Spanish bikemaker BH’s new RS1 looks like a fully-integrated aero road bike, because that’s what it is, actually. But hidden beneath familiar race-oriented aero shaping is a new more relaxed, more upright endurance geometry designed to give the average road rider more comfort, without sacrificing on performance. Using much of the same tech as their top-tier G8 Disc road bike, the new RS1 is more ergonomic, much more affordable, and just as fast…
2021 BH RS1 carbon endurance aero road bike
BH calls the new RS1 the perfect blend of aerodynamics and ergonomics, combined to create the ideal road bike for a wider range of riders.
Essentially keeping almost all of the light & high performance tech of their popular G8 Disc aero race bike, the RS1 simply ditches the semi-integrated seatmast and swaps in more comfortable, all-day endurance geometry.
RS1 aero endurance road bike geometry
What that essentially amounts to from a geometry perspective, it tweaking the same five size range of the G8 for a rider that doesn’t need to stretch out as much. (Size names shift from XS-XL on the G8 to S-XXL here for the RS1, while essentially leaving frame reach & head angles unchanged.) Across the new RS1 range, each frame gets about 3cm higher stack for a more comfortable upright fit, plus slightly steeper seat angles in the middle sizes to shorten the feel of the fit overall. Chainstay length grows between 10-16mm depending on size, but the RS1 retains a steep 73°-ish head angle for quick road race-like handling.
Aero Endurance Road – Tech details
Much like the G8 Disc the new BH RS1 tucks every cable inside for fully internal routing thanks to the 1.5″ FSA ACR headset & cockpit system, allowing for separate or integrated bar & stem combos, and working with mechanical or electronic disc brake groupsets.
The monocoque construction of the RS1 also share BH’s top high-pressure Hollow Core Internal Moulding tech for consistent carbon compaction, high frame stiffness, and overall light weight.
Frame tube shaping also shares similar aero-optimized Kamm tail profiles, plus thin dropped seatstays and a small bit of rear wheel cutout to the seattube. BH says that the RS1 even delivers the same low drag numbers as the more race-focused G8.
And there’s still room for 30mm tires for the ultimate comfort over varying road surfaces, although complete bikes get spec’d with 28s.
Then new bike opts for a more conventional aero seatpost design, sharing the same aerodynamic shape as the upper extension on the G8, but here with a hidden wedge-style seatpost clamp in the small chamfer under the toptube. Two versions of the proprietary aero seatpost are available, with either 0 or 15mm offset.
Along the lines of maintaining race-ready stiffness, the RS1 gets an oversized bottom bracket cluster with a pressfit BB386EVO BB, connected to tall & wide-set chainstays.
The new aero endurance bike features flat mount disc brakes and 12mm thru-axles, with BH’s tidy QR Quick Levers that tuck inside the thru-axle when not in use.
BH RS1 – Pricing & options
The UCI-approved RS1 is available in five standard bike builds, sharing the same carbon frame, fork, seatpost & FSA ACR headset.
Pricing starts at 2600€ for the BH RS1 3.0 with a Shimano 105 group, FSA Gossamer cranks & Vision Team 35 alloy wheels. The 3.5 at 3200€ upgrades to Ultegra mechanical and Rotor Vegast cranks with the same wheels. The 4000€ BH RS1 4.0 goes Ultegra mechanical but with FSA SLK carbon cranks and house brand EVO 38 carbon wheels. For 4700€, the 4.5 upgrades to Ultegra Di2, but drops back to the alloy crankset & wheels. Then, a top-spec RS1 5.0 at 5500€ adds it all together – Ultegra Di2, FSA SLK carbon cranks, and EVO 38 carbon wheels.
BH Unique customization
Like other premium bikes in the BH line-up, the RS1 finish is also customizable in the BH Unique platform for the 4.5 & 5.0 models. It lets you pick from standard graphic layouts, then mix & match from more than 30 colors, and even get your name on the toptube for a truly unique bike that adds just 300€ to the standard price.
All of the bikes, including custom paint are available to order now through your local BH dealer, with availability at the latest in November 2020.
