The BH⁠iLynx+ in a duel with itself – Trail vs enduro

The iLynx+ models by BH Bikes do things a little differently. We tested two iLynx+ eMTBs with the same components, but different travel lengths. The ebikes come equipped with small batteries, powerful motors, and an idiosyncratic design language. Is this the recipe for success for a capable eMTB, and which of the two is better?

BH Bikes from Spain are known for ignoring the hype and doing their own thing. A good example of this is their full-suspension iLynx Trail Carbon, equipped with an in-house motor. The iLynx+, on the other hand, is characterised by an unusual frame shape with a curved down tube, which has reasons and benefits that go beyond just looks, but more on that later.
The iLynx+ relies on a Shimano EP8 motor and, thanks to the smaller battery, it’s relatively light for a full-power eMTB. The ebike is available in two variants: the 140 mm travel Trail version going for € 9,799, and the 160 mm travel Enduro model, priced at € 9,999. At the rear, the increased travel is simply achieved by fitting a shock with a longer stroke on an otherwise identical frame. Both models rely on the Shimano EP8 motor paired with a 540 Wh battery.
The Trail model weighs 20.7 kg, whereas the longer travel enduro build tips the scales at 21.3 kg, both without the range extender. This adds another 1 kg and offers an additional 180 Wh capacity.

The new BH iLynx+ Trail Pro 8.9 and Enduro Pro 9.9 in detail

The eMTB’s unusual silhouette immediately catches the eye, and it takes some getting used to. The reason for this is the battery that can be removed out of the top tube, which would hit the handlebars or stem if it wasn’t for the banana shaped down tube. This specially developed battery has the same curvature as the down tube, which allows them to avoid having a big opening in the down tube yet still have an easily removable battery – similar to the design of the BH AtomX. To remove the battery, you must simply open a flap on the top tube with a hex key and pull the battery out by the handle. On our pre-production model, the lid rattled, though this should be fixed once it goes into production.

In addition to the main battery, there is the option of an 180 Wh range extender, which is included on the flagship models and increases the total capacity to 720 Wh. The range extender sits upright on the seat tube and the small charging port on the down tube can be covered with a rubber plug if you haven’t got the range extender fitted. The range extender simply plugs into the charging port and then attaches to the seat tube with a Velcro strap – a simple yet effective solution.
The cable management system is elegantly and discreetly integrated into the frame and ensures peace and quiet on the trail. The rear suspension uses BH’s proven split pivot design with a pivot point on the rear axle. The cables are routed into the frame via the headset, resulting in a clean look while still making the bike easy to service since the stem and the spacers are separate. The stem comes ready to accommodate BH’s in-house FIT system, allowing you to store a multi-tool in the head tube, so it should be a matter of plug and play on the production bikes. This wasn’t yet the case on our pre-production models.

The seat post clamp is integrated, like you’ll find on many road bikes, further enhancing the bike’s clean look. The use of the Super Boost axle standard promises increased stiffness and durability, though it can make it much more difficult to procure spares.

Components and variants of the new BH iLynx+ Trail and Enduro models

You can choose from three different build variants of the Enduro and Trail models, numbered .7, .8, and .9. They all rely on FOX suspension, Shimano groupsets, and Race Face wheels. There’s a range of colours to choose from and you can even combine different colours if you’re looking for something particularly unique.

The components of our two BH iLynx Trail and Enduro Pro models

Our two test bikes are completely identical, right down to the suspension. Of course, the suspension travel is adapted to the trail and enduro models.
The 85 Nm Shimano EP8 motor is powered by the 540 Wh BH XPro battery. The drive unit is connected to a colour display and a wired 2-button remote on the handlebar.
Up front, you get a FOX Factory fork with the FIT4 damper. The Enduro model relies on 38 mm stanchions, offering 160 mm travel, whereas the Trail model features 36 mm stanchions and offers 140 mm travel. The FIT4 damper offers fewer adjustment options and doesn’t perform as well in the mid travel range as the GRIP2 damper. The slightly lighter weight doesn’t outweigh these disadvantages on the trail, especially on an ebike. Overall, the FOX 38 on the Enduro model worked slightly better than the FOX 36.

At the rear of the Enduro model, there’s a FOX DHX2 Factory shock offering 160 mm travel. The trail model relies on a FOX FLOAT X shock to give you 140 mm travel. Both the coil and air springs delivered good rear-end performance. The Race Face Aeffect dropper post works precisely, but with just 150 mm drop on the size M bike, it restricts your freedom of movement. The Shimano XT brakes are paired with large 200 mm rotors front and rear, reliably bringing you to a halt. These offer tool-free lever reach adjustment. Shimano also take care of the gears with their flawless 12-speed XT drivetrain. The 35 mm in-house stem is combined with a 780 mm wide Race Face Aeffect handlebar. The 29″ aluminium Race Face wheels are shod with MAXXIS tires. Up front is a 2.5″ wide Minion DHF, combined with a 2.4″ DHR at the rear. Both have to make do with the harder MaxxTerra rubber compound and EXO+ casing. A thicker casing would have been welcome on both bikes, though it’s a must on the Enduro model, offering more puncture protection and allowing you to run lower pressures. We also would have preferred the soft MaxxGrip rubber compound up front for improved cornering traction.

The geometry of the BH iLynx+ Trail and Enduro

The geometry of the two bikes is mostly the same. The Enduro version is one degree slacker than the trail model, featuring a 65° head angle as opposed to 66° on the Trail model. With a stack height of 616 mm, it also has a slightly taller front end compared to the 600 mm stack height on the Trail. There’s a difference in reach of just 3 mm, measuring 458 mm on the Trail model, and 455 mm on the Enduro. The seat tube measures 420 mm, which is fine for a size M frame. However, the short tube doesn’t do much since your freedom of movement is still limited by the rather short dropper.

