First Look: BH Bikes Lynx 6 and 4.8
First Look:
BH Bikes Lynx 6 and 4.8
BH Bikes Lynx 6 and 4.8
For the majority of North American mountain bikers, BH probably isn't a familiar brand, despite the fact that the company has been in business for over 100 years. The brand, based in the Basque region of Spain, was founded by three brothers (hence the name BH – it stands for Beistegui Hermanos). Since their inception they've had success at the highest levels of road racing, with six Tour de France victories coming aboard the company's bikes. They offer a full mountain bike lineup as well, with many of the models utilizing Dave Weagle's Split Pivot design. North American distribution is in the works, so we traveled to the rolling hills of Igualada, Spain, to check out BH's two new offerings – the Lynx 4.8, a carbon fiber 29er, and the Lynx 6.5, a 27.5” wheeled aluminum framed all-mountain rig.
Lynx 4.8
| Lynx 4.8 Details • 120mm travel • 29" wheels • Weight (claimed): 23.4 lbs • Price: $2899 carbon frame w/rear shock, $7799 XT/XTR parts kit | • 142x12mm thru-axle • Full carbon frame, aluminum rocker link • Internal cable routing |
Lynx 6
| Lynx 6 Details • 145mm travel • 27.5" wheels • Weight (claimed): 29.1 lbs • Price: $3499 with XT/Deore parts kit | • 142x12mm thru-axle • Dropper post cable routing • ISCG 05 mounts • Available: Early October |
Split Pivot Suspension
Both of the bikes share the same suspension configuration, although they have different amounts of travel. This simple, yet impressively effective suspension design has the rear shock attached to the chainstay, creating a floating shock mount, and then passes through an opening in the seat tube area before reaching the short upper link. At the rear of the chainstay is the Split Pivot itself, a concentric axle pivot designed to separate braking forces from acceleration forces.
The Lynx 4.8 was a very intuitive bike to ride, taking only a few minutes to get comfortable enough with the handling to charge into rocky sections of trail at full speed.
Ride Impressions:
 | Our time aboard the two bikes was brief, but we were able give each one a few shakedown laps on a rocky downhill trail with plenty of twists, turns and features to pop off of. The suspension was sensitive to every nuance of the trail, predictably absorbing harsh hits and square edge bumps while still providing a good solid pedaling platform. Even on the roughest terrain, standing up and pedaling hard drove the bike forward without undue suspension movement. The Lynx 4.8 was particularly impressive - it rolled through the rough stuff easily, but was also quick to get airborne, with a ride feel that made it easy to forget we were rolling on big wheels. A long term review is in the works - we'll report back on how the Lynx 4.8 handles the steep rocks and roots on our local trails. It's worth noting that there may be a different component spec on the North American version of these bikes, as European riders have different tastes and riding styles than their counterparts across the ocean. We'd love to see the bikes arrive on North American soil with wide bars, a single or double front chainring setup and as few suspension remote controls as possible, but even if the spec doesn't change the bikes are still quite capable in their current configurations. - Mike Kazimer |
www.bhbikes.com
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Member since Feb 1, 2009
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At least if they are hoping to sell bikes in Scandinavia translate.google.com/#no/en/BH
So bra ain't that bad..
www.pinkbike.com/photo/3344425
I've paid for a custom tune on the shock and its a lot firmer now but still not significantly noticeable between all the modes. My 2014 Trek Fuel Ex8 had similar geometry but felt a whole lot different. Has anyone else noticed something like this?
1. Ibis - No in-frame bottle cage. Petty? Maybe, but I want my bike to be all day-epic-ride capable. In my case, especially needed in the deserts of SoCal. I prefer both inner and outer cages. I also carry extra water in my pack. No such thing as too much.
2. Pivot Mach 5.7 - Fun bike, but too cross country oriented design. Need something between that and the Firebird.
3. Turner - Needs more travel. Updated aesthetics would be nice. Still might get one though (26" 5.Spot). I would adjust HT angle.
All need to update their geometry. Low, slack and long front center. I would consider 650B, since we are being force fed, if your DW Link could retain a short chainstay length.
Please, I beg you. Use your influence. Your genius is being squandered.
Or zip tie a bottle cage to the ibis cause that would be the other best option.
Obviously companies approach Dave for his patents. How do you know he hasn't been approached for his DW-Link patent by others, including brands that use his split pivot design? As it stands, DW-Link has been and is only licensed to U.S. based companies. A pattern, me thinks. I'm asking Dave to use his influence. That would include influence with current DW-Link brands, of coarse.
Your comment is appreciated, regardless. I think a conversation is in order. We need moar DW!
The Ibis has an outer cage mount, but I don't like the idea of ingesting crap (literally) kicked up by the front tire. The outer mount is good only for a protected auxiliary bottle, in my opinion.
Having owned an Iron Horse, I'm hooked on DW-Link. Can't get enough. Even with an overweight, outdated geometry bike. Just hoping for more options for dinars. With all the new tech by non-DW-Link brands, I might just reassess my priorities.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Ok, too much coffee. I need to go ride.
Dave Turner is discontinuing it.
The bottle cage on the Ibis is huge for me, plus their "650b" mojo hd is a joke.
Add to that that Chis C from Pivot comes across as a tool. I would rather spend my money elsewhere.
Dave Turner seems like a cool guy. I emailed Turner bikes a question and got a crappy answer from the sales guy, so i called him out on it. Dave called me personally and apologized. Shot the shit with me about bikes for 45 minutes on the phone. That definitely made an impression. Please make a carbon Burner. The AL one is just too heavy for the money.
I don't necessarily need a 650b and don't want one if the chainstays are over 430mm (17"). With the new Flux at 120mm/650b and the Burner at 140mm/650b, it would make sense to offer the 5.Spot at 150-160mm with 26" wheels. Then he wouldn't have to worry about the future RFX having to be so versatile. Build that as simpler, burly park bike like most people seem to ask for.
angles in photography...
Was wondering if he was designing it for them - what would have a Split-Pivot Sunday look like?
Here ya go... 1890 patented with a 4-bar split pivot essentially.
patentpending.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/1890_front_and_rear_suspension_bicycle.jpg
Thanx for the heads-up regarding the situation for the suspensions.
@6:00
www.vitalmtb.com/videos/features/17-Questions-Dave-Weagle,20662/sspomer,2
The 6.0 fram looks awesome, the build looks like shit and the 4.8 looks horrendous to my eyes. With the right build: Funn Funduro Stem or a Spank Spike, 780mm bars, Monarch+ and XF Vengance up front -just say NO to CTD and 2013+ Fox garbage-, single ring/full guide and SixC cranks, better rims and a better color fr the frame... maybe white there the matte carbon is and the Matte finish whee the red is with some ano-flouro-green components... That'd looks sick.
BH and SR Suntour products = Stylish crap