The BH G6 Pro may look the same as last year's G6, but along with new brakes, there's plenty of updates going on internally. Pictured is the Australian G6 Pro Dura-Ace 11-speed Di2 (US$TBC / AU$9,599 / £TBC)
The BH G6 Pro may look the same as last year's G6, but along with new brakes, there's plenty of updates going on internally. Pictured is the Australian G6 Pro Dura-Ace 11-speed Di2 (US$TBC / AU$9,599 / £TBC) - David Rome / Immediate Media
A closer look at the aerodynamic profiles on the G6 Pro's head tube - David Rome / Immediate Media
Helping get the power to the rear wheel is this rather massive BB386EVO bottom bracket junction. BH co-developed this bottom bracket standard with FSA in an effort for greater tyre and wide-rim clearance, stiffer frames and more backwards compatibility with other crank standards - David Rome / Immediate Media
Tucked behind the bottom bracket, here's a closer look at the new chainstay mounted Shimano direct-mount rear brake - David Rome / Immediate Media
Shimano direct-mount rim brakes now feature on the G6 Pro - David Rome / Immediate Media
The 2015 BH Ultralight Evo takes the previously succesful Ultralight platform and refines it further. Pictured is the Australian-spec BH Ultralight Evo Dura-Ace Di2 11-speed (US$TBC / AU$9,799 / £TBC) - David Rome / Immediate Media
Last year's Ultralight will continue as a slightly cheaper option – the Evo now headlines the range - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Ultralight Evo boasts a very high frame-stiffness-to-weight ratio. Note the massive down tube that uses the full width of the BB386EVO junction - David Rome / Immediate Media
Just like the G6 and Quartz, the Ultralight has interchangeable cable ports to allow for backwards compatibility between electronic and mechanical gearing - David Rome / Immediate Media
One of the complaints we had with the 2014 Ultralight Dura-Ace bike was the rather painful full-carbon saddle. We're happy to see this replaced for 2015 - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Ultralight Evo has near-straight lines from the down tube, through the bottom bracket and back along the chainstays - David Rome / Immediate Media
The 2015 BH Quartz Disc is a performance-infused endurance platform. Pictured is the Australian-spec BH Quartz Ultegra Disc (US$TBC / AU$3,599 / £TBC) - David Rome / Immediate Media
Standard quick-release on the back meets the rear disc brake - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Disc frame isn't entirely new, still offering a cable port and mount for a rear rim brake - David Rome / Immediate Media
The rear brake is cleanly routed through the frame and pops out along the chainstay - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Quartz shares a similar aerodynamic front-end profile to the G6 - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Quartz's endurance geometry offers a slightly longer head tube, shortened top tube length, leading to a higher stack and shorter reach - David Rome / Immediate Media
Even the Quartz features the enormously large BB386EVO bottom bracket junction, but unlike the Ultralight, the down tube doesn't make full use of the wide real-estate - David Rome / Immediate Media
The Quartz Disc still offers a performance ride. An example is the wind-cutting profiles of the fork - David Rome / Immediate Media
It's unconfirmed whether production samples will have this brake mount, we can't imagine too many people getting a disc-equipped bike and wanting to put rim brakes on it - David Rome / Immediate Media
The RX Team cyclocross range doesn't get any frame changes for 2015 (beyond a seat post that accepts an internal Di2 battery). Pictured is the Australian-spec RX Team 105 (US$TBC / AU$2,899 / £TBC) - David Rome / Immediate Media
With a large 1.5in tapered steerer tube, this fork should offer confident tracking, despite its lack of thru-axle - David Rome / Immediate Media
The cantilever bosses are still present, but the disc-brake equipped bike offers a far cleaner look with improved mud clearance - David Rome / Immediate Media
Wavy seatstays are there to help promote vertical compliance in the rear end - David Rome / Immediate Media
A curved top tube looks decently comfortable to shoulder - David Rome / Immediate Media
While many brands were bunkering down and preparing for the 2014 Eurobike product show, BH Bikes invited the BikeRadar Australia crew to get an exclusive first look at what’s coming from the Spanish brand in 2015.
There was plenty to see in the updated performance road range, with both the Ultralight and aero G6 models receiving significant carbon layup changes and feature tweaks. In the endurance range, the Quartz now has a disc-equipped sibling.
Ultralight Evo
For 2015, the new Ultralight Evo builds on the previous Ultralight platform. Its frame weight has been reduced by just over 50g, and BH claims the frame now weighs less than 700g for a medium size.
