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BOS Teases New Obsys Inverted DH Fork - Video

Aug 2, 2017 at 12:23
by Pinkbike Staff  
We last heard from BOS Suspension at this year's Sea Otter Classic, where they ended a period of radio silence by debuting the new Deville 35, their latest 160mm all-mountain fork. Things have been fairly quiet since then, but it looks like more new products are on the way, more specifically, an inverted DH fork. Dubbed the Obsys, the fork is scheduled to make its debut at Eurobike, which takes place at the end of August. We'll report back once we have more details, but for now, this teaser video and images from BOS's Facebook page will have to suffice.

BOS Obsys. Photo BOS
Two air valves suggest that it's air sprung, possibly with independently adjustable negative and positive chambers.
BOS Obsys. Photo BOS
With 29ers making their way into the DH scene, an inverted fork makes it easier to have the same fork work for multiple wheel sizes - simply reduce the travel a bit and 'presto,' it's big wheel ready.


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144 Comments
  • 159 1
 wife checks bank account and think she got something really nice for her birthday. I warned her on our first date this stuff happens.....
  • 89 12
 With Bos's reputation for customer service, forget it.
  • 26 36
flag titaniumtit (Aug 2, 2017 at 12:54) (Below Threshold)
 Is that speaking from experience as riding their forks?

All I am aware of is they beat all others on the market hands down for performance.
  • 58 4
 @titaniumtit: performance doesn't mean much if you can't get them serviced or repaired.
  • 16 6
 @titaniumtit: I can say that I had issues with mine's steerer tube on my Capra and they(YT) have replaced it within 2 weeks, so I can say no bad words for support.
  • 59 4
 I think you're being a bit harsh. I mean, the complete lack of service assistance or parts has spawned a lot of highly commendable backyard experimentation and engineering on BOS forks. While some would argue that it'd be more effective for BOS to just make oil, o-rings, and replacement parts readily available, think of all the experiences and life lessons that desperate mechanics would miss out on!
  • 12 2
 @titaniumtit: right thats why polygon dropped them for suntour lol
  • 26 1
 @mhoshal: a BOS suspended car just won its second rally of the season in WRC. Nonetheless than the Gazoo Toyota team winning at home in Finland. The rally where suspension counts a lot!

BOS could do so much better. They should hire a german guy or two, with the task of working hard on quality control. Then they should give the PR jobs to Brits, Americans, Ozzies or Kiwis. The french suck so much at promoting their own products, especially when they are good!
  • 16 5
 @urbanwax: buts thats yt supporting u not bos...bos are a f*cking joke when it comes to customer support
  • 11 2
 @urbanwax: You're confusing YT and BOS.
BOS appears to not only have any spares available, they're difficult to contact.
  • 23 6
 well they had some issues in the past, but mine got serviced in less than one week and I could do the standard service by myself ... as their forks are well made and easy to disessamble, clean and service... it is a fork and not a rocket Wink

But I see your point - as some distributors for BOS didn't stock spares in the past.

I had a couple of Bos forks by now and only one needed to see a proper service by BOS - the rest was more like the set and forget kind of forks which had always been flavless and high on performance...

But HATERS will HATE and riders will ride Wink
  • 4 1
 @titaniumtit: If they can't or won't support it, whats the point when it inevitably needs servicing? Cane Creeks poor support in BC mean that I won't buy another of their products as I have to have it sent away rather than taken to the local sus dealer.
  • 10 3
 @Euskafreez: well rally cars aren't mountain bikes are they lol your comparing apples to oranges
  • 7 0
 @crag222: I've had good experiences with their UK customer support - try jungle products or Stif cycles. The actual BOS website is terrible, forks are mint though!
  • 6 0
 As long as Jungle are doing the servicing and support for BOS things are ok, the moment the two split we're all buggered again.
  • 13 1
 @titaniumtit: Yes, there customer service is total shite. A company that was dropped by YT as they had so many returned forks for creaky CSU's and even YT couldn't get answers from them. YT ended up footing the cost and sending out Lyriks as a replacement.

BOS apparently said that a creaky CSU (unbonding steerer) on a fork that is less than a year old is not covered by warranty!!!

Plus having two bike with BOS suspension and having to pay £120 each time to get them serviced is a total piss take.

