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BMC Speedfox mountain bike syncs dropper & shock for the perfect trail setup

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June has been the month for new BMC bikes – from the new road Teammachine, to an e-trail bike, to the XM marathon racing Agonist. Now there is one more, a true mountain biker’s full-suspension ride – the overhauled Speedfox trail bike. At first glance it looks very similar to BMC’s existing trail bike, with 29er travel dialed back a bit, plus a new size-specific 27.5″ option, it’s a more versatile bike. But really it’s the new Trailsync connection between BMC’s own stealthily integrated dropper seatpost and the bike’s rear shock that stands out on the 120mm travel 29″/ 130mm 27.5″ short-link bike. One remote means you are always in the right suspension mode depending on whether you put the saddle up or down – so one less thing to worry about. Check the full details on the wide ranging Speedfox platform in either carbon or aluminum for all budgets…

 

The first thing that popped out to us on the new Speedfox is that clean dropper post setup. Beyond just neatly integrating a stealth dropper, BMC has their own post that almost disappears into the new carbon frame, with height adjustment taken care of by way of a mast topper like on an integrated seat post bike. While the Agonist XC race bike included dropper compatibility only with 1x setups, the new Speedfox puts dropper posts front-and-center for true trail rideability.

The key tech in the bike is the one remote activation of the dropper that BMC calls Trailsync. A single cable runs from the joystick-style remote (mounted in place of a front shifter) internally back to the neatly integrated dropper seatpost. Then a second cable runs from the dropper inside to the upside down mounted shock’s remote lockout. Like the Agonist, the Speedfox includes a hidden remote routing port between the lower shock mounts in the downtube to discretely run the compression damping controls. BMC’s own Trailsync post also gets size-specific drop – with the S getting 80mm, the M getting  100, and both L & XL getting 120mm.

Flip the lever and you both drop the post and fully open up the rear shock. Another flip of the lever and the saddle comes back up and the shock moves into a platform mode (not fully locked out.)

The Speedfox uses BMC’s APS (advanced pivot system) short-link four-bar suspension design with a new trail friendly tune developed for a plush & responsive ride. It gets fully internal housing from tip to tail on the top carbon bike with internal carbon guide tubes to simplify setup and eliminate rattling cables. The top bike also gets an integrated downtube protector, chainstay guard, anti-chain suck plate in the carbon chainstay version, and the same mud flap to protect the lower link that BMC debuted on the XC Agonist. BMC claims 58mm/2.3 tire clearance with 6mm of space around the tire, but that’s pretty conservative since they actually spec 2.35″ tires on the complete builds on 30mm internal rims.

Like all of BMC’s new mountain bikes, the updated Speedfox gets a Boost 12mm thru-axle. The frame gets a direct mount rear derailleur hanger option for Shimano setups, although many of the complete bikes actually use SRAM Eagle 1×12 or 1×11 drivetrains. With that Shimano compatibility also comes the option to mount a sideswing or Di2 front derailleur, with the same removable direct mount & access port on the seattube that we saw on the Agonist, with the alloy bike getting a simple bolt onto the rear of the seattube. That also means you can run a high mount chain guide if you want, and the Speedfox already includes a anti-chain drop plate just above the PF92 bottom bracket.

The Speedfox comes in four sizes, with the small & medium using the smaller 27.5″ wheels and pushing travel up to 130mm to match the same ride feel and trail capability of the big wheeled version. If you ride a medium you can also opt for the 120mm 29er with a bit more upright fit, then the large & extra-large are 29er-only.

The bike also comes in three different frame versions. The Speedfox 01 pairs a carbon front & rear triangle, the 02 swaps in an aluminum rear end, and the 03 goes totally alloy.

The top spec full carbon bike comes in just one complete build, the Speedfox 01 One. The $7500 bike gets an X01 Eagle build, Guide Ultimate brakes, a Fox DPS + EVOL Float with the Performance Elite coating paired to the BMC Trailsync post, a RockShox Pike RCT3 fork, and DT Swiss XM 1501 30 Spline One alloy wheels.

The all carbon Speedfox 01 is also available as a $4300 frame set that includes frame, the Fox shock & the Trailsync dropper post. A medium full carbon frame with shock is said to weigh in at 2330g.

The next level Speedfox 02 sticks with a carbon front triangle out of the same mold, although it drops down a level in carbon fiber spec, and is mated to a triple butted aluminum rear triangle. That claims to add just 350g to the frame weight. You get the same internal routing in the front triangle, with cables going external along the alloy chainstays. Three complete bikes are available all with Trailsync, but no separate frameset.