The 2015 bh ultralight evo takes the previously succesful ultralight platform and refines it further. pictured is the australian-spec bh ultralight evo dura-ace di2 11sp (us$tbc / au$9,799 / uk£tbc) : - David Rome / Immediate Media
The 2015 Ultralight Evo Dura-Ace Di2 (Australian spec)
This weight reduction was achieved through an improved carbon layup. The Evo still uses the same mould as previous generations, so external appearance, tube shapes and geometry remain the same. With this, the well received frame stiffness and ride quality should be the same as previous incarnations.
The guys at BH Australia were quick to point out that this weight figure is backed by a lifetime warranty and no rider weight limit, something many of its competitors can’t claim.
Front shifting should see a small improvement thanks to a new full-carbon front derailleur mount that's said to offer greater rigidity.
Additionally, the Di2 battery mount moves from the left chainstay to an internal seatpost mount, which we're happy to see based on our recent impressions of the 2014 BH Ultralight (in Australian Dura-Ace spec). This change of battery position is also present on the 2015 G6 and Quartz platforms.
Looking over the Australian versions of this bike, the 2015 BH Ultralight Evo Dura-Ace Di2 11-speed (US$TBC / AU$9,799 / £TBC) – the equivalent of the version we tested – seems to have corrected every issue we raised, so props to BH.
G6 Pro
Building on the 2014 aerodynamic road-going G6, is the G6 Pro. It boasts a weight reduction, improved frame stiffness and aerodynamics, direct-mount brakes and enhanced shift quality.
The bh g6 pro may look the same as last year's g6, but along with new brakes, there's plenty of updates going on internally. pictured is the australian g6 pro dura-ace 11sp di2 (us$tbc / au$9,599 / uk£tbc): - David Rome / Immediate Media
The 2015 G6 Pro Dura-Ace Di2 (Australian spec)
Like the Ultralight Evo, the G6 Pro reuses the previous mould, but a reworked carbon layup helps reduce frame weight by 80g – a medium frame has an impressive 860g claimed weight. Part of this weight reduction is also achieved through HCIM (Hollow Core Internal Moulding), which, according to BH, gives a perfectly clean internal surface with no wasteful material left inside the tubes.
BH also claims an increase in rear end and head tube frame stiffness, along with improved shifting performance thanks to the refined internal cable routing.
Tucked behind the bottom bracket, here's a closer look at the new chainstay mounted shimano direct-mount rear brake : - David Rome / Immediate Media
A closer look at the direct-mount brake position on the chainstays
Shimano Direct-Mount brakes now feature front and rear. The rear brake is mounted underneath the chainstays, like on the Trek Madone.
While exact aerodynamic performance figures weren’t available, we suspect they will have improved based on the changed brake position and the removal of the chainstay Di2 battery mount.
We found the Australian-spec G6 Pro 105 (US$TBC / AU$3,899 / £TBC) particularly interesting – this Shimano 11-speed 105 equipped bike has an identical frame to the pro-level models.
With all these changes, we’re excited to review one soon.
Quartz Disc
The new Quartz Disc takes last year’s performance orientated endurance platform and adds in disc brake compatibility.
The 2015 bh quartz disc is a performance-infused endurance platform. pictured is the australian-spec bh quartz ultegra disc (us$tbc / au$3,599 / uk£tbc): - David Rome / Immediate Media
The 2015 Quartz Ultegra Disc (Australian spec)
The Quartz series borrows design features from both the G6 and Ultralight platforms. It receives similar head tube profiles to the aerodynamic G6, but has slender and compliance-inducing rear tube profiles that resemble the Ultralight. Sharing the same oversized BB386EVO bottom bracket as the Ultralight and G6 models, the Quartz offers a large junction for pedalling efficiency.
Compared to the race focused models, the Quartz offers a more relaxed riding position with greater frame compliance. Frame weight is kept to a competitive 950g (for the medium size).
Standard quick release on the back meets the rear disc brake: - David Rome / Immediate Media
A tucked disc brake mount means no chance for heel rubbing or damage in case of an accident
The disc brake mounts come in the form of low-profile post-mounts, with the rear placed on the chainstay. Despite the new disc brake frame, rim brake mounts still feature at the rear, while the front fork is disc-specific.
Just as we've seen from some other brands (such as Giant, with its 2015 Defy platform), the Quartz does not make the move to thru-axles. Instead BH has stuck with standard quick-releases front and rear. The rear axle is 135mm wide.
Like the G6 Pro and Ultralight models, all cables are internally housed, with even the front and rear brake lines routed through the fork and chainstays respectively.
The standard rim-brake equipped Quartz series continues for 2015 – the only change is an internal Di2 battery position.