BOS stuff does feel amazing but there's no chance I would buy it again.
  • 4 3
 Qpb is an authorized service shop for them now, so it doesn't really get much better than that. That means essentially every lbs can take care of them now.
  • 5 2
 Guys at MadElkCycles get service done in no time and always stock spare parts. Use them to service my BOS susp for years and never had a problem. Not only BOS outperforms the competition it just plain works so I dont have to service it every "15min" Wink

Speaking of reputation. When was the last time You've send Your forks for a service straight to the manufacture ?
  • 3 1
 I've ridden BOS forks and shocks, both coil & air on all my bikes since 2009. None have ever let me down and spares are readily available.
  • 9 1
 Some of you have NO idea just how bad their service is. Instead of spending more money on product development. How's about they spend that money into customer development, relations, customer service, and customer retention. Let's just say all 3 of my bikes were at one point BOS loaded- got such bad treatment- I replaced it all. No service = no loyal customers.
  • 1 0
 @titaniumtit: really ?
  • 1 0
 @joedaho: I had my Inline back in 5 days from suspension works.
  • 6 2
 Think about this for a second: BOS makes their living off of moto and car racing. MTB is just a niche BOS designs products for with design references from other BOS suspension technologies from moto and car racing. Like Hayes brakes.

Most all of the manufacturing of BOS mtb fork parts are done on contract as BOS does not have its own high production machine shop. Summer is the top season for moto and car racing and BOS does not have a second/third CS department specifically for MTB, while being questioned by every race mech that has BOS products.

...

The one thing that keeps me from buying any companies suspension products; no company licensed representative-technician in my country. --My FOX, RS, Manitou and SunTour forks all have a licensed tech 10 minutes to 38 minutes away from my home.
  • 3 0
 @savmeister:

Wowsers!!

That escalated quickly.
  • 2 1
 @mhoshal: according to BOS, their development team learns from every discipline the company is making or has made suspension for. BOS suspensions were dominating WRC and Dakar in the mid 2000s because of what they have found while working with Nico Vouilloz.

And then again, when BOS came back to mtb in the late 2000s early 2010s, their forks and shocks benefited from their work on rally cars.
  • 5 0
 @alexisfire: Not anymore. I tried to get a new Deville this summer. LBS called QBP, they are done with BOS. They've been through three US distributors in 4 years, and I've dealt with all of them. That said, the forks are so good that I'd probably roll the dice again!
  • 5 4
 @titaniumtit: Having owned the following: Boxxer Team & World Cup, Fox 40 Float and Bos Idylle RaRe 37 FCV, and dealt on the CS side of warranties, I can confirm BOS is superior in neither performance nor service. I'm kind of shocked they're still making products.
  • 6 1
 I am riding Bos for 4 years now ... fork only 1 time service as it has a 2 year service period ( say that about fox with their few hour riding/service interval and rockshocks ) and have warrantee claim 2 times with Kirk which 1 outside warrantee period of 2 years. No problem at all... they solved it and gave even a little service for free.
Just e-mail them at customerservice@bosmtb.com and they answer the same day, and in perfect English. Service in usa should be faster in your own country as for transport. I really don't understand all the hassle you talk about. The way you treat people you get back I guess... that goes for service too...
  • 1 0
 BOS mtb website?
  • 1 0
 @joedaho: Suspension Werx services CC in North Van. Give them a call their the official Fox, Push and now do all ATV, Moto forks as well.
  • 1 0
 @mhoshal: But I like both........
  • 2 1
 @Euskafreez: it is a bit easy to feed one's prejudices and to make generalities out of few exemples, even if there's obviously a part of truth, but a good sense of relativity might be a very good friend sometimes.
But why do you live in NZ completely opposite side of France?!!! :-)
Just kidding...
Nevertheless, it's true that frenchies are not the best at promoting their talents, I can't deny: I'm french (and you too probably EuskaMan Smile But it's said that "Frenchies' worst enemies are the French themselves", and it's so f*****g true!!! See...
Also I wonder: if Kiwis had something talented to sell or promote, we would have heard of that for long, no?
  • 1 0
 The problem with Bos in Uk is not helped by Jungle Products!!!!!
  • 1 0
 @Franzzz: But it's said that "Frenchies' worst enemies are the French themselves", and it's so f*****g true!!!

