Test: The next trip should offer a little more variety or you would like to explore new routes, but you already know everything in the area with a racing bike. This is exactly when you should start thinking about a gravel bike. With the BH Gravel X, we tested a great bike in the mid-range price segment, which particularly impressed with its good rolling characteristics.
Who does not know it ? You don't always want to ride the same routes, the traffic is annoying or if you try a new route on your racing bike and you suddenly find yourself on a gravel path. It is precisely in such situations that you are much more flexible with a gravel bike and can get to many new places that have not been reached before with a racing bike.
BH Gravel X – The frame
The frame of the BH Gravel X is a hydroformed frame made of triple butted aluminium, which offers very good stability and robustness, which seems particularly comfortable and safe on tours over bad roads and gravel. Of course, the aluminum frame is not one of the lightest compared to the significantly more expensive carbon versions. However, the weight is not necessarily our number one evaluation criterion, especially with a gravel bike, since stability and robustness are the focus. With a fork made of full carbon, the driver gets very good shock absorption despite high rigidity at the front. The geometry of the BH frame is sporty but still comfortable and designed for long tours. This is made possible by a higher head tube, a slightly looped top tube and a longer wheelbase. The BH Gravel X is therefore ideal for longer day tours or even bike tours lasting several days. For this purpose, brackets for luggage racks can also be attached to the designated points on the frame and on the fork.
BH Gravel X – The equipment
frame | Gravel X Alloy 7005 |
suspension fork | Gravel X Full Carbon 1.5" |
Wheels | Shimano RX31 |
Tubes | Hutchinson Overside 700x38 |
derailleur | Shimano Ultegra R8000 |
Gear levers | Shimano Hydraulic Rs505 |
Crank | FSA Omega 50/34 |
Front derailleur | Shimano 105 |
Brake | Shimano Hydraulic 505 |
Seat post | Bra SL 27,2 |
Saddle | Kappa prologue |
Stem | BH SL |
Links | BH SL |
The equipment of the BH Gravel X is very solid. We tested the version with Shimano Ultegra, which worked reliably as usual and didn't cause any problems. The bike is beautified with an FSA compact crank with 50/34 teeth and a BH carbon handlebar. The rather unwieldy brake shifters from Shimano for discs are a bit unattractive in terms of appearance and ergonomics. The wheels also come from Shimano and are extremely robust, so you don't have to worry about rough surfaces. Both wheels are equipped with 12 mm Thru Axles, which also increase stiffness and safety and also improve the performance of the already good brakes of the BH Gravel X. Hutchinson Overide 700×38 tires are mounted on the wheels, which cannot keep up with pure cyclocross models, but impress with good rolling properties and a lot of comfort, especially on forest roads.
BH Gravel X – Just get going again!
The BH Gravel X offers a welcome change for everyone who primarily feels connected to the road. Especially when you are on an exploratory tour or new routes, you often find yourself at the end of the paved path. With a gravel racer that's not a problem at all. Due to the more profiled and wider tires, you can also tackle bad roads, forest paths and pieces of gravel in the best possible way. But the BH Gravel X was also able to convince on the road with very good rolling properties. We quickly added our Rotor 2In power meter to see how well it worked. On a flat stretch, a speed of 30 km/h requires a good 20 watts (23 watts to be precise) more than with a mid-range road bike with aluminum wheels.
The weight of the gravel bike then comes into play on inclines. Due to the gear ratio and total weight, gradients of up to 10 or 12% should be easily feasible on forest roads. On really steep, short ramps, as you are used to with cyclocross, you reach your limits mainly because of the gear ratio. The tires also seemed a bit too slippery for explicit cross use, especially on a damp surface. In our opinion, the BH Gravel X is perfect for anyone who wants a little variety in their training, especially in autumn, or who likes to be on the go without restrictions. The BH is particularly convincing on slightly hilly routes alternating between forest and asphalt roads.
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