Is the Boardman ADV 9.0 really worth the hype, or are people just drinking the Halfords Kool-Aid because its a bargain at a certain price point? Ive seen a lot of glowing reviews from people whove barely put any miles on theirs, and Im starting to think that the emperors new clothes are, well, not that great.
I mean, dont get me wrong, the specs look great on paper - the 6061 aluminium frame, the Shimano GRX groupset, the tubeless-ready wheels... it all sounds like a solid foundation for a great bike. But what about the execution? How does it actually ride? Is it really as comfortable and capable as everyone claims?
Ive heard some people say that the ADV 9.0 is a great all-rounder, that it can handle everything from commuting to long-distance touring to light off-roading. But can it really? Or is it just a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none kind of bike?
And what about the weight? Ive seen some people complain that its a bit on the heavy side, especially compared to some of the other bikes in its class. Is that really a problem, or is it just a minor quibble?
Im not trying to be a troll here, Im genuinely curious to hear from people whove actually spent some time on the ADV 9.0. What are your thoughts? Is it a great bike, or is it just a bunch of hype?