Tu rigoles mec, c'est les anglais. Themselves second :-)

As for decent NZ gear, Zerode has me salivating right now.
  • 1 0
 @XCMark: MTB dont have much wheight in Bos business? Leave MTB ,go to produce mattress springs and dont cheat and mislead costumers .Play with your own money and not our money .Despise money ? Go to casinos ,horse racing bets ,hustlers etc
  • 18 1
 How about fixing your website. Also how about customer service in the US that doesn't involve asking my bike shop to ask QBP questions? How come my 2016 Idylle that came on my Maiden has a 330mm spring and preload assembly when that was supposed to stop being used in 2012? Which by the way makes ordering a different spring size impossible.
  • 1 5
flag Blablablup123 FL (Aug 3, 2017 at 2:50) (Below Threshold)
 www.bos-suspension.com
  • 17 2
 Now thats one sweet looking fork!!!
  • 11 1
 Videographer's a competent visual filmmaker. I just wish more shots had been specifically of the fork reacting at speed over rock gardens / roots in slow-mo (vs the whole bike / dude's Troy Lee Designs™ helmet), and a couple big hits of course.
  • 5 0
 the video is intentionally vague. I don't think they want to give away too much yet.
  • 10 0
 I have contacted Bos several times in the past 2/3 years to buy parts and to clear some issues and they replied almost promptly, so i dont know what are those problems with service you are talkin about. Their products are so good by the way Smile
  • 3 0
 Exactly this... same experience ...

Customerservice@bosmtb.com simple as that...reply within 1 day..
  • 2 0
 There seem to be a huge difference between Europe and US service by BOS
  • 1 0
 Obrigado para o teu testemunho... ;-)
  • 11 0
 Looks cool but I'm in England. How can you run a Mudhugger on it?
  • 1 0
 you run it on the crown.
  • 8 1
 BOS is doing some cool suspension work for motos and autos as well? Cool.

Too bad I had to find out that information from such a crap website as Facebook is. When is that website going to die?
  • 3 0
 It'll be a while. www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-results-idUSKBN1AB2S8
  • 7 0
 This is about as much of a surprise as finding out that all of a sudden they have a website again...
  • 5 1
 Maybe they reply to emails now as well? Hell probably froze over.
  • 7 1
 I'm Shivering with excitement.
  • 5 2
 My bushings are bound with anticipation.
  • 3 0
 @slumgullion: Well you know, it is possible to make a stiff but light inverted fork. Have a look at another french suspension wizard : www.facebook.com/CrConception

That lad designs and makes them at home. And he uses some kind of guide on the stanchions. Not very popular here is the Lefty. Upside down fork with more stiffness than a pornstar's dong!
  • 1 0
 On a related note, the ad at the top of pinkbike is for "40%-60% off all Marchozzi", but it doesn't link anywhere. I thought Marz was dead.
  • 1 1
 @hamncheez: fun fact, and I just found this out looking at some unbelievably priced coil shocks from marz, Fox owns them now. They released the 2015 product line again in 2016 and currently in2017, and next year they will release new product. Fox is letting someone from Marz run product development and they will still be unique from Fox products. At least that was all the plan last I heard
  • 1 0
 @Euskafreez: crconception is some impressive stuff, how much are they? can't find any price on their site
  • 2 0
 Wait until you reach the dorado!
  • 1 0
 @ismasan: I have no idea. Just send the guy a message, it's always a good start.
  • 5 0
 YES. Now we're talking. I'm still hopeful for a reliable single crown inverted fork - one day...
  • 1 0
 doesnt x-fusion make a single crown inverted? like 160mm travel or something
  • 5 0
 X-fusion unicorn revel
  • 7 1
 flex-fusion
  • 2 0
 @cuban-b: Available in the Asian market AFAIK, but nowhere else for some strange reason.
  • 3 0
 Intend!
  • 1 0
 @cuban-b: yeh, the X Fusion Revel. It looked promising but can't find one for sale. @Kiwiplague, sounds plausible- didn't know that.
  • 1 0
 @bascopeach: Yeah what's up with that fork? Any good...
  • 1 0
 @nicolai12: rumor has it they flex alot
  • 1 0
 @cuban-b: That is very common and will be difficult to resolve with chassis, damper and airpspring design. Would be interesting to know the true benefits before folks chase this one too far
  • 1 0
 @Lagr1980:
I got two unicorns then.
www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/trailbike-aufbauthread-spot-mayhem-29.849495
;-)
  • 4 0
 @stuiewarrior:
Which X-Fusion forks are you referring to? The REVEL is extremely stiff, I can tell you first hand.
  • 2 0
 @Sacki: Got a friend on a Revel and can confirm this. He's a heavy dude and they're rock solid.

