The latest BH Ultimate EVO carbon cross-country race hardtail gets even more integrated, stiffer, and even lighter after a similar overhaul just two seasons ago. Effectively adapting all of their best integrated road bike tech for off-road racing, this latest Ultimate EVO XC bike sets a new benchmark for lightweight carbon hardtail mountain bikes…
2022 BH Ultimate EVO lighter carbon XC mountain bike
This new BH Ultimate EVO further integrates the World Cup race-proven carbon XC race hardtail mountain bike, and builds it lighter & stiffer than ever. BH calls the race hardtail, the “essence of MTB”, mountain bikes pared back to the most basic essentials – off-road capability, durability, and geometry to tackle any terrain.
What’s new?
Weight savings is always a race bike goal, and the BH Ultimate EVO drops another 20g down to 820g vs. the previous generation, with a precise updated Hollow Core Internal Moulding (HCIM) construction and a new premium hi-mod Toray T1100G carbon fiber mixture.
Overall shaping of the new XC bike hasn’t changed much. But part of that weight savings simply comes as a benefit of increased integration.
Up front, the elimination of cable routing holes in the frame and the move to the full 1.5″ ICR headset, which now allows for more stealthy internal cable routing, also helped increase stiffness for more precise handling.
In the back, the tweaked hardtail gets a revised seat cluster design that now incorporates an internal wedge-style seatpost clamp and improved damping of trail vibrations. The change also actually decreases the slope of the toptube for improved overall stiffness, while providing a similar amount of exposed seatpost flex for rider comfort. There’s actually about 1cm more seatpost for a bit of extra post flex, while at the same time the bike finally moves to a 31.6mm diameter seatpost to allow for more dropper post options.
XC race geometry
One thing that appears to stay the same is the already slack XC race geometry that got a big overhaul in the 2020 bike’s overhaul. Already slack for an XC race hardtail with a 68° head angle, the bike features a steep seat angle and short 420mm chainstays.
The bike comes in four sizes S-XL, all with 29″ wheels.
Tech details
The new carbon 29er XC hardtail features Boost spacing, light bolt-on axles, a flat mount rear disc for 160mm rotors, a UDH standard hanger, and an Acros BlockLock headset with 150° rotation limiter. In addition to the 31.6mm seatpost with stealth internal dropper post routing through the headset, the new bike sticks with a PressFit 92 bottom bracket.
Stock bikes come with 2.25″ tires, but BH’s team races the bike on 2.4″ Maxxis Aspen tires & wide carbon rims, suggesting plenty of extra clearance.
The new Ultimate EVO also comes equipped with BH’s FIT multi-tool that drops into the open steerer tube, a new optional accessory on some of BH’s other recent bikes.
2022 BH Ultimate EVO – Pricing & options
BH’s new Ultimate EVO is offered in five different build kits and four stock colors, starting at 3600€ for a Deore/XT build mix with a 100mm Fox 34 Performance Step Cast fork, and climbing to 7400€ with SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS, Fox 34 Factory SC fork & carbon wheels.
The new hardtail can also be customized in both build kit and custom paint schemes, available through the BH Unique online customization tool. The bikes are said to be available now through local dealers for pre-order, but no word yet on consumer delivery date.
