In the United States, the suspension market is dominated primarily by three big players – Fox, Marzocchi, and Rockshox. There are another half dozen companies producing worthy offerings, many of which we’ve reviewed in the past (e.g. X-Fusion, Formula, Magura, Suntour, etc..) but they don’t carry the same brand recognition or cache as the “Big Three.”
In Europe, and amongst e-riders in the know, there’s a fourth suspension company whose name is always spoken of in deferential tones. That company is BOS. With deep roots in Dakar and WRC, and even deeper roots in mountain bikes, many consider their suspension components to be amongst the very best currently available.
Unfortunately for the North American consumer, until very recently, there was no OEM warranty or repair services available on the continent. Thankfully, the situation has recently changed. Beginning last November, BOS paired up with a new distributor who is now importing the full range of components and providing quality US based support.
Drop past the break to learn more…
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Marc Castellana and I am the owner of Prestige MTB, the only licensed importer of BOS Suspension components in the USA. My company also imports Leo Seven carbon fiber products.
What where some of the challenges you encountered importing BOS products to the US ?
The biggest challenge is the lack of name recognition. The people who have heard about the components have read great things but never tried or seen the product. Our second biggest challenge is keeping the price as competitive as possible since the Euro is so strong.
Did you have to undergo any special training to become a distributor?
Yes! I spent a week at the BOS manufacturing plant in Toulouse France getting to know the team and learning about the product. The most important thing is to have consistency when handling service and warranty issues. Every potential distributor and BOS service center is required to go through this training.
When and what products will be imported to the United States? Canada?
All BOS products are currently available to customers in both the United States and Canada through PrestigeMTB.
Will warranty and repair service be performed in house or require shipping overseas?
Warranty and repair services will be handled here in New York, which will mean cheaper prices and faster turnaround time for the customer.
How can I get one?
There are a couple of ways to get BOS products:
-If you are a shop owner, you can contact me directly and set up an account. There is no minimum order and we offer industry insider deals to shop employees.
– If you are a customer, you can order online at www.shockandrollcycles.com, or go to your local bike store and ask the owner/manager to get in touch with me.
All suspension components ordered through Prestige are custom tuned for each bike and riders weight.
Will pricing be comparable to European MSRP?
The prices are similar to the European MSRP. If you convert the European prices from Euros to USD, you will see that our prices are cheaper, the shipping charges are a lot less, and there are no import taxes.
What athletes will be competing on BOS suspension in the United States this year?
For the 2013 season Dunbar cycles DH team will be using the BOS Idylle RaRe Air and the Stoy RaRe.
What companies have BOS as an OEM option and do you anticipate working with any North American manufacturers in the future?
Morewood, Zumbi, YT industries all have BOS products as OEM offerings and there is at least one more European company that will be offering BOS as an option for next year. I am currently working towards developing the OEM market here in the states and have a couple of leads in North America.
The Rumor Mill
According to Marc, BOS has a few new toys in development for wagon wheels and tweeners.
Head over to PrestigeMtb to learn more.