I don't really like how they feel pushing into the travel while stationary, but that could just be his setup? I don't know. I rode on them once and it seemed good on the trail, just prefer the feel of the Mattoc... which is heaps smoother.
  • 2 0
 @Ezkaton: I'll triple confirm this...I've got 2 revels...they're really a very sturdy fork...no flex that I can complain about.
  • 1 0
 @ledude: hmm might have to try out a revel...
  • 1 0
 What are the advantages of running inverted forks ?
  • 2 0
 @Whipperman: constantly lubricated seals, lower unsprung mass, general coolness factor...
Down sides are usually flexy, quite often heavy and expensive.
  • 1 0
 @nicolai12: it won in several tests here in germany and is really light.
  • 1 0
 @Whipperman: also they tend to track the ground better and have more mud clearance. The design is just more simple, as best designs often are. Why are all motorbike forks inverted - ok, weight is less of an issue with motorbikes to counter the flex issue but still...
  • 1 0
 Inverted forks:
Light, stiff, not stupidly expensive - choose two.
  • 1 0
 @bascopeach: Really, where?
  • 3 0
 The return on the king. One fork to rule them all.

I had an obsys on my Sunn Radical + back in the late 90s. Back then it was 5-7 years ahead of everything else. Daymn son! Daddy likes it !!!!
  • 7 0
 Remember Vouilloz's bike back from 1998? The lad was on an Obsys inverted fork Smile .

4.bp.blogspot.com/-w93Q7nrV3do/TjQiucmImkI/AAAAAAAAEuI/MVFcx-Z5bx0/s1600/sunnvouilloz.jpg
  • 3 0
 @Euskafreez: Pretty advanced for the time.
  • 1 0
 @deadbeat: 2.1kg back in 1998 for a 145 or 165mm double crown inverted fork with 4-ways adjustable damper. And they were using a special made front hub to improve stiffness.
  • 4 0
 "Two air valves suggest that it's air sprung, possibly with independently adjustable negative and positive chambers." or maybe a floating piston, like IRT styla...?
  • 1 0
 oddly enough maybe manitou was a bit ahead of the times with inverted forks and dual air springs.
  • 3 0
 Manitou and DVO went the same direction in the past. I wonder if the inverted fork design will truly be the direction dual crown forks will take going forward.
  • 1 1
 @Verbl-Kint doubt it for Fox they tried it a few years ago and didnt like the flex
  • 1 1
 Others are Risse Trixxy, Hanebrink, RST Sigma, Manitou Dorado, Mountain Cycle Suspenders, Marzzochi Shiver, DNM something-or-other, ZZyzzx, Halson Inversion Fork, Maverick DUC 32, Cannondale Moto Pro. I'll take 'Flexy oil-spewing unreliable forks that don't last a season' for a 1000, please Alex.
  • 1 0
 i can't believe that dude isn't running the stanchion guards in the video. Those forks will get thrashed so fast, and then you'll be screwed when you have to contact bos for warranty/repair. The concept seems cool, but imagine how much crap will get into your bushings. you'll have to replace them constantly, and use their $$$ unicorn tears fork oil.

I went through two sets of BOS forks on my capra. shit quality control. they built them too fast, and they all have CSU tolerance issues that ended up making the fork sound like it was going to snap any time you went through a tiny rock garden.

They refused to deal w/ the issue. BOS doesn't care about the MTB industry. It's just a side project for them.

How shitty do you have to be to get an entire company to drop you and have to eat the cost of replacing thousands of forks b/c your product is so shitty.

To be fair, the BOS shock was good, (albeit noisey as hell).

I've since switched to rockshox, and love that my suspension is quiet and lets me hear the trail. climbing for hours on my BOS shock, w/ it squeaking in the platform position was maddening.
  • 5 1
 I'm obsys-essed to see how this will turn out.
  • 2 0
 Crickets..
  • 2 0
 I was running a White Bros inverted fork in the early 2000s... they are sweet for small bump feel but I do prefer the stiffness of a 40... ymmv
  • 1 0
 "an inverted fork makes it easier to have the same fork work for multiple wheel sizes - simple reduce the travel a bit and 'presto,' it's big wheel ready."
That would imply prices will drop across the range. How quaint.
  • 3 0
 does that answer the mystery fork from earlier today?
  • 8 0
 nevermind i am an idiot, the earlier one wasn't inverted
  • 4 0
 @adrennan: Yes it was. The camouflage worked so well that it hid the fact that it was inverted.
  • 2 1
 Different wheel sizes work better with different fork offsets so changing only the travel to accommodate different wheels is not quite proper...
  • 2 11
flag mollow (Aug 2, 2017 at 13:05) (Below Threshold)
 That's why the specified you have to reduce travel dumdum
  • 2 1
 @mollow: Changing travel doesn't affect fork offset.

