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TECH NEWS

Boardman Bikes go electronic

Four new Shimano Di2 bikes with chainstay mounted battery and internal routing released today

Boardman Bikes today launched four new Shimano Di2 bikes based on their Elite Series AiR and SLR models

The new bikes – the AiR/9.2S, AiR/9.0S, SLR/9.2S and SLR/9.0S – have new frames designed specifically to allow full integration of Shimano's electronic Di2 groupset. This means full internal routing for the wiring and a battery mounted on the non-drive side chainstay. This is the first time we've seen the Di2 battery mounted on the top of the chainstay and from the pictures we have clearly looks cleaner than the usual mounting on the down tube.

It's always been the company's plan to offer electronic transmissions on their bikes. Chris Boardman is a keen ambassador to the benefits of electronic gears. “Having used electronic gears for 8 years as a pro-rider, I have always appreciated the benefit - so much so, I have always wanted to incorporate the principle into the range,” he tells us.

“Thankfully, technology has now advanced and with Shimano releasing the Ultegra level option,” Boardman continues. “We are able to satisfy our customers increasing demand for this product. The four new Elite Series models are the result of this - with additional models already in the pipeline.”

Aside from provision for the electronic groupset, both frames are very much based on the current AiR and SLR framesets. The Elite range is the brands premium offering made with feature full carbon monocoque frames with FEA (Finite Element Analysis) and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) used in the design process. The SLR is their lightest frame at less than 900g while the AiR is their aerodynamic offering.

The AiR/9.2S and SLR/9.2S will cost £3,499.99 with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset complemented by an FSA SLK BB30 standard chainset (compact option available),  Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels, Vittoria Open Corsa CX tyres and Ritchey finishing kit.

The AiR/9.0S and SLR/9.0S each cost £2,699.99 and keep the Ultegra Di2 transmission but swap the brakes for Shimano 105 calipers, an FSA Energy chainset, Mavic Aksium wheels and Boardman branded finishing kit.

The four models are available to pre-order now with delivery in mid October. Take a closer look at their website for more details of their dealer network www.boardmanbikes.com

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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11 comments

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NeilXDavis | 11 years ago
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Makes you wonder if Mavic have any patent claims over Di2 or EPS...especially the satellite shifting buttons...

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seanieh66 | 11 years ago
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Why no Di2 on the AiR 9.8?

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notfastenough | 11 years ago
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Wow, I would have liked to see that.

/geek

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mr-andrew | 11 years ago
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I saw an old bloke in the Alps this summer riding a lovely old steel frame with Mavic Zap. Had to take bit of a double take. Would have loved to ask him more about it but his english was as good as my French.

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lushmiester | 11 years ago
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Yep the Mavic Zap wonder if any of it's design/technology has found it's way into Di2 or EPS?

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notfastenough | 11 years ago
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Zap, that was it!  1 I seem to remember a little box with up/downshift buttons on it, that sat on the drops just under the brake hood.

Great, when Raleigh was born I was already looking at a career change!

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David Arthur @d... | 11 years ago
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Here's a nice little video of Zap in use (you have to fast forward the vid a bit)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THtQYWooNBE

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David Arthur @d... | 11 years ago
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Yes that's right, it was Mavic's Zap electronic groupset, introduced in 1992. Crhis Boardman won the 1997 Tour de France prologue on a version of it. Mektronic was Mavic's second electronic groupset in 1999 but it didn't really see the light of day. Neither were the success Mavic hoped they would be. Ahead of their time, you might say

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Raleigh | 11 years ago
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Mavic ZAP I seem to recall.  4

I say recall.

I wasn't even alive when it was prototyped.

I was 1 when Boardman used it in the 1997 prologue, when Boardman won.

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notfastenough | 11 years ago
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What leccy transmission did CB have when he was still pro? Would it have been that Mavic version? Can't recall the name...

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zanf replied to notfastenough | 11 years ago
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notfastenough wrote:

What leccy transmission did CB have when he was still pro? Would it have been that Mavic version? Can't recall the name...

And was made of Bakerlite?

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