Two months in the past we obtained a sneak peek at a prototype next-gen BH cross-country race mountain bike. We suspect it might be the successor to their long-running Lynx household. Particulars are nonetheless very restricted since BH is doing an excellent job retaining the prototype wrapped up each on the racetrack and within the pits. However we obtained in for a better look to attempt to sus out some extra particulars…
BH XC race mountain bike prototype might change the Lynx
Because it stands now, Spanish bikemaker BH has two cross-country fashions within the lineup. There’s the Final Evo hardtail and the 100mm journey Lynx Race Evo absolutely. An eagle-eyed nameless reader despatched us spy photographs of the prototype from a race within the north of Spain again in March.
Now that the UCI MTB World Cup is in our yard, we dropped in to attempt to get a greater look ourselves. I had hoped by now it could be uncovered, however sadly, it’s nonetheless wrapped in neoprene.
A lot of the BH Coloma group are nonetheless racing the present Lynx Race. That means the ultimate launch of this new prototype might be nonetheless fairly far off. Nevertheless it does give us an opportunity to see the bikes subsequent to one another.
So what can we see?
Similar to we noticed within the spy photographs earlier than, the headtube actually seems to be similar to the Lynx Race, with the identical full inside cable routing by the higher headset bearing. And the principle pivot of the swingarm seems to be prefer it’s in precisely the identical place as earlier than, too.
What’s just a little curious right here on the driveside, is that there’s an all-new – and fairly vital – tapering of the seatstay above the Cut up-Pivot concentric pivot on the rear axle. Usually after we see a taper like this, it’s meant to permit the seatstay to flex as a substitute of getting an additional pivot.
However since there’s clearly already a pivot on the axle, the one actual cause you would wish a flex keep can be if the shock was fastened to the seatstays as a substitute of getting one other pivot hidden inside that secret wrap, proper?
What we are able to see.
Right here we get a close-up view of the principle pivot, the swingarm, and the PressFit backside bracket. It’s all fairly just like the present Lynx Race.
However it’s value noting that this BH prototype XC bike has a flatter, boxier form to the swingarm. And there’s a extra dramatic bend to drop the stays. That’s more likely to improve tire clearance to satisfy the brand new 29 x2.4″ normal whereas retaining a brief chainstay size.
The tall & slim boxy form continues again to the Cut up-Pivot, these large triangular brake publish mounts, and a UDH normal. Whereas many bikes have prioritized SRAM and wi-fi shifting, this one nonetheless has clear mechanical shift cable routing.
What we are able to’t fairly see…
This BH prototype remains to be hiding its XC secrets and techniques contained in the neoprene wrap. However a better look reveals some attention-grabbing shaping!
Simply in entrance of the seattube, the toptube flares out fairly a bit to the edges. That appears lots just like the shaping of the entrance shock mount on the present Lynx Race, which might recommend a reverse shock orientation?
There’s additionally a transparent inward curve of the seatstays in from of the seattube. My guess is it is a one-piece seatstay meeting, simply with the bridge now in entrance of the seattube the place it meets the shock. And perhaps a tiny rocker hyperlink in there too?
Different BH prototype XC bike construct particulars
An in depth look BH Coloma’s Jofre Cullel Estape cockpit does clear up a little bit of the compatibility of the brand new bike. Positive every thing is routed internally. Nevertheless it’s additionally key to see simply many cables are going into the body. There’s 2 mechanical cable from the left hand – a distant lockout for the hidden rear shock, plus the cable for the mechanical BikeYoke Divine SL dropper publish. Then on the suitable hand 2 extra – the mechanical shift wire for the XTR rear derailleur, and the hydraulic hose for the rear brake.
Extra XC World Cup race testing
That’s all we learn about this prototype of BH’s next-gen carbon XC race bike. The query stays whether or not there’s a typical shock and linkage hidden inside that little neoprene sock. And if it should ship 100mm, or roughly journey?
However seeing simply behind the BH rider, how tiny the linkage and Öhlins XC shock (hmm… with digital controls!) on the BMC Fourstroke is, BH might most likely match all of it in there with a cleanly built-in design.
