BH Ilynx Trail Carbon: Reaching new limits

For decades, the Spanish bicycle brand BH has been one of the leading suppliers of high-quality e-bikes. From the very beginning, BH has always brought breathtaking designs to the market and set new records with technical innovations, initiating downright trends time and again. In 2018, for example, the brand amazed with a 720 Wh battery and set the range to a new level in the world of e-bikes. But what was a success yesterday is now an almost self-evident standard. That's why the brand delivers new highlights year after year, because if you want to be a leader, you always have to be on the ball and step on the gas.

The novelty: Ilynx Trail Carbon
With the Ilynx Race models BH 2021 advanced into the segment of lightweight E-MTBs, as for example Lapierre did with its eZesty. We reported anno 2019 about it. The Lapierre Overvolt GLP II, designed by former world champion Nicolaz Vuilloz, which we presented and tested in 2020, also corresponds to this spirit. Such E-MTBs are aimed at sporty bikers who do not need as much support, but instead ride a lighter e-bike and can pedal the E-MTB without a motor if necessary. Just as Lapierre did, BH is now expanding the concept to the segment of enduros and trail bikes with 150 mm suspension.

New peak values for weight
BH raises the bar again a few centimeters by lowering the weight of the new Ilynx Trail Carbon to a remarkable 16 kg. It should not be forgotten that enduros and trail bikes with a suspension of 150 mm without motor bring around 12-14 kg on the scale. This makes it clear how incredibly light the new e-bike model series from BH has become.

One of the reasons for this is the super-light carbon frame, which is record-breakingly light at just 1975 grams. This weight was achieved by the HCIM (Hollow Core Internal Molding) process of the carbon and the use of "Ballistic Carbon Lay Up" carbon fibers, which ensure high impact resistance.

Trail means 150 mm suspension
As mentioned, the Ilynx Trail model is designed for 150 mm of suspension travel. Here, the suspension system is based on a split-pivot design, which ensures that the braking forces and pedaling forces are detached from each other, which optimizes the suspension. At the same time 100% of the Anti-Squat (no dipping when accelerating) was retained, which ensures efficient pedaling, as well as the Brake-Squat, which is to minimize the excessive dipping when braking and optimizes braking.

Geometry & bike feel
The Swiss country manager, Franz Laternser, raved in our conversation that the geometry of the e-bike is virtually identical to that of a normal MTB. In fact, the geometry is very similar as can be seen from a check of the values, but identical would be too much to say. It is easy to understand. The driving experience is the same as with a normal MTB and that is how it should be, because the E-MTB is also designed without the use of the motor. I will be able to convince myself of this during the planned bike test. I am curious.

Motorization with 180+540 WH
At the motor, some newcomers will rub their eyes, but who knows BH over 10 years like me, knows that BH has already developed and installed earlier motors for e-bikes themselves. The motor is the BH 2EXMAG model with 250 W power and 65 Nm max. torque. The super-quiet magnesium motor assists the rider with 75, 150, 225 and 300% of its pedaling power. With a mini weight of only 2.2 kg, it helps keep the overall weight low. When the assist mode is off, there is no friction or braking effect. Therefore, a speed of more than 25 km/h without the motor is possible without further ado.

The battery thing is crazy, because there are two of them. The XPro battery sits in the place of the water bottle and provides the first 180 Wh. The second battery sits in the frame and supplies the system with 540 Wh, which is why the rider has a whopping 720 Wh at his disposal. The XPro battery can be removed and replaced with a water bottle as desired. The batteries are equipped with a high-performance battery management system, which da-für ensures that the energy consumption is optimized and the life of the batteries is extended. Angefressene, who also ride road bike, come to enjoy the additional battery also for the e-road bike models Core of BH to use the same battery system. that allows the exchange at the same brand under different model lines. This is the pleasant advantage here: 1 battery for 2 bikes.