However, on dual-crown forks adjusting offset isn't too hard, you just swap out the crowns.
  • 3 3
 @hamncheez: Yeah change crowns, the change the shim stacks to make damper for better performance with different sizes, and on and on and on...
  • 1 0
 @b-wicked: Even non-pros change their suspension setup for different tracks or trails; chang for a different wheel size at the same time isn't overbearing. I'm pretty sure even Greg Minaar would be fine using the external adjustments to compensate for any difference a 29er would need over a smaller wheel....
  • 3 0
 Obsys stand for obstacle system
  • 3 0
 A working website would also be great...
  • 3 0
 Isn't BOS an acronym for Bring Own Service?
  • 1 0
 Looks impressive! It'll be sweet seeing this out on the WC circuit.

I wonder if Fox will revisit their inverted fork and bring it back? tup
  • 1 1
 Never again will I buy their products, period. Performance, when working is great but not beyond that of the market leaders. But the reliability issue is, for me, something that is not easy to overlook.
  • 1 0
 Like a KTM motorcycle then lol
  • 1 0
 Invert forks are heavy compared to conventional MTB forks with magnesium lower legs and they are not stiff torsionally especially as a 29er fork. Yikes!
  • 1 0
 i had a set on my sunn duell plus 20 years ago, only had 100mm travel but worked really well. still have the bike and the forks still work great.
  • 3 2
 Why do the fork stanchion guards have holes in them? Kinda defeats the whole purpose right? Quite shocking.
  • 4 1
 So a Marzocchi Shiver?
  • 2 0
 Good luck finding ANY service documentation for it.
  • 1 0
 Loving the resurrection of the old Sunn in house suspension brand (obssys). I'm due Olivier Bossard was behind that. Hmmmm
  • 1 0
 Yes, Olivier Bossard SYStem.
  • 1 0
 @Euskafreez: nope
  • 1 0
 @fracasnoxteam: you're not helping a bit here. It's Olivier Bossard Suspension System or Olivier Bossard System, innit? But hey I'm getting old!
  • 1 0
 @Euskafreez: Obstacle System.
  • 1 0
 @fracasnoxteam: cheers for the update! I have a vague memory of Obstacle system being written somewhere on my fork. But hey what a coincidence ... Obstacle system sounds a bit like Olivier Bossard Wink
  • 1 0
 Why 3D scan the entire bike as part of the fork design process? Genuinely interested.
  • 1 0
 I won't be able to afford theses I'm sure but still. I want these on my bike pronto
  • 3 1
 Looks like a manitou
  • 1 0
 The shot where it is laying on the bench. Looks like a honking big axle.
  • 1 0
 MSRP: $2000 probably. Eek
  • 3 2
 From the comments here, looks like I will never consider a BOS component.
  • 1 0
 I've just acquired a void for my tues, i was wary but we'll have to see how it goes. it saves something stupid like a lb and a half so it seems that if it works as well as is said it may be worth the potential issues. gotta be honest, high end parts often have service draw backs. but what the hell.
  • 1 0
 Im stiff, Im inverted, Im fork
  • 1 0
 Wonder when SRAM is going to upgrade from 35mm stanchions...
  • 1 0
 i will ride any old fork"n thing.
  • 1 0
 The best part is at 0:49 Smile
  • 1 0
 BOS is the boss AND I have had no issues with any service
  • 1 0
 Bos is Boss
  • 1 0
 want, badly
  • 2 3
 Looks like a dorado
  • 1 1
 Looks like a ShivvRado.
  • 3 0
 Sunn's DH bikes were sold with inverted Obsys fork back in 96 or 97.
  • 3 0
 @Euskafreez: Yeah, I remember Nico and Anne Caroline dominating on those back in the day.
Sunn Radical with Obsys forks!
Bos harking back to the old school
  • 2 0
 @JamesR2026: There is no school like the old school. And BOS is the puppet master Smile
  • 3 0
 Olivier Bossard was making Obsys inverted forks for Sunn when Manitou was still running 6' travel X-verts. (pre dorado days)
I have dorados and love them. Really like the sound of these!
  • 1 0
 @JamesR2026: Can't stop thinking about Manitou forks now. The DH forks you had to rebuilt every two or three dh run.
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