Boardman ADV 8.9E

About the Boardman ADV 8.9E

The Boardman ADV 8.9E sits at the sweet spot where road speed meets gravel curiosity, with a Fazua Evation motor tucked into its triple-butted aluminium frame to stretch your range and flatten the hills. It's built for riders who want to explore beyond tarmac without committing to a full-on mountain bike - think bridleways, canal paths, fire roads, and the occasional commute when the weather turns. The motor's party trick? You can pull it out entirely, shedding nearly five kilos and leaving you with a bike that rolls like a conventional gravel machine when the mood (or the battery) runs dry.

This isn't a bike that shouts about its electric assistance. The Fazua system delivers power smoothly enough that you'll forget it's there until a headwind picks up or the gradient kicks past ten per cent. Paired with a SRAM Apex 1x11 drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes, the spec is sensible rather than flashy - exactly what you want when you're more interested in where you're going than what's bolted to the frame. Smooth welds, internal routing, and a forest of mounts for mudguards, racks, and bottles signal that Boardman's design team spent time thinking about real-world use rather than showroom gloss.

At around sixteen kilos with the motor fitted, it's not featherweight, but the Fazua's removable design means you're never locked into lugging dead weight. The geometry leans towards stability - slacker head angle, longer wheelbase - so you'll feel planted when the surface gets loose or the descent gets steep. If you've been eyeing electric gravel bikes but worried about compromising ride feel or ending up with something that's neither road nor trail, the ADV 8.9E makes a compelling case for having your cake and eating it on both tarmac and dirt.

Boardman ADV 8.9E geometry

Boardman's drawn the ADV 8.9E with a posture that's upright enough for all-day comfort but not so relaxed that you lose the ability to put power down when the road tilts up. The reach figures are moderate - 376 mm on the small, stretching to 399 mm on the extra-large - so you're not sprawled out like a time triallist, but you've got enough room to shift your weight forward when the gravel gets sketchy. Stack climbs steadily across the sizes, giving you a front end that's high enough to keep pressure off your wrists without feeling like you're piloting a sit-up-and-beg shopper.

The head angle sits at 70.5 degrees on the smaller frames, nudging up to 71 degrees on the large and extra-large. That's calm enough to inspire confidence on descents and rough surfaces, but not so slack that the steering goes vague when you're threading through tight singletrack or navigating city traffic. Chainstays are a uniform 430 mm across the range, which keeps the rear end snappy and responsive - useful when you're accelerating out of corners or hopping over roots. The bottom bracket drop is a modest 73 mm, so you're low enough for stability but not so low that you're clipping pedals on every off-camber rut.

The wheelbase stretches from 1048 mm on the small to 1074 mm on the extra-large, giving you a planted, predictable feel at speed. When you're descending loose gravel or holding a line through a rutted byway, that extra length translates into composure rather than nervousness. The seat angle is a consistent 73 degrees, which puts you in a position that's efficient for climbing without tipping you so far forward that you're fighting the bars on technical sections. It's a geometry that prioritises versatility - you'll feel at home whether you're grinding up a fire road, cruising a canal towpath, or threading through urban traffic on a wet Monday morning.

Component choices & upgrades

The stock build on the ADV 8.9E is already well sorted for the bike's intended use. SRAM's Apex 1x11 groupset offers a wide-enough 11-42T cassette to tackle steep climbs without resorting to a granny gear, and the single-ring setup keeps things simple and low-maintenance - no front mech to adjust or chain to drop when you're miles from home. The hydraulic disc brakes are SRAM Apex units with 160 mm rotors, which provide ample stopping power for a bike of this weight and speed, even when you're loaded with panniers or descending wet gravel. The Fazua Evation motor integrates neatly into the bottom bracket area, and while the remote isn't the slickest on the market, it's functional and unobtrusive.

Tyres are where you'll notice the biggest difference if you decide to tinker. The bike ships with either Schwalbe G-One Speed, Vittoria Terreno Zero, or Goodyear Connector rubber in 38-40 mm widths - all tubeless-ready and capable on mixed surfaces. If you're spending more time on rough gravel or want extra cushioning for bikepacking, swapping to a 40 mm tyre with a more aggressive tread (something like a Schwalbe G-One Allround or a WTB Resolute) will boost grip and comfort without sacrificing too much speed. The frame clears up to 700x40c comfortably, and some sources suggest 45 mm is possible if you're willing to test the limits.

The Boardman-branded alloy cockpit - flared bars, short stem - does the job without fuss, but if you're chasing a more dialled fit or prefer a different hand position, upgrading to a carbon bar or tweaking stem length is straightforward. The Fizik Tundra saddle is a decent perch, though saddles are personal; if you're planning long days or bikepacking trips, swapping to something that suits your sit bones will pay dividends. The wheels are tubeless-ready, so if they're not already set up that way, converting them is a worthwhile upgrade - lower pressures, better grip, fewer pinch flats. Beyond that, the spec is solid enough that you're better off riding the bike hard and upgrading only when your skills or terrain genuinely demand more.

