It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the “newness” while wandering the halls of Interbike. But, when something catches your eye and stands out from the sea of new, you know it’s something special. This year, that something special is the 2015 BMC Speedfox SF01. The SF01 gets a complete makeover for 2015 with 29-inch wheels and an all-new frame with modern geometry and all the bells-and-whistles you’d expect.
2015 BMC Speedfox SF01 XX1 Features:
- Full-carbon frameset with classic BMC industrial design
- 130mm travel front and rear via Fox Factory Kashima shock/fork
- Internal cable routing with accommodations for stealth dropper
- SRAM XX1 group with 28t chainring (kinda small)
- SRAM Guide RS brakeset
- DT Swiss XM 1501 Spline ONE wheelset
- 720mm wide BMC carbon flat bars
- Short, 17.1″ chainstays
- Available in five sizes — to fit every rider
- Weight: 25.1 lbs
- MSRP: $6999
We’re Giving it Best in Show Honors
On paper, the SF01 may be about as perfect as a do-it-all trail bike gets. With comfortable and stable geometry (longish top tube, 68.5 deg head angle, 17.1″ stays), the SF01 has all the trappings of a great bike. The whole package tips the scales just over 25 lbs. — pretty awesome for a 130mm travel bike.
Worth noting is BMC’s APS suspension platform, which is similar to the variety of virtual pivot bikes out there (DW-Link, VPP, Maestro, CVA, etc.) in that it features a single-piece rear triangle mated to dual short links. The resulting suspension is supple and responsive in all gears on both the uphill and down.
The bike also features plenty of clearance to carry a large water bottle — not something bikes in the category have. I personally only ride with a hydration pack on rides of 2 hours or longer, so the extra clearance on a medium frame is key. I could do without the chainguide mount, but that’s easily removed and the 28T chainring is really small — I’d swap for a 32T. Back on the plus side, there’s a nifty sag indicator that’s visible while seated to easily dial in the suspension for firm or soft settings (see below) and BMC has opted for the outstanding SRAM Guide brakes for top-notch stopping power.
The Bottom Line: SF01 29 XX1
I’m really keen on the new SF01 — so much so that it gets my nod for the best bike of 2015. It has just the right mixture of light weight, competitive pricing and quality travel to get the honors.
More Info: Visit BMC-Racing.com
2 Comments
Pingback: Feed the Habit – Speedfox SF01
I’m getting bike envy. Killer wheel set, I have the XR’s and think they’re the best value out there along with the XM’s. Just use Stan’s tape, not the inflexible DT tape. My 429c came with the 32t and after a few weeks put on the 28t and couldn’t be happier. I like having that extra bail-out gear for long steep grinders. Easy to change out. Thanks Jason