BMC Trail Fox TR02

On Thursday 4th October 2012 I received a BMC Trail Fox TR02 from Adventure HQ in Times Square, Dubai. On this page you’ll find information on how I get on with it.

First of all a picture and the specs:

Features:

• APS (Advanced Pivot System) Aluminum frame
• Tapered head tube provides optimum steering precision
• Inner bearing BSA threaded 1.37″/24TPI 73mm BB width
• Rear Shock Setup matched to the frame kinematics of every model, installation dimension 200mm with 57mm stroke
• 12mm Shimano thru axle optimizing the frame’s rigidity and especially the rear swing arm by using a 12mm thru axle and a corresponding
• dropout
• The brake mount is bolted directly onto the frame, avoiding power loss from the braking effect. Designed for 180mm rotors. 203mm rotors NOT permitted.
• Initial load indicator guarantees straightforward sag adjustment. Can be easily checked when getting on and adjusted where necessary
• Frameset = 3060g (including rear shock, thru axle, carbon down tube protector, hardware)

Specifications:

• Frame: BMC TrailFox TR02 Hydroformed Aluminum – Triple Butted
• Fork: FOX 32 TALAS Evolution RL, 150mm, 15QR, Tapered
• Headset: included w/ frame
• Stem: Scor MKII
• Bar: Scor MKII Low Rise
• Shifters: Shimano SLX
• Brakes: Avid Elixir 7, 180mm Rotors
• Crankset: Shimano SLX 44-32-24
• Bottom-bracket: included with crankset
• Cassette: Shimano HG-81, 11-36 10spd
• Front Derailleur: Shimano SLX
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano XT
• Rear Shock: Fox Float RP2
• Seatpost: Scor MKII
• Saddle: Changed 6/10/2010 to WTB Rocket V with Ti rails. Originally: Fizik Tundra 2
• Tires: Changed 6/10/2012 to Maxxis High Rollers 2.35 Single Ply, Kevlar Bead setu up getto tubless. Originally: Onza Ibex / Onza Canis, 26 x 2.25
• Wheelset: Easton Vice
• Travel: 5.9″

So after a bit of Thursday evening new bike faffing dialing in shock and fork settings Friday morning I was out at Showka to meet the guys from the Hot Cog group and take the bike for its inaugral ride and shakedown.

Here’s a some Gopro footage from the ride:

Apparently the sound might not work in some locations so for you here’s a link the video on Vimeo – 2012 10 05 First ride at Showka on the BMC Trail Fox

Initial impression after 1 good ride? The bike is excellent.

It handled the toughest Showka classics really well. We ploughed fast into the boulder stewn base of Wadi Racer and the front and back kept track straight and true while the 150mm Fox forks and rear shock soaked thinks up working hard through their full range predictably and smoothly. The bike is light enough to feel fast with swift predictable frame geometry flattering my riding as it scythed through the single track.

On the climbs the back gripped like a grippy thing. I rode most of the tricky little test pieces that punctuate the Showka trails without dabbing. I normally expect a 50/50 success rate on many of them. This was despite the Canis back tyre not being particularly good making the grip I found leaving me even more impressed with the climbing performance.

There are a couple of changes I’m keen to make.

The Canis rear tyre is too light to cope with the rigours of Showka and punctured early on. This afternoon I’ve sorted that by fitting my favourite Maxxis High Rollers 2.35 single ply kevlar bead set up using the BMX tube getto tubeless method. I’ve found this to be a fit and forget tyre set up that will work everywhere. They cope with the brutally sharp rocks of Showka and the North Wales mountains as well as with the mud of the UK’s Peak District and the Porte De Soleil this year. I wont need to change them for the up coming trip to Nepal or the chance that I might get to ride in Scotland in November or Salalah at Eid. (Top Tip – fit High Rollers the wrong way round on rear wheels. This significantly increases the tyres grip when climbing. You trade some braking performance for this but seeing as about 75% of effective stopping power comes from the front its not a big deal for most All Mountain riding)

The grips that come as standard feel a bit thin and hard. I have long fingers so need a biggish grip. I’ve switched the ODI Rogues over from my Enduro for now.

The Fi’zi:k saddle that came on it is not what I’m used to so I’ve fitted a WTB Rocket V that I had in the cupboard. I have these fitted to all my bikes, road included, I love them.

I’m keen to look at changing the 3 ring chainset to a 2 ring and bash setup. I’m a big fan of a 22/36/bash set up and I also like a good chain device too.

I’ll look to getting a 203mm front disc. I strongly believe you can’t have enough braking force up front. I like the modulation and control, even when using 1 finger braking, that big discs give you.

Psyched for lots more riding on this bike. Its GREAT 😀

6/10/2012 Update:

Useful Info:

Its always handy to have the various web resources to hand so here is a collection for this bike

BMC Website page for the bike – http://www.bmc-racing.com/us-en/bikes/2012/mountainbike/model/trailfox/tf02/tf02_slx-xt.html

Fox website for the forks – http://www.foxracingshox.com/product.php?m=bike&t=forks&p=32206&ref=filter and then the online manual http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_tech_center/owners_manuals/012/Content/Forks/32/2012TALAS_32.html

Fox website page for the rear shock – http://www.foxracingshox.com/product.php?m=bike&t=shocks&p=99107&ref=filter and then the online manual http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_tech_center/owners_manuals/012/Content/Rear_Shocks/2012FLOATevolu.html

The Fox Online Tech Centre is a super useful resource – http://www.ridefox.com/fox_tech_center/owners_manuals/012/index.html