Prototype BOS Air Shock - Sea Otter 2014

Ask a rider who has been around the block what sort of suspension he'd like to have on his bike if given the choice of anything and he's likely to say that BOS would top his list, especially if said rider is thinking of his downhill bike. The renowned suspension company has also made inroads over the last few years in the mid-travel market, with their air sprung forks and shocks being known for their incredibly long service intervals and impressive performance, and it looks like they are looking to infiltrate the short travel market as well. BOS' Olivier Bossard chose Sea Otter to show Pinkbike his latest creation: a shock designed specifically for cross-country bikes like the 95mm travel Rocky Mountain Element that it's pictured mounted to below.


The yet to be named shock is still in the prototype stage, but it's clear to see that it looks nothing like a standard inline unit that you'd usually see on a cross-country bike, with a stubby reservoir that stands off vertically from the main body. Much like with a standard piggyback design, the layout means that the shock can use more damping oil than if it was truly an inline design, and Bossard explained to us that the added oil volume means more consistent damping through improved heat management. This is a well known truth in the suspension world, but he was also quick to point out that the shock pictured here weighs just 186 grams. That's an impressive figure when you factor in the extra oil volume and material associated with the design. The shock's smaller than average shaft diameter certainly helps when talking about grams, but Bossard explained that the reason for the relatively small shaft size is to actually decrease the swept area of the seals, which then greatly reduces friction.

Damper adjustments include a low-speed rebound dial and a three position lever that allows the rider to pick from three different levels of compression damping. Of course, those adjustments are similar to what you'll find on much of the competition, but, given BOS' history of providing impressive damper performance with minimal dials and gimmicks, it's fair to say that this tiny shock could punch well above its weight when on the trail. We're looking to get a test shock as soon as it becomes available, as well as a matching BOS Dizzy fork, and you can expect to read about its performance here on Pinkbike.



www.bosmtb.com

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