BH iLynx+ Enduro

Size	S	M	L	XL
Top tube	583 mm	608 mm	630 mm	651 mm
Seat tube	400 mm	420 mm	440 mm	480 mm
Head tube	95 mm	100 mm	110 mm	125 mm
Head angle	65°	65°	65°	65°
Seat angle	76°	76°	76°	76°
Chainstay	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm
Reach	430 mm	455 mm	475 mm	490 mm
Stack	612 mm	616 mm	626 mm	639 mm

BH iLynx+ Trail

Size	S	M	L	XL
Top tube	581 mm	606 mm	628 mm	649 mm
Seat tube	400 mm	420 mm	440 mm	480 mm
Head tube	95 mm	100 mm	110 mm	125 mm
Head angle	66°	66°	66°	66°
Seat angle	77°	77°	77°	77°
Chainstay	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm	440 mm
Reach	433 mm	458 mm	478 mm	495 mm
Stack	595 mm	600 mm	610mm	623 mm

The two BH Bikes on the trail – How do the Trail Pro 8.9 and Enduro Pro 9.9 differ?

The first impression on both bikes is characterised by a pleasant riding position that’s comfortable on level terrain and doesn’t put too much weight on your palms, as you’re positioned more towards the rear. It feels very spacious for a size M bike. However, there’s a lack of weight on the front wheel on the climbs, so you have to actively shift your weight forward to keep the front wheel planted and in control. As a result, you quickly run into problems with traction at the rear, and the bike doesn’t prove to be the best technical climber. The rear suspension is plush and bobs minimally while pedalling, which has a positive effect on ride comfort. The longer travel Enduro model scores somewhat higher in terms of comfort. Despite the slight bobbing, it isn’t necessary to activate the climb switch on the shock of either model.

In general, there are no major differences between the bikes when riding uphill, as they rely on the same motor and have a very similar riding position. However, the battery cover rattled slightly on some test rides, especially when riding on gravel roads or slightly bumpy terrain. On the descents, this is joined by the classic rattling of the Shimano motor. However, it should be noted that the bikes on test are pre-production versions, and the rattling battery cover should be fixed on the production models.

Riding the BH iLynx+ Trail Pro 8.9

As mentioned above the two bikes feel very similar on the climbs. All that changes on the descents, however. What they have in common is that both bikes feel like something between a full-power and a light eMTB on the descents, due to the low weight and small battery. They’re noticeably more composed than light eMTBs, but can still be ridden in an agile manner.

When you climb aboard the iLynx Trail Pro, you’ll quickly feel comfortable and notice the bike’s intuitive yet agile handling. It makes easy work of navigating tight corners and picking your line on the trail. However, when the terrain gets steeper and rougher, you’ll want to hold on tight and slow down. The front of the bike quickly feels restless, especially due to the FIT4 fork, which gets overwhelmed by too many hits following in quick succession. The rear end of the iLynx+ Trail feels soft at first, but it offers good all-round characteristics, providing plenty of grip and support. The only thing it lacks slightly is progression towards the end of the stroke.

It tends to bottom out rather easily and punishes your ankle joints – but that’s what the Enduro model is for. Overall, however, the rear suspension is significantly more composed and capable than the fork and performs well in most situations.

Riding the BH iLynx+ Enduro Pro 9.9

If you switch from the Trail to the Enduro model, it immediately feels like you’re riding a bigger, plusher bike. This is due to both the increased travel and the use of a more sensitive coil shock. As a result, the Enduro provides significantly more braking grip on rough terrain and a more controlled feeling throughout. Despite the longer travel, the rear suspension of the Enduro model doesn’t feel too linear and still offers a decent level of support. The added travel also forgives the occasional overshot jump, landing flat. The front of the bike also feels noticeably more composed.

Although the FOX 38 fork relies on the same FIT4 damper, it is significantly more capable than the FOX 36 on the Trail model. The GRIP2 damper would be better still, providing more control at high speeds. Nevertheless, the iLynx+ Enduro manages to instil you with confidence when things get rough and demanding

Which BH iLynx+ is right for whom?

Both the Trail and Enduro models are aimed at riders who don’t want to choose between a full-power or a light eMTB in terms of battery capacity and weight. Despite the powerful motor, the bikes are relatively light while offering the versatility of a range extender.

The Enduro model is more capable all-round with just minimal drawbacks in terms of agility and liveliness. The additional weight of the longer travel, 38 mm stanchion fork and the coil shock is less than 1 kg, which doesn’t have a significant effect on performance. In return, it’s more forgiving and fares better on demanding trails. The Trail model, on the other hand, is intended for riders who want a playful eMTB that’s easier to chuck through the corners. It offers more agile handling, though it’s also less composed, especially at the front.

Our conclusion on the BH⁠iLynx Trail Pro 8.9 and Enduro Pro 9.9

The iLynx+ models from BH Bikes boast an independent and innovative approach to ebike design, offering an exciting alternative on the market. The versatile concept with a range extender caters to a wide range of use cases. Both the Enduro and the Trail models perform well thanks to their unobtrusive yet capable rear suspension. The Enduro model is more versatile thanks to increased reserves and traction, whereas the Trail model scores for its agility and playfulness.

Tuning tip: fit tires with more robust casings

For more information, visit bhbikes.com.

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Words: Julian Schwede Photos: Mike Hunger