Cosme, Domingo, and Juan Beistegui Albistegui – the three brothers who jointly founded BH back in 1909. They were the real deal when it came to inventions, but surely even they couldn’t have predicted the creation of bikes with motors? More than a century on, the Spaniards’ portfolio is huge, and there’s a good chunk of E-MTBs in it. One of those is the Revo 29 ER746, but what’s it like?
BH have seven different E-MTB lines, all featuring different motors. Our test bike is from the Revo series with a Brose motor and frame-integrated 460 Wh battery. BH have listed it at € 3,799, and the spec is virtually identical for both the 29er and the 27.5″ version. Unfortunately, that means that both wheel size models suffer as a consequence: the FOX 32 FLOAT fork comes without a thru-axle, and the narrow tires dug fruitlessly for grip. We contacted BH, and they assured us that they have resolved these issues for the coming season’s models, and have even gone as far as to launch an additional Trail Kit with grippier tires and a dropper post for an extra € 369 – a sensible upgrade!
The Revo 29 ER746 has a pretty efficient pedaling position that’s fairly stretched out without being excessive. The Brose motor works well but only dishes out maximum power when you really get your legs spinning, which might not suit riders who are hoping for a bit more of a push. We tested a 29er, and despite the big wheel size the BH was really agile. It rolled well on fire roads and the handling was satisfyingly predictable. Once the trails got a bit more technical, the bike was clearly out of its depth. The Shimano XT shifted brilliantly on the rear cassette, although the front mech took what felt like an eternity to shift – and we wouldn’t recommend shifting under stress. A 1x setup with a bigger ratio on the cassette as well as a clutched derailleur to minimize chain bang would be the ultimate choice here.
The BH Revo in detail
Fork FOX Float 32 Performance 100 mm
Motor / Battery Brose 250 W / 460 Wh
Brakes Shimano SLX
Drivetrain Shimano Deore / XT
Seat post Alu 31.6
Stem Emotion MTB Alu
Handlebar Emotion MTB Alu Riser
Tires Schwalbe Rapid Rob 29″
Wheels Alloy Double Wall
The BH Revo is best suited to tarmac and fire roads. If you want to use the bike as your go-to rig for commuting then it’s easy to mount a rear rack – nice touch.
Front mechs and E-MTBs are the worst bed partners. Shifting under stress takes an eternity and rarely works when you most need it – i.e., on the climbs.
Thin-walled and pretty mellow, these tires offer too little grip and are at risk of puncturing. They’re best kept for gentle fire roads.
We never expected to see an E-MTB in 2016 coming without a thru-axle on the fork. It’s a real no-go when you consider the lack of stiffness and the huge amount of flex under the bike’s weight.
Conclusion
We really rated the BH Revo 29 ER746’s tidy motor integration and the comfort of the riding position. But as an all-round E-MTB, there are just too many (and some major) flaws in the spec, so it’s unlikely to live up to its full potential. We’d have expected more for a bike with a € 3,799 price tag.
Strengths
- Battery and motor integration
- Comfy riding position
Weaknesses
- Flaws in the spec
- Low cadence = little support
For more information head to the official website of the manufacturer!
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: What’s the best E-MTB hardtail? 6 models for less than € 3,999 on test
All bikes in test: FOCUS Jarifa Fat Pro | Giant Dirt-E+ 0 | Haibike XDURO HardSeven Plus RX | SCOTT E-Aspect 910 CX | Specialized Turbo Levo HT Comp 6Fattie
Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more.
Words: Photos: Christoph Bayer, Noah Haxel
