We’ve seen it hidden below cowl since spring, now the next-gen BH Lynx SLS cross-country racing mountain bike is right here! And whereas it appeared like this was going to be one other softail at first glace, BH managed to tuck in one of many smallest, sleekest linkage-drive single-pivot suspension designs we’ve ever laid eyes on…
2025 BH Lynx SLS light-weight 80mm XC race mountain bike
BH describes their new Lynx SLS because the “effectivity of a hardtail with the management of a full-suspension” mountain bike. We acquired an early sneak peek of the brand new bike being raced by the BH Coloma Staff even earlier than the season’s large racing started again in March. Then, I snuck in for an excellent nearer detailed have a look at the only pivot suspension design on the Nové Město XCO World Cup in Could.
It was onerous to see lined up, however I assumed I might make out seatstays that joined again collectively in entrance of the seattube and a brief rocker hyperlink.
And that seems to be what is basically occurring right here…
What’s new?
BH says the Lynx SLS is form of an all-new class for them now. After years of XC bikes diverging into trail-capable hardtails and mid-travel XCO race bikes, now they return to a short-travel full-suspension XC bike. What that finally means then is mild total fraemset weight with 80mm of rear wheel journey. However you continue to get all of the high-performance traits of contemporary well-tuned suspension – with full damping & lockout controls – in a motorbike platform mentioned to be as fast and environment friendly pedaling as a hardtail. It sounds a bit just like the form of bike that would attempt to make top-tier hardtails themselves out of date in terms of XC racing.
Weight after all could be the plain disadvantage. However utilizing their high HCIM (Hole Core Inner Molding) and a hi-mod EVO carbon layup, BH claims the load of the carbon aspect of the body at simply 1200g. And the whole Lynx SLS body with all of its {hardware} at simply 1520g. In fact, you continue to have so as to add in about 250g for the Fox Float SL shock too. So finally, you find yourself one full water bottle heavier than a race-ready hardtail, however with improved rear wheel grip, management, and rider consolation.
Tech-wise, the BH Lynx SLS is much like the opposite lynxes within the line-up. It’s nonetheless a excessive single-pivot suspension design with a break up pivot concentric across the rear axle, and a brief rocker hyperlink driving the rear shock. All with full sealed bearings on the pivots. That ought to present the same mixture of pedaling effectivity and plushness, even whether it is simply 80mm of rear wheel journey.
Tech particulars & XCO racing geometry
The brand new BH Lynx SLS splits the distinction geometry-wise between the Spanish biike maker’s XC Final hardtails & Lynx Race full-suspension bikes. The important thing level being tremendous brief 426mm chainstays paired to lengthy body Attain figures, plus a fairly slack 67° headtube and steep 76° seat angles. It then pairs the brief 80mm rear journey with 110mm forks for pleased medium technical suspension capabilities, too.
- semi-integrated customary rear shock place contained in the toptube
- house for two full-size water bottles in the primary triangle, in all body sizes
- max 29 x 2.4″ tire clearance
- ICR inner cable routing via the 1.5″ headset
- Acros Blocklock over-rotation cease headset
- mechanical and digital derailleur compatibility
- UDH with T-type Transmission derailleur compatibility
- compatibility with BH’s built-in FIT mini-tool contained in the fork steerer
2025 BH Lynx SLS – Pricing, choices & availability
4 full MY25 BH Lynx SLS full-suspension XC race bikes can be found, in 4 inventory sizes (S-XL) . All share the identical top-tier carbon frameset and Fox Float SL shock with distant lockout, and patrons decide from uncovered carbon with crimson, white, or blue decals. Pricing begins at 6300€ with a Shimano XT mechanical grouspet, with SRAM GX AXS for 7400€ & 10k€ XX SL AXS builds additionally on supply, additionally with Fox Manufacturing facility forks.
They usually high out with this tremendous premium World Cup race-ready SRAM construct at 12,000€. A BH Lynx SLS 9.9 constructed up with a whole SRAM XX SL AXS groupset together with an influence meter crankset and RockShox Flight Attendant suspension, because of the usual shock clearance tucked up contained in the rear finish of the Lynx SLS’s carbon toptube.
