INTERBIKE 2009 – We got the chance to take the BH G5 for a spin and talk with the reps. Before returning the bike to the demo tent, I couldn’t help turning around and getting in a few more quick laps. Without a longer, more thorough demo, I can only tell you my initial impression: Ah-may-zing. Only hours earlier I had ridden the most responsive bike I have been on to date (no other comment at this time). The G5 matched the other bike’s responsiveness and far- FAR- surpassed it’s handling and control.  It has a remarkable combination of agility and and stability.
Set up as Ridden: 57cm, Shimano Di2 Groupo, upgraded carbon Reynolds Assault wheels and two Elite H20 cages. MSRP: $9,699 + a little extra for the Reynolds wheels.
Weight without pedals: 15 lbs 3 oz.
More pics below…
I also weighed at 56 cm G5 with SRAM RED, carbon Reynolds Assault wheels, a slightly heavier Prologo saddle than stock and 2 H20 cages. It weighed in at 14 lbs 4 oz.
A few of the G5’s details that we didn’t mention in this post are the carbon slotted cable stops and carbon front derailleur mount that are molded directly into the frame. The front derailleur mount has gone through testing far beyond typical stress tests. Apparently BH USA President/ Founder of Pivot, Chris Cocalis, put the mount through a test of his own. He is said to have tightened a 105 derailleur to the mount as tight as he could, several times greater than the newton-meters recommended. He then proceeded to pull the derailleur back and forth until it was twisted and mangled. The hanger, while scuffed, was unharmed.
Here are some home grown shots of BH’s patented cable guides on the under carriage. BH runs the cables into the down tube on the opposite side of the frame from the shifter to allow for more movement with less friction between the cable housing and the head tube. The catch is that the cables then have to uncross somewhere. The idea with this cable guide is to tidy up the cable channel under the down tube (the previous model had the cable crossing further up the down tube).
Although the Di2 package does not have cables and housing run along the cable channel under the frame, the battery pack for the system is mounted slightly in front of the bottom bracket.
