boardman alloy
  • Seatpost: Alloy, 31.6x350mm (S), 400mm (M, L)
  • Saddle: Fizik Terra Argo
  • Price: £2,100
  • Availability: August

Boardman ADV 9.2

Boardman ADV 9.2
The Boardman ADV 9.2 has an alloy frame and carbon fork. – Boardman

The Boardman ADV 9.2 pairs an alloy frame with a full carbon fork and SRAM’s Apex AXS XPLR groupset. 

Costing £1,800, the ADV 9.2 is claimed to weigh 10.2kg in an unspecified size. 

  • Frame and fork: 6061 butted alloy; C10 rigid 
  • Drivetrain: SRAM Apex AXS XPLR
  • Wheels: Boardman ADV alloy
  • Tyres: Goodyear Connector, tubeless-ready, 700x40mm
  • Brakes: SRAM Apex, hydraulic disc
  • Bar and stem: Boardman alloy 
  • Seatpost: Alloy, 31.6x350mm
  • Saddle: Fizik Terra Argo
  • Price: £1,800 
  • Availability: August

Boardman TRVL 8.9 Drop Bar

Boardman TRVL 8.9 gravel bike
The TRVL models have clearance for 50mm-wide tyres, a relaxed head angle and a suspension fork. – Boardman

Second in the TRVL range, the Boardman TRVL 8.9 drops down to a mechanical SRAM Apex groupset with wide-range gearing, but retains a RockShox Rudy gravel suspension fork

Boardman says the TRVL 8.9 weighs 11.3kg without specifying the size.

  • Frame and fork: 6061 alloy; RockShox Rudy, 40mm travel
  • Drivetrain: SRAM Apex XPLR Wide
  • Wheels: Boardman ADV alloy
  • Tyres: Goodyear Connector, tubeless-ready, 700x45mm
  • Brakes: SRAM Apex, hydraulic disc
  • Bar and stem: Boardman alloy
  • Seatpost: Alloy, 31.6x350mm (S), 400mm (M, L)
  • Saddle: Fizik Terra Argo
  • Price: £1,800 
  • Availability: August

Boardman ADV 8.9 Carbon

Boardman ADV 8.9 carbon gravel bike
The Boardman ADV 8.9 Carbon comes with 10-speed Shimano GRX. – Boardman

The carbon version of the ADV 8.9 is specced with a 2×10-speed Shimano GRX groupset, including an 11-36t cassette and hydraulic disc brakes. The 46/30T crankset is from Prowheel. 

The cheapest carbon ADV is claimed to weigh 9.8kg in an undetermined size. 

  • Frame and fork: C10 Carbon
  • Drivetrain: Shimano GRX RX600
  • Wheels: Boardman ADV alloy
  • Tyres: Goodyear Connector, tubeless-ready, 700x40mm
  • Brakes: Shimano GRX, hydraulic disc
  • Bar and stem: Boardman alloy
  • Seatpost: Boardman Alloy, 27.2x350mm (S, M), 400mm (L, XL)
  • Saddle: Prologo Akero RS
  • Price: £1,800 
  • Availability: July

Boardman ADV 8.9 

Boardman ADV 8.9 gravel bike
There’s also an alloy version of the ADV 8.9. – Boardman

The more affordable ADV 8.9 has an alloy frame and carbon fork, but also comes with a majority Shimano GRX RX400 groupset. KMC and Prowheel supply the chain and crankset respectively.

Costing £600 less than the full-carbon model, the ADV 8.9 is said to weigh 10.9kg in an unspecified size. 

  • Frame and fork: 6061 butted alloy; C10 carbon
  • Drivetrain: Shimano GRX RX400
  • Wheels: Boardman ADV alloy
  • Tyres: Goodyear Connector, tubeless-ready, 700x40mm
  • Brakes: Shimano GRX, hydraulic disc 
  • Bar and stem: Boardman alloy
  • Seatpost: Alloy, 31.6x350mm
  • Saddle: Boardman ADV
  • Price: £1,200
  • Availability: August

Boardman TRVL 8.9 Flat Bar

Boardman TRVL 8.9 flat-bar gravel bike
The flat-bar TRVL 8.9 gets a mullet SRAM drivetrain for wider gear range. – Boardman

The Boardman TRVL 8.9 Flat Bar is an alloy, flat-bar gravel bike with 40mm of front suspension and a slack 70-degree head angle for stable handling. 

The wide-range 1×12 drivetrain mixes and matches SRAM GX/SX components.

  • Frame and fork: 6061 alloy; RockShox Rudy, 40mm travel
  • Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle, 1×12-speed
  • Wheels: Boardman ADV
  • Tyres: Goodyear Connector, tubeless-ready, 700x45mm
  • Brakes: SRAM Flat Bar, Hydraulic Disc
  • Bar and stem: Boardman alloy, flat bar
  • Seatpost: Alloy, 31.6x350mm (S) 400mm (M, L)
  • Saddle: Fizik Terra Argo
  • Price: £1,600
  • Availability: August

Boardman ADV 8.8

Boardman ADV 8.8 gravel bike
The ADV 8.8 starts the range at £950. – Boardman

The entry-level, £950 alloy ADV 8.8 is specced with alloy wheels and a 1x Microshift Sword drivetrain

  • Frame and fork: 6061 alloy; C10 carbon
  • Drivetrain: Microshift Sword 
  • Wheels: Boardman alloy, tubeless-compatible
  • Tyres: Goodyear Connector, 700x40mm
  • Brakes: Tektro mechanical disc brakes
  • Bar and stem: Boardman alloy
  • Seatpost: Alloy, 31.6x350mm
  • Saddle: Boardman ADV
  • Price: £950
  • Availability: August