The $6500 Speedfox 02 One still gets a X01 Eagle build, with XT brakes, the same Performance Elite spec Fox Float, a Pike RC fork, and DT XM1700 30 wheels. The $5200 Speedfox 02 Two gets a mixed Shimano XT/SLX 1×11 build keeping the same shock, fork & wheels. The $4300 Speedfox 02 Three pulls back to a Shimano SLX kit and a Revelation RC fork, but the same shock & wheels making it the lowest cost of entry to the Trailsync setup.

The Speedfox 03 drops the carbon front triangle to bring costs down, but unfortunately loses both the neatly integrated dropper post and the Trailsync connection between dropper & rear shock. So no Trailsync link, but there is still stealth dropper seatpost compatibility and 2 of 3 builds get spec’ed with a dropper. The triple butted alloy front & rear keeps internal routing in the front triangle, and goes external out back, with a claimed frame+shock weight of 3280g.

The $3300 Speedfox 03 One gets a mixed Shimano 1×11 build primarily with SLX. It gets a standalone Fox Float shock in Perfromance level spec and Revelation RC fork, plus RaceFace’s new Aeffect dropper post. The $2700 Speedfox 03 Two gets another SRAM 1x by way of the budget NX group, paired with the same Float shock, a Recon RL fork, and the Aeffect dropper. The lowest spec $2200 Speedfox 03 Three loses the dropper post altogether and is the only complete bike to come with a front derailleur, opting for a 2×10 Shimano Deore setup. Its gets the Performance level Float shock and a new Judy fork.

all courtesy BMC, photo by Jeremie Reuiller

BMC says that as mountain bikes have become more specialized, it has actually freed them to develop more unique tech to tailor to one riding style. But with Trailsync they have something they call a ‘quiver killer’ that should help get the most out of your all-day trail bike from extended climbs and flowy singletrack to proper technical descending. No more thinking about suspension settings, or forgetting the lockout. Just hop on the saddle and ride.

BMC-Switzerland.com

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Macintosh
Macintosh
7 years ago

It’s coming. I’ve said for a while now. Fox needs an electronic dropper option to combine with their suspension. position 1: suspension fully open, dropper down. Position 2: dropper up, fork open, shock in platform. position 3: dropper up, fork and shock totally locked. I can’t wait.

Antoine
Antoine
7 years ago
Reply to  Macintosh

EI shock does the shock work for you, much better.

Unchain_my_shock
Unchain_my_shock
7 years ago

Predetermined suspension settings based on saddle height?

No thanks!

Stu
Stu
7 years ago

Good looking frame.

Chader
Chader
7 years ago

I’d be interested to see how the cabling on the post and shock is done. I wonder if this type of setup will be the same “fun” as some tri and aero bikes for mechanics?

Interesting innovation though.

Rowan
Rowan
7 years ago

Good idea, but it’s ruined by not having nearly enough dropper travel.

Birdman
Birdman
7 years ago

“Perfect” is a strong word…

Zatch
Zatch
7 years ago

Is the Frame all or nothing? Can you oppt out of the BMC dropper and remote shock?

Andrew
Andrew
7 years ago

Good on them for implementing this, but not sure it would be useful for me…. I’d drop the post before bunnyhopping large obstacles, and I’m not sure I’d want to fully open the suspension before that…

Still I suppose I’m in the minority here so whatever. Good stuff.

i
i
7 years ago
Reply to  Andrew

I don’t think you’re in the minority, I think BMC don’t really understand droppers or suspension, at least in anything other than XC racing. Not just based on this, but their history of making what they call trail or enduro bikes, what I’d call longer travel XC bikes.

Mattie Davitt
7 years ago
Reply to  i

FWIW, the Trailfox the launched 4 years ago was pretty progressive, especially for the time. Not many companies had a 150 travel 29er with slack HTAs and short stays in that time period. Now that other companies are entering this segment, they retreat. It’s odd.

Flatbiller
Flatbiller
7 years ago

Remember when you just hopped on your bike and went out for a ride?

The pre-ride bike ride checklist now makes airline pilots look lazy.

Kraf
Kraf
7 years ago

I feel like this is a step backward from 2017 models which I am considering purchasing. 2017 130mm front/rear travel, Fox 34. Bump up the front to 140mm travel, slackens the HA to 68 degree on 29er wheels with 30id rims and you have a great aggressive trail / all mountain bike. 29er version here is basically an xc bike. Adding boost in 2018 would have been better utilized sticking with 29 wheels and allowing for larger tires up to perhaps 2.5 given the trail leanings of this frame overall.

Not interested in syncing suspension with dropper post, not interested in cable actuated forks/shocks at all for that matter. Depending on the frame, a subtle damping increase in trail mode is good to ride on the up and downs. In that case my dropper height is all over the place, but suspension setting stay the same.

