New 2015 BMC SPEEDFOX SF03 29 DEORE BIKE

BMC has figured out how to have 130mm of suspension on a 29er without feeing as if you're riding precariously high off the ground. The BMC Speedfox SF03 29 Deore Bike shares this with the rest of the Speedfox line. A tucked in rear wheel, short stays, long top tube, and short stem tame the wheels and give you great control, making it easy to steer precisely up steep grades and rip it with great confidence going down. What the SF03 Deore offers is an unbeatable value, bringing BMC's technology down to a price where it's hard to think twice.

There are two big pieces to the puzzle. First, the triple-butted aluminum frame. They've taken the geometry off their full-carbon bikes and translated those frames into a tube set where the shaping is still fairly sophisticated but the cost of fabrication is low. Second is the build. Here, every chance they got, they selected for durability and low cost rather than light weight. The resulting build works great, but it lacks in bling.

The wheels personify the thinking of the whole bike. The wheels are built by BMC rather than them getting a pre-built set. With Shimano thru-axle hubs laced to DT Swiss rims, the wheels spin well, stand up to abuse, and last forever, but they are short on labels and gloss. But they stuck with the tires they specify pretty much throughout this line, Continental Mountain King 2.2" in front, and Continental X-King in the rear.

The drive train is Shimano Deore, with a 38/24 double-ring crank and ten-speed 11-36 cassette. The brakes are Shimano Altus, with 180mm rotors, black anodized for a simple finish. They might not be exciting, but they're reliable and go about their job quietly.

Quiet is a fine way to describe the components. But they allow you to do is have a screaming good time. This bike will make you a better, more confident rider, extending your range, taking your skill set farther than you can elsewhere. And it does this job without calling attention to itself, other than the simple three letters on the down tube.

When you want to go where inspiration takes you, the BMC Speedfox SF03 29 Deore Bike is there to be your silent partner.