Where the Boardman ADV 8.9E excels

The ADV 8.9E is outstanding at extending your gravel adventures without turning them into a slog. If your typical ride involves a mix of tarmac linking sections, gravel byways, and the occasional rough bridleway, the Fazua motor smooths out the hard bits - headwinds, steep climbs, that last ten miles when your legs are cooked - without making the bike feel like a moped. The motor's assistance is natural enough that you'll still feel like you're riding rather than being carried, and the ability to remove the entire system means you're not stuck with a heavy, draggy bike when you fancy an unassisted spin or the battery's flat.

It's also brilliant for commuting and utility riding. The frame bristles with mounts for mudguards, racks, and extra bottles, so you can load it up for a weekend bikepacking trip or a week's worth of shopping without resorting to a rucksack. The stable geometry and generous tyre clearance mean you'll feel confident on wet roads, potholed cycle paths, or the inevitable detour down a muddy farm track. The hydraulic disc brakes inspire trust in all conditions, and the upright position keeps you comfortable whether you're threading through traffic or grinding up a long climb.

Where it's less ideal is pure road speed or technical singletrack. At sixteen kilos with the motor fitted, it's not going to keep pace with a lightweight road bike on flat sprints, and the motor cuts out at the UK's 25 km/h assist limit, so you're on your own beyond that. The geometry is stable rather than aggressive, which is great for confidence on rough surfaces but can feel a touch ponderous if you're trying to rail tight, twisty singletrack or chase KOMs on steep descents. It's also not the lightest option in the electric gravel category, so if you're planning to carry the bike up flights of stairs or hoist it onto a roof rack regularly, you'll notice the weight. But for riders who want a versatile, capable machine that'll handle everything from commutes to gravel epics without drama, the ADV 8.9E hits the mark.

Boardman ADV 8.9E FAQs

What is the range of the Boardman ADV 8.9E?
Range depends on terrain, rider weight, and how much assistance you're using, but expect somewhere between 40 and 80 kilometres on a full charge. If you're riding mostly flat tarmac with light assistance, you'll stretch towards the upper end; if you're tackling steep gravel climbs with full power, you'll drain the battery faster. The Fazua system's relatively small battery (around 250 Wh) prioritises light weight over marathon range, so it's best suited to rides where you're mixing assisted and unassisted sections rather than relying on full power for hours on end.

Can the Boardman ADV 8.9E be ridden without the motor and battery?
Yes, and that's one of its key strengths. The Fazua Evation system is fully removable - motor, battery, and drive unit come out as a single 4.6 kg package, leaving you with a conventional gravel bike that weighs around eleven kilos. There's no drivetrain resistance when the system's out, so it rides like a regular bike rather than a heavy one with a dead motor dragging you back. It's a brilliant feature if you want the option of unassisted rides or if the battery runs flat mid-adventure.

What kind of riding is the Boardman ADV 8.9E suitable for?
It's built for versatile adventure riding - gravel paths, bridleways, canal towpaths, light trails, and commuting. The stable geometry and generous tyre clearance mean it's confident on rough surfaces, while the electric assistance makes longer or hillier rides accessible. It's also well suited to bikepacking and utility riding, thanks to ample mounts for racks, mudguards, and bottles. It's less ideal for pure road racing or technical mountain biking, but for riders who want one bike that'll handle a wide range of terrain and uses, it's a strong contender.

How much does the Boardman ADV 8.9E weigh?
Approximately sixteen kilos with the Fazua motor and battery fitted. Remove the system and you're down to around eleven kilos, which is competitive with many non-electric gravel bikes. It's not the lightest e-bike in its category, but the removable motor design means you're never locked into carrying the full weight if you don't need the assistance.

What is the tyre clearance on the Boardman ADV 8.9E?
The frame officially clears up to 700x40c tyres, and some sources suggest 700x45c is possible depending on tyre and rim combination. That's ample room for comfortable, grippy rubber on rough gravel or for fitting mudguards without sacrificing tyre volume. The stock tyres are typically 38-40 mm, which strike a good balance between speed and cushioning.

Is the Boardman ADV 8.9E good for commuting?
Very. The electric assistance flattens hills and headwinds, the stable geometry inspires confidence on varied urban surfaces, and the hydraulic disc brakes work reliably in all weather. The frame has mounts for full-length mudguards and pannier racks, so you can carry a change of clothes or a week's shopping without resorting to a rucksack. The upright position keeps you comfortable in traffic, and the ability to remove the motor means you can ride it unassisted when you fancy a workout or the battery's flat.

What is the difference between the Boardman ADV 8.9E and the non-electric ADV 8.9?
The ADV 8.9E adds the Fazua Evation motor and battery system, which boosts the weight by around five kilos but extends your range and makes climbs easier. The geometry and frame design are similar, so both bikes share the same stable, versatile character. The non-electric version weighs around 10.5 kg and is better suited to riders who don't need assistance or want to save weight and cost. The electric version is ideal if you're tackling longer or hillier rides, commuting with a load, or simply want the option of assistance when you need it.

Can I fit mudguards and a rack to the Boardman ADV 8.9E?
Yes. The frame has hidden mounts for full-length mudguards and fixings for pannier racks, so you can load it up for commuting, touring, or bikepacking without drilling holes or bodging brackets. There are also multiple bottle cage and storage mounts on the top tube, seat tube, downtube, and fork legs, giving you plenty of options for carrying water, tools, and spares on longer adventures.