Mattie Davitt
7 years ago
Reply to  Kraf

Second this. I work at a BMC shop and am honestly kind of disappointed with the MY18 stuff. They now have a 100-110-120 29ers stacked up on top of each other. I have a 15 SF02, that was terribly spec’d on launch year (130 Fox 32, 2x setups, crummy shock). I immediately rebuilt it with a 140 Pike and CCDBil, 32mm LB carbon wheels, RF Next Sl and XTR 1x. Loved it. I may just size up on a 17 and building it again similarly. With a Boost Pike I’ll probably stick a 2.6 in the front, and whatever will clear the back.

Theo Nichols
7 years ago
Reply to  Kraf

Been thinking about swapping the air shaft assembly(Fox Float 32) on my ’16 Speedfox from 130mm to 140mm. Will this make a noticeable difference to the feel of the bike?

Giz
Giz
7 years ago

I stopped reading at $4300 for frame/shock/dropper.

ronshev
ronshev
7 years ago

I’d be done with this TrailSync stuff on the Agonist

Antoine
Antoine
7 years ago

That’s dumb. Anyone who regularly ride a FS MTB with a dropper knows saddle height and shock position are not lever actuated at the same moment in general. BMC don’t listen to its pro-rider and BMC engineer don’t look like they know a lot about mtb.
If one want one less lever the good solution is Lapierre EI Shock, shock is always corectly tuned for the ridden path. Saddle stay manual.
On top of that the package looks like cheap ebay dropper.

ReTo
ReTo
7 years ago

Before buying make sure BMC has resolved its major construction issues with the 2017 Speedfox 01: https://youtu.be/ubGM9Pcs3Vg

Scott
Scott
7 years ago
Reply to  ReTo

Tighten your crankset. I’ve ridden my SF01 several hundred miles and have never had that issue.

jim
jim
7 years ago

I’ve a remote on my shock and fork and my saddle position does not always reflect my shock/fork setting.. in fact it probably only does so 30% of the time?

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
7 years ago

I’ve ridden a bike with this post in Taiwan last year. It’s the best dropper post on the market by a long haul. BMC bought the design and slightly modified it by adding the seat height adjustment to the top. It’s simply amazing and how smooth and awesome it feels. Again, there is currently nothing on the market that works this exceptional. BMC scored by getting this design. Also I heard the BMC Speedfox is a great riding bike. Personally have never ridden one but hear it’s real balanced uphill and down. Looks like a home run.

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
7 years ago
dustytires
7 years ago

Since when is someone that rides a short travel full suspension MOUNTAIN bike less of a ‘mountain biker’ than someone that rides the Speedfox with a massive 120mm of travel, or since they use a dropper post to adjust their rear shock, they MUST hard core.

Hurricane
7 years ago

Get this bike with Shimano SycroShift and the bike virtually rides itself….wait, I don’t want a bike that rides itself. I don’t like being the doubter, but can’t we just have bikes and components where we have to think and use the bike/ components when we need them?
I know this is just one bike, but it seems that we are getting into a userless society and now it’s coming to bikes, what’s next, bikes that pedal themselves?… I guess they are already here, ebikes.

Tom
Tom
7 years ago

You gotta remember that BMC’s main market is NOT North America, and I think their designs reflect European preferences.

I’m no “Everything in Europe is Better” kind of guy, but I also believe that we have, in general, chased the longer, lower, slacker trend a bit past its ideal point.

All that said, I’d never buy a bike that doesn’t allow for the dropper to be replaced by a normal seatpost. Shit happens, and rides MUST still be taken while awaiting dropper post repair!

Jan
Jan
7 years ago
Reply to  Tom

This concept is NOT particularly European I guess Bmc are the first and last to ever make this. I guess they are inspired by the 1x clean cockpit that Sram made popular.
Another thing I wonder even more is why they made the chain stay length 1 cm longer than on the previous Speedfox ?
I guess the hidden pivot won over better handling.
The statement they are sending are “our buyers aren’t mentally fit to handle more than one lever on each side” or “our suspension design does not work without adjusting the dampen when putting the pedal down”
Written by mentally fit grumpy old man with 2×11. Lockout lever on the left and dropper lever on the right side.

Michael
Michael
7 years ago

I’d say it’s a bit of an exaggeration to say these bikes are riding themselves… I fully agree it is dumbing down the usage of certain aspects of riding but that stuff is totally optional. The seatpost and rear shock don’t have to be linked just like you’re not required to use syncro shifting with di2, not that it’s even a thing with 1x drivetrains. I also don’t think in any way they are saying their customer base is too dumb to have more levers and switches on their bars, they’re just trying to streamline the multiple aspects of the ride to allow the rider to think more about the terrain they are riding and less about making sure they clicked the right button to change their suspension setting when they’re just about to roll a big drop or something.

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