Righto, seeing as nobody is posting Grey BFe’s, here’s my recent build. It’s a small, bought in the Xmas offer and is built up with the bits from my Big Dog bought last Autumn, I just couldn’t get on with. I previously had a Solaris Mk1 that I loved so I’m hoping this will be a keeper.

Oh, that’s a lovely colour and build! The grey is a lot lighter than I thought it would be.

Looks like a more XC/trail build with the RRs. What travel are you running?

That looks very nice! One of those colours that looks far better in non-studio shots I think, I’ve not seen one “in the wild” before.

All wrapped in invisiframe now. Going to take it up to Hamsterley on Saturday for its shakedown ride.

Looks like a more XC/trail build with the RRs. What travel are you running?

It’s a Pike Ultimate at 130mm and Trail wides with 2.4 Hans Dampfs, so definitely erring towards a trail build in weight and attitude. I may try a longer air shaft, I’ll see how I get on.

I really wasn’t sure about the grey as the website doesn’t do it justice, but I really like how it looks and I’m a massive tart so that’s important. What swung me was the silver Pike’s I already had suited it better than the pink or blue.

That is bloody lovely. You have actually pulled off the tanwalls and the gold chain, which is a rare achievement. 10/10

Trail wides with 2.4 Hans Dampfs

Oh, that wheelset with those tyres looks tiny for some reason! Proves how much clearance these bikes have.
Agreed, tan walls and gold bits looks lovely.

Had a couple of rides on my medium frame since I built it up this week – 150mm Pikes, old LB 30mm carbon rims/Pro4s and Bonty XR4s.

It’s bloody awesome! Surprised at how well it climbs, as others have mentioned. Not in a mountain goat whippety way, but in a surefooted, get up anything sort of way. Picks up speed VERY quickly on the way down and found that I want the bars a lot higher than I thought in order to stay in the centre of that huge wheelbase.

Perfect for my local hill.

Exactly my experience.. just back from a short lunchtime spin, 5 PRs and 6 other achievements on climbs & descents. I’ve ridden the trails hundreds of times on all sorts of bikes, so to get some PRs in these conditions is pretty impressive.

I like that grey, and a nice build to go with it.

I have 25mm rise on my bars and a 10mm spacer underneath them (on a 140mm fork). Pretty much the same as I’ve had on previous HTs, but the do feel a bit low when sitting (not so much stood up). Mate has an XL with some 38mm rise bars and he reckons he makes a big difference. I don’t like how they look tho, so I’m hanging on for a bit!

Done around 200km on mine now. Both my mate and I think they are the ‘best’ all round HTs we’ve had and we’ve had a few (including SolarisMax). It’s a proper hoot now the trails have dried out a bit.

First ride out today.

Looks great!

I’d echo what Alex said, it’s everything I hoped my SolarisMAX would have been. Although I didn’t run that with the 29×2.6″ tyres so maybe unfair, but this just seems faster everywhere including the climbs (and segments seem to back that up, without really trying).

I almost got one of these as a replacement for the SolarisMax… lead time was too long so got a Switch9er instead. So, what is so much better than the SolarisMax?

I had a SolarisMax with 130mm fork- ran it for a while but ultimately didn’t get on with it. Couldn’t quote place what it was. It felt dead over my other bikes. Paint was rather soft too, but looked awesome.
Looking at the geometry, not sure why I like the Bfe so much more? Geometry is almost identical and most difference can be accounted for by the 130mm > 140mm fork, and it’s a heavier build. I wonder if my riding styles changed over the last couple years plus riding lots of other LLS bikes. Riding the same trails and same conditions.

14.1kg with pedals and bottle cage – happy with that.

Still need to shorted the dropper and brake cables.

That’s a hell of a drop on your dropper- 200mm?
You’re still managing to keep it clean in this weather, that’s commendable!
What Cotic frame bag size did you go for? Looks like it fits nicely.

My build is hefty too.. definitely more than my 150mm FS.

More photos, just because I’ve been getting lots of miles in.

That’s a hell of a drop on your dropper- 200mm?
You’re still managing to keep it clean in this weather, that’s commendable!
What Cotic frame bag size did you go for? Looks like it fits nicely.

@cookie

I had a one up 170 but the V1 posts don’t pay well with external routing, remote if very stiff due to the outer being pulled not the inner. There was a PSA for the TranzX dropper a while back for £60 so I thought I’d jump on that – The post is adjustable down to 170 and in reality I think it may be worth dropping it a bit as it feels like a bit too much drop really.

Frame bag is: RESTRAPxCOTIC V2 Frame Bag – for XS, S, M, C1, C2, C3 – fits behind headtube

Only cleaned it as I was fitting the fork decals.

It’ll be interesting to see how the TranzX holds up.

Nice, thanks! Definitely need a bag to stash some essentials.

How’s everyone getting on with their BfeMax?
I’ve done another 500 miles, 70 of which with mini me attached. It’s been fantastic! The Plus wheelset are noticeably more compliant and nimble over the DH set, but a little slower. Fair bit of tyre clearance which is nice. Lovely for summer.
Usually I default to FS for the summer, but this has been out a fair bit too. It was only meant to be the winter bike. Only criticism is weak paint. Picked up a load of stone chips and rub marks already.. not that I’m bothered.

750km on mine. Rode it lots through that second Autumn we had between end March and mid May! Including a lap of the Beast at CyB in the thawing snow. It was fab round there. I did feel a bit battered by the end, some of which was probably due to a crippling hangover!

Not ridden it much since it dried out, but will probably ride it again next few weeks just to remind myself what a great bike it is.